The 4th represented Rome, which conquered or absorbed all the others & was much-stronger & larger than any of the others had been. Without going into much detail, I'll say its horns represented the coming kingdom of the antichrist, which Jesus will destroy.
Well you would say that because you have been taught that.
However, when Paul wrote in 2 Thess. 2 He was basing his teaching on that chapter.
I'll say its horns represented the coming kingdom of the antichrist, which Jesus will destroy.
The coming kingdom of Christ will destroy the world empire system, including the Roman government. Still in place but much weaker now since 1870 and more particularly since the Reformation. The Roman Antichrist, the Papacy will be destroyed by the "Brightness of His Coming".
OK let's consider that prophecy in more detail and look at what scripture actually says, and parts that are fulfilled, in history.
- 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Verse 17 there are four kings, or kingdoms. Only four. There is no kingdom of Antichrist. There are just Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome.
- 19Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
- 20And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
- 21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
- 22Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
- 23Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
- 24And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
- 25And 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.
- 26But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
- 27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
- 28Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
The Ten Horns were the ten kings or kingdoms that overthrew the Western Empire. The Heruli, Suevi, Burgundians, Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths,Vasndals, Lombards, Franks, and Saxons.
The three that fell were the Heruli, the Ostrogoths, and Vandals between 493 and 553.
The little horn had eyes. It was an overseer, or Bishop. Rome is called THE HOLY SEE.
He would make war with the saints. Over centuries the papacy has made war on the saints and tried to exterminate all true believers. Truly wearing down the saints of the most high.He would be diverse from the other horns as he not only claimed his kingdom is over heaven, earth and hell, but that he was the only way to God. What can be more antichrist than that?
There is plenty more but just getting ready to go to our evening service.