The Little Horn power in Daniel 8 is Rome and more specifically the Holy Roman Empire, the Papacy. This is a hard truth, but none the less it is truth. We write this post in love for our brothers and sisters who are caught up in this system. It is not ‘our truth’ it is His truth, we are just the messengers of His truth. Know that we say these things in love.
It has been foretold in prophecy that the “little horn” will cast the truth to the ground. Here are some of the ways that it does this:
- God’s commandments prohibit bowing before statutes. Exodus 20:4-5 tells us not to make or bow before idols. John says keep yourself from idols.
- The Bible teaches that ‘all’ have sinned except Jesus, and have come short of the glory of God (Ps. 14:1,3; Rom. 3:10,20,23-24; Gal. 3:22; 1 Jn. 1:10; Heb. 4:14; Job 15:16; also search Jeremiah and many other texts). The papacy teaches that Mary was sinless.
- The Bible teaches there is only one Mediator between man and God (1 Tim. 2:5). The papacy teaches that Mary is a co-mediator with Christ and that the priests have the power to forgive sins.
- The bible teaches that Christ offered his sacrifice on the cross once for all (Heb. 7:27-28, Heb. 10:10). Yet, the Catholic Church teaches that the priests sacrifice Christ repetitively whenever he offers Mass. Note: This was the big debate of Protestantism. Martin Luther challenged the transubstantiation of the church where the priests have the power to turn bread into the actual body of Christ and the wine into his actual blood.
- The bible teaches that all Christians are saints and priests according to the New Testament spiritual priesthood (Eph 1:1, 1 Peter 2:9). Yet, the papacy teaches that the saints and the priests are a special cast in the Christian Church where they are hovering in heaven somewhere and they are only to be worshipped of veneration.
- The Bible teaches that all Christians should know that they have eternal life (1 Jn 5:13). Yet, the Catholic Church teaches that one cannot and should not know that they have eternal life.
- The words of Jesus tell us that we should call no religious leader ‘Father’ (Matt. 23:9). Yet, the papacy teaches that the priests and the pope are to be called ‘Father’.
- The bible teaches we are not to pray in vain repetitions (Matt. 6:7). Yet, the “little horn” teaches when one goes to confession that so many “hail Mary’s” and “Our Father” repeatedly depending on what the offense is.
- The Bible teaches to confess sins to God, for God and God alone can forgive sin (Isa. 43:25, Luke 5:24, Mark 2). Yet, the papacy teaches that one must confess their sins to the priests for forgiveness.
- The bible teaches that before baptism a person should be taught the gospel and the commandments of Christ. This provides the opportunity to believe and repent which are things that an adult must do with their cognitive choices prior to baptism (Acts 2:38; Jn. 3:22-24, Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:21-22; Rom. 6:1-18; Eph. 2:8-9). Yet, the “little horn” has little infants being baptized, otherwise, if they should die prior to baptism they would be consigned to limbo (the border place between heaven and hell where those souls who died without being baptized, though not condemned to punishment, were deprived of eternal happiness with God in heaven). The Bible teaches those children are sanctified by believing parents before the age of accountability (1 Cor. 7:14). The teachings of purgatory, limbo, prayers for the dead are nowhere in Scripture, they are relics of paganism.
- The words of Jesus to the Pharisees apply well today when we nullify the Word of God to follow tradition. The truth is being cast to the ground by the “little horn” power (Matt. 15:6).
- Jesus Christ is the Head of the church (Eph. 4:15, 5:20-33; Col. 1:18, 2:10; 1 Peter 2:7). The “little horn” teaches the pope is the head of the church, a bishop overall. Let’s read what Pope Gregory, a good man who was actually pope from 590-604 A.D. When he died, he was the last of the four original doctors of the church and became known as Saint Gregory. He wrote, “I confidently affirmed that whoever calls himself the universal bishop or desires to be so called is in his pride a forerunner of Antichrist.” Listen my dear friends, a pope said that when they were a little closer to the Bible truth.
- We are pointed, in scripture, to study the word of God for ourselves (2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17; Rom. 12:12; Acts 8:30, 17:11; Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:11-17; James 1:22; 1 Thess. 5:21; 1 Pe. 3:15; Deut. 11:18-23; Ps. 119:9,11,18,105; Prov. 3:1-2; John 8:32). Jesus said He is the truth and the truth sets us free (Jn. 14:6, 8:32). Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth (Jn. 16:13-15), Suggested for study: Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 1 Cor. 12; Gal. 5:22-23; Jn. 15:26, 14:16, 16:18;. In the index of forbidden books, which are books that are forbidden,
Pope Pius IV says, “Since it is clear from experience that if the Sacred Books are permitted everywhere and without discrimination in the vernacular, there will by reason of the boldness of men arise therefrom more harm than good, the matter is in this respect left to the judgment of the bishop or inquisitor, who may with the advice of the pastor or confessor permit the reading of the Sacred Books translated into the vernacular by Catholic authors to those who they know will derive from such reading no harm but rather an increase of faith and piety, which permission they must have in writing. Those, however, who presume to read or possess them without such permission may not receive absolution from their sins till they have handed them over to the ordinary. Bookdealers who sell or in any other way supply Bibles written in the vernacular to anyone who has not this permission, shall lose the price of the books, which is to be applied by the bishop to pious purposes, and in keeping with the nature of the crime they shall be subject to other penalties which are left to the judgment of the same bishop. Regulars who have not the permission of their superiors may not read or purchase them.’ (Council of Trent: Rules on Prohibited Books, approved by Pope Pius IV, 1564). Yet, stark contrast, Vatican II says that easy access to the Bible should be given …this is a contradiction of tradition.
We could go on and on, but the point has been made that the truth has been cast to the ground. We encourage you to study what the Bible has to say about ensoulment, purgatory, an everlasting burning hellfire for the wicked, soul departs at death, penances, indulgences, etc. Protestants use to boldly proclaim these things, now it is considered unkind to speak of them, it is viewed as ‘hate speech’. We are not saying one cannot believe what they want, for they have that freedom, but with the same token one should be able to express what the Bible declares as truth and distinguish it from error. In fact, it is love to tell the truth, and to shine light in darkness.
Just a Few More Statements for Consideration
The ‘place’ (makhon, Hebrew) of the sanctuary is cast down, meaning a fixture on the boat, or a habitation or foundation. Many scholars believe it is saying the foundation of the sanctuary was cast down. Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This begs another question, Who is the foundation of the church? The answer: Jesus Christ Himself is the cornerstone, the foundation upon which everything else is built. Regarding this attack on the truth…Christ says, “I am the truth”. If the truth is cast to the ground, which is the truth about Christ who is the foundation of the church; then the truth that we are saved through Christ has been removed.
When truth is removed, that is when error creeps in such as what is believed about Mary, priests, rituals, works, heaven, hell, the judgment, etc. The truth is, we are saved through Christ and Christ alone; this is foundation who cannot be destroyed. Who is destroyed then by error? People. The ‘little horn’ system destroys people through its attack upon the truth.
Jesus says the wise man is the one who hears these words of Mine, and builds on the solid Rock foundation…the Rock of the Word of God. Is the Word of God the foundation of His church? Is Jesus the Word? Yes and yes. Is the word of God the foundation of the ‘little horn’, meaning the papacy? Or, is traditions the foundation? It is tradition and they freely admit it. The big debate during the Protestant Reformation, Luther said ‘the Word of God…scripture only’ and the church said ‘no, tradition and scripture and scripture is to be interpreted by tradition’. So, the foundation was under attack which is the sanctuary, which is Christ and his plan…His system.
The ’little horn’ exalts himself even as high as the Prince of host (Prince of princes) meaning putting himself in the place of the Prince. Since the dragon has given the ‘little horn’ its power, seat and great authority then it is going to image the beast for it was made in his image. See Ezekiel 28, Satan’s aspiration is to be God.
The Prince of the host is the Prince of peace it is the Messiah it is Jesus Christ. How did Eve fall? The devil waved before her ‘you will be like god’. The ‘little horn’s’ priestly system put themselves in the place of God by accepting confession, and forgiving sins.
Only God is to be worshipped, not saints. Kissing of the ring or feet of a person or a statute is a form of worship. The Episcopal Church (Anglican) was formed because when Henry VIII was having problems with his divorces, in which the church would not approve, he sent a delegation to the Vatican and his representatives brought his dog with them and it was customary to kiss the toe of the Pope and when the Pope stuck out his foot – the dog bit his foot and the Swiss Guard immediately killed the dog which so outraged the whole church it broke away. The owner of the dog was so outraged the owner of the dog withdrew his mission to peace and never did reconcile.
The ‘little horn’s” violence down through the Dark Ages did not work, the more persecution the more the church grew. Tactics had to be changed, so by introducing a virus into theology it became corrupt and power was gained through deceit. There is just enough truth to have the illusion of being Christian, but in reality it is baptized paganism. Again, we are talking about a system here. This is a hard truth, and we know it is like swallowing a lump of coal; but dear brothers and sisters we would fail our Lord Jesus Christ to be silent on these matters, for he tells us to go forth with the gospel, with the truth.
Jesus is the center of the ‘daily’ message. Daily we make a withdrawal on grace and the blood of Jesus. to both sustain us and forgive us – this is sanctification. He is our daily.