A United States of Europe just before the initial appearance of the Antichrist? Based on what we have learned regarding the symbolism in Daniel’s visions, there would have been five beasts pictured in this vision, rather than four, if a new and successive empire had been destined to replace the old Roman Empire. Accordingly, just as the four heads of the leopard portray the four-fold division of the old Grecian Empire when it folded after the death of Alexander the Great, so likewise do the tens horns of the beast symbolize the numerous political kingdoms and countries that were formed within the geographical area of the old Roman Empire after it collapsed. However, as we saw earlier, even though these modern Roman countries will retain at least some degree of limited political sovereignty until Armageddon, they will be united into a confederated union of some type (such as an expanded EU) near the time when the Antichrist comes to power.

Daniel 7:8, 19, 20, 23, 24
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.

19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

23 Thus 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.

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. (KJV)

“Shall devour the whole earth.” When interpreting phrases such as “whole earth” or “whole world” or “all the world” in the Bible, we must understand that an absolute, strict literal interpretation of such phrases sometimes are modified in their meaning by contextual considerations, including other scriptural passages. In this instance, Rome never actually ruled over the entire global planet as we know it today, but the Roman Empire did conquer and dominate virtually all of the entire world known to Western Civilization at that point in time. Likewise, in a similar manner, Babylon (Dan. 2:38) and Greece (Dan. 2:39) also ruled over their known worlds during their respective times in history. (Compare: Romans 1:8; Romans 10:18; Col. 1:23; etc.). However, in Revelation 13, when it is said that the Antichrist will rule over the whole world, and that people from every nation and tongue will worship him as god, it is very likely that the phrase “whole world” means precisely that because people living at that future point in time obviously will understand it as such.

Sometime during the existence of these modern-day Roman countries, a “little horn” suddenly and unexpectedly appears among them. (Dan. 7:8). Because horns throughout biblical Scripture represent the power and authority that is inherent in kingdoms and countries, this “little horn” quite logically represents a small, new kingdom or a small, new country. However, in this instance, the little horn also represents a strong-man leader or dictator because Daniel very quickly ascribes human attributes to the little horn country, attributes such as “a mouth speaking great things.” For that reason, it would seem this tiny, new country and the man associated with it will appear together, simultaneously, in a manner which suggests that it will be the man who will cause the little horn country to spring into existence. Bible prophecy students generally call this man the Antichrist, and it will be during the lifetime of this person that the Battle of Armageddon will take place, thereby leading to the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom throughout the earth. (Dan. 7:14).

“Three of the first horns plucked up by the roots.... and he shall subdue three kings.” Daniel states that three of the modern-day countries within the geographical area of the ancient Roman Empire will be conquered or subdued by the Antichrist when he first rises to power. the Antichrist could possibly originate from a tiny,  country within the areas of the old Roman Empire, possibly Lebanon, and will then begin to wage war in both a southern and eastern direction. Therefore, the only modern countries that can possibly be one of Daniel’s “three horns” are Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq because they are the only countries within the geographical area of the old Roman Empire that are located south or east of Lebanon.

However, current geopolitical circumstances seem to indicate that the countries of Israel, Syria and Iraq will most likely be the three horns that will be subdued by the Antichrist...

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