Dear Pastor Ron: Let’s continue to look at the prophecy in Daniel 7 dealing with the ‘little horn’. Pt. 4
In our previous article we saw that the ‘little horn’ of Daniel 7:8 represented the Roman Catholic religio-political system that took the place of the Western Roman empire when the Caesars moved the capital to Turkey, naming the new city Constantinople.
However, Daniel goes on to give more confirmatory details to show that this little horn was indeed Roman Catholicism. In verse 25 we read that this, new ruler, the Little Horn, will do several things against God: 1) He speaks great words against the most High (God); 2) He shall wear out or persecute and kill the saints of God; 3) He shall think to change times and laws, and 4) He shall exist for ‘a time, times, and half a time.’
Since we have seen historically that this kingdom, the little horn, was the Papal government of the Roman Catholic Church, let us see if the papal power was indeed implicated in these actions. Number one, he shall speak great (pompous) words against God. Here’s what history shows us about the papacy in the book, The Rise of the Medieval Church, 1959, pp 148, 9: “The Catholic church completely took over the power, authority and jurisdiction of the Caesars when they [the Caesars] left Italy for Constantinople.”
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church by John Paul II, CCC. No 982 we read: “There is no offense, no matter how serious that the church cannot forgive.” And again in CCC. No 868 we read: [the catholic church] “She bears in herself and administers the totality of the means of salvation.” In the New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 9, 386 we read: “Pius XII affirmed strongly the queenship of Mary, inserting in the Calendar for May 31st, a new feast of Mary Queen. Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother and Queen, October 31st, 1942, as a public recognition of her queenship.” Pope Leo the Great (440-446) taught that only the priests can secure forgiveness of sins for the sinful from God. The question Box, New Edition, by Rev. Bertrand L. Conway, Copyright 1929, by “The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle,” NY, Pub. by The Paulist Press, 401 West 59th. St., NY, pp. 283-284.
In Ferraris Ecclesiastical Dictionary we read: “The pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God.” In the coronation of Pope John XXIII, Nov. 4, 1958, we read: “No man may enter (into the kingdom) unless he is led by the Sovereign Pontiff, and only if they be united to him, can men be saved.” And Ferraris tells us in Prompta Bibliotheca, 1763, Vol., VI, papa, 11, page 26, that the pope is crowned with a triple crown, being king of heaven and earth. Many people are aware that Catholicism is not only a religion, but a political government as well. Therefore, in keeping with history, we can safely say that Daniel 7 on the Little Horn is referring to the rise of another political power in Europe, and this government is none other than the Vatican, headquarters and capital of the Roman Catholic state in Italy. There are many more examples of the little horn speaking great words against God. You may research or Google this yourself.
The next article will deal with the ‘killing the saints of the most High’ to see if this also applies to the papacy. God bless. Pastor Ron Henderson is a retired Seventh-day Adventist pastor. For any questions reach him at ron.hende@gmail.com.