The Little Horn’s Attack on the Sun, Moon, and Stars

According to Daniel 8:10, the Papacy symbolized as the Little Horn, “waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.”

Evangelical and Catholic view

Most Evangelicals believe that here, the host and stars represent the Jews who were persecuted by Antiochus Epiphanes. They derive this interpretation from the story of Joseph where he conveyed to his brethren a dream where he beheld, “…the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance” to him. (Gen 37:9)

Traditional Adventist View

Traditional Adventism holds a belief comparable to Evangelicals and Catholics. They teach that the Host and Stars represent the Jewish leaders. Here’s how Uriah Smith explains this:

“The little horn waxed great even to the host of heaven. Rome did this also. The host of heaven, when used in a symbolic sense in reference to events transpiring upon the earth, must denote persons of illustrious character or exalted position. The great red dragon (Revelation 12:4) is said to have cast down a third part of the stars of heaven to the ground. The dragon is there interpreted to symbolize pagan Rome, and the stars it cast to the ground were Jewish rulers. Evidently, it is the same power and the same work that is here brought to view, which again makes it necessary to apply this growing horn to Rome.” Daniel and Revelation p. 176

I have observed some Adventists take a more literal approach to the Host and Stars. In reviewing the Scriptures, they note that Paganism was often described as a religion that, at its core, is the worship of the sun, moon, and stars. The Book of Deuteronomy confirms this view:

“If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded” Deuteronomy 17:2-3

Knowing the Scriptures associate Paganism with the worship of the host of heaven, some Adventist traditionalists interpret the casting down of the host as the Roman Empire’s pivot from Paganism to Christianity.

A Third View

While a case can be made for either view, I hold that there is a third view in reference to these prophetic symbols.

In studying the Book of Daniel, I find very little of this prophetic book refers to Paganism's demise and replacement of Christianity. It is a fact Rome switched from Paganism to Christianity in the Dark Ages, but very little of this prophecy is dedicated to what happened to Paganism; Daniel’s focus is on what happened to the Christian Church when Rome converted. Knowing this fact, we should understand the Sun, Moon, and Stars are not referring to Pagan worship, but rather God’s truth!

In Revelation 12, notice we see a woman. According to 2 Corinthians 11:2, this woman represents the Church. However, what I want you to see is how the woman was adorned and accessorized.

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Revelation 12:1

Notice this woman’s attire and accessories were very similar to what the Little Horn in Daniel 8 cast down and stamped upon. Now, let’s attempt to decipher the meaning of these symbols in Revelation 12.

The Sun and Moon (The Host)

According to Malachi 4:2, Christ is called the “Sun of Righteousness.” It may seem strange for Christ to be identified with the sun, but perhaps it is because in John 9:5, He says, “I am the light of the world.”

Regarding the Church, the Bible confirms the Church must wear this light of Christ when it says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27

In Revelation 12, the woman was clothed with this light. Understanding that this light represents the power of Christ, we should be able to see that this light is manifested through the gospel.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Corinthians 4:4

The whole system of the gospel is the New Covenant. We can see that the Church put on the light of the gospel, and the moon (representing the Old Covenant) was at her feet as the Old Testament had already passed.

The Stars

In Revelation 12, there are two references to stars:

1. The angels are symbolized as stars in vs. 4. Here they represent 1/3 of the angelic host who fell with Satan. However, it is unlikely that the stars in Daniel 8 represent angels due to the fact the Little Horn did not cast the angels out of heaven and stamp on them. Therefore, we look for another possible meaning.
2. At the beginning of Revelation 12, we see the woman (church) who has a crown with 12 stars. This, no doubt, represents the 12 apostles. Here we have a precedence that the stars represent the leaders who have given the church its doctrines. Daniel 12:3, seems to corroborate this idea when it says, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Notice, the stars represent those who turn many to righteousness. Here should be able to see that the stars represent the reformers who helped turn many back to the truth of the Gospel. In this manner, we can see that the stars are inclusive of the teachings of the Apostles and the Reformers who taught the gospel.

Using the above information, I believe it is logical to see that the Host and Stars represent the New Covenant and the doctrines our Church leaders have given us through God’s Word.

Once our eyes are open to this truth, we can see that the conflict revealed in the Book of Daniel revolves around Christ who is called the Prince of the Covenant! (Dan 11:22)

We should also see that it was the Papacy who had “…indignation against the holy covenant....” (Dan 11:30)

How was this attack against the Holy Covenant manifested?  “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7:25

In addition to placing the Priest as man’s intercessor, the Papacy also attacked God’s laws by making people believe the laws have been changed. Ellen White appears to allude to this idea in the below quotation:

“Even though all the churches have accepted the institution of the papacy, even though the world is bound to give influence to this spurious invention, does this give one tinge of sanctity to the day? Nay verily. The numbers observing it do not make it sacred. God gave the seventh day to His people to be kept holy throughout their generations, for a perpetual COVENANT. All the changes God’s opponent may attempt to make in the holy law do not convert Sunday into a sanctified day, or place on it heaven’s seal. The honor which comes from man is nothing.” Lt 83, 1900

Conclusion

This view of Daniel 8:10 describes the Little Horn, who had begun waxing great towards the “glory” by usurping divine prerogatives. And now we can see just some of the ways the Papacy attempted to appropriate divine attributes and authority:

• Claiming the authority to forgive sins
• Establishing a system of indulgences
• Positioning the Pope as an earthly mediator between God and humanity
• Transferring faith from Christ to ecclesiastical authority
• Propagating the belief that the Sabbath has been changed

Hopefully, you can see that the “waxing great towards the Host and the Stars” was not about Catholicism’s transition from Paganism. I pray you realize it was much more than an attack on the Jewish leaders. I truly hope that you can now see that this attack on the Host and Stars was an attack on the very foundation of God’s Church…an attack on the Covenant and the doctrines taught by those who helped establish God’s Word.