For centuries, the Protestant reformers identified the little horn power of Daniel 7 and in Daniel 8 as the Roman church. Why?
 Read Daniel 7:1-25 and 8:1-13. What are the common characteristics of the little horn in both chapters? How can we identify it?
 There are seven common characteristics between the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8:
 1. both are described as a horn;
 2. both are persecuting powers (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:10, 24);
 3. both are self-exalting and blasphemous (Dan. 7:8, 20, 25; 8:10, 11, 25);
 4. both target God’s people (Dan. 7:25, 8:24);
 5. both have aspects of their activity delineated by prophetic time (Dan. 7:25; 8:13, 14);
 6. both extend until the end of time (Dan. 7:25, 26; 8:17, 19); and
 7. both are to be supernaturally destroyed (Dan. 7:11, 26; 8:25).
 History identifies the first kingdom as Babylon (Dan. 2:38), the second as Media-Persia (Daniel 8:20), and the third as Greece (Dan. 8:21). History is unequivocal that after these world empires comes Rome.
 In Daniel 2, the iron representing Rome continues into the feet of iron mixed with clay; that is, until the end of time. The little horn of Daniel 7 comes forth from the fourth beast but remains part of this fourth beast.
 What power came out of Rome and continues its politico-religious influence for at least 1,260 years (see Dan. 7:25)? Only one power fits history and prophecy — the papacy. The papacy came into power among the ten barbarian tribes of Europe and uprooted three of them (Dan. 7:24). The papacy was “different from the previous ones” (Dan. 7:24, NASB) indicating its uniqueness compared to the other tribes. The papacy spoke “pompous words against the Most High” (Dan. 7:25, NKJV) and “exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host” (Dan. 8:11, NKJV) by usurping the role of Jesus and replacing it with the pope. The papacy fulfilled the prediction of persecuting “the saints of the Most High” (Dan. 7:25, NKJV) and casting down “some of the host” (Dan 8:10, NKJV) during the Counter-Reformation when Protestants were slaughtered. The papacy sought “to change times and law” (Dan. 7:25, NKJV) by removing the second commandment and changing the Sabbath to Sunday.