“Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
Daniel requested more information about the fourth beast, the beast that because of its hideous appearance and its unmatched ferocity was the most frightening of all. He wanted to hear more about the beast’s ten horns, and particularly about the little horn that had done such dreadful things.
The heavenly interpreter explained that world history beginning with the Roman Empire would be marked by increasing violence and persecution, also for God’s people. The ten horns symbolized the fact that after the Roman Empire disintegrated, it would form a number of smaller states.
An unnamed descendant of the Roman Empire, represented in Daniel’s dream by the little horn, would usurp the authority of other horns and presume to speak for all. This enemy would speak against the Most High, blasphemously claiming honor that belongs only to God.
Daniel’s dream pointed out that this enemy of God would also oppose God’s people. He would wage war against them, oppress them, and even appear to defeat them (see Revelation 11:7; 13:5-7). In his rebellion against God’s good will he would “try to change the set times and the laws,” setting aside human and divine laws at will. One thinks of Christ’s solemn warning that as the world draws to its end persecution against God’s people will be so intense that if it were possible, God’s very elect would be deceived (Mark 13:22).
From his vantage point in world history, Daniel could not have known exactly who the enemy is who was symbolized by the little horn. With the inspired Scriptures of the New Testament, God has given us more information. Saint Paul helps us to identify the enemy foretold in Daniel’s vision by pointing to the Antichrist as “the man of lawlessness,” who “will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he even sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4). He is Satan’s substitute king, seeking to dethrone Jesus Christ in the hearts of God’s people. The description fits the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church.
Church history has documented how he has made war on the saints. Martin Luther experienced that. Think of how the pope threatened him with excommunication and death if he did not stop his work of reformation. A century before Luther, John Hus, a priest of Prague, Czechoslovakia, was burnt at the stake by order of the pope. For what crime? For publishing a Bible in the language of his people. Where the Antichrist is in control, life is not easy for the children of God. Consider, for example, how throughout the years the papacy’s attack on the Bible teaching that sinners are justified only by faith in Christ has succeeded in drawing many away from the truth (Revelation 13:7-10,16,17).
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the angel’s explanation of the little horn is this statement: “The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.” The saints will be powerless to resist this enemy by their own strength, and God actually will allow him to have a measure of success in his unholy endeavor.
Much has been written about the period of time described as “a time, times and half a time.” It is clear that the enemy symbolized by the little horn will be allowed to do his work for a certain period of time, but what period of time? Judging from Old Testament and New Testament parallel passages, “time, times and half a time” is most likely the equivalent of 31/2 years (Daniel 12:11,12; Revelation 12:6,14; 13:5).
But what is the meaning of 31/2 years? Some have taken the number symbolically, as the number of the Antichrist. (According to this view, if seven is the symbolic number for the covenant, then 31/2 might symbolize a broken covenant). Another view takes 31/2 as less than four, the number symbolizing universality. A third suggestion is that the progression of the Antichrist’s activity is pictured: lasting one time, then twice that long (as if his oppression would never end), then suddenly cut off after only half a time.
Regardless of how we interpret the difficult phrase, one thing remains clear: as deadly and destructive as the Antichrist’s work is, it will come to an end. This is also the assurance the heavenly interpreter gave Daniel in the closing verses of the chapter.