Daniel 7:24

Daniel 7:24 says, 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.  Though still dealing with this fourth kingdom, Daniel is now told that the ten horns represent ten kings, and the little horn a king who will subdue three kings.  Matthew Henry says that the understanding of what kingdom and kings this represents is not agreed upon, and I believe there may be even more views today.   He then states, "Now I cannot prove either side to be wrong; and therefore, since prophecies sometimes have many fulfillings, and we ought to give scripture its full latitude (in this as in many other controversies),"  As I have said before, I believe that the important thing to realize is that there will be many rulers, or kingdoms, that will oppose Christianity and that before the return of Christ there will be one who is especially brutal to Christians.  We may assign this last kingdom, and even this last ruler, or little horn, to any nation or ruler today who opposes and persecutes Christians, but this should never change our faith in God.  Verse twenty-five adds, 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: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.  When this last ruler is in power, he will speak boldly against God and wear out the saints.  He will attempt to change laws and customs, especially those relating to the word of God.  I don't believe the changing of times relates to something like daylight savings time, but to the times of the worship of God.  I know a lot of this is already happening in the world today, and it is only going to get worse as we get closer and closer to the return of Christ.  Verse twenty-six continues, But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.  This is what we as followers of Christ need to understand most of all.  Christ is already victorious, and as His followers so are we.  Verse twenty-seven states, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.  I believe that this will really just be a restoration of the way things were supposed to be from the beginning.  People were supposed to worship and serve God while having communion with Him. When Christ returns, this will be the way it is for the saints, those who have accepted salvation through faith in Christ.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.  Daniel said that the matter was settled, but he was still troubled but kept the matter in his heart.  We may not always understand everything about the prophesies of God, but we can be certain of the most important one, and that is that Christ will return victorious.