KEYS OF THE KINGDOM STUDY GUIDES

Daniel Seven, Part 1 • “The Antichrist Revealed”

Note: The Medes and Persians are depicted as a bear that is raised up on one side with
Introduction & Review three ribs in it’s mouth. It is raised on one side because it was the duel monarchy of the
Medes and Persians The largest species of bear lived in the mountains of Media. They
As we’ve studied the first six chapters of Daniel, we have seen how God led and were slow and ferocious and thus a fit symbol of Medo-Persia. The three ribs represented
supported Daniel and his friends as they represented Him in a hostile environ- the three great powers that Medo-Persia had to consume to gain supremacy: Babylon
ment. The seven spiritual keys we have studied laid the foundation for their vic- (conquered in 538 B.C.), Lydia (conquered in 547 B.C.) and Egypt (conquered in 525
tories. Each of these keys had to do with our relationship with Christ. In fact it B.C.). Can you remember what metal was used to depict Medo-Persia in Daniel 2?
could be said that He is the Master Key! In today’s lesson we will learn yet an-
other Spiritual Key. This week’s key will be: Allowing God to change me. He Read Daniel 7:6
can change anything in my life. I won’t try to change God; I want Him to change 5. Who did the third beast represent?
me.
Note: The swift leopard that had four heads and four wings on its back is a fit symbol of
In today’s lesson, Daniel is given a vision that reviews and expands the overview the Grecian empire. Alexander the Great conquered the world swiftly by age 33. Unfor-
of world history we saw in Daniel two. tunately, he hadn’t conquered himself and died in a drunken stupor in Babylon. The his-
torian Wheeler, explains what became of his empire and will shed light on the symbolism
Read Daniel 7:1-3,15,16 of the four heads. “Each one (head) whetted the sword against the other, and the empire
went down in a tangle of strife and carnage. Within the close of the century, and the issue
1. Did Daniel understand the vision he saw? of the battle of Ipsus (301 B.C.) it had resolved itself into four well-ascertained domains.
1.) Syria and Babylonia under Seleucus. 2.) Egypt under Ptolemy. 3.) Thrace and Asia-
Note: Daniel did not know the meaning of the vision and it troubled him (vs. 15). In
Minor under Lysimachus. 4.) Macedonia and Greece under Cassander.” Alexander the
seeking for understanding, he turned to the heavenly messenger that stood by him and
Great, pg. 494. Can you remember the metal used to depict Greece in Daniel 2?
asked for help to understand (vs. 16).
Read Daniel 7:7
Read Revelation 17:1,15; Daniel 7:17,23
6. Who was the fourth kingdom?
2. What did the beasts and the sea represent?
Note: The fourth kingdom was Rome, described as exceedingly strong and with the abil-
Note: Daniel and Revelation are companion books. The imagery used is prophetic
ity to crush and trample all the others. The historian Gibbon described Rome in this man-
symbolism. In Revelation we find that the sea represents tongues multitudes and na-
ner. “The empire of the Romans filled the world…the world became a safe and dreary
tions (Rev. 17:15). Beasts are used in both books to represent nations or kingdoms
prison for his enemies.” The Decline & Fall Of The Roman Empire, Vol. 1, Chp. 3. Can
(Dan. 7:17,23; Rev. 13). Daniel’s vision had to do with nations or kingdoms (beasts)
you remember what metal was used to depict Rome in Daniel 2?
that would arise out of a heavily populated area (sea).
Read Daniel 7:8,23-24.
Read Daniel 7:4
7. How many horns did the last kingdom have. What did they represent?
3. Who was the first kingdom?
Note: The horns represented the barbarian kingdoms that followed Rome. Many of these
Note: The lion was the symbol of ancient Babylon. In our last chapter we found that
kingdoms are in existence today, though their names may be somewhat different. Most
Daniel had been thrown to the lions. Jeremiah likened the Babylonians to lions (see
historians mention the following: Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Suevi, Visigoths, Burgundians,
Jeremiah 50:17) and Habakkuk likened them to eagles (see Habakkuk 1:8). The Ish-
Alemanni, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Heruli, Vandals. This beast has ten horns. The image
tar gate of ancient Babylon had lions on them. Babylon ruled the world from 608 -
of a man in Daniel 2 most likely had how many toes?
538 B.C. Do you remember what metal was used to describe Babylon in Daniel 2?
Read Daniel 7:8
Read Daniel 7:5
8. What new power do we see in this verse?
4. Who does the second beast depict?
Details concerning the little horn in vs. 8:
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1. Little horn (kingdom) Read 1 Corinthians 3:16

2. Rises from among the 10 horns (kingdoms) that follow Rome 11. According to Paul (who wrote both the letters to the Thessalonians and Corin-
3. Different than all the preceding kingdoms thians), what is the ‘temple of God’?
4. This horn is to pluck up 3 of the 10 horns (kingdoms) Note: Christians are the temple of God. Collectively they comprise the church, which is
also the temple of God. Paul’s warning concerning the Antichrist was that this power
5. This horn is to speak great (pompous) words (things) would ultimately invade the ‘temple of God’, the church. The church would ‘fall away’
6. It will have eyes and mouth like a man (apostasize), under the influence of ‘the son of perdition’. In only one other place is the
phrase ‘son of perdition’ used. It was used to describe Judas, an apostle very close to Je-
Note: Many throughout history have indicated that the little horn is a depiction of the sus, who ‘fell away’ while at the same time trying to draw the others within the church to
‘Antichrist’. There have been many ideas concerning the identity of Antichrist. Ro- follow him.
manians thought Dracula was the Antichrist. Germans and others pointed to Hitler.
More recently others thought Ronald Reagan was, as he had six letters in each of his Luke’s testimony in the book of Acts - AD 31-62
three names. Still others thought Gorbachev, as he had a splotch or mark on his fore-
head. Read Acts 20:28-30
Many have had ideas, but what does the Bible say? 12. Where would the attack come from?
Note: There would be an attack from outside and then it would move inside. This is the
Read Matthew 24:24 same concept we have seen in 2 Thessalonians where that man of sin would be in the
9. What did Jesus say about the Antichrist? church and would be lawless and would be sitting in the temple.

Note: Jesus indicates that there would by many false Christ’s and false prophets. The John’s ministry - AD 27-90
term “anti” literally can mean several things. Against (anti) or “in place of”. Christ
indicated that powers would arise that would be ‘against’ Him, and that would at- Read 1 John 4:1-3; 2:18
tempt to put themselves ‘in place of’ Him.
13. What did the apostle John say?
Paul’s witness in A.D. 51
Note: John, writing around A.D. 90, indicates that the spirit of the Antichrist was already
in the world. Antichrist had not yet appeared, but he would very soon.
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Second Century: Turtullian a leader and preacher:
10. What does Paul say about the Antichrist?
“What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scat-
2 Thes 2:1,2 - People were hearing that Jesus had already returned tered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon its own ruins? ‘And then shall be
2 Thes 2:3 - Paul told them that before Jesus would return there would be a ‘falling revealed the wicked one, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth and
away’ (apostasy) and that the man of sin, ‘the son of perdition’ would be revealed. the brightness of His coming.’”

2 Thes 2:4 The son of perdition would: Note: Turtullian was still looking for the Antichrist. He understood that Rome must fall,
a. ‘oppose’ God and that Antichrist would arise out of the ruins of the Roman Empire. This is exactly the
b. ‘exalt himself’ above God picture we’ve been given in Daniel 7:8. A little horn (kingdom) with the characteristics of
c. ‘sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’ the Antichrist would arise out of the 10 horns (kingdoms) following the Roman Empire.

Note: This is a clear description of what the Antichrist was to do. It would happen in Third Century: Bishop Hippolytus of Portus Romanus:
the temple of God. Additionaly, it would occur after Paul’s ministry, but sometime “The legs of iron, and the dreadful and terrible beast, expressed the Romans who hold the
prior to the second coming of Jesus. It would be prior to the second coming of Jesus sovereignty at present; The toes of the feet were part of clay and part of iron, and the ten
because it occurs within the church. horns, were emblems of the kingdoms that are yet to rise; the little horn that grows up
among them meant the Antichrist in their midst.” Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and
Antichrist chaps. 28,29, in ANF, vol. 5, p. 210.
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Note: Hippolytus knows exactly where he is in earth’s history. He understood what affirm to be the Pope. When his seat is placed in the temple of God, it suggests that his
the horns and beast represented. After the fall of Rome, he fully expected that the lit- kingdom will be such that he will not abolish the name of Christ or the Church. Hence it
tle horn (Antichrist) would arise, just as Turtullian had seen. appears that we by no means deny that churches may exist, even under his tyranny; but
he has profaned them by sacrilegious impiety, afflicted them by cruel despotism, cor-
Fourth Century: St. Jerome, the author of the Latin Bible: rupted and almost terminated their existence by false and pernicious doctrines; like poi-
“Paul shows...according to the prophet Daniel, Antichrist will not come before Rome sonous potions, in such churches, Christ lies half buried, the Gospel is suppressed, piety
falls.” exterminated, and the worship of God almost abolished; in a word, they are altogether in
such a state of confusion that they exhibit a picture of Babylon, rather than of the holy
“Antichrist may sit in the temple of God...the church, showing himself as if he him- city of God” (ICR, Bk. 4, chap. 2, sec. 12).
self were Christ.” Commentaria in Danielem, chap. 25, in Migne, PL, vol. 22, col.
1037. John Knox: Knox wrote to abolish “that tyranny which the pope himself has for so many
ages exercised over the church” and that the pope should be recognized as “the very anti-
Note: Does Jerome seem to understand the time sequence of Daniel 7? Just like Je- christ, and son of perdition of whom Paul speaks.” (Taken from “The Zurich Letters” pg.
sus, John, Paul, Turtullian & Hippolytus, he understood that Antichrist would arise 199 by John Knox)
after the fall of the Roman Empire. In addition, he understood the verse in 2 Thessa-
lonians in the same way that we have understood the verse. Of course he was a very Note: The testimony of these and countless others all point to the same power. We must
good Bible scholar. He translated the entire Bible into Latin. recognize how painful a reality this discovery was for each of these leaders. All of whom
agreed that the church of Rome fit the description of Daniel 7:8.
After the fall of Rome occurred and the Antichrist power came on the
scene—what was the condition of the church? Does the church of Rome fit the description of Daniel 7:8?

“Pagan ceremonies were established in Christian churches…until…Christianity ex- 14. Was the papacy a little horn (small kingdom)?
hibited so grotesque and hideous a form, that its best features were lost, and…its Note: Yes, a small kingdom in Rome.
early loveliness altogether destroyed.” History of Civilization, V. 1, p. 188.
15. Was this power different than other kingdoms?
Who then was the Antichrist power? Let’s fast forward and look at the testimony
of Archbishop Eberhard II, writing in 1241 A.D. Note: Yes, it united the church and state unlike any prior kingdom. We will look at this in
more detail a bit later.
“Hildebrand, one hundred and thirty years before, first laid the foundation for the
empire of Antichrist under the appearance of religion...A little horn has sprung 16. Did it arise among the ten kingdoms?
up...which has eyes and a mouth speaking great things...He mingles divine and hu-
Note: Yes, the ten kingdoms that arose out of the fallen Roman Empire encircle Vatican
man things. What is more clear than this prophecy...Under the title of Pontifex
City.
Maximus, we discern, unless we are blind, a most savage wolf, with the garments of
a shepherd.” Ionnes Aventinus, Avaler Boiorum Libri Septem, pp. 684, 685. 17. Did the papacy come up after the breakup of Rome?
Note: Eberhard came to a shocking conclusion. He believed the little horn of Daniel Note: Yes, the ten divisions of Rome were in place when the papacy came to power. The
7:8 and Acts 20:28-30 to be the leader of his Roman Catholic Church who had taken Roman Empire ended about 476 A.D. and the papacy came to rule at 538 A.D.
the pagan title ‘Pontifex Maximus’ (Pontifex = ‘A man on the highest council of
priests in ancient Rome’ & Maximus = ‘the greatest”). His voice was soon joined by 18. Did it pluck up three kingdoms?
others who recognized just how far the church had fallen. Note: Yes, the Heruli were destroyed in 493 A.D., and the Vandals in 534 A.D. The last
The testimony of additional Catholic leaders: of the three, the Ostrogoths were plucked up in 538 A.D. The extermination of these three
powers gave the papacy complete control.
Martin Luther: “We are convinced that the papacy is the seat of the true and real An-
tichrist” (What Luther Says, ed. Ewald M. Plass, Vol. 1, 34). “You should know that 19. Did the papacy speak great words and have a man at its head?
the pope is the real, true, final Antichrist, of whom the entire Scripture speaks, whom Note: Yes, the pope is at the head of the church. Here is a quote of some great words
the Lord is beginning to consume with the spirit of his mouth and will very soon de- against the Most High:
stroy and slay with the brightness of his coming, for which we are waiting” (Plass,
op. cit., Vol. 1, 36, 37). “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Himself
hidden under the veil of the flesh. Does the Pope speak? It is Jesus Christ who speaks.”
John Calvin: “Daniel and Paul had predicted that Antichrist would sit in the temple The Archbishop of Venice, prior to becoming Pope Pius X.
of God. The head of that cursed and abominable kingdom, in the Western church, we
Page 4 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 7, Part 1

“We hold the place of God Almighty on earth,” The Great Encyclical Letters of Leo, by the Roman Church indicate that they are well aware of the truthfulness of this history.
XIII, p. 304.
22. Did this power attempt to change God’s laws?
From the book, Dignities and Duties of a Priest, by Liguori:
“The Pope is of so great authority and power that He can modify, explain or interpret
“The priest has the power of the keys, or power of delivering sinners from hell, of even divine laws...The pope can modify divine law since his power is not of man but of
making them worthy of paradise. And God himself is obliged to abide by the judg- God and he acts as a vicegerent [in place of] of God upon earth.” Lucius Ferarri, Promta
ment of his priests.” p. 27 Bibliotheca, art. “Papa”, Vol. VI, p. 29.
Note: John 2:22 “For the father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Note: One example of this activity has been the way the church has related to the com-
Son.” mandment concerning images in its instructional manuals. In the King James Bible, the
second commandment reads: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any
“The priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator, since by
likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in
saying the words of consecration, he creates as it were Jesus...” p. 32
the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I
Note: Romans 1:25 “Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and the Lord thy God am a jealous God…” Exodus 20:4,5
served the creature rather than the Creator; who is blessed forever, Amen.”
However, because this was and is a hard commandment to explain in light of the images
“When He ascended to heaven, Jesus Christ left His priest... to hold on earth His within the church to which people bow, the Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (by
place as mediator between God and man.” p. 34 Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., p. 49) has skipped this commandment and split the tenth
commandment into two. This is the case in many Catechisms, as through the centuries
Note: 1 Timothy 2:5 ‘There is one mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ this power sought to change ‘laws’.
Jesus.”
23. Did this power rule for the right amount of time?
“The priest holds the place of the Savior Himself when by saying ‘Ego te absolvo’ (I
absolve you), he absolves from sin.” p. 34 Note: It was to rule for “a time, a times and a half a time.” A time is a year (Daniel 4:16)
so a time equals a year, times equals two years and half a time equals half a year so this
Note: We can forgive others, but we cannot blot out their sins.
totals three and a half years, or 1260 days. Notice the diagram below:

Read Daniel 7:25 ‘time’ is one Jewish year (Dan. 4:16) 360 days

20. What are some more characteristics of the little horn? ‘times’ is two years 720 days

a. He shall speak great words against the most High. ‘half a time’is one-half year 180 days

b. He shall wear out the saints of the Most High. Total 1260 days

c. He shall think to change times. Note: Did the little horn, the Catholic power remain in control of world events for only 3
1/2 years? No, it remained in control throughout what has been called, ‘the dark ages’.
d. He shall think to change laws. So, how are we to understand this time period? Let’s look at Ezekiel 4:6, and Numbers
14:34. What do these texts show us?
e. The saints will given into his hand for a time, times and half a time.
Ezekiel 4:16 - A prophetic day = a literal year
21. Were the saints persecuted by this power?
Numbers 14:34 - A prophetic day = a literal year
“The church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that
has ever existed among mankind....These atrocities were not perpetrated in the brief From these texts we can see that a day equals a year in Bible prophecy. This would mean
paroxysms of a reign of terror, [such as the French Revolution], or by the hands of that instead of looking for a power that would rule for only 3 1/2 literal years or 1260
obscure secretaries, but were inflicted by a triumphant church, with every circum- days, we should look for a power that was in control for 1260 years.
stance of solemnity and deliberation…” W.E.H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influ-
ence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, (reprint; New York: Breziller, 1955), vol. The Bible mentions this same power and time prophecy many times in Scripture, to help
2, pp. 40-43. us make no mistake as to it’s identity and length of rule let’s look at the following texts:

Note: There are many books describing the truth of the above quote such as Foxes Rev. 11:2 – ‘forty and two months’
Book of Martyrs and Martyrs Mirror. In addition, recent apologies for such atrocities Rev. 11:3 – ‘a thousand two hundred and threescore days’
Page 5 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 7, Part 1

Rev. 12:6 - “twelve hundred and sixty days” Of course none of the faithful Roman Catholics who were protesting and calling for re-
form listened to these attempts to ‘change times’. They were willing to die if need be to
Rev. 12:14 - ‘a time, times, and half a time” bring their church back to its original purity.
Rev. 13:5 - ‘Forty two months’
Conclusion and Appeal
Dan. 12:7 – ‘a time, times, and an half’
So we see a consistency in language and time period and with the day for a year prin- Do you clearly see the identity of the historical ‘Antichrist’ of Scripture?
ciple we are now ready to ask some questions concerning the papal power. Which of the following would you do if someone said that you were living in a way
24. When did the papacy come into power? When did it fall from power? that was against Christ (Antichrist)? What would you do if someone suggested that
you were putting something or someone else in place of Christ?
“Vigilius ascended the papal chair in (538 A.D.) under the military protection of Be-
lisarius.” History of the Christian Church, vol. 3, p.327. a. I would deny it.
Note: So the starting point for the 1260 days would be 538 A.D. What is 538 + 1260? b. I would get angry and try to stop them from saying it.
It is 1798 A.D.. What happened in 1798?
c. I would study the Bible and attempt to apply Scriptures in another way.
“Berthier (the general of Napoleon) entered Rome on the tenth of February, 1798,
and proclaimed a republic…In 1798 he (Berthier)…made his entrance into Rome, d. I would allow God, by His power & grace to change & reform me into His image
abolished the Papal government and established a secular one.” The Encyclopedia
Americana, 1941.
Hopefully each of us will accept God’s grace and allow Him to exercise His power
in our lives. The real purpose of this and every other chapter in the Bible is not to
As a result of all these facts, many came to the conclusion that the papacy was the have us be able to point the finger at other people or religions, It is to lead us to a
Antichrist of Scripture. But how did the church respond? Which of the following decision to behold Christ and to allow Him to completely change us into His own
ways would you respond if someone said that you were the ‘Antichrist’? image and likeness.
a. I would deny it?
b. I would get angry and try to stop them from saying it?
Suggested Memory Text

c. I would study the Bible and attempt to apply the Scriptures in another way? “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
Unfortunately the papacy attempted to ‘change times’ as prophecy said it would in his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25
Daniel 7:25. They attempted to change people’s understanding of the time prophecies
that had identified the papacy as the Antichrist. They tried two tactics:
Next Time
First: They applied the prophecy of the little horn to the past. They said in essence,
‘look, the little horn was already here. This prophecy doesn’t apply to us. It already In our next exciting study, we will conclude the seventh chapter of Daniel
happened.’
Second: They tried to apply it to the future. Here is how one author describes this at-
tempt.
“In 1590, Ribera published a commentary on the Revelation as a counter-
interpretation to the prevailing view among Protestants which identified the papacy
with the Antichrist. Ribera applied all of Revelation but the earliest chapters to the
end time rather than to the history of the Church…The first Protestant to adopt it was
S.R. Maitland...William Burgh has given the first systematic treatment of prophetic
events following the new futurist interpretation in Lectures on the Second Advent of
Our Lord Jesus Christ (in 1835).” George E. Ladd, The Blessed Hope, pp. 37-39
(1956).