rs of desolation is, however, to be
shortened, according to the words of Christ: "For then shall be great
tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened" (Matt. 24:21, 22). It should be noticed that this
period cannot be confused easily with any other, for it is referred to
as the time more terrible than any other that has ever been, or ever
will be (Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:2; Matt. 24:21, 22).

Reference has been made at length to the tribulation period in order to
make clear the exact conditions in which the Man of Sin is to appear;
for this mighty world-ruler makes his advent in those days of earth's
darkness and gloom when all the light of God has been withdrawn, and the
world is left in its own helpless confusion. He appears in the
tribulation as the agent of Satan after that mighty head of the Satanic
system has been cast out of heaven into the earth (Rev. 12:7-12). The
time of the destruction of the Man of Sin is also revealed in that it is
mentioned as one of the events in the glorious coming of Christ (Dan.
2:44; 7:11-14; II Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:20). He, therefore, appears as the
culmination of the Satanic effort, and a careful study of his person and
character will reveal the fact that he is the most stupendous work of
Satan in his enmity against God.

In connection with the time of the Man of Sin, it is also to be noted
that the believer is not directly warned against his person, but is,
rather, warned against the conditions that are to prevail as a
preparation for his coming. This is due to the fact that the true
believers are to be gathered to their Lord before that "Wicked one"
appears, and they are, therefore, only in danger of being influenced by
that which precedes and prepares for his coming. His description is set
forth at length only in such passages as deal with the whole and final
development of the age.

It should also be remembered that the description of this person, like
that of the person and work of Satan, is from the standpoint of the
holiness of God; and that which the world will hail as its glorious
ideal of perfection is, in God's sight, the personification of
rebelliousness, blasphemy, and treason.

The order of the governments and rulers of the world in this Gentile age
is revealed to Daniel in visions which are