The symbol of the little horn finds its fulfilment in a man. Dan. 8:8, 24. This is the “man of sin” (2 Thess. 2:3), the antichrist (2 John 7, R.V.). The distinguishing characteristics of this enemy of God’s kingdom are plainly set forth. He does not acknowledge the revelation of the Son of God in our flesh (1 John 4:3); he puts himself (humanity) in the place of God (Divinity) (2 Thess. 2:4); he speaks against God, persecutes His people, and thinks to change His law (Dan. 7:25). It is evident that these Scriptures all apply to one and the same system or person. Thus the seventh chapter of Daniel is a prophecy of the rise and work of the little horn, the man of sin, antichrist, who attempts to establish a kingdom with himself as king under the cover of a profession of loyalty to the kingdom of God.
In ancient Babylon there was undisguised opposition to the God of heaven. The temple and worship of Belus were entirely distinct from the temple and worship of God. Dan. 1:2. The creed of Babylon openly denied the very essence of Christianity. Dan. 2:11. The head of modern Babylon seeks to hide the real character of his work by assuming Christian forms and names. 2 Thess. 2:4. While pretending to be the vicegerent of God, he is in reality the vicegerent of “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan.” Compare Rev. 13:2 with Rev. 12:9. This system is called “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess. 2:7) in distinction from the “mystery of godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16). “The mystery of godliness” is the revelation of Christ in our flesh; the “mystery of iniquity” is the revelation of self (which is really the revelation of Satan) in our flesh. The one is the exaltation of Christ; the other is the exaltation of self. The one is Christianity; the other is Paganism. The one means a belief in God; the other means a belief in self. The one means justification by faith; the other means justification by works.
QUESTIONS.
What appearance did the little horn present to the prophet Daniel?
In the interpretation of the vision what was the little horn said to be?
What term does the apostle Paul apply to this same enemy of God’s kingdom?
What term is used by the apostle John in describing the same one?
What does the apostle John give as the essential mark of antichrist?
What does the apostle Paul say that the “man of sin” would do?
How does the prophet Daniel describe the career of the little horn?
What do these passages taken together show to be the real subject of the vision of the seventh chapter of Daniel?
How complete was the distinction between the religion of ancient Babylon and the true religion?
In what essential feature did the creed of Babylon differ from the truth of Christianity?
How does modern Babylon attempt to deceive the world?
What does the pope claim to be? What is he in reality? Show this from the Scripture.
What name does inspiration give to the Papacy?
With what is this in direct contrast?
What is the significance of each of these terms?
In what teaching does each one find its expression?
