What does Daniel 7:25 mean?

The "little horn," (Daniel 7:7–8), a powerful leader who will seize power during the end times (Daniel 7:21–24), will be a blasphemous, vicious persecutor of the saints. He will change laws and corrupt Jewish observances. Undoubtedly, he will cancel or drastically change the Jewish festivals. Bible interpreters believe this figure will present himself as Israel's friend, at first, and formulate a peace treaty. Yet after three and a half years, he will break the treaty and put an end to sacrifice and offering (Daniel 9:27).

Despite this worldwide power, God will restrict the little horn's reign of terror to "a time, times, and half a time." This expression appears several times in Daniel's prophecies and seems to imply a period of three and a half years. Daniel 12:7 places the end of "shattering of the power of the holy people" after "a time, times, and half a time." Revelation cites the time God safeguards His tribulation saints in the wilderness as "1,260 days" or "a time, and times, and half a time" (Revelation 12:6, 14). Revelation 13:5 says the beast—presumably, the same figure symbolized by Daniel as the little horn—will be allowed to speak haughty, blasphemous words. This figure will exercise authority for forty-two months, which is three and a half years.