9 Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious [land].
And out of one of them – out of “the four Spirits of heaven,” as mentioned in the previous phrase. (The Chinese translation has added the phrase “out of the four horns.” While this is grammatically possible, it is the least obvious grammatical choice. The most adjacent phrase is the “four winds”).
came a little horn – a horn in the Bible represents one’s power. For example, the Lamb in Rev 5:6 has seven horns, the power of all the Angels. The horns on the Goat, and the Ram represented their power. This little horn represents the power of Satan that first worked through the Roman Empire, and then through the Bishop of Rome.
Why would the power of Satan be described as a “little horn” in Dan 7 and 8? Because Satan’s power is the power of the lie. Verse 24 says that “his power shall be mighty but not by his own power.” In other words, he uses his lies to motivate men to use their power. He deceived the Romans to use their military power against Christ, and His disciples; and he used the Bishop of Rome to control the Ten Kings of Europe. Verse 25 says that “through his cunning, he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule.”
which grew exceedingly great – the Hebrew expression גָּדַל, strongs 1431, “become great” is used to compare Satan to Cyrus the Great, who “became great” (Dan 8:4), and Alexander the Great who “grew very great” (Dan 8:8). Obviously, Antiochus is no longer being described in this verse, rather it is “the ruler of the people to come” (Dan 9:26) who cut-off the Messiah.
toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious land – continuing with the “four winds of heaven” analogy. It came out of one direction, and towards the other three. Out of Rome which is North West, to the other three directions, including the Glorious Land where “the Ruler of the People to come,” will destroy the City and the Sanctuary. The “Glorious” or “Beautiful Land” is also described in Dan 11:16, and Dan 11:41.