recorded and interpreted in
the book of Daniel. In these visions the Man of Sin appears as the
"little horn" of Dan. 7 and is the last and most God-dishonoring
world-ruler. He also later appears as the "desolator" of Dan. 9:27; the
"willful King" of Dan. 11:36; the "abomination of desolation" of Matt.
24:15; the "Man of Sin" of II Thes. 2:4-8; the rider on the white horse
of Rev. 6:2; and the first Beast of Rev. 13. His identity is certain,
even though he appears under various figures and titles; for he, like
Satan, is so unique in his character, time, and undertakings, that he
cannot be confused easily with any other.

In Daniel 2 the order of the kingdoms is set forth by the figure of the
great image which, at the last, is suddenly and violently shattered by
the "stone cut from the mountain without hands": which Stone is Christ,
the Corner Stone; and the Stone which the builders rejected. The feet
and toes of this image are said to be the last manifestation of human
government, and it is this part of the image that is violently shattered
by the Stone. Of this termination of earthly rule it is recorded in Dan.
2:44, 45: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up
a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be
left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. For as much as thou sawest that
the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake
in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the
great God hath made known to the King what shall come to pass hereafter;
and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."

From this chapter it may be seen that the setting up of the Messianic
Kingdom is to be both sudden and destructive to all human governments,
and that it is in no way the result of an age of development and
progressive improvement.

In Dan. 7 the Man of Sin appears, as has been stated, as the "little
horn" among ten horns; which, like the ten toes of the great image,
indicate the extreme end of human authority and power. In this vision
the latter end of the kingdoms of the earth is seen to culminate in the
one most daring ruler, the "little horn", who has "a mouth speaking
great things" and whose look is more imposing than all others; and he it
is who makes war with the saints and prevails over them until the coming
of the Ancient of days. The inspired i