In the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel is an amazing prophecy picturing for 2,500 years
into the future, from the day it was written, the course of the Gentile kingdoms.
Starting with the ancient Chaldean Empire of Nebuchadnezzar, this prophecy foretells the
successive world rule of the Persian Empire, Alexander’s Greco-Macedonian kingdom with
its four divisions, and finally,of the mighty Roman Empire. Out of the original Roman Empire,
symbolized by 10 “horns” growing out of the head of a “beast,” are pictured the 10 resurrections
of the Roman Empire that have continued since its fall to the present, and are scheduled
to continue until the coming of Christ.
Among these 10 kingdoms which have ruled in the Western world since the fall of Rome to the present,
appeared another “little horn,” whose “look was more stout than his fellows.” In other words, another
government, actually smaller, yet dominating over all the others. Students of prophecy recognize
this “little horn” as a great religious hierarchy. And in the 25th verse of this prophecy, it is stated that
this hierarchy shall “think to change times and laws.”
How Time Was Changed
This same power is mentioned again in the 17th chapter of Revelation, here pictured as ruling over
the kings and kingdoms of the Earth, persecuting the true saints.
In every possible manner, this power has changed time!
God begins the days at sunset, but “the little horn” has changed it so the world now
begins the day in the middle of the night by a man-made watch.
God begins the week with the ending of the true Sabbath, the seventh day of the week,
but the world begins the working week in the middle of the night, the second day of the week.
God begins the months with the new moons, but this “little horn” has induced the world
to begin the months according to a clumsy man-made calendar of heathen origin.
God begins the year in the early spring, when new life is budding in nature everywhere,
but ancient heathen Rome caused the world to begin the year in the middle of dead winter.
God gave His children a true rest day, designed to keep them continually in the knowledge
and true worship of the true God—a memorial of God’s creation—the seventh day of the week.
but the “little horn” has fastened upon a deluded world the observance of the days on which
the pagans worshipped the sun,
the first day of the week, called Sunday.