The Number of Kings in Daniel 7 Compared With Revelation 17

From: Christian's Library: Volume 3

Dan. 7:23,24

London. — “Have you found any difficulty with Daniel 7:23,24²³Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. ²⁴And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (Daniel 7:23‑24), compared with Revelation 17:12-16¹²And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. ¹³These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. ¹⁴These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. ¹⁵And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. ¹⁶And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:12‑16)? Would not the number of the kings be reduced to eight?”

It does not appear to me that the little horn in Daniel 7. is called a king. I suppose he is what is commonly called the head of the Roman Empire, and in Revelation 17, “an (not, the) eighth.” He comes upon the scene after the ten kings are already there (Dan. 7:24²⁴And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (Daniel 7:24)). His first act is to subdue, not necessarily to destroy, three kings. The ten kings will continue, though these three may have a limited place and power compared to what they had. The little horn becomes prominent over them all, and his blasphemous actings and words become the occasion of God’s judgment falling upon the whole Gentile power (Dan. 7:11¹¹I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. (Daniel 7:11)).

I am much interested in your remarks upon Revelation 13:18¹⁸Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18). ED,

Our correspondent writes: ― “There is another subject which has come to my mind lately on reading Rev. 13:18¹⁸Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18), For the number of the beast is the number of a man, and his number is Ch, X, S (χξς).’ Why is this stated in the three double letters, instead of being written at length, as all other numbers are in the New Testament? The chief reason perhaps is, that they are a convenient mark to put upon the followers of “the king” (Antichrist), but may there not be another reason also? They might be initial letters of three words, characterizing some blasphemous expression of “the king,” something of this sort―Christou Xulon Stauros (Christ’s Cross, a mere block of wood).

“We have a sample of this kind of acrostic in the adoption of the fish by the early Christians as a symbol of the Church, because the Greek for fish’ is Ichthus, which is the initial of Iēsous Christos Theou Uios Soter (Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour).” F. G. S.

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