A SMALL HORN GAINS THE ASCENDANCY

"I kept on considering the horns," said Daniel, "and, look! another horn, a small one, came up in among them, and there were three of the first horns that were plucked up from before it."  (Daniel 7:8) Concerning this outgrowth the angel told David: "Another one will rise up after them [the ten kings], and he himself will be different from the first ones, and three kings he will humiliate." (Daniel 7:24) Who is this king, when did he rise and what three kings did he humiliate? 

Consider the following developments. In 55 B.C.E., Roman General Julius Caesar invaded Britannia but failed to establish a permanent settlement.  In 43 C.E.,Emperor Claudius began a more permanent conquest of southern Britain.  Then, in 122 C.E., Emperor Hadrian began to build a wall from the Tyne River to the Solway Firth, marking the northern limit of the Roman Empire.  Early in the fifth century, the Roman legions left the island.  "In the sixteenth century,"explained one historian, "England had been a second-rate power.  Its wealth was slight compared with that of the Netherlands.  Its population was much less than that of France.  Its armed forces (including its navy) were inferior to Spain's."  Britain evidently was an insignificant kingdom then, making up the symbolic small horn of the fourth beast.  But that was to change. 

In 1588, Philip II of Span launched the Spanish Armada against Britain.  This fleet of 130 ships, carrying more than 24,000 men, sailed up the English Channel, only to suffer defeat by the British Navy and to fall victim to contrary winds and fierce Atlantic storms.  This event "marked the decisive passing of navel superiority from Spain to England," said one historian.  In the 17th century, the Dutch developed the world's largest merchant marine.  With growing overseas colonies, however, Britain prevailed over that kingdom.  During the 18th century, the British and the French fought each other in North America and India, leading to the Treaty of Paris in 1763.  This treaty, said author William B. Wilcox, "recognized Britain's new position as the predominant European power in the world beyond Europe."  Britain's supremacy was confirmed by the crushing victory over Napoleon of France in 1815 C.E. The "three kings" that Britain thus 'humiliated' were Spain, the Netherlands,  and France. (Daniel 7:24) As a result, Britain emerged as the world's greatest colonial and commercial power. Yes, the "small" horn grew to become a world power! 

Next time: Conclusion of A SMALL HORN GAINS THE ASCENDANCY

From the book:  PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999