The “little horn” is a key figure that appears in the apocalyptic visions of the Old Testament book of Daniel. This prophetic symbol is depicted as a ruler who rises to power during a time of great turmoil and upheaval, often associated with the end times. The little horn features prominently in two visions recorded in Daniel 7 and 8.
In Daniel 7, Daniel records a vision of four beasts representing four kingdoms that would arise. After these, a fourth beast with ten horns appears, representing a fourth kingdom. As Daniel watches, another “little horn” arises and uproots three of the ten horns. This little horn is described as having eyes like a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully (Daniel 7:8). The passage goes on to explain that this little horn will speak against God, persecute the saints, and attempt to change set times and laws before being finally destroyed by God (Daniel 7:24-26).
In Daniel 8, Daniel records another vision, this time of a ram and a goat, again representing warring kingdoms. The goat in this vision has a large horn between its eyes which is broken and replaced by four other horns. Out of one of these horns emerges another “little horn” which grows exceedingly great, throwing some of the heavenly host down to earth and trampling them (Daniel 8:9-10). This little horn is described as rising against God, removing the daily sacrifice, overthrowing truth, and destroying holy people before being broken in the end without human agency (Daniel 8:11-25).
Though there is some diversity of opinion, most biblical scholars identify the little horn as a reference to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who ruled from 175 to 164 BC. He outlawed Jewish religious practices and desecrated the temple in Jerusalem, leading to the Maccabean revolt. Antiochus IV certainly fits the profile of the little horn, opposing Jewish religion and defying God. The horrific persecution under his reign served as a foretaste of the end-time tribulation predicted in Daniel’s visions.
At the same time, the language of Daniel seems to describe both Antiochus IV in the near term as well as a figure who will emerge at the end of the age. This has led some to see the little horn as also finding fulfillment in an Antichrist or final world ruler who will replicate Antiochus IV’s blasphemies on a global scale. In this sense, the little horn embodies a general spirit of worldwide anti-Christian animosity building toward a climactic, end-times manifestation.
Some key details and descriptors that help identify the nature and timing of the little horn in Daniel include:
- It arises after the 10 horns/10 kings, uprooting three of them as it gains power (Daniel 7:8, 24)
- It has “eyes like a man” and a “mouth that spoke boastfully” (Daniel 7:8)
- It speaks “words against the Most High” and wears down the saints (Daniel 7:25)
- It seeks to change set times and laws (Daniel 7:25)
- It makes war on the saints and prevails over them for a time (Daniel 7:21)
- Its look is “more stout than its companions” (Daniel 7:20)
- It arises out of one of the four winds of heaven (Daniel 8:8)
- It grows exceedingly great toward the south, east and toward the Beautiful Land (Israel) (Daniel 8:9)
- It grows up to the host of heaven and casts some of the host down to earth (Daniel 8:10)
- It takes away the daily sacrifice and overthrows the sanctuary (Daniel 8:11)
- It casts truth to the ground (Daniel 8:12)
- It prospers in everything it does (Daniel 8:12)
- Its power extends for 2,300 evenings and mornings (Daniel 8:14)
- It is broken without human agency (Daniel 8:25)
Drawing these details together, we see a ruler who arrogantly defies God and ruthlessly persecutes God’s people, while being allowed temporary success. Attempts to change set religious practices and calendars align with Antiochus IV’s historical actions but also portend a final world ruler who will oppose biblical truth. In the end, though, the little horn is supernaturally destroyed, demonstrating God’s sovereignty.
While the immediate context points to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the apocalyptic language also anticipates an ultimate, end times fulfillment in an Antichrist figure who will replicate the same blasphemous behavior on a worldwide scale. This connects the prophecy of the little horn to the future period Jesus called the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21) and to prophecies of a final lawless ruler in the New Testament (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:1-10).
So in summary, the little horn in Daniel refers firstly to Antiochus IV Epiphanes as a tyrant and persecutor of Jews in the 2nd century BC. But it also lays out a pattern that will be followed by a final Antichrist who will emerge in the last days to dominate the world and stand against Christ. Recognizing this prophetic duality, readers can understand the original context while also preparing for how the themes may culminate in the End Times generation.
The warnings about the little horn encourage vigilance against political tyranny and blasphemous rulers, while also inspiring hope that no matter how powerful its reign of terror may appear for a season, the arrogant little horn will be swiftly and decisively crushed at the coming of Jesus Christ.