TEN HORNS - TEN KINGS - TEN DIVISIONS - the DUAL PLAN
FROM THE DUAL PLAN
The fourth and last mould in which the masses are moulded, has no
resemblance in nature. The shape of it was "dreadful and terrible." It
was "exceedingly strong," and it had "ten horns." Here the monarchy of
Rome is described. It "devoured and "broke" in pieces all other
powers; then it united the different elements into one grand universal
kingdom. As soon as that was done, the TEN HORNS cropped out.
Emperor Constantine, after he had conquered his rivals, divided the
Roman kingdom into TEN MILITARY DISTRICTS and placed his TEN GENERALS
as vassals over the same. They were to control the people under them
by military laws and were to serve the emperor as his leaders in
times of war. By that act of dividing the empire, the kingly power
gradually developed and finally the TEN KINGS arose.
Having followed the wonderful development of the great people in their
course through the national moulds, and having seen them divided and
sub-divided by kings until TEN SUCH KINGS WERE SEATED ON THE HEAD (THE
GOVERNMENT) OF THE PEOPLE (THE BODY), the prophet noticed a "little
horn" coming up AMIDST THE TEN HORNS. This horn was different from the
rest, in that it had "eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth
speaking great things." What kingly power was it that arose after the
rise of the TEN KINGS or the forming of the TEN DIVISIONS OF THE ROMAN
EMPIRE? The empire was divided into TEN DIVISIONS between the years
356 and 483 A. D., consequently that power arose this side of 483 A.
D. The papal power was then in its embryonic state—continually
developing. When it needed more room for its universal growth, the
opposing powers next to it: viz., the Vandales, the Herulians and the
Ostrogoths, who opposed the union of the state and church, were
subdued.
The little horn had human eyes—denoting that it had moral and
religious inclinations. The other horns represented only the temporal
strength of the head-power of the beast. The depressive military laws
made the people rebellious and uncontrollable; that opened the way for
the bishop of Rome to act as arbitrator. Because of his religious
influence in the name of Christianity, he succeeded and as a
consequence, he grew tip in power until finally he represented both
church and state. The prophet follows the actions of that little horn
with special interest. It also had a mouth that spoke great things. As
the prophet listened to the great words of that mouth, he saw that the
thrones of the kings were cast down, and the "Ancient of days" (the
Almighty) took his seat at the head of the people. Thus the little
horn must exist now and must continue to exist until the second advent
of Christ occurs. We will notice some of the words already uttered by
The Mouth of the Little Horn.