Hi John, Fay and Doves

 

THE DAYS WILL BE SHORTENED

Hi Fay,

I recall you asking —some time ago—if anyone knows… when will the days be shortened?

According to Jesus’ teaching and warning to His Disciples, and what we know from the New Testament: tribulations (distress) began for Jesus’ followers in the 1^st century (from Stephen’s martyrdom onward, during succeeding periods of intense persecution). Jesus warned that such tribulations will increase (via hatred, offenses, deceitful false prophets and lawlessness) and get worse toward the end times, because peoples’ love for God will grow cold. (Matt. 24:9–12; 21–22 below).

The words that Jesus spoke regarding… there being ‘great tribulation/great distress’ …occur in relation to the destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70), when the initial days of the siege (which were expected to be years-long) were shortened to only 8 days (i.e., the siege was abandoned by the Syrian legate, Gallus). As a result, those ‘elect’ (i.e., chosen ones, Jewish believers who heeded Jesus’ warning) were able to escape from Jerusalem’s precincts before the Roman legions returned under Vespasian and Titus (cf. Matt. 24:15–22). After the Romans came back, the City was locked down tight inside a 4.5 mile long wall, with 13 forts to guard it.

Hence, I believe it is the ‘abandoned siege’ that Jesus was forecasting and referring to, comprising ‘those days that would be shortened. I have covered this topic in my book The Curse and the Covenant, Chapter 21, pages 125–127. THE CURSE AND THE COVENANT (fivedoves.com)

Note that Jesus words of warning in Matthew 24:21 were partial quotes from Daniel 12:1. Compare…

At that time, Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. (Dan. 12:1)

NB. Daniel is forecasting a yet to come, time of trouble, that would affect the sons of your people,
(i.e., Judah/Jews) which will occur sometime in the nation’s future. Daniel refers to that [future] time in FOUR different places. But note that Jesus’ quotation does not refer to that time at all, instead He inserts this time! Daniel’s little phrase ‘at that time’ is completely missing from Jesus’ words. The future had become the present!

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake [i.e., the saved Jews, whose names were written in the book mentioned in Daniel] those days will be shortened. (Matt. 24:21–22)

When Jesus says… for then (he still means the future), but he is saying that since the beginning of the world there has never been so great tribulation, until this time (meaning it was soon to happen). This time relates to the disastrous invasion and destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem that Jesus had been talking about—an event which was only about 36–40 years ahead for Jerusalem.

For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another… (Luke 19:43–44)

Apart from those who escaped when the siege was abandoned—the end was as bad as it could be for the starving Jews—a million plus were dead, and Jerusalem was unrecognisable by the time the Romans had finished burning the city to the ground.

However, the deteriorating social/moral conditions that will exist—in the end time—that Jesus mentioned in His dissertation in Matthew 24 (top), and Luke 21, are the very things that Paul mentions (i.e., the falling away/rebellion against God, and lawlessness toward justice), which he says will precede the revelation of ‘the man of sin, the son of perdition’ who appears before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Day of the Lord, and our gathering together to Him. (2 Thess. 2:1–4).

Jesus had already indicated that the Jewish ‘nation’ won’t see Him again in Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37–39) until He comes in power and glory, to rescue the ‘meek and humble remnant of Israel’ (Isaiah 2:12–17) from the chaos that is described in Zephaniah (cf. Zeph. 3:11–20), Zechariah (cf. 12:10–14) and Malachi 4:1, which are regarded in scripture, as refining processes.

Whether there will be another period of time when similarly, those days will be shortened for the elect’s sake, I cannot tell, but I do believe those days already occurred during the siege of Jerusalem around AD 70.

When Jesus Christ does reappear, the Jews are going to mourn for Him whom they pierced! On that day the blindness over their eyes and their lack of understanding about God’s provision for dealing with their sin will be removed (Isaiah 6:9–13), but the Messiah’s everlasting righteousness is available right now to any and all Jews (and Gentiles) who repent and believe in the name of Jesus, their Messiah. He is also interceding in the Holy of Holies right now, for those who call on His name. (Heb. 9:24–28; 10:19–25)

During this long period—waiting for His return—and in spite of all that is causing distress around the world, the Gospel is being preached as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matt. 24:13–14; Luke 21:12–19) Thus, we are exhorted to have faith and wait patiently:

But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.’ (Luke 21:18–19)

Shalom, and Maranatha.