The court was seated, And the books were opened.
Daniel 7:10
“But the court shall be seated,
And they shall take away his dominion,
To consume and destroy it forever.”
Daniel 7:26
Over the years, I have noticed many misconceptions about God and spiritual things by well meaning people. The confusion often comes when they forget to recognize that there is an enemy of God. To further muddy the water, many do not recognize that we are born with a sinful nature. A nature and a path that leads to destruction unless God intervenes.
Both Satan and our sinful nature set us up for all kinds of problems and misunderstanding related to spiritual things. It is only when we are born of the Spirit can we understand life on that level.
God is often blamed for the work of the enemy. This is the way Satan would have it. But, Satan is the father of lies, death and destruction. He deceives and often will use something that appears to be saintly to accomplish his purpose of destruction. His one goal is to block the way of eternal salvation for every person on planet earth and by any means available to him including dressing up and acting like a minister of righteousness! But he does this through human beings. This is an important point as we consider the craft and deceit of the Little Horn of Daniel 7 and 8.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11: 13-15
As we study God’s word, we can see the enemy of the church and individuals at work through kingdoms, powers, and rulers. In our time, the sudden rise of the hateful and demonic ISIS is an example. But, have we considered the work of Satan through a system that seems gentle and Christ-like? Is everyone who proclaims to be of God, really of God? While it is true that:
…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6: 12
It is also true that we battle against deception in a spiritual venue. Jesus warned us that near the end, many would come “in His name” to deceive:
“Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.”
Luke 21:8
The little horn of Daniel and the Beast of Revelation use not only deception, but also the power and authority given to them by Satan himself.
Just because someone looks and speaks spiritual things does not mean they are so. Many say, “I will just wait for someone to claim to be Christ and then I will know it is not true.” But, the warning against deception goes deeper and even to the point that the deception is so great that even those who know God and have a personal experience with Him could be deceived…..if it were possible.
Are we prepared to deal with falsehood that appears in a nice package, in a nice building, and accepted by the majority.
Our only hope against the work of the enemy and our own sinful nature is to be prepared in Christ:
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6: 13
Regardless of our beliefs about eternal security, we are encouraged by the word to put on the whole armour of God so that we might stand and resist the devil. If there was no worry after you were “saved,” then we would not have to been warned. The warnings we see in the Bible are primarily for God’s people rather than the entire world who consider it foolishness anyway. There is hope for them, but the time is growing short.
The continuance of the verses in Ephesians 6, directs the followers of Christ to “suit up” for battle. Why? Because…
“….your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
To understand the battle plan of the enemy, the word of God provides the best source of information about the work of the enemy, and the final events before and after the Lord returns.
Within this context of Satan working through nations, political powers, deception, as well as our own sinful nature, let’s explore what the Bible has to say about the workings of the Little Horn and its appointed time for dominance: and the events leading up to the judgment.
Knowing what the Bible has to say will put us at a better advantage against the enemy of our souls and put us on solid ground so that we “might stand” in any circumstance.
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Timing of the Judgment (Overview)
As has been pointed out, Satan, the once anointed cherubim of heaven who was perfect in all his ways until iniquity was found in him is the enemy of God’s people. He is the father of lies, the originator of death, and a roaring lion that seeks to destroy and mar the image of God in Man. He is also the originator of the sinful nature that has been passed down to us from the beginning.
Because of this, there is confusion about many spiritual events including the judgment. Many believe that immediately after death, each person consciously and individually stands before God and a decision is made about eternal destiny. This can be substantiated from verses such as:
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Hebrews 9: 27
At some point after death, there is a judgment. The Bible talks about a specific time when the Ancient of Days (God) opens the books and judgment begins. This judgment must take place before the Lord comes, because He brings his reward with him.
When the Bible uses the term judgment, it can be investigative in nature. In other words, many believe that everyone must be judged worthy to enter heaven. All our sins are considered (reviewed or investigated) and weighed against God’s 10 commandment law and even the life of Christ himself. How could anyone stand in this type of judgment if it were not for Christ? All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none worthy, not one except Christ. Glory to his name!
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10
It is Christ who “takes up” for us. He is our lawyer, our intercessor:
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25
Because of this fact, those in Christ have the assurance that Christ’s perfect record of righteous is ours before and during the judgment hour. He is our lawyer. Let us never forget, that he “saves us to the uttermost.” That means our most sinful habit can be overcome in Christ now.
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The idea of purgatory or pending judgment as taught by the Roman Catholic church teaches that a person is in a “holding” place and can be prayed or payed up to heaven!
Is this the truth about judgment? In Daniel 7 there is an aspect of judgment we may have never considered. It is found in the pronouncement: “The judgment is set.”
“the judgment was set, and the books were opened.“
Daniel 7: 10
there comes a specific time when “the books” are open. What are these books? When is the “judgment set?”
In context, Revelation tells us that Jesus brings his reward with Him:
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me , to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22:12
If Jesus brings his reward of eternal life when He comes, then there must be a judgment already completed even for those who are “alive and remain” (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17). It must have had a starting point and an ending point. Those who have died in Christ are resurrected to receive this reward. (Please see study A Substitute for the Resurrection?).
Many wonder about the great white throne judgment.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20: 11-15
Did you catch that? The “books were open.” This is the same phrase used by Daniel as he observed the beginning of the judgment scene in heaven.
This white throne judgment is a judgment for those dead. but at some point, this judgment by the books will move to those who are alive.
Judgment and the end of the little horn power are related. Let’s pause our discussion on Judgment and go back to the life of the little horn for just a moment or two.
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Workings of Satan with the Little Horn and Judgment
In Daniel 7 and 8, we can see Satan’s craft in the workings of the little horn power. Just as the metals of the image in Daniel 2 and the animals of Daniel 7 digress into worthless iron and clay and an animal cross-bred to produce a non-descriptive destroying freak of nature so the enemy of God seeks to kill and maim the creation of God. Of most importance to Satan is to block the way to a knowledge of only true God and the path to eternal life for mankind.
The enemy is described in Revelation 13 as the dragon who gives the seat and great authority to the Beast.
” the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Revelation 13: 12
Satan works stealthily behind the scenes moving upon circumstances and sinful men to reach his objective.
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Destiny of the Little Horn
When Daniel saw the little horn he watched it at work all the way to the time of judgement. The following verse, along with other passages, let us know that this little horn power is at work even today!
“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.“
Daniel 7: 9 – 10
Daniel’s vision actually takes him on past the judgement scene. Daniel sees the outcome of the investigative judgment. He sees the execution of the guilty verdict, particularly as it relates to the beast (Rome).
“I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.”
Daniel 7: 11
The rule of this beast and the little horn comes to an end when the Lord returns and sends it to the burning flames (a.k.a. the lake of fire).
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2 Thessalonians 2: 8
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelations 19: 20
Here is the fate of the beast (Rome) and the false prophet (papacy). Please see Prophecies for Our Time-The Beast and The Little Horn of Daniel 7
So we can see that the little horn power is active all the way up until Jesus returns and ends his reign.
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While this is the end of the story for the Beast and Little Horn, let’s back up a little and look at the earthly rule of these two characters:
As we discovered last time. Papal Rome in its rise to power eliminated three of the ten horns. This gave him space for the beast to prosper. Those that opposed the papacy were the
Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths
Like the lifted heart of King Nebuchadnezzar, the papacy began to speak great things against (or in the place) of God.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel 7: 25
History has well-documented the acts of the Roman Catholic church who violently persecuted anyone who opposed her. Those considered heretics were often burned at the stake, buried alive, or otherwise tortured if they did not recant their belief in God’s word and His ways. Many were tortured for their faith in God and for having access to a Bible.
The “Protestant” movement was highlighted by Martin Luther finding a Bible written in the little known language of Latin and chained to a monastery wall. It has been the plan of Satan to keep this book and the knowledge it contains about the only true God away from people.
Martin Luther saw the great infested errors of the church that looked good, but were inside full of bones. It is that way when man’s opinion and worldly desires take the place of God’s eternal word.
“Moreover, the papal system has opposed the march of civilization and liberty throughout the world, by denouncing the circulation of the Bible and the general diffusion of knowledge. Turn to every land where popery predominates, and you will find an ignorant and debased peasantry, a profligate nobility, and a priesthood, licentious, avaricious, domineering and cruel.”
― John Foxe, Fox’s Book of Martyrs Or A History of the Lives, Sufferings, and Triumphant Deaths of the Primitive Protestant Martyrs
We have talked about how the Roman Catholic church attempted to change times and laws, but what of this last statement in Daniel 7:25?
“they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
In Bible prophecy a time equals a year. Times (plural) is two years and a dividing of time would be half a year. Now why would this matter? Let’s do a little math and compare this passage with other relevant passages. Some quick additions calculate that the little horn would rule for 3 1/2 years.
But as we have learned, a day in Bible Prophecy equals a year. 1 year is 360 days (Jewish Calendar). 2 years is 720 days. 1/2 year is 180 days. 360+720+180 = 1,260 days. This translates to 1, 260 years in Bible Prophecy.
Did the Little Horn rule for this amount of time?
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In 538 A.D. the Ostragoths abandoned their siege of Rome — and this left the Bishop of Rome to exercise the prerogatives of Justinian’s decree of 533 A.D. the power and the authority of the Papacy grew, and grew, and grew.
Exactly 1260 years later the Papacy suffered its “deathblow.”
The spectacular victories of the armies of Napoleon in Italy placed the Pope at the mercy of the French Revolutionary Government, which now advised that the Roman Religion would always be a persistent enemy of the Republic.
The government urged Napoleon to destroy the center of unity of the Roman church, and Napoleon did just that.
In 1798 the French general Berthier, with a French army, marched into Rome and proclaimed the political rule of the Papacy at an end and took the Pope prisoner. The Pope was removed to France where he died in exile.
The 1260 year rule of the Papacy was finished.
But this deadly wound was to receive a healing as we will see in later studies.
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This time period of a time, times and a half a time is again mentioned in Daniel 12:7
“It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
Daniel 12:7
This time period of 1, 260 years is expressed in different ways in the Bible:
But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
Revelation 11:2
42 months = 42 X 30 (days) or 1,260 days/years
In the next verse, it repeats this time period but without the need to calculate:
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:3
This is 1,260 days ( a score is 20 days).
Here are the many places that mention the 1,260-year prophecy:
- Daniel 7:25, “time, times and a half”.
- Daniel 12:7, “time, times and a half”.
- Revelation 11:2, “42 months”.
- Revelation 11:3, “1260 days”.
- Revelation 12:6, “1260 days”.
- Revelation 12:14, “time, times and a half”.
- Revelation 13:5, “42 months”.
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The Fall of the Papacy and the Beginning of Judgment
At the end of the 1,260 years of the papacy’s dominance, we see these words:
…Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Daniel 7: 9, 10
The timing of the judgment makes sense when the events of the second coming are understood.
But, Hollywood and the work of the enemy have confused many by the Rapture theory and many other Hollywood types of productions concerning end-time events.
After this investigative judgment another pronouncement is made in heaven in preparation of the coming of Jesus:
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Revelation 22: 11
This is the point in earth’s history where the fate of every person who has ever lived is sealed. The hourglass has run out. Then the very next event is the return of Jesus as shown in the verse proceeding verse 11
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22: 12
Those who have not accepted the teachings of the Beast, but kept true to the commandments of God will be able to enter through the gates of heaven and have access to the tree of life that perpetuates eternal life:
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:13
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Summary:
The little Horn power (the papacy) comes from the 10 divisions of Rome . As it rises to power, it takes out 3 of the horns and continues its persecution against all who would fall on the side of God and His word rather than the traditions and religion of the church.
The papacy speaks great words by changing the 10 commandments of God to suit its own needs and to demonstrate its power over the church.
The papacy’s rule extends from 538 AD to 1798 AD. Shortly thereafter the Ancient of Days (God) sits and the books are open to signify the beginning of the judgment and preparation for the 2nd return of Jesus.
When the proclamation is made that all have been judged, then Jesus returns.
When Jesus returns his reward of eternal life in heaven, as opposed to eternal death, is executed
The lost are raised in the 2nd resurrection after the 1,000 year period where the saints are all in heaven. For this study see, Second Coming Predictions-1,000 Years?Second Coming Predictions-1,000 Years?
Friends, I know this is some very deep information, but the Lord would not have included it in His word if it was not important. I have tried to be fair with God’s word. Much of this may be confusing. But rest assured the important thing to know is Jesus. If you have an ongoing trust in Him, then knowing the details of the events of the last day are of less importance. But, the spirit of the events are important to keep you from deception.
The Lord is preparing His people to finish the work of carrying the good news to the entire world for a witness and then shall the end come.
Next, we will look at the longest time prophecy in the Bible. Blessings to you and your family!
Eddie