Xi, Putin, and Modi, The Three Kings of Daniel 7:24-25?

What the Bible Says About the These Three Leaders From Daniel 7:24–25:

“The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.”

The “ten horns” = ten kings/nations that arise from the final form of the fourth beast (often interpreted as a revived Roman Empire). The “little horn” (antichrist) rises after them, and he removes three kings (three of the ten). Scripture does not identify which three. It only tells us that three will be subdued as the antichrist consolidates power.

Other prophetic passages (Revelation 17:12–13) also mention ten kings giving their authority to the beast, but again without naming specific individuals.

Speculation About Xi, Putin, and Modi

Some who study these prophecies postulate whether these three could be Xi Jinping (China), Vladimir Putin (Russia), and Narendra Modi (India), because: They are major world powers outside the West (and not natural fits in a revived Roman/European-centered confederation). They might resist giving sovereignty to a global leader, and therefore could be “removed.”

Russia, China, and possibly India are often seen in prophecy discussions as forming part of the Eastern or Northern opposition to antichrist (Ezekiel 38–39 mentions “Gog of Magog,” often linked with Russia). It is more likely that Xi, Putin, and Modi, are a part of the confederacy of nations that are described in Ezekiel 38

The Problem Is:

There is no direct biblical evidence naming Xi, Putin, or Modi. This prophecy from Daniel was given 2,500 years ago, and Scripture remains deliberately vague in stating “three kings.” It is equally possible the three subdued rulers are European or Middle Eastern leaders who resist antichrist inside the revived Roman sphere. Revelation 13 and 17 seem to indicate that the Antichrist’s base of power is European/Mediterranean, not Asian.

The Historical and Interpretive Possibilities

Many prophetic scholars see the antichrist coming from a revived Roman Empire that consists of European/Mediterranean nations. For this reason, the “three kings” would most likely be European leaders, not Asian. Speculative modern readings apply the text globally, suggesting Xi, Putin, or Modi could fit since they are large powers standing in the way of global governance. There are no reputable ancient Jewish or early Christian sources that identify specific nations in these prophecies, so this has always remained a part of biblical prophecy that is speculative.

Some scholars assert that where scripture is silent, we should be silent, regarding which three kings the Antichrist removes. Xi, Putin, and Modi are modern speculative candidates because of their geopolitical resistance to Western/globalist influence. The strongest biblical position is that the three kings come from within the ten-nation confederacy (revived Roman Empire), not necessarily from Asia.

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We will have to wait for more information as the Spirit reveals these things to us in these last of the Last Days.

See Rob’s Verse by Verse Commentary

Sources and Citations:

Primary Biblical Sources

Daniel 7:7–8 “Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong… It had ten horns on its head. As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it…”

Daniel 7:24–25 “Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High…”

Revelation 17:12–13 “The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. They will all agree to give him their power and authority.”

Early Sources

Jewish commentators (Rashi, Ibn Ezra) tended to see the ten horns as successive rulers or nations arising from the fourth kingdom (often identified as Rome). They recognized the “little horn” as an oppressive ruler, but did not connect it to a future Antichrist.

Early Christian writers:

• Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Book 5, ch. 25–30) – identifies the ten kings as part of a final Roman division and the Antichrist as the one who uproots three.
• Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist (ch. 28–30) – specifically interprets the “little horn” as Antichrist who will subdue three rulers from the tenfold Roman division.
• Jerome, Commentary on Daniel 7 – affirms that the “little horn” is Antichrist who removes three kings from the Roman sphere.

Modern Evangelical Scholarship

• John F. Walvoord, Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation (Moody, 1971) – argues that the ten horns represent a future confederation of ten nations (likely from the revived Roman Empire). The Antichrist rises after them, subduing three. No attempt is made to identify modern figures specifically.
• J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come (Zondervan, 1958) – interprets the ten as a revived Roman confederation; the Antichrist removes three resisting rulers. Pentecost stresses that the Bible does not specify which kings are subdued.
• Charles L. Feinberg, Daniel: The Man and His Prophecies (Moody, 1981) – likewise affirms the ten as a future European coalition; the three subdued are left unidentified.

Posit Positions

Some prophecy commentators in recent decades have speculated that Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, or Narendra Modi could fit the role of the three subdued kings, since: They represent major powers outside of a European confederation. They may resist globalism or Antichrist’s rise. This remains speculation, not supported by explicit biblical text or early tradition.

A certain biblical fact: The Antichrist will subdue three kings from a group of ten (Daniel 7:24).

Traditional interpretation: These kings are within a revived Roman sphere (Europe/Mediterranean), not necessarily Asian.

Modern speculation: Some apply the prophecy to Xi, Putin, and Modi, but there is no scriptural or historical basis for naming them directly.

Categories: Robert Clifton Robinson