Bible prophecy presents a revelation of the existence of the spirit world in addition to the material world of humans. These are angelic and include both those who serve God and those who serve Satan. The primary example of this involves relationships between Satan and his agents who are fallen angels. These can operate through human kings like the little horn who rule over human dominions like city/states, countries, nations, and empires. [Revelation 9:11, 12:9, 17:8-11]

The symbol of the horn indicates that the human king position has a satanic connection. Examples of these include Alexander the Great (great horn), the little horn of the time of the end, and the ten horns who will rule with the little horn. These individual angelic creatures are often referred to as a prince in contrast with a human leader defined as a king. There are God's angelic princes like Michael the archangel who is the protector of the nation of Israel. [Daniel 12:1] There are also the fallen angels including Satan who presides over others like Abaddon and the false prophet revealed in the Book of Revelation.

Abaddon is the angelic king of the abyss who in turn rules over others like the prince of Persia and the prince of Grecia. Abaddon will be the angelic "prince that shall come" at the end of this present age. He will rule directly through and in the little horn (human king), and will also rule over the 10 other horns who represent human kings possessed by fallen angels. The people of the "prince that shall come" were not the Romans during the first century, but will be the human armies and followers of Abaddon. He is Satan's christ (antichrist) operating directly through the little horn at the time of the end. [Daniel 9:26] It is his people who will invade Israel during the 70th week. The Roman Empire is not included in the scope of the visions, is not represented by the iron legs of Daniel's image, and was not Daniel's fourth beast.

Daniel's visions include much detail about the interactions and wars between the Greek kings of the north and those of the south in the Middle East with the remnant of Israelites positioned geographically between these two dominions. The northern division of Alexander's empire was the one that portrays the track of satanic involvement (the 5th head of the beast) through its kings. Visions of the prophets are generally focused on the northern sector of the Middle East in relationship to Israel. This area will be Satan's base of operations at the time of the end. [Daniel 8:9-10, 11:40]

Antiochus is the subject of the visions leading up to the end of northern Greek dominance. This king was heavily influenced by Abaddon and his angelic prince of Grecia specifically with his designs against Israel. It is important to understand that Antiochus was not the "little horn" viewed by Daniel in other parts of his visions. Antiochus was one of the last Greek kings who held the fifth king position related to Abaddon's fifth head (dominion).

Another controversial item involves the break in Daniel's visions between the end of Greek rule and the appearance of the little horn at the time of the end.Careful study of the actions of Antiochus will verify that all of the verses recording his rule continue through Daniel 11:35 and should be applied to him. Daniel is told that the rest of the vision is for the time of the end. Some try to apply a number of previous verses up to the end of verse 35 to the little horn of verse 36 and then are looking for those events to take place as part of the time of the end. Verses 21 through 35 are actually a very accurate account of Antiochus and his political career foretold in advance. Skeptics claim that these things must have been written after the fact by someone other that Daniel because of their accuracy.

Antiochus obtained his position as king by trickery and deception. He had a few very significant political supporters who made it possible for him to seize the larger northern division of Alexander's empire without direct rights to the throne. He eliminated his political rivals with the support of the large armies of his political backers and then subsequently raised armies of his own to support his designs on additional Middle Eastern territory. He also deceived the remnant of Israel and the Greek kings of the south by intrigue (forming agreements and breaking them) and subsequent hostile military actions. His ambitions were to consolidate the Middle Eastern segment of the Greek Empire under his rule. He was never able to conquer the south, but this will be accomplished by the little horn at the time of the end.

He made common cause with Hellenized Jews who were supportive of Greek rule and had the high priest murdered (ruler of the covenant with God). He also subjugated Israel to Greek customs and laws including desecration of the Holy places. He attacked and killed thousands of Jews who were opposed to Hellenization and would not forsake their covenant with God. His actions were different than those of his predecessors including his father Antiochus the Great. These rulers were often more benevolent and allowed the Jews a good measure of autonomy. Some of the Jewish remnant who refused to forsake their covenant with God revolted against Greek rule toward the end of the Greek presence.

The Maccabees succeeded in regaining their independence and restored the temple and related worship that was desecrated by Antiochus. They had support from Rome against their Greek rulers, but eventually became subjected to Roman rule. Daniel is told at the end of verse 35 that full and permanent restoration for his people would take place, but not until the time appointed by God which will occur at the end of this present age. A similar situation will exist during the 70th week when Israel will be attacked, invaded, and occupied by the little horn who is the king of verse 36. Israel's victory will be the result of the return of Jesus to rescue the remnant of the nation. The last and final king of the north will be Abaddon operating in the little horn (Satan's antichrist).He will incarnate the little horn and persecute Israel during the 70th week at the end of this present age.

Antiochus raised armies and attacked the Greeks ruling the south (Egypt) three times but was never able to conquer and add the south to his kingdom. Egypt will be conquered by the little horn at "the time appointed", which is still yet future. There is a break in the scope of Daniel's visions at the end of verse 35 which ends with the rule of Antiochus. Verse 36 should be applied to the little horn who will rule the Middle East at the end of this present age. The little horn's activities will be similar, but will not include all of the things that Antiochus did and will include other things that Antiochus did not do.

Abaddon was active and influencing Antiochus. Glimpses of this truth can be seen when the visions seem to switch from the human king to this angelic master prince and his higher role as the satanic enemy of Jesus. [Daniel 8:9-12] Some define this as a double reference considering only the human side of the vision which includes both Antiochus and the little horn. In fact, the common denominator is Abaddon because of his involvement and objectives with the activities of both kings. There is no double reference between the little horn and Antiochus. They are two different human kings. Abaddon is the same.

Abaddon will continue when he is released from the abyss to influence and ultimately incarnate the little horn during the 70th week. All of the remaining verses of Daniel 11 starting with verse 36 and including all of chapter 12 apply to the 70th week. Alexander was the first Greek king of Abaddon's fifth head (dominion) and Antiochus was the last Greek king to hold the position recorded in the scope of Bible prophecy related to Greek domination. Daniel sees the little horn immediately after he is shown the division of Alexander's empire. He is told that the divided empire would not be ruled by Alexander's posterity and would be ruled by others even after Greek dominance. [Daniel 8:18-25]

The others will be the people of the little horn who will rule the Middle East during the time of the end. If we are close to the beginning of the time of the end, these would be the current Islamic occupiers of the area. The little horn's dominion is described, but not named, and his people (his armies and followers) are not identified by names like the Romans, the Ottoman Turks, and the British. There are indications of where the geographical locations of the inhabitants will be and their ancestral links. Psalms 83 is an example of this that includes land areas adjacent and close to the Land of Israel. The mention of a covenant may be the same as in Daniel 9:27.If we are close to the time of the end then the current Islamic occupiers of the Middle East would be suspect. The student of Bible prophecy should consider this possibility.

The little horn is the subject of the 70th week who will rule the sixth head (dominion) of the beast which he will expand to form the seventh. He is the king of fierce countenance in Daniel 8, the king of the north described in Daniel 11:36 and 12:7, the prince that shall come in Daniel 9, the man of lawlessness in Thessalonians 2:2, the beast of Revelation 9 and 13; and all other related references in the Book of Revelation. He is seen as the little horn, king of the north, in Daniel's visions; and as the first beast of Revelation. Abaddon will fully possess this human king at the time of the end.