The Prophecy of Daniel: Constantine the Great and Muhammad the Prophet
Some believe that Daniel 7:25 alludes to Constantine the Great, who presided over the council of Nicaea, while Daniel 7:13 points to Muhammad’s Night Journey. How is this argument explained?
This is a very controversial argument that is not widely accepted by most biblical scholars and Christians, who believe that Daniel 7:25 and 7:13 refer to the Antichrist and the Messiah, respectively. However, some people who support this argument explain it in the following way:
They claim that Constantine the Great, who was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity and who convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, was the little horn of Daniel 7:25, who spoke pompous words against the Most High and tried to change the times and the laws.
They argue that Constantine corrupted the original teachings of Jesus and imposed his own doctrines and creeds on the Christian church, such as the doctrine of the Trinity, the observance of Sunday instead of Saturday as the Sabbath, and the celebration of Easter instead of Passover. They also accuse Constantine of persecuting and oppressing those who did not conform to his version of Christianity, such as the followers of Arianism, who denied the divinity of Jesus.
Arianism sparked significant debates within the Church, particularly during the early Ecumenical Councils. The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD condemned Arianism, affirming the doctrine of the Trinity and the full divinity of Christ. The Nicene Creed established the belief that the Son is "begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father."
Islamic scholars claim that Muhammad, who was the prophet of Islam and who claimed to have a miraculous Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven in 621 AD, was the Son of Man of Daniel 7:13, who came with the clouds of heaven and was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom by the Ancient of Days, that is God.
The term "night visions" directly suggests an event that takes place at night. Muhammad's Night Journey, which is said to have occurred during the night, aligns with this description. In contrast, Jesus' ascension is generally not described as happening at night in Christian texts.
They argue that Muhammad was a true prophet of God who restored the pure monotheism that was lost by Constantine and his followers. They also assert that Muhammad's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed, and that all nations and peoples of every language will serve him or submit to his law.
In summary, these are a few points made by Islamic scholars to back the notion that Daniel 7:25 and 7:13 refer to Constantine as the little horn who established the Trinity at the Council of Nicea, and Muhammad as the Son of Man who encountered God on his Night Journey to the seventh heaven.
