In our ongoing study of Daniel 8, we now turn our attention to the second half of verse 13, which states: "How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?"
In this study, you will understand what the sanctuary and the host represent, and you will also understand how they were "trodden underfoot."
Troddening Underfoot
The original Hebrew word for "trodden underfoot" is "mirmās." This same word appears in Isaiah 10:6 (NIV) where it says: "I send against him a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me to seize loot and snatch plunder and to trample them down like mud in the streets."
The picture Isaiah paints for us is that the "troddening underfoot is like defeating an adversary and then, to add injury to insult, you then stomp upon them. This is the language used to describe the Little Horn's actions against God's people and sanctuary.
understanding The Context
Let's examine how Daniel 8 presents the little horn's actions. Verse 9 states: "And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great toward the south and toward the east and toward the pleasant land."
In our previous study titled, "The Papacy and the Pleasant Land," we learned that the word "land" was added by translators who believed this referred to Antiochus Epiphanes' attack on Jerusalem. However, we must remember that in the original Hebrew, Daniel wrote that the Little Horn waxed exceeding great toward "THE PLEASANT." Because "pleasant" is not succeeded by the word "land," "mountain," or "city," the interpretation of the text significantly changes and we can see that the Little Horn waxed toward that which is Glorious. Once you understand this one simple fact, you will then see that verses 10-13 then details and describes how the Little Horn's waxing exceeding great towards the glorious was manifested.
The Host of Heaven
Daniel 8:10 says: "And it 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."
In our previous study titled, "How the Papacy stomped on the host and the stars?" we established that in the context of Daniel 8, the host of heaven are the sun and moon; and these two entities are mentioned as being cast down in conjunction with the stars.
the Sun, Moon, and Stars in Bible prophecy
In Genesis 37:9, we find perhaps the first symbolic reference to the sun, moon, and stars together. Joseph conveying a dream to his family said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." Here, we can see that the eleven stars represent Joseph's brothers. However, what do the sun and moon represent? Joseph's father interprets these two symbols in verse 10. He says, "Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?" This reveals that the stars represent the children of Israel, while the sun and moon represent their parents.
Some Adventists believe the sun and moon in Daniel 8 represent Paganism, while most Evangelicals interpret them as representing Israel. While both views have merit, I'd like to offer another perspective. Notice what Malachi 2:14, says:
"Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy COVENANT."
If we understand that the relationship between a husband and a wife is a covenant, we can also see that this covenant enables them as parents with authority over their children. If we translate this concept to Bible prophecy, we can hopefully see the Sun and Moon, as prophetic symbols, represent the Covenant.
- Just as children (stars) obey their parents (sun and moon), we as Christians must follow God's covenant.
- Just as the mother (moon) reflects the husband's (sun's) guidance for the household, the Old Covenant (moon) reflects the New Covenant (sun).
- The stars also reflect from the light of the sun as leaders who relay the message of the Gospel.
This concept extends to Revelation 12:1, where it says, "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." In the context of Revelation 12, the Sun as the woman's (Church) clothing and the Moon as a pedestal under her feet suggests she is wrapped in the New Covenant, and the 12 stars represent the 12 apostles rather than the 12 tribes of Israel.
The Little Horn's Actions
Bringing this back to Daniel 8, when the little horn "waxed great towards the host of heaven," it essentially waxed great against God's covenant. Daniel 11:30 uses similar language when it says the king of the north "shall have indignation against the holy covenant." Here, I want you to see that the "Host of Heaven" is synonymous with the "Holy Covenant."
In Daniel 8, the imagery conveys to us that the Little Horn not only cast down God's Covenant (Host) but also those who kept it (Stars). Of the four powers we've discussed in this series (Ottoman Empire, Antiochus Epiphanes, Roman Empire, and the Papacy), all except the Ottoman Empire trod upon the sanctuary and the host.
- Antiochus and Rome - Historical records show that Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the sanctuary by sacrificing swine at the image of Moses and forcing the high priest and Jews to eat pork. According to the Book of Maccabees, he "raged like a wild animal" and massacred men, women, and children.
- Pagan Rome likewise trod upon the literal sanctuary in 70 AD and persecuted Christians. It outlawed key religious practices and cast down "the host and the stars."
Although a case can be made that both these powers did trodden the sanctuary and the host, I believe the context of Daniel 8 reveals to us that the Papacy is the power that's being highlighted. However, the question that we must answer is how did the Papacy tread upon the sanctuary when it rose to power well after the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed.
Attack on the heavenly sanctuary
The imagery in verse 10 describes the Little Horn prophetically entering the heavens and casting down the Host (sun and moon) and Stars. In verse 11, it moves beyond outer space into the third heaven where God dwells, waxing great "even to the prince of the host." Knowing the Host represents the Covenant, we can now see that the Prince of the Host is the same as the Prince of the Covenant—Jesus Christ!
The text then reveals that "the place of his sanctuary was cast down." The question is, where was this sanctuary in order for it to be cast down? Think about it this way: If the Host and the Stars had to be in heaven in order to be cast down to the earth, the sanctuary also had to be in heaven in order for it to be cast down. Here, we must carefully insert a small disclaimer that the Little Horn did not literally enter heaven, but spiritually it went into outer space, cast down the host and stars, and then penetrated heaven itself to cast down the sanctuary.
The New Testament Church in heaven
In order to understand how the heavenly sanctuary was attacked, we must recognize that the New Testament church is already spiritually worshiping in heaven.
- Ephesians 2:6 states that God "hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
- Revelation 11:1 says, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and them that worship therein." Even if Revelation was written before Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD (as many evangelicals believe), this text cannot refer to the earthly sanctuary, as that sanctuary became null and void after Christ died and the temple veil was torn. From that moment, the focus shifted to the Heavenly Sanctuary.
- Hebrews 10:19 confirms that believers have "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." The "holiest" here represents the sanctuary in general, showing that the New Testament church is spiritually already in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
- Revelation 13 describes the beast from the sea (which I believe represents the same power as the little horn) blaspheming "God, his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Those "dwelling in heaven" likely refer to God's church, spiritually worshiping in the Heavenly Tabernacle.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 explains how this blasphemy occurs: "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he is God, sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
While evangelicals often believe this requires a rebuilt earthly temple, Adventists understand this refers to the Heavenly Sanctuary. Here, the imagery of the Man of Sin refers to the same sanctuary that the Little Horn cast down from heaven and sits in it today.
An alternative Covenant
Daniel 8:12 says, "A host was given him against the daily." This "host" can be understood as an army, but it could also represent an alternative covenant—a new set of laws and customs contrary to God's holy covenant. Laws that diminish Sabbath observance and exault priests as intercessors. This is why the text says "...it cast down the truth to the ground." Daniel 11:32 may be speaking of this alternative covenant when it speaks of "those who do wickedly against the covenant."
Historical Fulfillment
As the Bishop of Rome gained influence in the church, attacks on New Covenant principles increased. Reformers like Martin Luther, who represented the "stars" (leaders teaching the covenant), were persecuted.
The papacy began assuming divine prerogatives, taking titles like "Lord God Pope." This is how the "man of sin" sat in God's temple—by being worshiped in God's place.
Warning for Today
This apostasy created confusion and denominational splintering. Whenever one person is given absolute power, whether in church or state, it creates a dictatorship that typically ends in ruin.
Rome's transformation from republic to dictatorship enabled the papacy's rise. Similarly, current attempts to challenge America's republican foundations could lead to a "papacy 2.0"—a joining of church and state that would again tread down the church.
As the Adventist watchman, I cannot predict exactly how this will unfold in the United States, but I can warn you to be vigilant against any merging of religious and political power that threatens to repeat history's mistakes.
