The Antichrist, the Little Horn, & the Beast

THE ANTICHRIST, THE LITTLE HORN, AND THE BEAST

Many are aware that the word “antichrist” only appears in 1 John and 2 John and it would seem that the apostle John actually invented the word.  As a matter of reference the word “antichrist” does not appear in the Revelation although it is a popular and well known title for the “beast” which first appears in Revelation as a word in chapter 13.  As a side note there is an indication in the Revelation that the beast is a nation or empire and not actually a person although an empire is ruled by a person.

A Different Interpretation

According to the writings of Dr. Stephen Jones, who does not follow the popular faddish prophetic thinking, the Revelation beast is an extension of the little horn of Daniel and of course, horns are an extension of the animal or beast on which they appear.  If the fourth beast of Daniel is the last world empire affecting the Canaan-Israel area then the Roman Empire would be the last, although extended, empire referred to in scripture.  The fourth beast of Daniel 7 had (or has) ten horns with a “little horn” appearing and usurping (subduing) three of the ten original horns.  The three subdued horns represent three of ten regions of the original Roman Empire that were conquered or subdued by the Vatican with a hired military.  The Vatican/Church then were called the Holy Roman Empire until they were militarily subdued by Napoleon.

Dr. Jones considers the fourth beast as the Roman Empire with the little horn being an extension of the Roman Empire identified as the Church of Rome (Holy Roman Empire) or the Roman Catholic Church (as it later became known).  The Roman Church or Vatican would also be the beast.  If the beast is also a man then the man could or would be the Pope.

Daniel 7:24-25 KJV  And 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.  (25)  And 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.

Daniel 7: The Vision of the Four Beasts # 5: by Dr. Stephen Jones - Excerpt

This little horn is not a single individual, but an extension of the beast with iron teeth. The only entity in history that fits the description of a power coming out of Rome (after its collapse) is the Roman Church, which has dominated Europe to this day. Though it started with the Emperor Justinian, who reigned in “New Rome” (i.e., Constantinople), the actual power was given to the Bishop of old Rome just a year after Justinian adopted “Church law” as the law of the empire.

As for the boasting of the little horn, it is sufficient to say for now that the foundational boast was that Rome was The Eternal City, as if it would never fall. The Roman Church believes that it is the seat of the Kingdom of God. It does not see that it is the little horn preceding the Kingdom of God. Hence, it claims, based on their misinterpretation of Matthew 16:18, that it will never be overthrown:

The French Revolution, for all symbolic practical purposes, destroyed the Roman Church (Holy Roman Empire). This event overthrew the Christian monarch and replaced it with a Republican form of government. It also secularized the nation, forcing it out of the pope’s spiritual dominion.  It can be said that Napoleon delivered the head wound to the beast when he overthrew Rome and took the pope captive in 1798, imprisoning him until his death.  However, the fatal head wound was healed when Napoleon reinstated the pope in 1804 for the express purpose of crowning him as emperor.

In a symbolic, almost literal, manner the head of the beast-horn or head of the Roman Church appeared to have a fatal wound or head wound.  Then the beast-horn was resurrected or brought back to life by the same individual who seemed to destroy it.

Revelation 13:3 KJV  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

The second beast (false prophet) then arose as the custodian of the beast-horn’s finances and wealth.  This second beast could be described as a financial or banking beast.  The Rothschild family, the creators of the modern banking system arose in financial power at the same time the pope was taken captive by Napoleon and were later named as guardian of the Vatican’s finances, appointed by the so-called Holy Alliance.

Summary by the Author:  The Revelation as a prophetic history of the early Church in mostly symbolic language and events, explains the writings quite well as opposed to the literal interpretation of Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey, and others of their persuasion. The literal understanding presents a series of supernatural events with supernatural entities roaming the planet which does not correspond or match the rest of the Bible.  Throughout scripture, certain acts of God are recorded that can be explained through unusual natural phenomena but were placed in motion by the creation of God. 

Dr. Jones interpretation covers all the events concerning God’s people up to the Great White Throne Judgment.  He does not maintain that all prophecies were fulfilled in 70-73 AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, as in preterism.   He maintains the book of Daniel contains historical prophecy up to 33 AD.  The Revelation, recorded by John adds historical details (in symbolic form) to Daniel and extends the prophecies to the Great White Throne judgment.

If the Roman Church is an extension of the Roman Empire and the pope is the “little horn” then the boasting of the horn should become more extensive and blasphemous in the near future.  It will be something to watch for.

It is not necessary to accept what has been written, but a prophecy student should always be aware of different possibilities.

The Antichrist of John

Getting back to John and the antichrist – John states in 1 John 2:18 that as of his writing this statement, “many antichrists have appeared”.

1 John 2:18 NET  Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.

John then gives a definition of an antichrist.  It is a person who denies that Jesus is the Christ (or Messiah).  Does the Pope proclaim that Jesus is the head of the Kingdom of God or does he (the pope) consider himself to be the head of the kingdom?  Does the belief of Mary as a co-redemptive agent take away from or exempt Jesus as the redeemer?

1 John 2:22-23 NET  Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.  (23)  Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.

Atheists, agnostics, and other similar minded people could also be considered as an antichrist.  John further states that any spirit (or person) that does not confess Jesus – that spirit is not from God but rather has the spirit of the antichrist.

1 John 4:3 NET  but every spirit that does not confess Jesus, is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.

Last, but certainly not least, we have Judaism and its insistence that Jesus was not the Messiah.  John states that “people who do not confess Jesus as Christ or the Messiah who appeared in the flesh as a real person during the first century is “the deceiver and the antichrist”.  They may claim to believe in God but do not “confess Jesus is from God” 1 John 4:3, but those “who deny the Son do not have the Father either” 1 John 2:23.

2 John 1:7 NET  For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!

So, there it is from John the apostle.  Judaism has no standing with God without Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Islam, Buddhism, Taoism or any other “ism” has no standing with God without Jesus Christ, the Son of God.