“Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule, and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes. But he shall be broken without human means.” (Daniel 8:25, NKJV)

The interpretation of Bible prophecy is not always easy. This is the reason commentators do not always agree. While no prophecy is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20), we don’t always know what the correct interpretation is. In the case of this chapter, the “little horn” seems to refer to both Antiochus Epiphanes (who reigned from 175 BC to 163 BC) and to the future Antichrist, of whom the former was a type or foreshadow. Antiochus desecrated the temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing a pig on it. The Antichrist will desecrate the temple by sitting there and claiming to be God. This is known as “the abomination that causes desolation.” The above verse refers to this future Antichrist who will exalt himself in his heart and rise against the Prince of princes—namely Jesus Christ. But the Lord will consume him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Therefore, he will be broken, but not by human means.

While the Antichrist has not yet been revealed, the apostle John tells us that the spirit of the Antichrist is already present.

“Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:2–3, NKJV)

This spirit is behind all falsehood and deceit. It is preparing the world to believe the lie of the Antichrist. Everyone who does not love the truth will fall for him and be condemned (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). But we have the Spirit of truth to guide us.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, NKJV)

As we are in the latter days when transgression has increased, we must always be watchful so that we are not deceived by this spirit of deception that is already in the world. May God help us test all things with the word of God and rely heavily on the discernment that the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome.