The 'Little Horn' I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things (Daniel 7:8).
Suggested Readings:
The Great Controversy, pp. 444, 445.
Life Sketches, p. 96.
Through half-converted pagans, ambitious prelates, and world-loving churchmen [Satan] accomplished his purpose.–The Great Controversy, p. 53.
1. FOUR BEASTS SundayJanuary 12
a. What vision was given to Daniel concerning four beasts and which of the beasts especially left a deep impression on his mind? Daniel 7:1–4, 7, 8.b. Name at least four of the characteristics mentioned in Daniel 7:7.
2. THE LITTLE HORN IDENTIFIED MondayJanuary 13
a. As Daniel was observing the ten horns in Daniel 7:8, what did he see?b. How many of the characteristics previously mentioned show that the "little horn" represents the papal power? Compare Daniel 7:8, 20, 21, 25, 26 and Revelation 13:2, 5–7, 10. (See also Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 for the year-day principle used in calculating prophetic time.)i) a blasphemous powerii) makes war against the saints and overcomes themiii) a mouth which speaks great thingsiv) "the little horn power" appears when the three powers remaining from the pagan Roman government are removedv) was to continue for the same length of time, 1260 yearsvi) this power was to be terminatedThe forty and two months are the same as the ‘time and times and the dividing of time,’ three years and a half, or 1260 days, of Daniel 7–the time during which the papal power was to oppress God’s people. This period . . . began with the supremacy of the papacy, a.d. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, ‘He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity’ (Revelation 13:10).–The Great Controversy, p. 439.A French army entered Rome and made the pope a prisoner, and he died in exile. Though a new pope was soon afterward elected, the papal hierarchy has never since been able to wield the power which it before possessed.–Ibid., p. 266.
3. A TIME OF PERSECUTION TuesdayJanuary 14
a. In what year was the temporal power of the papacy established?The 1260 years of papal supremacy began in a.d. 538.–The Great Controversy, p. 266.b. Where did the faithful find a refuge when persecuted for not accepting papal heresies? Revelation 12:6.The papal power sought to hide from the people the word of truth, and set before them false witnesses to contradict its testimony. When the Bible was proscribed by religious and secular authority; when its testimony was perverted, and every effort made that men and demons could invent to turn the minds of the people from it; when those who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured, buried in dungeon cells, martyred for their faith, or compelled to flee to mountain fastnesses, and to dens and caves of the earth –then the faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth. Yet they continued their testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years. In the darkest times there were faithful men who loved God’s word and were jealous for Hi¤ honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare His truth during the whole of this time.–The Great Controversy, pp. 267, 268.
4. DECEIVING THE PEOPLE WednesdayJanuary 15
a. What was the true nature of the teachers who did not use the Bible? 2 John 7, 9.Satan well knew that the Holy Scriptures would enable men to discern his deceptions and withstand his power. It was by the word that even the Saviour of the world had resisted his attacks. At every assault, Christ presented the shield of eternal truth, saying, ‘It is written.’ To every suggestion of the adversary, He opposed the wisdom and power of the word. In order for Satan to maintain his sway over men, and establish the authority of the papal usurper, he must keep them in ignorance of the Scriptures. The Bible would exalt God and place finite men in their true position; therefore its sacred truths must be concealed and suppressed. This logic was adopted by the Roman Church. For hundreds of years the circulation of the Bible was prohibited. The people were forbidden to read it or to have it in their houses, and unprincipled priests and prelates interpreted its teachings to sustain their pretensions. Thus the pope came to be almost universally acknowledged as the vicegerent of God on earth, endowed with authority over church and state.–The Great Controversy, p. 51.b. What plan did Satan have to gain the allegiance of the whole world, and what institutions did his agents continually attack? 2 Thessalonians 2:4."The archdeceiver had not completed his work. He was resolved to gather the Christian world under his banner and to exercise his power through his vicegerent, the proud pontiff who claimed to be the representative of Christ. Through half-converted pagans, ambitious prelates, and world-loving churchmen he accomplished his purpose. Vast councils were held from time to time, in which the dignitaries of the church were convened from all the world. In nearly every council the Sabbath which God had instituted was pressed down a little lower, while the Sunday was correspondingly exalted. Thus the pagan festival came finally to be honored as a divine institution, while the Bible Sabbath was pronounced a relic of Judaism, and its observers were declared to be accursed.
"The great apostate had succeeded in exalting himself ‘above all that is called God, or that is worshipped’ (2 Thessalonians 2:4). He had dared to change the only precept of the divine law that unmistakably points all mankind to the true and living God."–The Great Controversy, p. 53.
5. THE MARK ThursdayJanuary 16
a. What is a sign of the major characteristic of the great deceiver and particularly of his human agent? Revelation 14:9.The special characteristic of the beast, and therefore of his image, is the breaking of God’s commandments.–The Great Controversy, p. 446.b. What must characterize the children of God, and what is the sign of this? Ezekiel 20:12, 20; 2 John 6.In the fourth commandment, God is revealed as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and is thereby distinguished from all false gods. It was as a memorial of the work of creation that the seventh day was sanctified as a rest day for man. It was designed to keep the living God ever before the minds of men as the source of being and the object of reverence and worship. Satan strives to turn men from their allegiance to God, and from rendering obedience to His law; therefore he directs his efforts especially against that commandment which points to God as the Creator.–The Great Controversy, pp. 53, 54.As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God’s people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest.–Maranatha, p. 244.
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS FridayJanuary 17
1. How did God represent history so that the different world powers might be recognized?2. What clearly identifies the papacy as the fulfillment of the little horn symbolism?3. What methods and means were used by the papacy to establish its authority?4. How does the papacy maintain its hold over its own people?5. What is the essential difference between the two signs or marks?