THE SMALL HORN OPPOSES GOD AND HIS HOLY ONES

Daniel continued to describe his vision, saying; "I kept on beholding when that very horn made war upon the holy ones, and it was prevailing against them." (Daniel 7:21) Regarding this "horn," or king, God's angel foretold:  "He will speak even words against the Most High, and he will harass continually the holy ones themselves of the Supreme One. And he will intend to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a time, and times and half a time." (Daniel 7:25) How and when was this part of the prophecy fulfilled?

"The holy ones" persecuted by the "small" horn-the Anglo-American World Power-are Jesus' spirit-anointed followers on earth. (Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 2:9) For years before World War I, the remnant of these anointed ones publicly warned that 1914 would see the conclusion of  "the appointed time of the nations." (Luke 21:24) When war broke out in that year, it was evident that the "small" horn had ignored this warning, for it persisted in harassing the anointed "holy ones."  The Anglo-American World Power even opposed their efforts to carry out Jehovah's requirement (or, "law") that the good news of the Kingdom be preached worldwide by his witnesses. (Matthew 24:14) Thus the "small" horn attempted "to changes times and law." 

Jehovah's angel referred to a prophetic period of "a time, and times and a half a time."  How long is that?  Bible expositors generally agree that this expression denotes three and a half times-the sum of one time, two times, and a half a time.  Since Nebuchadnezzar's  "seven times"  of madness amounted to seven years, the three and a half  times, are three and a half years." (Daniel 4:16, 25)  An American Translation reads:  They shall be handed over to for a year, two years, and half a year."  James Moffatt's  version says: For three years and half a year." The same period is mentioned at Revelation 11:2-7, which states that God's witnesses would preach dressed in sackcloth for 42 months, or 1, 260 days, and then be killed.  When did this time period begin and end? 

For the anointed Christians, World War I meant a time of testing.  By the end of 1914, they were expecting persecution. In fact, the very yeartext chosen for 1915 was Jesus' question to his disciples,"Are ye able to drink of my cup?"   It was based on Matthew 20:22, King James Version. Hence, beginning in December 1914, that small band of witnesses preached "in sackcloth."

Next time: Conclusion of THE SMALL HORN OPPOSES GOD AND HIS HOLY ONES

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