The following is a summary of the prophecies of Daniel 7 concerning the little eleventh horn of the fourth beast and how they were fulfilled in the spirit of Antichrist that worked through Titus:
1. The little eleventh horn would come on the scene when the tenth ruler of the fourth beast (Rome) was on the throne (Dan. 7:20; cf. Dan. 2:40-45). Titus’ father, Vespasian, was the tenth Caesar of Rome (AD 69-79) and emperor when his son shattered the Jewish nation in AD 70. At this time, Titus (who would become the eleventh Caesar) was a general and not yet emperor, hence his designation as a little eleventh horn. We see a parallel between Jesus being the Son of God and Titus being the son of the then ruler of the world, Christ and Antichrist.
It should be noted that Titus as the little eleventh horn is the classic Jewish position. See here http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo ... rashi/true
2. Three rulers (symbolized by three horns) would be removed before the little horn (Dan. 7:8). These were the three short-lived emperors (Galba, Otho, and Vitellius) that fell (v. 20) before Vespasian and Titus in AD 69, the year of four emperors. Notice that this left the little eleventh horn as an eighth ruler (11 – 3 = 8). This is how the Antichrist is pictured in Revelation, as an eighth demonic king (who was about to come out of the abyss, Rev. 17:8-11; cf. Dan. 10:13). This points to the fact that the little horn was ultimately a demonic ruler.
3. The little eleventh horn would speak pompous and blasphemous words against God (Dan. 7:8, 11, 20, 25). Evidence of the fulfillment of this can be found in rabbinic writings that attribute incredible blasphemies to Titus when he destroyed the Temple (e.g., claiming that he had single-handedly killed the God of Israel. See Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 56b).
4. The little horn would intend to change “times and law” (Dan. 7:25). This was fulfilled in Titus and Vespasian’s allowance (and possible direction) of a reorganized Sanhedrin set up in Yavneh. This resulted in changes to the Jewish calculation of the times of the annual religious observations as well as changes in Jewish law.
5. The little horn would be allowed to persecute Daniel’s people for “a time and times and half a time” (Dan. 7:25), a time period of three-and-a-half years. This is confirmed in Revelation where this time of persecution by the Antichrist (the beast) is given as forty-two months (Rev. 13:5-7; cf. 11:2). This was fulfilled during Titus’ three-and-a-half-year campaign against the Jews (March/April of AD 67 to August/September of AD 70). This timing is confirmed in Daniel 12:7, where the angel identifies the conclusion of “a time, times and half a time” as when the power of the holy people was “completely shattered.” This happened at the AD 70 destruction of the Jewish nation by Titus.
THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE LITTLE HORN OF DANIEL 7 AND THE INDIVIDUAL BEAST OF REVELATION:
Below are some of the connections between the little horn of Daniel 7’s fourth beast and the individual beast of Revelation. I discuss the little horn in my chapter on Daniel 7 (in volume one). Again, the little horn/individual beast is the Antichrist—the demonic ruler from the abyss that would work through Titus:
1. The little horn/individual beast is an eighth ruler (Dan. 7:8; Rev. 17:11).
The little horn of Daniel 7 starts out as an eleventh ruler but becomes an eighth when three horns (rulers) are removed before him (11-3=8). The individual beast is an eighth king.
Titus was the eleventh Caesar of Rome. In AD 70 he was a general, the son of the reigning emperor (Vespasian), hence the designation as a little horn in Daniel 7. The three horns (rulers) removed before him refer to the three short-lived emperors (Galba, Otho and Vitellius) that fell in AD 69 just before Titus and Vespasian gained control of the Roman Empire.After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong . . . and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
Daniel 7:7-8
The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
Revelation 17:11
2. The little horn/individual beast speaks great blasphemies against God (Dan. 7:8, 11, 20, 25; Rev. 13:5-6).
Ladd notes the following on the blasphemous words of the individual beast in Revelation 13:5 and how this passage is a direct reference to the little horn of Daniel 7: “This [Rev. 13:5-6] is based directly on Dan. 7:8, 20, 25. The little horn had a mouth ‘speaking great things’ and spoke ‘words against the Most High.’”14 The Talmud records that Titus spoke great blasphemies when he captured the Temple, actually claiming he had killed the God of Israel (The Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 56b).. . . And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
Daniel 7:8
. . . that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
Daniel 7:20
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High . . . .
Daniel 7:25
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies . . . Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
Revelation 13:5-6
3. The little horn/individual beast wages war against the saints and overcomes them (Dan. 7:21; Rev. 13:7).
The saints would have been understood by Daniel as the Jews. As I mentioned, in the NT the saints refer to new covenant believers (Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1-4; etc.). Notice that the saints are differentiated from the land-dwellers in Revelation: “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them . . . All who dwell on the earth will worship him . . . (Rev. 13:7-8). Having said that, the focus of the Antichrist is on Jerusalem and her Temple (Dan. 9:26; 11:40-12:1; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 17-18). While the great tribulation would come on the whole world (Rev. 3:10), it would focus on those living in the land of Judea (cf. Matt. 24:15-21)—both the Jews and the saints.I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them . . . .
Daniel 7:21
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them . . . .
Revelation 13:7
That Revelation 13’s focus is on the Jews can be seen in the following: (1) The chapter repeatedly references the dwellers on the land (vv. 8, 12, 14). (2) The worship of the beast in this chapter involves the head and hand (Rev. 13:16), which alludes to Jewish worship (cf. Deut. 6:6-8). (3) The reference to forty-two months (Rev. 13:5) speaks of the last half of Daniel’s seventieth week. The seventy weeks were to focus on the Jews and Jerusalem (“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and your holy city . . .” Dan. 9:24). I will discuss these points in more detail later in the chapter.
4. The little horn/individual beast has a three-and-a-half-year reign of terror (Dan. 7:25; 13:5).
The phrase “a time and times and half a time” of Daniel 7:25 is a period of three and a half. It is usually taken to be three and a half years or forty-two months, which is the form it takes in Revelation 13:5. This three-and-a-half-year reign of terror of the little horn/individual beast is the last half of Daniel’s seventieth week. It was the time of the coming prince who would destroy Jerusalem and the Temple—the one who would make the Jewish nation desolate (Dan. 9:26-27). This last half of Daniel’s seventieth week would end with the shattering of the Jewish nation (cf. Dan. 12:7).
This is the forty-two months that Jerusalem would be trodden underfoot by the Gentiles: “. . . And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months” (Rev. 11:2). Jerusalem is referred to as the “holy city” here because of an allusion to Daniel 9:24 and its mention of the “holy city” in the context of the seventy weeks. Forty-two months is the time it took Titus to destroy the Jewish nation, from around March/April of AD 67 to August/September of AD 70.. . . Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
Daniel 7:25
. . . and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
Revelation 13:5
5. The little horn/individual beast is defeated by the Second Coming (Dan. 7:21-22; Rev. 19:11-13, 19-20).
In Daniel this is shown as the coming of the Ancient of Days; in Revelation it is shown as the coming of the Word of God. In Revelation the Son of Man is shown as having the characteristics of the Ancient of Days (the white hair, Rev. 1:13-14; cf. Dan. 7:9). The Son of Man having white hair is symbolic of the eternality of Jesus (cf. Isa. 9:6)—the Word of God (John 1:1).15 Revelation is thus showing Daniel 7’s coming of God to defeat the little horn in the form of the coming of the Word of God to defeat the individual beast (Dan. 7:21-22; Rev. 19:11-21).
6. The little horn/individual beast is cast into the lake of fire at the time of the Second Coming (Dan. 7:11; Rev. 19:19-20).I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints . . . .
Daniel 7:21-22
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God . . . And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured . . . .
Revelation 19:11-13, 19-20
Daniel 7:11 shows the entire fourth beast (not just its little horn) being thrown into the fire at the coming of God. Thus, in Revelation it is the corporate beast (the eight demonic kings behind the pre-AD 70 Roman Empire, cf. Dan. 10:13) that was destroyed at AD 70, not just the individual beast. Obviously the Roman Empire was not destroyed in the lake of fire at this time. A physical empire being thrown into the lake of fire (which is the second death, Rev. 21:8) makes no sense. What was destroyed at the AD 70 Second Advent was the confederation of spiritual rulers behind the pre-AD 70 Roman Empire (cf. Rev. 17:8-11).16 It was not Titus but the demonic ruler from the abyss working through Titus (cf. Rev. 11:7) that was thrown into the lake of fire at this time.. . . I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
Daniel 7:11
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence . . . These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Revelation 19:20
7. Right after the AD 70 defeat of the little horn/individual beast, thrones are put in place as the millennium begins (Dan. 7:8-11; Rev. 19:20-20:4).
The sequence in Revelation 19:19-20:4 is clearer when the chapter separation between 19 and 20 (which is not in the original manuscript) is left out. Notice that the mark of the beast is mentioned as a past event in both Revelation 19:20 and 20:4. There is no recapitulation back to AD 30 at chapter 20; Revelation 20 is a continuation of the AD 70 events of Revelation 19. The beast is captured at the AD 70 coming of Jesus,17 and then the saints who were killed by him for refusing his mark (cf. Rev. 13:11-18) are resurrected to share in the millennial reign of Jesus. This is the exact sequence shown in Daniel 7.I was considering the horns [of the fourth beast] and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated . . . the court was seated . . . I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
Daniel 7:8-11
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the throne. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 19:19-20:4
I was watching and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
Daniel 7:21-22; cf. vv. 25-27
P.S. the little horn of Daniel 8 is speaking of Antiochus IV.
I write on Daniel in volume I of my book: http://www.amazon.com/Antichrist-Second ... 1615790373
I write on Revelation in volume II: http://www.amazon.com/The-Antichrist-Se ... ap_title_1