Who is the Little Horn Power in the Book of Daniel
Summary of Bible texts naming the Little Horn Power
Dan 7:1-7. Four Beasts rising from the sea.
V4. Lion with eagle`s wings.
V5. Bear raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth.
V6. Leopard which had on its back four wings of a bird.
V7. Dreadful and terrible beast. Different from the other beasts. It had ten horns.
V8. A little horn coming up from among them (ten horns).
Three horns were plucked up before the little horn.
The little horn came up between the three horns.
It had eye`s the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan 7:17. These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. Dan 2:36-44. They are Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, Rome and the little horn coming up between the ten horns.
Dan 7:19-21. The fourth beast and the little horn. This horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them.
Dan 7:24. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones and shall put down/subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25. He shall speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Dan 7:26. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
Dan 8:8.9. There came up four conspicuous horns (feminine) toward the four winds of heaven (masculine). Out of one of them (masculine) came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
V10. It grew great to the host of heaven. Some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them.
V11. It became great even as the Prince of Hosts. The regular offering was taken from him. The place of his sanctuary was overthrown.
V12. It will throw truth to the ground – it will act and prosper.
Dan 8:22. Four kingdoms shall arise from his nation (Greece).
V23. And at the latter end of their kingdom – a king of bold face, one who understands riddles shall arise.
St. Bartholomew’s massacre
V24. He shall destroy the saints.
V25. He shall make deceit prosper.
He shall rise up against the Prince of princes.
He shall be broken by no human hand.
Dan 11:14-45. The history of the papacy: the little horn power. (See my website: www.ayin.dk and www.ayindk.com
When looking at the development of the little horn power in the book of Daniel, it starts off with a few verses in Dan 7: enlarges in Dan 8:, and goes into greater detail in Dan 11:. Hence, there is harmony in the development of these passages.
The majority of Bible Commentaries write that Antiochus IV Epiphanes is the little horn power. This explanation was no doubt fabricated by the theologians from the papacy in the Roman Catholic Church, to avoid the Biblical and exegetical truth revealing that the little horn is the papacy.
Arguments against Antiochus IV Epiphanes as the little horn power. These shortened selected arguments are taken from the book “Selected Studies on Prophetic Interpretation[1]” by William H. Shea.
- Is the word “horn” used to denote a king or a kingdom in the book of Daniel?
Dan 7:24. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the first ones and shall subdue three kings.
The ten horns are not just kings but are smaller kings to the previous four kingdoms in Dan 7:17. Those great beasts, which are four are four kings who arise out of the earth. Fx. Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece and Rome.
Dan 2:37.38. You O king – are the head of gold. (King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon).
Dan 2:39. But after you shall arise another kingdom. (Medo-Persian).
Dan 2:40. Fourth kingdom.
Dan 2:41. Feet and toes. The kingdom shall be divided.
Dan 2:44. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom – it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms.
Dan 8:20. The ram which you saw, having the two horns – they are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:22. As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.
Dan 8:23. And in the latter time of their (four horns) kingdom – – – a king shall arise. (Little horn).
Conclusion
Horns, kings and kingdoms can be used to mean the same in the book of Daniel. So the little horn is a kingdom in the book of Daniel. The papacy is both a political and a religious kingdom, which makes it different. Antiochus IV was only one king and not a kingdom. He was one of the twenty rulers of the Seleucid dynasty ruling that kingdom.
- The greatness of the little horn.
Dan 8:4. The Persian ram magnified himself.
Dan 8:8. The Grecian goat magnified himself. Exceedingly.
Dan 8:9.11. The little horn magnified himself exceedingly in different directions. Toward the south, toward the east, and towards the glorious land. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the Host.
Antiochus IV should have exceeded the Persian and Greek Empires in greatness. This is not the case, since he ruled only one portion of the Grecian Empire with but little success.
“To the glorious land.” Antiochus IV is noted in 1 Maccabees 1-6 as the Seleucid ruler who desecrated the temple and persecuted the Jews. This did not occur because of any conquest of his own, but because Antiochus III had already taken Palestine away from the Ptolemies in 198 B.C.
- Dan 8:11. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of Host; and by him the daily were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
Antiochus IV took away the daily. But it does not fit in with Antiochus IV that he cast the sanctuary to the ground.
Mákon in Hebrew is used seven times for the place of God´s dwelling place in heaven, six times for the place of His earthly dwelling, and twice for the place of His throne in a metaphorical sense.
The Romans cast the sanctuary down to the ground in A.D. 70. But Antiochus IV never did anything to the temple which would qualify as “casting down it´s mákon,” or “place.” Desecrate it he did; but, as far as is known, he did not damage it architecture in any significant way.
- Dan 8:23. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise – – -.
The Seleucid dynasty consisted of a line of more than 20 kings who ruled from 311 to 65 B.C. Antiochus IV was the eight in line, and he ruled from 175 to 164/63 B.C. Since more than a dozen Seleucids ruled after him and fewer than a dozen ruled before him, he can hardly be said to have arisen “at the latter time of their kingdom.”
- Dan 8:19. And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time of the end shall be.
When is the appointed time of the end?
Daniel´s time prophecies had to extend to the time of the Messiah in the first century. Dan 9:24-27. The time of the end could only arrive after the fulfilment of this prophecy. Therefore, Antiochus IV who died in 164/3 B.C. cannot be placed at the time of the end because he lived before the Messiah came to this earth.
- The nature of the “end of the little horn.” Dan 8:25. He (little horn) shall be broken but by no human hands.
This sentence is similar to the one in Dan 11:45 he shall come to his end, with no one to help him. The little horn shall come to its end, not by human hands but by God. Dan 7:9-11. The end of the little horn came about by a decision from God in the heavenly court. Antiochus IV did not fulfil this prediction, because he died of natural causes and not in battle.
- Origin of the little horn. Did it come from the four horns of the Grecian Empire after Alexander or did it come from the four winds of heaven?
Dan 8:8.9. Therefore, the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong the large horn was broken, and in place of it there came four notable conspicuous horns towards the four winds of heaven. Out of one of them came a little horn.
What does the plural word “them” refer to?
Does it refer to four winds or four horns?
The word for “them” in the Hebrew is “hem” and is masculine. The antecedent is “winds” in verse 8 and not horns, since “winds” may be either masculine or feminine, but “horns” only feminine.
The gender of the first two elements in verse 9 (one/them) lines up perfectly with the gender of the last two elements at the end of the verse 8 (winds/heaven). The antecedent of “them” in the phrase “from them” is neither winds nor horns but heavens. Therefore, the little horn comes from the four winds of heaven and not from the four horns.
- The beginning of the little horn.
The little horn came up from among them. (ten horns). The little horn came up after the Roman Empire ceased. Who are the ten horns after the Roman Empire ceased in A.D. 476?
Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Alamanni, Anglo-Saxons, Heruli, Lombards and Bergundians[2].
Dan 7:7.8. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up from 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.
Who are the three horns which were plucked up?
They were the Vandals, Ostrogoths and the Visigoths. All the three were Arians of belief, that is they believed that Christ was a created being and not from eternity like God the Father. This belief was anathema to the bishop in Rome.
Vandals: The Emperor Justinian, who ruled the Eastern half of the Roman Empire in Constantinople, dispatched Belisarius, the ablest of his generals to attack the Vandals in Italy. Belisarius completely vanquished the Vandals in 534 because they posed a threat to the supremacy of the Catholic church in the West.
Ostrogoths: The victory by Belisarius left the Ostrogoths in Italy as the sole surviving Arian power to hinder the papacy in the west.
Belisarius in 534 began his campaign against the Ostrogoths in Italy. It lasted twenty years. The Ostrogoths, who had been driven from Rome, returned and laid siege to it in 538. The siege lasted for a full year. But in 538 Justinian landed another army in Italy, and in March the Ostrogoths abandoned the siege. Their withdrawal from Rome in 538 marked the real end of Ostrogothic power, though not of the Ostrogothic nation.
Visigoths: Clovis and the Franks defeated the Arian Visigoths and drove them into Spain in 507. This was also a theological victory for the bishop of Rome.
“This disposed of the Visigothic kingdom, but there yet remained the league of Arian powers under Theodoric (of the Ostrogoths). Alaric had counted on the assistance of Theodoric, but the latter failed him. The next year, A.D. 508, however, Theodoric came against Clovis and gained a victory, after which he unaccountably made peace with him, and the resistance of the Arian powers was at an end.” – (See Thomas Hodgkin, Theodoric the Goth, p 202,203. Nugent Robinsen, A History of the World, Vol 1, p 75-79, 81.82). www.wholegospelminitries.org clovis-508-a-d-mysteries-t
Daniel 11: When did the little horn start in this chapter?
Dan 11:1. Darius the Mede.
Dan 11:2. Three more kings in Persia plus one who will be richer than the others.
Dan 11:3. Then the mighty king shall arise – Alexander the Great of Greece.
Dan 11:4. And as soon as he has risen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided to the four winds of heaven.
Dan 11:5-13. Historical details of the king of the South and the king of the North.
Dan 11:14. (In the Hebrew). In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the sons of the violent/robbers one’s people of you, they shall lift themselves up to make stand (and fulfil) the vision, but they shall fail.
See my websites www.ayin.dk and www.ayindk.com for a full explanation of the text in Dan 11:14.
Who are the sons of the violent robbers of Daniel´s people?
The “sons” of the robbers are the subject of this sentence and not the robbers as many Bible commentaries mention.
The violent robbers who stole the land of Israel from the Israelites were Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Rome. What did these nations rob? The land from the Israelites and the rite to govern their land.
Who are the sons of the robbers?
The sons of the Roman Empire were the ten tribes plus the little horn. From Dan 11:14 the little horn is referred to as personal pronouns Fx. “he,” “his” and “him” right up to Dan 11:45. “He” shall come to “his” end, and no one will help “him.”
When did the little horn arise in Daniel 11?
After the kings of Medo-Persia. After the king of Greece: Alexander the great. After the last robbers of your people which was Rome and the Roman empire.
Conclusion
The little horn power is without a doubt refers to the papacy in the Roman Catholic church system. Because in Dan 7, Dan 8 and Dan 11 the little horn came up during the end of the Roman empire and during the beginning of the ten tribes of Europe.
Antiochus IV did not come up and reign after the Roman empire. He reigned as part of the Seleucid kingdom coming from one of Alexander the Great´s generals in the Grecian empire.
Textual Analysis of Daniel 7:7-28.
Dan 7:24. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones.
The little horn is different from the other ten horns. In what way was it different?
In Hebrew the word for different is “Shena.”
What does “Shena” mean in the Bible?
Dan 7:7. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the other beasts that was before it, and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:24. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones.
Esther 3:8. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people´s and they do not keep the kings laws, e.g. Esther 3:2. And all the king´s servants who were within the king´s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, fort so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordicai would not bow or pay homage.
Why did Mordecai not pay homage to Haman?
Because it says in the Ten Commandments Exodus 20:3.5. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not bow down to them.
The word different/diverse which is “shena” in the Hebrew language is only named seven times in the Old Testament. Five times it is named in Dan 7: and two times in the book of Esther. Six of these texts are related to worship, the Ten Commandments and especially the first command: you shall have no other gods before me, and the second commandment: you shall not bow down to them. Dan 7:3.7.19.23.24.
Dan 7:3. And four great beats came up out of the sea, different from one another e.g., Lion with wings: Babylon. Bear raised up on one side: Medo-Persian. Leopard with four wings and four heads: Grecian empire. Terrifying dreadful beast: Roman empire.
As regards to worship and keeping the first and the second commandments in the Ten Commandments, not one of these beasts obeyed these laws. They all had different god´s which they bowed down to and worshipped.
Dan 7:19. Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces and trampled the residue of its feet.
Daniel desired to know the truth about the fourth beast and the little horn. The little horn came up about the time when three of the first horns were plucked up by their roots. Dan 7:8. 24.
Dan 7:8. And behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things.
What does the term, “eyes like the eyes of a man” mean in the Bible?
There are only a few texts in the books of prophecy where eyes are related to a man.
Ezekiel 18:5.6.12. But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right; if he has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. (Nor) Lifted his eyes to the idols or committed abomination.
Ezekiel 20:24. Their eyes (Verse 21 children of Israel – man) were fixed on their father´s idols.
Zacharias 9:1. For the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord.
Conclusion
The eyes of a man are related to looking at and worshipping foreign idols on the mountains of Israel. In contrast to this the eyes of man can be looking at the Lord and worshipping the Lord God.
What does the term, “a mouth speaking great things” mean?
A parallel text to this is written in Revelation 13:5.6. which refers to the papacy in the Roman Catholic system who ruled for forty-two-months. (1,260-year prophecy from 538-1798).
Rev 13:5.6. And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and he was given authority to continue for forty-two-months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
Dan 7:20. And the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
Dan 7:25. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. (1,260 days/years. 538-1798 referring to the papal rule in the Roman Catholic church system)
Conclusion
A mouth speaking great things is related to blasphemy against God, his name, his tabernacle, and those that dwell in heaven. Pompous words mean self-important, magnificent and splendid words against God. Pompous words are also related to persecuting the saints from 538 to 1798, and to change times and laws of God e.g. The Ten Commandments and the sabbath day.
Examples of the papacy misusing its position to elevate themselves before people.
Papacy: The system of ecclesiastical government in which supreme authority is vested in the pope.[3]
Therefore, the decision of the Pope and the decision of God constitute one decision. The pope alone is said to be the vicar of God; wherefore only what is bound or loosed by him is held to be bound and loosed by God Himself.[4]
The pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain or interpret even divine laws (e.g., Change of the sabbath day).[5]
The priests forgive sins of which this prerogative lies with God alone. Mark 2:7.[6]
Canon 1: If any one saith, that in the mass a true and proper sacrifice is not offered to God; or, that to be offered is nothing else but that Christ is given to eat; let him be anathema. Canon 2: If anyone says Christ did not institute the apostle’s priests; or, did not ordain that they and other priests should offer his own body and blood; let him be anathema.[7]
We therefore confess that the Sacrifice of the Mass is and ought to be considered one and the same sacrifice as that of the cross, for the victim is one and the same, namely, Christ our Lord. Thus (the priests) acting in the Person of Christ the Lord, he changes the substance of bread and wine into the true substance of His body and blood. “Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests.”[8]
Dan 7:25. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.
As regards to the persecution of the saints, over 50 million were killed by the papacy during the Middle Ages. See my websites www.ayin.dk and www.ayindk.com
Dan 7:11. I looked then because of the sound of the great words the horn was speaking. And I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given to be burned with fire.
Similar texts related to the death of the little horn are: Dan 11:45. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him. Rev 19:20 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 worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Dan 8:10. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. (Hebrew) And she (the little horn) threw from the ground the host and from the stars she trampled them and as far as the Prince of host.
What does the word “host” mean in the Bible?
Dan 8:10. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. (Hebrew) And she (the little horn) threw from the ground the host and from the stars she trampled them and as far as the Prince of host.
Dan 8:11. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the of place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Hebrew) And she trampled on them as far as the Prince of host he was great, and from him he took the daily and he threw the place of the sanctuary and host, she will be given the daily transgression and she will throw the truth to the ground.
Dan 8:12. And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering. (Hebrew) And the host she will be given to the daily transgression and she will throw the truth to the ground and she is to do and she will proper.
Dan 8:13. How long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving of the sanctuary, and the host to be trampled underfoot? (The answer is in Dan 8:14. 2,300 days from 538 to 1844.)
1 Chronicles 19:8. Now when David heard of it, he sent Jacob and all the army/host of the mighty men.
Psalm 148:2. Praise him, all his angels; praise him all his host.
Isaiah 1:24. Therefore, the Lord says, the Lord of hosts, the mighty one of Israel.
Jeremiah 3:19. How can I put among the children and give you a pleasant land, a beautiful heritage of the host of nations?
Jeremiah 33:22. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered – – -.
Jeremiah 52:25. The principal scribe of the host/army.
Conclusion
Host is related to an army of mighty men, many angels in heaven, Israel, nations, the Prince of host which is Jesus Christ, and God´s people on earth.
Dan 8:10.11. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them.
What do “stars” mean in prophecy?
Genesis 22:17. (The Lord to Abraham). Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore – – -. (Stars are believers in God in this text e.g., Galatians 3:28.29.).
Genesis 37:9. (Joseph and his dream about his family). Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” Joseph´s father said to Joseph in verse 10: “Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” (Stars mean Joseph´s brothers in this text).
Numbers 27:17. A star shall come out of Jacob. (Star means Christ in this text).
Deuteronomy 1:10. (Moses to Israel). The Lord God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude. (Stars mean multitude of Israelites in this text).
1 Chronicles 27:23. The Lord had said he would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.
Job 39:7. When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Angels).
Daniel 12:3. Those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. (Righteous believers).
Amos 5:26. (God to Israel). You also carried Sukkoth your king and Chiun your idols. The star of your gods, which you made for yourselves. (Stars mean idols and foreign gods).
Revelation 1:20. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.
Revelation 8:10. There fell a great star from heaven. (Satan a fallen angel).
Revelation 12:4. (The fiery red dragon). His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (Satan and one third of the angels were thrown down to the earth from heaven).
Conclusion
Stars are related to believers in God, Abraham´s believing descendants, Joseph´s brothers, the Messiah, angels of heaven, foreign gods and Satan a fallen angel.
Hosts and stars refer to the persecution of the saints, over 50 million were killed by the papacy during the Middle Ages. See my websites www.ayin.dk and www.ayindk.com
Dan 8:11. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the of place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Hebrew) And she trampled on them as far as the Prince of host he was great, and from him he took the daily and he threw the place of the sanctuary and host, she will be given the daily transgression and she will throw the truth to the ground.
What does the word “daily” mean in this text?
The Hebrew word for daily is “tamid”. What does “tamid” mean in the Bible?
Exodus 29:42. This shall be a continual (tamid) burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I meet you to speak with you.
Exodus 29:38.39. Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually (tamid). One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. (Numbers 28:13)
Exodus 30:8. And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it (altar of incense), a perpetual (tamid) incense before the Lord throughout your generations.
Leviticus 4:1-35. An important part of the daily (tamid) administration in the sanctuary for the priests was the sin offerings by the people.
Leviticus 6:20. This is the offering of Aaron and his sons, which they shall offer to the Lord, beginning on the day when he is anointed; one tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a daily (tamid) grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it at twilight.
Leviticus 24:2. Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps (in the sanctuary) burn continually (tamid).
Numbers 4:7. On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring; and the continual (tamid) showbread shall be on it.
Numbers 4:16. The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for light, the sweet incense, the daily grain offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.
1 Chronicles 16:37. So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark regularly (tamid), as every day´s work required.
Ezekiel 46:15. Thus they shall prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil, as a regular (tamid) burnt offering every morning.
Hebrews 10:11.12. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins (Lev 4: sin offerings). But this man (Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.
John 1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Hebrews 8:11. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
Hebrews 8:1.2. Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Mark 2:7. Who can forgive sins but God alone.
Conclusion
The Hebrew word “tamid” is related to the following: continual burnt offering, two lambs as an offering: one in the morning and one at twilight, shewbread, grain offering and the oil, lamps burning continually, priests minister before the ark, the burning of incense on the altar of incense, sin offerings of the people (Lev 4:), Jesus Christ is our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. These are all related to the sanctuary service in the first department: The Holy Place in the tabernacle.
Dan 8:11. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of host; and by him the daily (tamid) sacrifices were taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Hebrew) And she trampled on them as far as the Prince of host he was great, and from him he took the daily (tamid) and he threw the place of the sanctuary and host, she will be given the daily transgression and she will throw the truth to the ground.
Dan 11:31a. and armed forces from him they shall stand and they violate the sanctuary the stronghold and they take away the continual (tamid) and they give the abomination one making desolate. (Hebrew direct translation)
Dan 11:31b. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Hebrew/English translation)
The word armed forces in the Hebrew is “uzroim” and means the arm as a seat of strength. This is one instance where “z” in “uzroim” is masculine and means a political or military force as in Dan 11:31. These armed forces come from the pronoun “him” which we have identified as the Little Horn power or the papacy[9].
They shall violate and pollute the sanctuary. This is not the sanctuary in Jerusalem because that was destroyed in 70 A.D. by Titus a general in the Roman army.
So which sanctuary are we talking about?
Heb 8:1.2. Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man.
So the sanctuary we are referring to is the heavenly sanctuary and not any sanctuary on earth.
However, it would be impossible for any known power to cast the sanctuary from heaven down to the ground. So what is the text referring to?
Dan 8:11 He (the papacy) exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices, and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.
So what was cast down to the ground from the above texts?
It was the truths and teachings about the heavenly sanctuary and Christ’s sacrifice which were cast down to the ground and became obsolete and of no effect.
They shall also take away the continual or daily.
“They” is referring to the plural of forces in helping the papacy. These are the Roman Catholic priests officiating in their diocese as representatives of the papacy.
Continual or daily is “tamid” in the Hebrew. So what does “tamid” mean? We have already studied this word and a summary is given.
“Tamid” is used in connection with the tabernacle and temple services and is used about 50 times in the Old Testament: of the daily morning and evening burnt offering Ex 29:38.42, of the candlestick or lamp Ex 27:20, of the shewbread Ex 25:30, of the incense Ex 30:8, of the fire upon the altar Lev 6:13, of the fire and cloud that hovered over the sanctuary Num 9:16, of the musical service. 1 Chron 16:6.37, etc. In all instances “tamid” denotes aspects of the tabernacle or temple service that were in operation “continually,” “regularly,” or “daily.” A lamb was offered every morning and every evening, and incense was burned upon the alter of incense simultaneously[10].
In Dan 8:11-14 the power symbolized by the little horn, desolates the sanctuary and halts its regular ritual services[11].
Dan 11:31 they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
“They” is a pronoun, and they are the priests in the Roman Catholic Church representing the papacy.
What is the abomination that makes desolate?
In the Hebrew Abomination is “shiqutz” and means a detested thing, filth, unclean foods, idols, and idolatrous practices[12].
The abomination that makes desolate is the idolatrous worship which makes ones faith desolate and has no meaning in the eyes of God.
So what is this abomination that takes the place of the sanctuary truth and cast it to the ground?
The following is a list of the Roman Catholic beliefs which are opposite to that of the sanctuary truths found in the Bible. By these Roman Catholic beliefs, the sanctuary truth was cast to the ground.
- The infallibility of the pope. One who is incapable of erring and one who is unfailing.
The pope is a human being. The Bible says in Rom 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In addition, the book Catholic Power Vs. American Freedom states “the papal doctrine of infallibility was promulgated in 1870 by the first Vatican Council at the insistence of Pope Pius IX. However, it was not suddenly discovered, for, as Pius IX elaborated, it was a “tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith.” This of course is not true, for there is nothing in the New Testament or the early churches to support it[13].”
- Under the teachings of the apostolic succession, the pope has absolute authority and is the supreme ruler of the church. The apostolic succession cannot be proven. The papacy says they have a list of credentials handed down from the apostle Peter right down to the first pope, however these credentials are false. The supreme ruler of the church according to the Bible is Christ and Christ only. Ephes 5:23.24.
- The Roman Catholic teaching of the Mass: where Christ is sacrificed each time the priest partakes of the mass, and the bread turns into the actual body of Christ, and the wine changes into the actual blood of Christ; this is also a false teaching opposite to the sanctuary teaching in heaven. Heb 9:25 “not that He (Christ) should offer himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another,” Heb 9:28 “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
The Mass, eucharist or communion is the time when the bread turns into the body of Christ and the wine turns into the literal blood of Christ by some miraculous event. This has never been proven.
When Christ gave the ordinance of the Communion to his disciples in Math 26:26-28, he is referring to the bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. When Jesus said, “take eat this is my body,” the disciples did not literary eat his body, but they ate bread which was a symbol of his body.
- The sale of indulgences.[14] Indulgences guaranteed the crusader´s entry into heaven and reduced or abolished his time in purgatory.[15] Under Pope Sixtus there was a need for greater amounts of money in the form of gifts and this led to the peddling of indulgences. There is no text in the Bible referring to indulgences. It is a teaching thought up by the papacy to enlarge the coffers of the Church.
- Purgatory is a place of spiritual purging of sins when one has died and on the road to heaven. There is no scriptural reference for this teaching.
- Salvation by works and belief in Christ. One is only saved by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works. Ephes 2:8.9.
- Forgiveness of sin can only be done by the pope, bishops and priests. This is not scriptural. Only God can forgive sins. Luk 5:21. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.
- The papacy say that God´s word from the Bible is no rule of faith. The Bible says 2 Tim 3:16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
- The papacy has changed the 10 commandments of God in their own Bible compared to the original Hebrew:
- They have ruled out the second commandment saying, “you shall not make for yourself a graven image – – – and you shall not bow down to them or serve them.”
- They do not specify what the Lord´s day is, like the Sabbath which is the seventh day of the week.
- They have divided the last commandment into two commandments which is, thou shalt not covet. To compare see Ex 20:2-17 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church at www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism
- The papacy has changed the Sabbath day from Saturday the seventh day of the week to Sunday the first day of the week.
Peter Geiermann, The Convert´s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, 1957, p.50. Copyright 1930 by B. Herder Book Co., St Louis. (Q=Question, A=Answer)[16]
- Which is the Sabbath day?
- Saturday is the Sabbath day.
- Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
- We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
The correct Sabbath is the seventh day of the week on a Saturday installed by God at creation. Gen 2:1-3.
- Veneration of the saints. The Bible says in the Ten Commandments Ex 20: 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them.” This includes the worshipping of saints, their images and their statues.
- The immaculation of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Immaculation means that the virgin Mary was conceived free from the taint of original sin (in 1854 declared an article of faith of R.C. Church). The Bible says in Rom 3:23 “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This includes the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary.
The question is how do these false teachings take away the truths of the heavenly sanctuary?
First of all, the Roman Catholic Church system of priests forgiving their members of their sins in a booth, and incorporating indulgences and purgatory, is a substitute of the forgiving of sins by our heavenly Father in the heavenly sanctuary through the Lamb of God. Heb 8:1.2. “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, which is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man.” John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
So the only priest we have to come to for the forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9) is in the heavenly sanctuary and not any institution on earth. The pope is not the supreme authority and High priest over all the church and churches in Christendom. Christ is our only High Priest and has supreme authority in the heavenly sanctuary and over all men on earth. Heb 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.” Heb 8:1.2. Heb 9:11. Ephes 5:23.24.
Furthermore, salvation in the heavenly sanctuary is not by works but by faith alone on the merits of Christ the Lamb of God and Christ as our High Priest. John 1:29. Ephes 2:8.
As regarding the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath, these were written by Gods own finger on stone and placed in the ark in the Most Holy Place. Ex 31:18. Deut 10:1-5. There is no place in the Bible where it says that the Ten Commandments were done away with at the cross. They are still binding on all men and Christians, because if they were done away with, all men would be allowed to steal, murder, and commit adultery etc. However, God does not allow this in his kingdom, therefore the commandments are still binding in his heavenly kingdom and are still binding for us today on earth. Rev 11:19. Rev 14:12. Rev 12:17
[1] William H. Shea, Selected Studies on Prophetic Interpretation (Washington D.C.: The Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1982), 43-66.
[2] Francis D. Nichol, Edit., The Seventh-day Bible Commentary Vol 4 (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1976), 826.
[3] Don F. Neufield, Julia Neuffer, Eds., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Student´s Source Book, Vol. 9 (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1962), 677.
[4] Ibid., 679.
[5] Ibid., 680.
[6] Ibid., 886.
[7] Ibid., 613.
[8] Ibid., 614.
[9] Francis Brown, S.R. Driver and C.A. Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980). 283. 284b.
[10] Siegfried H. Horn, Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, Vol. 8 (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald, 1979), 257.
[11] Ibid, 258.
[12] Brown, Driver and Briggs, 1055a.
[13] George La Piana and John Swomley, Catholic Power VS. American Freedom (New York: Prometheus Books, 2002, 211.
[14] Tim Dowley, Ed., A Lion Handbook: The History of Christianity (Herts: Lion Pub., 1977), 269.
[15] Ibid., 333.
[16] Don F. Neufield and Julia Neuffer, Ed., 886.