This little horn rises from the four horns into which the Greek empire divided. It's nothing to do with the Roman Empire. It's probably a reference to Antiochus Epiphanes, as Josephus said. The four kings are defined as four empires. Kings in Daniel = empires. Compare Daniel 7:17 with 7:23-24. It doesn't say that the four kings are four notable kings in those kingdoms. It says that the kings are those beasts, and it calls those beasts, kingdoms. Out of the fourth beast or kingdom (or king in the prophetic language), ten kings, or horns, arise. This is the same as the first beast of Rev 13. The second beast is a new kingdom that comes in the image of the first beast (Rome) and makes everyone worship its image (through its civic religion).
Not Antiochus. The little horn it says commits the transgression of desolation, which in the text says is for the time of the end. Daniel 8:12-13, Daniel 8:17 (click on the links for the text, right click on the link and open in a new window, more convenient to me )
The four break up kingdoms of course are long gone over 2000 years ago. Which, we therefore have to reconcile Daniel 8:9 of the little horn into the end times. Since he waxes strong to the southeast, he means he heads to the middle east, Israel, with a strong army. In Daniel 9:27, he is the prince who shall come.
Come from where? From the geographic location of the one of the four breakup kingdoms that is north and west of Israel. In modern times, the one of the four that fits is Greece. Greece itself is relatively small, and does not have a huge or powerful army. But the EU does.
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It doesn't say "notable" in the text of Daniel 7:17, but from Daniel 2 we know that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. So he is first notable King. In retrospect, from history, and progressing down through the statue vision, we know that Cyrus is the next notable King. And that Alexander was the third notable king.
From as much that is said of the little horn and him coming up among the ten kings of the fourth empire in the end times - he is the last of the four notable Kings.
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The first beast in Revelation, like in Daniel 7, is both a king and an empire. In the end times, with 42 months left in the 7 years, the fourth empire endtimes version, will have gained control of the territories once part of the other three historic kingdoms. Hence the composite body of the beast, of the lion, bear, leopard. Basically what it means is the EU will be occupying all of the oil rich lands of the middle east.
The second beast doesn't have a crown, thus is not a king. And since he has a two horns like a lamb, a referral to Jesus, our High Priest in heaven - the person is religious in nature. It doesn't say anything about the false prophet in the text about his role prior to the 42 months.
But from history, the Kings of Israel - the united nation - which there have only been three kings, Saul, David, Solomon, they are all anointed by a prophet. Saul and David by Samuel, Solomon by Nathan.
The little horn person, for a short time, 3 years 3 months, will be in the role anointed the King of Israel.
That is actually when he becomes the Antichrist - illegitimate King of Israel, instead of and against Jesus the rightful King of Israel.
Even though the bible doesn't say, it very likely that the little horn person, the prince who shall come will be
anointed the King of Israel by the false prophet.
Which in fact the Jews anticipate of their messiah, to be anointed by a known prophet. They set a place for Elijah at their passover meal every year by tradition. So the false prophet is likely , to initially project himself as Elijah, before both he and the Antichrist person (initially the little horns) go rogue and the Antichrist commits the transgression of desolation of Daniel 8:13. Which is the act of 2thessalonians2:4.
