The ten horns represent ten kings — ten kingdoms or nations that make up the revived Roman Empire during the tribulation, and from which the Antichrist will arise.
In Daniel 7:24 the ten horns are explicitly identified as ten kings, and Revelation 17:12 confirms that the ten horns John saw are ten kings. Les Feldick teaches that horns in Scripture merely mean kings, and that the ten horns pictured in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 are the ten nations of a revived Roman Empire. These ten nations form the base of operation for the Antichrist, who arises as the little horn among them.
Daniel 7:24 — This verse gives the explicit biblical identification of the ten horns as ten kings, directly answering the question.
Revelation 17:12 — John is told plainly that the ten horns he saw are ten kings, confirming the same meaning in Revelation.
In Daniel 7, the prophet sees a fourth beast — dreadful, terrible, and strong exceedingly — with great iron teeth and ten horns (Daniel 7:7). As Daniel considers the horns, another little horn comes up among them, before whom three of the first horns are plucked up by the roots; this horn has eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things (Daniel 7:8). The interpretation is given plainly in Daniel 7:24: the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise, and another shall rise after them who shall be diverse from the first and shall subdue three kings. In Revelation 13:1, John sees a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns upon his horns and the name of blasphemy upon his heads. Revelation 17:12 then explains that the ten horns which John saw are ten kings which have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar's image has feet and toes partly of potters' clay and partly of iron, and Daniel 2:41-42 tells him that the kingdom shall be divided — partly strong and partly broken. This is the complementary picture of the ten horns as ten kings of that final divided kingdom.
Les Feldick explains that horns in Scripture merely refer to kings. The ten horns in Daniel 7 point to ten nations — the kingdoms that will be on the earth at the time of the tribulation. Because Revelation is the road map of the tribulation, Les takes the reader to Revelation 13, where the same language is used: a government rises up out of the mass of humanity (the sea) with seven heads and ten horns. He stresses this is not a literal seven-headed creature, but a consortium of nations — an empire. These ten nations are the same as the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's vision, and together they make up the revived Roman Empire. Les teaches that these ten horns are the base of operation for the world ruler we call the Antichrist. Out of those ten nations comes the little horn of Daniel 7:8 — the Antichrist himself. He observes that the nations of Western Europe are seemingly coming together and notes that a Western Europe Parliament already meets. Of the original ten nations, Les thinks three of the smaller ones will lose their identity and be gobbled up by the other seven, and out of the remaining seven comes the Antichrist. The beast of Revelation 13 is first and foremost the revival of the old ancient Roman Empire, headed up in one man, and it is called a beast because the government will be so bestial in its operation — with no concern for human rights or the individual. The seven heads and ten horns also present a twofold picture, referring to Satan's power and authority.
Les teaches that the ten horns are the base of operation for the Antichrist. In Daniel 7:8, as Daniel considers the horns, another little horn comes up among them — and Les identifies that little horn as the Antichrist. Out of the ten nations, he says, will come the Antichrist. Of the ten original nations of the European community, Les thinks three of the smaller ones will lose their identity and be gobbled up by the other seven; out of the remaining seven will come this man. The beast of Revelation 13 is headed up in one man — the Antichrist.
In Scripture, horns merely refer to kings, Les explains. Rather than picturing a literal animal with horns, the picture is of political power and rulership. The ten horns have ten crowns upon them in Revelation 13:1, emphasizing their kingly authority. Similarly, the ten horns of Daniel 7 are interpreted in Daniel 7:24 as ten kings that shall arise.
Les connects the ten horns of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 to the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image in Daniel 2. The ten nations, he says, make that revived Roman Empire — the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's vision. In Daniel 2:41-42, the toes are part of potters' clay and part of iron, showing a divided kingdom, partly strong and partly broken.
Les says the beast is not some seven-headed creature or anything like that. It is a consortium of nations — an empire, a government. It is first and foremost the revival of the old ancient Roman Empire, and it is referred to as a beast because the government will be so bestial in its operation, having no concern about human rights or the individual. The seven heads and ten horns, he adds, also form a twofold picture, since a lot of times Satan is referred to with seven heads — referring to his power and authority.
Daniel's Four Empires as Beasts
Les shows how each empire in Daniel 7 — Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece — is pictured as a beast, establishing the pattern that the ten horns of the fourth beast are political powers, not literal animals.
Horns in Scripture Mean Kings
Les states plainly that horns in Scripture merely refer to kings, and that the ten horns are the kingdoms on earth during the tribulation serving as the base of operation for the Antichrist.
Ten Nations and the Little Horn
Les identifies the ten horns as ten nations, teaches that out of those ten nations comes the Antichrist (the little horn), and points to the Western Europe Parliament as evidence these nations are coming together.
Ten Nations and the Little Horn (Repeated)
In this near-verbatim parallel, Les again explains that the ten horns are ten nations, that the Antichrist comes out of them, and that the Western Europe Parliament already exists.
A Consortium of Nations, Not a Creature
Les teaches that the beast of Revelation 13 rising out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns is a consortium of nations, an empire, headed up in one man — not a literal seven-headed creature.
The Ten Toes and the Revived Roman Empire
Les connects the ten horns to the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's vision, and explains that three of the ten nations will lose their identity while the Antichrist comes out of the remaining seven.
A Bestial Government — the Revived Roman Empire
Les shows the beast of Revelation 13 is first and foremost the revival of the ancient Roman Empire, called a beast because its government will have no concern for human rights; the seven heads and ten horns also mirror Satan's power.
The Ten Toes and the Antichrist (Repeated)
This parallel account repeats Les's teaching that the ten nations make the revived Roman Empire, three small nations are gobbled up, and the Antichrist rises from the remaining seven.
Daniel 7:7: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Introduces the fourth beast with ten horns — the vision the question asks about.
Daniel 7:8: I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Describes the little horn that comes up among the ten — which Les identifies as the Antichrist.
Daniel 7:24: And 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.
The plain biblical definition: the ten horns are ten kings.
Daniel 2:41-42: And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
The ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image — the parallel picture of the divided final kingdom that Les links to the ten horns.
Revelation 13:1: And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
John's vision of the beast from the sea with seven heads and ten horns, the same symbolic picture Daniel saw.
Revelation 17:12: And 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.
Confirming that the ten horns are ten kings who will receive power with the beast.
The Bible says plainly that the ten horns are ten kings (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12). Les Feldick teaches these are ten nations forming the revived Roman Empire — the kingdoms that will be on earth during the tribulation. Out of these ten nations comes the Antichrist.
Yes. Les teaches that John and Daniel speak the same language — the beast John saw rising from the sea in Revelation 13 has seven heads and ten horns, exactly matching Daniel's fourth beast with its ten horns. Both picture a consortium of nations, an empire.
No. Les says horns in Scripture merely refer to kings — the picture is of political power and rulership, not a literal animal. The ten horns have ten crowns in Revelation 13:1, emphasizing their kingly authority.
Les teaches the Antichrist is the 'little horn' of Daniel 7:8 who comes up among the ten horns. Out of the ten nations of the revived Roman Empire will come this man — after three of the smaller nations lose their identity to the other seven.
Les explains that the beast of Revelation 13 is first and foremost the revival of the old ancient Roman Empire. The ten nations of Western Europe that are coming together are the ten horns — the base of operation for the Antichrist, who heads up this final empire.
Watch the Teaching: Daniel's Four Beasts and the Revived Roman Empire Explained