KEYS OF THE KINGDOM STUDY GUIDES
Daniel Seven, Part 1 The Antichrist Revealed
Don Mackintosh 2006
Introduction & Review
As weve studied the first six chapters of Daniel, we have seen how God led and
supported Daniel and his friends as they represented Him in a hostile environ-
ment. The seven spiritual keys we have studied laid the foundation for their vic-
tories. Each of these keys had to do with our relationship with Christ. In fact it
could be said that He is the Master Key! In todays lesson we will learn yet an-
other Spiritual Key. This weeks key will be: Allowing God to change me. He
can change anything in my life. I wont try to change God; I want Him to change
me.
In todays lesson, Daniel is given a vision that reviews and expands the overview
of world history we saw in Daniel two.
Read Daniel 7:1-3,15,16
1. Did Daniel understand the vision he saw?
Note: Daniel did not know the meaning of the vision and it troubled him (vs. 15). In
seeking for understanding, he turned to the heavenly messenger that stood by him and
asked for help to understand (vs. 16).
Read Revelation 17:1,15; Daniel 7:17,23
2. What did the beasts and the sea represent?
Note: Daniel and Revelation are companion books. The imagery used is prophetic
symbolism. In Revelation we find that the sea represents tongues multitudes and na-
tions (Rev. 17:15). Beasts are used in both books to represent nations or kingdoms
(Dan. 7:17,23; Rev. 13). Daniels vision had to do with nations or kingdoms (beasts)
that would arise out of a heavily populated area (sea).
Read Daniel 7:4
3. Who was the first kingdom?
Note: The lion was the symbol of ancient Babylon. In our last chapter we found that
Daniel had been thrown to the lions. Jeremiah likened the Babylonians to lions (see
Jeremiah 50:17) and Habakkuk likened them to eagles (see Habakkuk 1:8). The Ish-
tar gate of ancient Babylon had lions on them. Babylon ruled the world from 608 -
538 B.C. Do you remember what metal was used to describe Babylon in Daniel 2?
Read Daniel 7:5
4. Who does the second beast depict?
Note: The Medes and Persians are depicted as a bear that is raised up on one side with
three ribs in its mouth. It is raised on one side because it was the duel monarchy of the
Medes and Persians The largest species of bear lived in the mountains of Media. They
were slow and ferocious and thus a fit symbol of Medo-Persia. The three ribs represented
the three great powers that Medo-Persia had to consume to gain supremacy: Babylon
(conquered in 538 B.C.), Lydia (conquered in 547 B.C.) and Egypt (conquered in 525
B.C.). Can you remember what metal was used to depict Medo-Persia in Daniel 2?
Read Daniel 7:6
5. Who did the third beast represent?
Note: The swift leopard that had four heads and four wings on its back is a fit symbol of
the Grecian empire. Alexander the Great conquered the world swiftly by age 33. Unfor-
tunately, he hadnt conquered himself and died in a drunken stupor in Babylon. The his-
torian Wheeler, explains what became of his empire and will shed light on the symbolism
of the four heads. Each one (head) whetted the sword against the other, and the empire
went down in a tangle of strife and carnage. Within the close of the century, and the issue
of the battle of Ipsus (301 B.C.) it had resolved itself into four well-ascertained domains.
1.) Syria and Babylonia under Seleucus. 2.) Egypt under Ptolemy. 3.) Thrace and Asia-
Minor under Lysimachus. 4.) Macedonia and Greece under Cassander. Alexander the
Great, pg. 494. Can you remember the metal used to depict Greece in Daniel 2?
Read Daniel 7:7
6. Who was the fourth kingdom?
Note: The fourth kingdom was Rome, described as exceedingly strong and with the abil-
ity to crush and trample all the others. The historian Gibbon described Rome in this man-
ner. The empire of the Romans filled the worldthe world became a safe and dreary
prison for his enemies. The Decline & Fall Of The Roman Empire, Vol. 1, Chp. 3. Can
you remember what metal was used to depict Rome in Daniel 2?
Read Daniel 7:8,23-24.
7. How many horns did the last kingdom have. What did they represent?
Note: The horns represented the barbarian kingdoms that followed Rome. Many of these
kingdoms are in existence today, though their names may be somewhat different. Most
historians mention the following: Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Suevi, Visigoths, Burgundians,
Alemanni, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Heruli, Vandals. This beast has ten horns. The image
of a man in Daniel 2 most likely had how many toes?
Page 2
Read Daniel 7:8
8. What new power do we see in this verse?
Details concerning the little horn in vs. 8:
1. Little horn (kingdom)
2. Rises from among the 10 horns (kingdoms) that follow Rome
3. Different than all the preceding kingdoms
4. This horn is to pluck up 3 of the 10 horns (kingdoms)
5. This horn is to speak great (pompous) words (things)
6. It will have eyes and mouth like a man
Note: Many throughout history have indicated that the little horn is a depiction of the
Antichrist. There have been many ideas concerning the identity of Antichrist. Ro-
manians thought Dracula was the Antichrist. Germans and others pointed to Hitler.
More recently others thought Ronald Reagan was, as he had six letters in each of his
three names. Still others thought Gorbachev, as he had a splotch or mark on his fore-
head.
Many have had ideas, but what does the Bible say?
Read Matthew 24:24
9. What did Jesus say about the Antichrist?
Note: Jesus indicates that there would by many false Christs and false prophets. The
term anti literally can mean several things. Against (anti) or in place of. Christ
indicated that powers would arise that would be against Him, and that would at-
tempt to put themselves in place of Him.
Pauls witness in A.D. 51
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
10. What does Paul say about the Antichrist?
2 Thes 2:1,2 - People were hearing that Jesus had already returned
2 Thes 2:3 - Paul told them that before Jesus would return there would be a falling
away (apostasy) and that the man of sin, the son of perdition would be revealed.
2 Thes 2:4 The son of perdition would:
a. oppose God
b. exalt himself above God
c. sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Note: This is a clear description of what the Antichrist was to do. It would happen in
the temple of God. Additionaly, it would occur after Pauls ministry, but sometime
Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides Daniel 7, Part 1
prior to the second coming of Jesus. It would be prior to the second coming of Jesus be-
cause it occurs within the church.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:16
11. According to Paul (who wrote both the letters to the Thessalonians and Corin-
thians), what is the temple of God?
Note: Christians are the temple of God. Collectively they comprise the church, which is
also the temple of God. Pauls warning concerning the Antichrist was that this power
would ultimately invade the temple of God, the church. The church would fall away
(apostasize), under the influence of the son of perdition. In only one other place is the
phrase son of perdition used. It was used to describe Judas, an apostle very close to Je-
sus, who fell away while at the same time trying to draw the others within the church to
follow him.
Lukes testimony in the book of Acts - AD 31-62
Read Acts 20:28-30
12. Where would the attack come from?
Note: There would be an attack from outside and then it would move inside. This is the
same concept we have seen in 2 Thessalonians where that man of sin would be in the
church and would be lawless and would be sitting in the temple.
Johns ministry - AD 27-90
Read 1 John 4:1-3; 2:18
13. What did the apostle John say?
Note: John, writing around A.D. 90, indicates that the spirit of the Antichrist was already
in the world. Antichrist had not yet appeared, but he would very soon.
Second Century: Turtullian a leader and preacher:
What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scat-
tered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon its own ruins? And then shall be
revealed the wicked one, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth and
the brightness of His coming.
Note: Turtullian was still looking for the Antichrist. He understood that Rome must fall,
and that Antichrist would arise out of the ruins of the Roman Empire. This is exactly the
picture weve been given in Daniel 7:8. A little horn (kingdom) with the characteristics of
the Antichrist would arise out of the 10 horns (kingdoms) following the Roman Empire.
Third Century: Bishop Hippolytus of Portus Romanus:
The legs of iron, and the dreadful and terrible beast, expressed the Romans who hold the
sovereignty at present; The toes of the feet were part of clay and part of iron, and the ten
horns, were emblems of the kingdoms that are yet to rise; the little horn that grows up
Page 3
among them meant the Antichrist in their midst. Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ
and Antichrist chaps. 28,29, in ANF, vol. 5, p. 210.
Note: Hippolytus knows exactly where he is in earths history. He understood what
the horns and beast represented. After the fall of Rome, he fully expected that the lit-
tle horn (Antichrist) would arise, just as Turtullian had seen.
Fourth Century: St. Jerome, the author of the Latin Bible:
Paul shows...according to the prophet Daniel, Antichrist will not come before Rome
falls.
Antichrist may sit in the temple of God...the church, showing himself as if he him-
self were Christ. Commentaria in Danielem, chap. 25, in Migne, PL, vol. 22, col.
1037.
Note: Does Jerome seem to understand the time sequence of Daniel 7? Just like Je-
sus, John, Paul, Turtullian & Hippolytus, he understood that Antichrist would arise
after the fall of the Roman Empire. In addition, he understood the verse in 2 Thessa-
lonians in the same way that we have understood the verse. Of course he was a very
good Bible scholar. He translated the entire Bible into Latin.
After the fall of Rome occurred and the Antichrist power came on the scene
what was the condition of the church?
Pagan ceremonies were established in Christian churchesuntilChristianity ex-
hibited so grotesque and hideous a form, that its best features were lost, andits
early loveliness altogether destroyed. History of Civilization, V. 1, p. 188.
Who then was the Antichrist power? Lets fast forward and look at the testimony
of Archbishop Eberhard II, writing in 1241 A.D.
Hildebrand, one hundred and thirty years before, first laid the foundation for the
empire of Antichrist under the appearance of religion...A little horn has sprung
up...which has eyes and a mouth speaking great things...He mingles divine and hu-
man things. What is more clear than this prophecy...Under the title of Pontifex
Maximus, we discern, unless we are blind, a most savage wolf, with the garments of
a shepherd. Ionnes Aventinus, Avaler Boiorum Libri Septem, pp. 684, 685.
Note: Eberhard came to a shocking conclusion. He believed the little horn of Daniel
7:8 and Acts 20:28-30 to be the leader of his Roman Catholic Church who had taken
the pagan title Pontifex Maximus (Pontifex = A man on the highest council of
priests in ancient Rome & Maximus = the greatest). His voice was soon joined by
others who recognized just how far the church had fallen.
The testimony of additional Catholic leaders:
Martin Luther: We are convinced that the papacy is the seat of the true and real An-
tichrist (What Luther Says, ed. Ewald M. Plass, Vol. 1, 34). You should know that
the pope is the real, true, final Antichrist, of whom the entire Scripture speaks, whom
the Lord is beginning to consume with the spirit of his mouth and will very soon de-
stroy and slay with the brightness of his coming, for which we are waiting (Plass,
op. cit., Vol. 1, 36, 37).
Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides Daniel 7, Part 1
John Calvin: Daniel and Paul had predicted that Antichrist would sit in the temple of
God. The head of that cursed and abominable kingdom, in the Western church, we affirm
to be the Pope. When his seat is placed in the temple of God, it suggests that his kingdom
will be such that he will not abolish the name of Christ or the Church. Hence it appears
that we by no means deny that churches may exist, even under his tyranny; but he has
profaned them by sacrilegious impiety, afflicted them by cruel despotism, corrupted and
almost terminated their existence by false and pernicious doctrines; like poisonous po-
tions, in such churches, Christ lies half buried, the Gospel is suppressed, piety extermi-
nated, and the worship of God almost abolished; in a word, they are altogether in such a
state of confusion that they exhibit a picture of Babylon, rather than of the holy city of
God (ICR, Bk. 4, chap. 2, sec. 12).
John Knox: Knox wrote to abolish that tyranny which the pope himself has for so many
ages exercised over the church and that the pope should be recognized as the very anti-
christ, and son of perdition of whom Paul speaks. (Taken from The Zurich Letters pg.
199 by John Knox)
Note: The testimony of these and countless others all point to the same power. We must
recognize how painful a reality this discovery was for each of these leaders. All of whom
agreed that the church of Rome fit the description of Daniel 7:8.
Does the church of Rome fit the description of Daniel 7:8?
14. Was the papacy a little horn (small kingdom)?
Note: Yes, a small kingdom in Rome.
15. Was this power different than other kingdoms?
Note: Yes, it united the church and state unlike any prior kingdom. We will look at this in
more detail a bit later.
16. Did it arise among the ten kingdoms?
Note: Yes, the ten kingdoms that arose out of the fallen Roman Empire encircle Vatican
City.
17. Did the papacy come up after the breakup of Rome?
Note: Yes, the ten divisions of Rome were in place when the papacy came to power. The
Roman Empire ended about 476 A.D. and the papacy came to rule at 538 A.D.
18. Did it pluck up three kingdoms?
Note: Yes, the Heruli were destroyed in 493 A.D., and the Vandals in 534 A.D. The last
of the three, the Ostrogoths were plucked up in 538 A.D. The extermination of these three
powers gave the papacy complete control.
19. Did the papacy speak great words and have a man at its head?
Note: Yes, the pope is at the head of the church. Here is a quote of some great words
against the Most High:
Page 4
The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Him-
self hidden under the veil of the flesh. Does the Pope speak? It is Jesus Christ who
speaks. The Archbishop of Venice, prior to becoming Pope Pius X.
We hold the place of God Almighty on earth, The Great Encyclical Letters of Leo,
XIII, p. 304.
From the book, Dignities and Duties of a Priest, by Liguori:
The priest has the power of the keys, or power of delivering sinners from hell, of
making them worthy of paradise. And God himself is obliged to abide by the judg-
ment of his priests. p. 27
Note: John 2:22 For the father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the
Son.
The priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator, since by
saying the words of consecration, he creates as it were Jesus... p. 32
Note: Romans 1:25 Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and
served the creature rather than the Creator; who is blessed forever, Amen.
When He ascended to heaven, Jesus Christ left His priest... to hold on earth His
place as mediator between God and man. p. 34
Note: 1 Timothy 2:5 There is one mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ
Jesus.
The priest holds the place of the Savior Himself when by saying Ego te absolvo (I
absolve you), he absolves from sin. p. 34
Note: We can forgive others, but we cannot blot out their sins.
Read Daniel 7:25
20. What are some more characteristics of the little horn?
a. He shall speak great words against the most High.
b. He shall wear out the saints of the Most High.
c. He shall think to change times.
d. He shall think to change laws.
e. The saints will given into his hand for a time, times and half a time.
21. Were the saints persecuted by this power?
The church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that
has ever existed among mankind....These atrocities were not perpetrated in the brief
paroxysms of a reign of terror, [such as the French Revolution], or by the hands of
obscure secretaries, but were inflicted by a triumphant church, with every circum-
stance of solemnity and deliberation W.E.H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influ-
ence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, (reprint; New York: Breziller, 1955), vol.
2, pp. 40-43.
Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides Daniel 7, Part 1
Note: There are many books describing the truth of the above quote such as Foxes Book
of Martyrs and Martyrs Mirror. In addition, recent apologies for such atrocities by the
Roman Church indicate that they are well aware of the truthfulness of this history.
22. Did this power attempt to change Gods laws?
The Pope is of so great authority and power that He can modify, explain or interpret
even divine laws...The pope can modify divine law since his power is not of man but of
God and he acts as a vicegerent [in place of] of God upon earth. Lucius Ferarri, Promta
Bibliotheca, art. Papa, Vol. VI, p. 29.
Note: One example of this activity has been the way the church has related to the com-
mandment concerning images in its instructional manuals. In the King James Bible, the
second commandment reads: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any
likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in
the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I
the Lord thy God am a jealous God Exodus 20:4,5
However, because this was and is a hard commandment to explain in light of the images
within the church to which people bow, the Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (by
Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., p. 49) has skipped this commandment and split the tenth
commandment into two. This is the case in many Catechisms, as through the centuries
this power sought to change laws.
23. Did this power rule for the right amount of time?
Note: It was to rule for a time, a times and a half a time. A time is a year (Daniel 4:16)
so a time equals a year, times equals two years and half a time equals half a year so this
totals three and a half years, or 1260 days. Notice the diagram below:
time is one Jewish year (Dan. 4:16) 360 days
times is two years 720 days
half a timeis one-half year 180 days
Total 1260 days
Note: Did the little horn, the Catholic power remain in control of world events for only 3
1/2 years? No, it remained in control throughout what has been called, the dark ages.
So, how are we to understand this time period? Lets look at Ezekiel 4:6, and Numbers
14:34. What do these texts show us?
Ezekiel 4:16 - A prophetic day = a literal year
Numbers 14:34 - A prophetic day = a literal year
From these texts we can see that a day equals a year in Bible prophecy. This would mean
that instead of looking for a power that would rule for only 3 1/2 literal years or 1260
days, we should look for a power that was in control for 1260 years.
The Bible mentions this same power and time prophecy many times in Scripture, to help
us make no mistake as to its identity and length of rule lets look at the following texts:
Rev. 11:2 forty and two months
Page 5 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides Daniel 7, Part 1

Rev. 11:3 a thousand two hundred and threescore days Of course none of the faithful Roman Catholics who were protesting and calling for re-
form listened to these attempts to change times. They were willing to die if need be to
Rev. 12:6 - twelve hundred and sixty days bring their church back to its original purity.
Rev. 12:14 - a time, times, and half a time
Conclusion and Appeal
Rev. 13:5 - Forty two months
Dan. 12:7 a time, times, and an half Do you clearly see the identity of the historical Antichrist of Scripture?

So we see a consistency in language and time period and with the day for a year prin-
ciple we are now ready to ask some questions concerning the papal power.
24. When did the papacy come into power? When did it fall from power?
Vigilius ascended the papal chair in (538 A.D.) under the military protection of Be-
lisarius. History of the Christian Church, vol. 3, p.327.
Note: So the starting point for the 1260 days would be 538 A.D. What is 538 + 1260?
It is 1798 A.D.. What happened in 1798?
Berthier (the general of Napoleon) entered Rome on the tenth of February, 1798,
and proclaimed a republicIn 1798 he (Berthier)made his entrance into Rome,
abolished the Papal government and established a secular one. The Encyclopedia
Americana, 1941.
As a result of all these facts, many came to the conclusion that the papacy was the
Antichrist of Scripture. But how did the church respond? Which of the following
ways would you respond if someone said that you were the Antichrist?
a. I would deny it?
Which of the following would you do if someone said that you were living in a way
that was against Christ (Antichrist)? What would you do if someone suggested that
you were putting something or someone else in place of Christ?
a. I would deny it.
b. I would get angry and try to stop them from saying it.
c. I would study the Bible and attempt to apply Scriptures in another way.
d. I would allow God, by His power & grace to change & reform me into His image
Hopefully each of us will accept Gods grace and allow Him to exercise His power
in our lives. The real purpose of this and every other chapter in the Bible is not to
have us be able to point the finger at other people or religions, It is to lead us to a
decision to behold Christ and to allow Him to completely change us into His own
image and likeness.
Suggested Memory Text

b. I would get angry and try to stop them from saying it? And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints
of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into
c. I would study the Bible and attempt to apply the Scriptures in another way? his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Daniel 7:25
Unfortunately the papacy attempted to change times as prophecy said it would in
Daniel 7:25. They attempted to change peoples understanding of the time prophecies Next Time
that had identified the papacy as the Antichrist. They tried two tactics:
In our next exciting study, we will conclude the seventh chapter of Daniel
First: They applied the prophecy of the little horn to the past. They said in essence,
look, the little horn was already here. This prophecy doesnt apply to us. It already
happened.
Second: They tried to apply it to the future. Here is how one author describes this at-
tempt.
In 1590, Ribera published a commentary on the Revelation as a counter-
interpretation to the prevailing view among Protestants which identified the papacy
with the Antichrist. Ribera applied all of Revelation but the earliest chapters to the
end time rather than to the history of the ChurchThe first Protestant to adopt it was
S.R. Maitland...William Burgh has given the first systematic treatment of prophetic
events following the new futurist interpretation in Lectures on the Second Advent of
Our Lord Jesus Christ (in 1835). George E. Ladd, The Blessed Hope, pp. 37-39
(1956).