The Days Being Shortened

[Achilles6129]

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Mt. 24:22

The "days being shortened" does not refer to the time of the tribulation being shortened, as some on this forum have supposed, but rather that the literal 24 hour days are actually shortened. So instead of a 24 hour day, we will actually have a 16 hour day. This is actually shown in the book of Revelation:

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." Rev. 8:12

1/3 of the day is 4 hours, and 1/3 of the night is 4 hours, which is 8 hours total. Therefore, the day will actually be shortened to 16 hours, which is what Christ is describing in Mt. 24:22, not the time of the tribulation being shortened.

Christ says that unless the days were shortened (that is, to 16 hours) no flesh should be saved. I personally believe that this is because the trumpet judgments overlap with the vial judgments, and I think that the day is shortened to 16 hours after the sun is given power to "scorch men with fire":

"And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory." Rev. 16:8-9

For anyone who's ever been through a heat wave, you know that it is life threatening (especially for the elderly and young). This vial is life threatening, and I think that the days are shortened to 16 hours directly after this vial in order to protect the elect from the sun. If the day were not shortened to 16 hours here, but instead remained 24 hours, no one would survive the heat wave brought on by the fourth vial.

However, the question is, how is the day shortened to 16 hours? The only way this would be possible is for the earth's rotation to be sped up, which would require simply a tremendous amount of force. It is impossible that an asteroid could "hit" the earth and speed up it's rotation, b/c in order to speed up the earth's rotation by 8 hours the asteroid would impact the planet at such an incredible velocity that it would vaporize everything.

I think that the only real way to speed up the earth’s rotation without destroying it entirely is to apply some sort of gravitational force from outside the earth which would speed up its rotation. However, in order for that to happen a pretty large planet like Jupiter would be needed. Other than that, I really don’t know how the earth’s rotation could possibly be sped up in order to make a day 16 hours, but it is one of the things that is going to happen in Revelation.

 

[HisdaughterJen]

The problem with your conclusion is the timing doesn't line up. The sun/moon/stars 1/3 darkened happens AFTER the days are shortened.

Jesus said in Matt 24:

1. Desolation of Israel
THEN
2. Tribulation
THEN
3. Tribulation cut short for the sake of the elect
THEN
4. Sun/moon darken/stars fall (6th seal)
THEN
5. False christs/false prophets perform false miracles.

The 1/3 of the sun/moon/stars darkened which you ASSUME shortens 24 hour days to 16 hours is the 4th trumpet of the 7th seal while the shortening of the days of the tribulation for the sake of the elect happens before the 6th seal.

If you want to know why God steps in the for the sake of the elect (at the last trumpet, no less), read Joel 2.

 

[zeke37]

see Rev9.....

only 5 months as opposed to years

pentacost to trumpets?

 

[Douggg]

imo, it means that the tribulation of those days are "limited", otherwise, no flesh will survive.

Doug L.

 

[Achilles6129]

The problem with your conclusion is the timing doesn't line up. The sun/moon/stars 1/3 darkened happens AFTER the days are shortened.

Jesus said in Matt 24:

1. Desolation of Israel
THEN
2. Tribulation
THEN
3. Tribulation cut short for the sake of the elect
THEN
4. Sun/moon darken/stars fall (6th seal)
THEN
5. False christs/false prophets perform false miracles.

No, I think you're reading it wrong, and here's why. I think many of the statements Christ gives in Mt. 24 are a summary of things that are going to happen, not necessarily in exact chronological order. For instance, the false christ and false prophet will rise at the beginning of the tribulation (42 months, see Rev. 13). Christ talks about the great tribulation coming, and then he summarizes what's going to happen during it. Here's what I'm talking about:

"21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Mt. 24:21-22

The tribulation is for a specific period of time - 42 months. This has been shown with the Scriptures. How could the tribulation then "be shortened"? It couldn't. Therefore, the shortening of the days must be the shortening referred to in Rev., which I will show again.

The 1/3 of the sun/moon/stars darkened which you ASSUME shortens 24 hour days to 16 hours is the 4th trumpet of the 7th seal while the shortening of the days of the tribulation for the sake of the elect happens before the 6th seal.

It's not an assumption. Take a look:

"12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." Rev. 8:12

The 1/3 of the sun/moon/stars being "darkened" is metaphorical for the shortening of the day, which is described by John as "the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." A day is 12 hours and a night is 12 hours. 1/3 is then 4 hours each, which is 8 hours. Therefore, the 24 hour day will be shortened to a 16 hour day, which means that something must speed up the earth's rotation significantly.

What exactly speeds up the earth's rotation so significantly is the question. It must be some force from outside the earth that does this, in my view. However, what could it be?

 

[Achilles6129]

I've been looking at things that could possibly speed up the earth's rotation and came up with an interesting possibility (and, unlike many of the theories set forth on this forum, it's from a reputable source). There is a distant object (called Sedna) orbiting the sun out beyond Pluto, and it has a very strange orbit, which scientists theorize could have been caused by a brown dwarf star, which they are currently searching for. Here's an article about it:

Search on for Death Star that throws out deadly comets - Telegraph

"Nasa scientists are searching for an invisible 'Death Star' that circles the Sun, which catapults potentially catastrophic comets at the Earth. The star, also known as Nemesis, is five times the size of Jupiter and could be to blame for the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago."


"Nemesis is predicted to lie at a distance equal to 25,000 times that of the Earth from the Sun, or a third of a light-year.
Astronomers believe it is of a type called a red or brown dwarf – a "failed star" that has not managed to generate enough energy to burn like the Sun."

If it hasn't generated enough energy to burn like the sun, that would make it basically invisible, wouldn't it?

"But it should be detectable by a heat-sensitive space telescope called WISE, the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer."


"A major clue to Nemesis's existence is a mysterious dwarf planet called Sedna that was spotted on an elongated 12,000-year-long orbit around the sun."

"Mike Brown, who discovered Sedna in 2003, said: "Sedna is a very odd object – it shouldn't be there! It never comes anywhere close to any of the giant planets or the sun. It's way, way out there on this incredibly eccentric orbit."

The idea is that Nemesis is responsible for Sedna's odd orbit. Basically, the scientists are theorizing that there could be a companion star to the sun out there - and if there is, this could be what we're seeing in Revelation when the earth's rotation speeds up so we have a 16 hour day instead of a 24 hour one.

 

[Zadok7000]

"The "days being shortened" does not refer to the time of the tribulation being shortened

Wrong. A day less than 24 hours would not equate to death (spiritual or otherwise) at the hands of the False Christ, which is the one and only context of the "shortening". Satan's reign is down to 5 months.

 

[Biblewriter]

When I was young I pondered long over this scripture, repeatedly saying to myself, "I just can't conceive of a war that would kill everybody - and everything!"

Today, it is common knowledge that an all out nuclear exchange would do exactly that.

I am firmly persuaded that in Matthew 24:22, Jesus was making a specific reference to the nuclear threat. He said that this threat is real. So real, in fact, that if He did not step in it would definitely happen. But He also said He would step in before it went that far.

I do not believe that this applies to a shortening of the seven year period, of the 42 month period, of of the "times, time, and half a time" (three and a half years - 42 months) period. Nor do I believe it applies to an increase of the rotational speed of the earth.

Speaking for the moment as a scientist (which I am) and not as a theologian, Achilles6129 is entirely mistaken in assuming that a mere shortening of the length of individual days from 24 hours to 16 hours would make the earth cooler. While it would make the daily highs lower, it would make the nightly lows hotter, and would not affect the overall temperature at all.

I believe it means that God will not allow events to take their course, as they would if He did not interfere. He will step in before those events take their natural course. Other scriptures tell us when He will step in. That is 1260 days after the abomination of desolation, which itself is the same period of time after the confirmation of the beast's seven year treaty.

 

[HisdaughterJen]

No, I think you're reading it wrong, and here's why. I think many of the statements Christ gives in Mt. 24 are a summary of things that are going to happen, not necessarily in exact chronological order. For instance, the false christ and false prophet will rise at the beginning of the tribulation (42 months, see Rev. 13). Christ talks about the great tribulation coming, and then he summarizes what's going to happen during it. Here's what I'm talking about:

"21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Mt. 24:21-22

The tribulation is for a specific period of time - 42 months. This has been shown with the Scriptures. How could the tribulation then "be shortened"? It couldn't. Therefore, the shortening of the days must be the shortening referred to in Rev., which I will show again.



It's not an assumption. Take a look:

"12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." Rev. 8:12

The 1/3 of the sun/moon/stars being "darkened" is metaphorical for the shortening of the day, which is described by John as "the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." A day is 12 hours and a night is 12 hours. 1/3 is then 4 hours each, which is 8 hours. Therefore, the 24 hour day will be shortened to a 16 hour day, which means that something must speed up the earth's rotation significantly.

What exactly speeds up the earth's rotation so significantly is the question. It must be some force from outside the earth that does this, in my view. However, what could it be?

1. The polar caps experience "darkening" already but that doesn't shorten a 24 hour day. Have you considered the possibility that the 1/3 darkening could mean that there is something blocking a portion of the sky that causes a darkening as the earth spins...not that a 24 hour day is somehow turned into 16? There is no basis to suggest that the 4th trumpet of Seal 7 is a shortening of a 24 hour day - that is an assumption.

2. Jesus was speaking chronologically from the desolation of Israel to the tribulation to the false christ/false prophet/false miracles BECAUSE he actually said "THEN".

A. Desolation
THEN
B. Tribulation, tribulation cut short
THEN
C. False Christs/False Prophets/False miracles

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’[c] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 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. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (6th seal- see Rev 6)


3. There is NO scripture, NONE/ZERO, that says the abomination of desolation refers in any way, shape or form to the anti-christ. Gabriel was answering Daniel's questions about Israel's future. The Seventy 7's were for ISRAEL. Jesus said the abomination of desolation as mentioned in Daniel. The DESOLATION refers to the desolation of ISRAEL. They have been desolated for nearly 2000 years.

4. There is NO scripture, NONE/ZERO, that says the tribulation refers in any way, shape or form to the 42 months+ of wrath. We have been in the tribulation, according to Jesus in Matt 24, since the desolation of Israel.


AFTER the tribulation comes WRATH...1335 days of it, to be precise.

 

[Achilles6129]

I do not believe that this applies to a shortening of the seven year period, of the 42 month period, of of the "times, time, and half a time" (three and a half years - 42 months) period. Nor do I believe it applies to an increase of the rotational speed of the earth.

Speaking for the moment as a scientist (which I am) and not as a theologian, Achilles6129 is entirely mistaken in assuming that a mere shortening of the length of individual days from 24 hours to 16 hours would make the earth cooler. While it would make the daily highs lower, it would make the nightly lows hotter, and would not affect the overall temperature at all.

I never said it would make the earth cooler. I didn't say it would affect the temperature at all. My only references to temperature have been to the sun scorching people with fire.

1. The polar caps experience "darkening" already but that doesn't shorten a 24 hour day. Have you considered the possibility that the 1/3 darkening could mean that there is something blocking a portion of the sky that causes a darkening as the earth spins...not that a 24 hour day is somehow turned into 16? There is no basis to suggest that the 4th trumpet of Seal 7 is a shortening of a 24 hour day - that is an assumption.

Jen, it plainly says it is a shortening of the 24 hour day, because it says "the day shone not for the third part of it, nor the night likewise." How exactly are you going to explain that?

"12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." Rev. 8:12

There it is, plainly, so all can see. John says the day is shines not for 1/3 and the night shines not for 1/3. Since a day is 12 hours and a night is 12 hours, they are each reduced by 4 hours - making a 16 hour day instead of a 24 hour day. My question is - if "the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise" does not refer to the literal shortening of the 24 hour day, then what is it referring to?

 

[HisdaughterJen]

Jen, it plainly says it is a shortening of the 24 hour day, because it says "the day shone not for the third part of it, nor the night likewise." How exactly are you going to explain that?

"12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." Rev. 8:12

There it is, plainly, so all can see. John says the day is shines not for 1/3 and the night shines not for 1/3. Since a day is 12 hours and a night is 12 hours, they are each reduced by 4 hours - making a 16 hour day instead of a 24 hour day. My question is - if "the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise" does not refer to the literal shortening of the 24 hour day, then what is it referring to?

It does NOT say that the days are shortened. It says that the sun/moon/stars are darkened for 1/3 of the day. The sun/moon are darkened for a portion of the day during eclipses but that doesn't shorten the day by any means.

What could cause the luminaries to NOT shine for 1/3 of the time that they usually do shine?
1. A massive asteroid blocking an area of the sky as the earth rotates between the sun/moon/stars and the earth.
2. Dark matter which apparently is currently affecting the milky way
Milky Way's dark matter 'turned on its side' - space - 06 January 2010 - New Scientist

 

[Zadok7000]

"12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." Rev. 8:12

There it is, plainly, so all can see. John says the day is shines not for 1/3 and the night shines not for 1/3. Since a day is 12 hours and a night is 12 hours, they are each reduced by 4 hours - making a 16 hour day instead of a 24 hour day. My question is - if "the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise" does not refer to the literal shortening of the 24 hour day, then what is it referring to?

Key phrase is: so as the third part of them was darkened.
IE "covered by darkness". Even you wanted to be strictly literal, how would the sun moon and stars being covered by darkness make the 24 day shorter?? It just means 1/3 of their light is not visible. They are being obscured. Has nothing whatsoever to do with the length of a day.

Paul uses the same word "skotizo" to describe the darkening of "the heart", "the eyes" and "understanding". Same darkness, my friend.

 

[Achilles6129]

Key phrase is: so as the third part of them was darkened.
IE "covered by darkness". Even you wanted to be strictly literal, how would the sun moon and stars being covered by darkness make the 24 day shorter?? It just means 1/3 of their light is not visible. They are being obscured. Has nothing whatsoever to do with the length of a day.

Paul uses the same word "skotizo" to describe the darkening of "the heart", "the eyes" and "understanding". Same darkness, my friend.

I see what you're saying, but I think that's even more unlikely than the day being literally shortened. Imagine: Some object obstructs the sun/moon/stars for 1/3 of the day/night, and then we have 2/3 of the day/night without the obstruction, and so on and on? I just think that's really unlikely, but I see what you're saying.

 

[AdamKane]

What could cause the luminaries to NOT shine for 1/3 of the time that they usually do shine?

Debris put into the atmosphere by either nuclear explosions, volcanic activity or asteroid impacts.

But, seriously; right now the days are getting longer. We are getting closer and closer to the Summer Solstice.

 

[Zadok7000]

I see what you're saying, but I think that's even more unlikely than the day being literally shortened. Imagine: Some object obstructs the sun/moon/stars for 1/3 of the day/night, and then we have 2/3 of the day/night without the obstruction, and so on and on? I just think that's really unlikely, but I see what you're saying.

I'm not saying it should be literally interpreted either, just that the darkening does not equate to a shorter day no matter how you slice it.

 

[zeke37]

I see what you're saying, but I think that's even more unlikely than the day being literally shortened. Imagine: Some object obstructs the sun/moon/stars for 1/3 of the day/night, and then we have 2/3 of the day/night without the obstruction, and so on and on? I just think that's really unlikely, but I see what you're saying.

15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand
16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25Behold, I have told you before.
26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

those days are shortened for a purpose...so the elect won't be deceived

I cannot see how less light each day, or even a quicker earth rotation, etc, can fulfill these requirements...

but if the days were shortened from 3.5 years, or 7 years...
to 5 months, ie. Rev9,
then that would indeed fulfill the requirements.

 

[HisdaughterJen]

It is obvious to me that it's the "great tribulation" that is shortened for the sake of the elect.

As Zeke quoted in his post, Jesus gave the order of events in Matt 24.

1. Desolation of Israel (verse 15)
THEN (verse 21)
2. Tribulation (verse 21)
3. Tribulation cut short for sake of elect (verse 22), sun/moon darken/stars fall (6th seal) which Jesus said is IMMEDIATELY AFTER tribulation (verse 29)
THEN (verse 23)
4. False Christs/false prophets/false miracles arise (verse 24)

 

[interpreter]

Actually, the earthquake in Chili made days get longer.

 

[Achilles6129]

It is obvious to me that it's the "great tribulation" that is shortened for the sake of the elect.

As Zeke quoted in his post, Jesus gave the order of events in Matt 24.

1. Desolation of Israel (verse 15)
THEN (verse 21)
2. Tribulation (verse 21)
3. Tribulation cut short for sake of elect (verse 22), sun/moon darken/stars fall (6th seal) which Jesus said is IMMEDIATELY AFTER tribulation (verse 29)
THEN (verse 23)
4. False Christs/false prophets/false miracles arise (verse 24)

Ok then, well let me ask you this - why couldn't the 24 hour days of the great tribulation be literally shortened? And, also, what does "the day shone not for the third part of it, and the night likewise" mean in your estimation? Because it seems pretty clear to me from that verse that the interpretation that makes the most sense is the shortening of a 24 hour day down to 16 hours.

 

[laconicstudent]

Actually, the earthquake in Chili made days get longer.

.....

Cite? Actually, you are partially correct at least. The days over time are getting longer because tidal breaking by the moon is slowing the rate of the Earth's rotation.