Rev 17:12.13. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
What do horns mean in prophecy?
Dan 7:7. (The fourth beast). It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. (In prophetic understanding, the fourth represents the Roman empire and the Roman Catholic church combined. The ten horns represent the ten early tribes of Europe).
1. Ostrogoths.
2. Visigoths.
3. Franks.
4. Vandal.
5. Suevi.
6. Alamanni.
7. Anglo Saxons.
8. Heruli.
9. Lombards.
10. Burgundians.
Dan 7:8. I was considering the horns and there was another horn, a little one, coming up from them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. (Horn is related to a man power, who has eyes and speaks pompous words, which is the papacy, and the three horns are three of the early tribes of Europe which fell: Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths).
Dan 7:20. And the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. (This horn “the papacy,” is related to religious, military and political power which came up after three horns fell. These are the three tribes of the ten early tribes of Europe which fell).
Dan 7:21. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints and prevailing against them. (This horn is related to a religious and military power, and the papacy made war against the saints during the Middle Ages).
Dan 7:24. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. (Ten horns are ten kings or ten kingdoms of the early tribes of Europe, and the little horn is different because it is a combined political and religious power, which is the papacy).
Dan 7:25. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and he shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hands for a time and times and half a time. (This little horn represents the papacy during the Dark Middle Ages, when it persecuted the saints and changed the Sabbath holy day law from Saturday to Sunday).
Dan 8:3. Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river was a ram, which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. (The two horns represent the Medo-Persian political and military powers).
Dan 8:5. Suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. (The goat represents Greece and the notable horn represents Alexander the Great).
Dan 8:6-12. Then he came to the ram that had two horns (Medo-Persian), which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. Verse 7. And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, – – -. Verse 8. Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn (Alexander the Great) was broken, and in place of it four notable ones (Horns) came up toward the four winds of heaven. Verse 9. And out of one of them (that is the four winds of heaven) came a little horn (The papacy) which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east and toward the glorious land. Verse 10. The little horn (The papacy) cast some of the stars to the ground and trampled on them. Verse 11. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of Host. By him the Daily Sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. Verse 12. He cast truth down to the ground.
Dan 8:20-22. The ram which you saw, having the two horns – they are the kings of Media and Persia. Verse 21. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. (Alexander the Great). Verse 22. As for the broken horn and the four (Horns) that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall rise out of that nation, but not with its power. (The four horn kingdoms that followed Alexander the Great are Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy).
Dan 8:23-25. (The little horn represents the papacy, a spiritual and political power in the Roman Catholic Church in this text). And in the latter time of their (the four kingdoms of Greece) kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall rise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning deceit to prosper under his rule, and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.
Luke 1:69. (Zacharias prophecy about Jesus Christ). And has raised up a horn of salvation for us. (Meaning a power of salvation).
Rev 5:6. And I looked and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Seven horns are seven spirits of God).
Rev 9:13. Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God. (The four horns on the golden altar before God is the altar of incense. These horns were sprinkled with blood on the Day of Atonement and thereafter the Holy Place was cleansed. Lev 16:18-20).
Rev 12:3. And another sign appeared in heaven behold a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. (Ten horns imply political and military powers).
Rev 13:1. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns and on his horns ten crowns – – -. (Ten horns imply political powers).
Rev 13:11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. (Two horns imply political and military powers).
Rev 17:3. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (The ten horns represent ten kings from the earth, who have power to reign as kings for one hour).
Rev 17:7. I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Rev 17:12. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. Verse 13. These (ten horn kings) are of one mind and they will give their power and authority to the beast. Verse 14. These will make war against the Lamb – – -. (These ten horns are the kings from the whole of the earth, and they will make war against the Lamb: Christ at Armageddon. In addition, these kings will be influenced by demons. Rev 16:14. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty).
Rev 17:16. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (The ten horns or kings of the earth will make war with the harlot, being the fallen church of all denominations all over the earth).
Jeremiah 48:25. The horn of Moab is cut off and his arm broken. (Military strength).
Psalm 75:10. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted. Psalm 132:17. There (in Zion) I will make the horn of David grow. (Strength).
Amos 6:13. Have we not taken horns for ourselves by our own strength?
Habakuk 3:4. He (God) had rays (horns in Hebrew) flashing from his hand, and there was his power hidden.
Zechariah 1:18. Then I raised my eyes and looked and there were four horns. Verse 19. What are these? Verse 20. These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. (These horns are Babylon and Assyrians military power).
Micah 4:13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron – – – you shall beat in pieces many peoples. (Horn implies military strength and power).
Psalm 18:2. The Lord is the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Horn is related to salvation).
Psalm 89:17. For you (God) are the glory of their strength, and in your favor our horn is exalted. (Horn is related to strength).
Conclusion
Horns are related to the following: The ten early tribes of Europe. The little horn which represents the papacy. The little horn plucked up three horns (representing three tribes of early Europe: Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths), it had eyes of a man and a mouth speaking pompous words. The little horn made war against the saints during the Middle Ages. The ten horns are ten kings. The little horn is different from the ten kings, because it is both religious and political. The little horn (the papacy) shall change times and laws Fx. the Sabbath to Sunday in Gods Ten Commandments. The little horn shall reign 1,260 prophetical years (AD 538-1798). The goat with the notable horn is Alexander the Great of Greece. The goat´s large horn (Alexander the Great) was broken and four horns (Cassander, Seleucus, Ptolemy and Lysimachus) stood in its place. The little horn (papacy) exalted himself as high as the Prince of Host and took away the daily sacrifice and the sanctuary truth was cast to the ground. The four kings of the goat are four kingdoms. The two horns on the ram in Dan 8: represent Medo-Persia.
The horn is a power of strength and salvation. Seven horns are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The four horns on the golden altar before God. The fiery red dragon in Rev 12: represents Satan who has authority over ten horns relating to political powers in the then known world at that time. The beast (Roman Catholic Church system) in Rev 13: has authority over the ten horns with crowns signifying the church has the power to guide the European powers on earth. The beast with two horns like a lamb represents the two Christ like political powers in the USA, having political and military strength but speak like the Dragon (Satan).
The ten horns in Rev 17:12 are ten kings, who have authority to reign with the scarlet beast (Satan), and make war with the Lamb (Christ at Armageddon). The harlot sat on a beast (Satan) with ten horns represents the political powers of the world who do not keep the ten commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. These ten horns (in Rev 17:) are ten kings who receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast who is Satan. These ten kings will hate the harlot (the fallen churches worldwide) and make her desolate and naked.
The horn of Moab is cut off (military power). The horn of David shall grow (strength and power). The Lord is the horn of my salvation and my stronghold.
There is a rule for using the ten horns in Bible prophecy?
The ten horns in Dan 7: refer to the ten tribes of Europe during its beginnings.
The ten horns in Rev 17: refer to the kings of the whole world. Rev 16:14.
Why is there a difference?
“Bible prophecy tends to select for mention those religious and political entities which exist where God´s people live, because prophecy frequently concerns itself with the persecution of God´s people and because God´s people possess Scripture and can benefit from the inspired instruction. In the end time, the gospel goes to all the world. God´s people are found in every nation, and Bible prophecy speaks of all the world´s nations.”[1]
The ten horns in Dan 7: refer to the nations of Europe during its beginnings, because the majority of God´s people with the Holy Bible where living in Europe during that time.
The ten horns in Rev 17: refer to the kings of the whole world who do not keep the ten commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17. Rev 16:14. The gospel of Jesus Christ was preached to the whole world, and the majority of God´s people with the Holy Bible now live in the whole of the world.
United Nations
Summary: The horn in prophecy is a symbol of political and military power guided by kings and kingdoms. The exception to this rule is the little horn, which is different; it is both a political and a religious power. The ten horns are part of the sea beast in Rev 13: and the scarlet beast in Rev 17: The ten horns representing all the nations on earth, form some kind of world government with the papacy, and the fallen worldwide church, to fight against Christ at the war of Armageddon. That is the reason why the apostle John said in Rev 17:6, “I marveled with great amazement.” Can this be really true?
Rev 17:12. they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
These kings receive authority for one hour.
How much time is one hour in Bible prophecy?
Rev 12:6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. In prophetical writings, one literal day is equal to one prophetical year. Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6. Therefore, when it says in the text “one thousand two hundred and sixty days” this means prophetical 1,260 years. This figure is also equal to “a time, times and half a time” in Rev 12:14. When we add this figure up, we have one time plus two times plus half a time which equals 3½ times. One time is equal to 360 years in prophecy. So 3½ times is equal to 1,260 years. Therefore, these two verses in Rev 12: 6.14 reinforce each other in Biblical prophetic time. In addition, the 42 months in Rev 11:2.3 are also equal to 1,260 years in Biblical prophecy. If we times 42 months with 30 prophetic days for each month, this gives us 1,260 days or prophetic years. Hence, there is harmony in these calculations.
OK! How many days is one hour in Bible prophecy?
One literal day is equal to one prophetical year.
One 24 hour day, is equal to one prophetical year.
There are 360 days in a year and 24 hours in a day.
How much is one hour?
360 days divided by 24 hours gives us 15 prophetical days.
One hour is equal to 15 prophetical days. So these political kings receive authority to rule as kings for 15 days with the beast who is Satan. They have one purpose in mind, and that is to give power and authority to the beast who is Satan.
Why do these kings of the world only receive power to rule for only 15 prophetical days? Do they not have authority to rule as kings now?
These ten kings will have authority not just to rule as kings, but there primary aim is to give power and authority to the beast, which is Satan. Why? So Satan can use these kings authority to destroy Gods people who keep the ten commandments and the faith of Jesus Christ Rev 12:17. 14:12. This final persecution of God´s people, will occur in the future, at the war of Armageddon and may only last 15 days.
[1] C. Mervyn Maxwell, God Cares, Vol. 2 (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press, 1985), 478.