Bible Relationship: Daniel’s Little Horn and Revelation’s Beast with Head Wound
Question: Is there any correlation between Daniel's little horn who would be king, and John's Revelation about the creature with the head wound that healed?
Yes, there appears to be a strong correlation between Daniel’s “little horn” and the beast in Revelation whose deadly wound was healed.
Annotation:
Daniel's Vision of "Little Horn" and John's
[Final World Power] Head of the Beast; Wounded/healed...
1. Daniel’s Little Horn
In Daniel, the little horn rises out of the ten earthly kingdoms springing from Rome's demise.
WEB: “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one... and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
The horn appears intelligent, observant, and boastful.
BSB: “He will speak against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the set times and laws...”
The little horn opposes God and persecutes God's people.
BBE: “But the judge will be seated, and they will put an end to his authority...”
God eventually removes this power and gives the Kingdom to the saints.
The little horn:
- rises from among kings,
- speaks arrogantly against God,
- persecutes the saints,
- changes laws and times,
- temporarily prospers,
- is finally destroyed by God.
Annotation: The "little horn" springs from the kingdom becoming dominant among the ten that arise after Rome's demise, and the little horn itself becomes or tries to become king of the earth. In part, just by drawing such special attention to the little horn; the Bible seems to indicate the little horn's assault is not just against God's own people, but against righteousness and integrity in general. He clearly represents something the world had never seen exposed...
2. Revelation’s Beast With the Head Wound Healed
John later describes a beast rising from the sea.
WEB: “His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.”
The world becomes amazed by the apparent recovery of the beast.
GW: “The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and insulting things... It was allowed to fight against God's holy people and defeat them.”
Revelation repeats the same themes found in Daniel: arrogance, blasphemy, and persecution.
The beast:
- receives worldwide admiration,
- blasphemes God,
- persecutes believers,
- rules for a limited time,
- is empowered by the dragon,
- is ultimately destroyed by Christ.
Annotation:
3. Direct Parallels Between Daniel 7 and Revelation 13
| Daniel Little Horn |
Revelation Beast |
| Speaks great things |
Speaks blasphemies |
| Persecutes saints |
Makes war on saints |
Limited authority [3 1/2 years]
Times and time and half a time |
42 months authority |
| Rises among kingdoms |
Rises from the sea of nations |
| Destroyed by divine judgment |
Destroyed by Christ |
WEB: “The beast which I saw was like a leopard... and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.”
John combines Daniel’s earlier beast imagery into one final beast.
Daniel’s:
- lion,
- bear,
- leopard,
- terrible beast
all appear echoed in Revelation.
Annotation:
4. The Wounded Head That Heals
Interpretations vary regarding the healed wound.
It may represent:
- a revived kingdom,
- a ruler surviving a deadly event,
- a counterfeit resurrection,
- the restoration of a former empire.
BSB: “They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast...”
The beast receives worship and authority through Satan.
Regardless of interpretation, the result is the same:
- the world marvels,
- the world follows,
- the world gives allegiance.
Annotation: The world marvels at the little horn and what he accomplishes; but apparently not in his own power
[No one can understand "why" he has such great {apparent but short lived} success.]. (
Dan 8:24 of 23-26) Food for thought: Jesus Christ had to read about his future suffering as he grew up. (
Isa 53:1-12) Do you suppose who ever the "little horn" proves to be will read these scriptures and realize they are talking about him; as he plays out his part like a marionette and awaits what the Bible foretells about him
[thousands of years in advance]. (
Isa 45:22-25) Do you suppose he considers converting to Christianity? At this late date; do you suppose he could?
5. The “King” Language
WEB: “The ten horns are ten kings...”
Daniel directly identifies the horns as kings.
OEB: “The ten horns that you saw are ten kings...”
Revelation uses the same symbolic language.
Both prophecies involve:
- kings,
- kingdoms,
- political power,
- spiritual rebellion,
- global deception.
Annotation:
6. The Most Likely Relationship
The simplest reading is:
- Daniel gives the earlier outline.
- Revelation expands the picture.
- Both describe the same final anti-God world power from different prophetic angles.
Daniel emphasizes:
- rise among kingdoms,
- political transition,
- persecution.
Revelation emphasizes:
- worldwide worship,
- deception,
- economic control,
- satanic empowerment.
Annotation: The "little horn" and the "last wicked king"
[the eighth world power] who springs from the seventh head of the wild beast [seventh world power - England/America] are likely one and the same! He is an eighth king, seemingly for the sole purpose of going off into destruction; as he leads Satan's whole wicked world system with him.
Rev 17:9-11 GNB . . ."This calls for wisdom and understanding. The seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings: (10) five of them have fallen, [Egypt, Assyria, Medo-Persia, Greece] one still rules, [Rome] and the other one has not yet come; [England-America] when he comes, he must rule only a little while. (11) And the beast that was once alive, but lives no longer
[and was healed], is itself an eighth king who is one of the seven and is going off to be destroyed.
Can you see this eighty wannabe king of the world is the last king in the sense of being the final and absolute manifestation of mankind's attempts to govern themselves apart from God. That is the same as saying they have chosen to be under the influence of Satan. Satan and his kings have tried to appear righteous and upright. (
2 Cor 11:12-15) So this eighty king and/or world power must be for the purpose of revealing this clearly to everyone: There is no hope in anything except the Kingdom of Christ Jesus. Submit to Christ or die with Satan's world, and it's last king...
7. One Important Caution
The Bible never directly says:
“The little horn IS the healed-head beast.”
So some details remain interpretive.
Still, the overlap is substantial:
- both blaspheme,
- both persecute saints,
- both dominate temporarily,
- both are judged by God,
- both appear before God’s everlasting Kingdom replaces human rule.
WEB: “In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed...”
God's Kingdom permanently replaces human kingdoms.
Annotation: The
conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard is, fear the true God and give him glory. This is the whole obligation of man
[and woman]. For the [true] God himself will bring every sort of work into the
judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad. (
Ecc 12:13-14)
Isaiah's Vision...
