Matthew 24:22, 'Unless those days were shortened......" What does this mean to you?
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"Whoever sins, is a slave to sin" in other words, the more the world fulfils its own lusts, the more bound they become to their sin. This is tolerable, to an extent, but the closer it gets to Hell the more unbearable it becomes. This scripture is saying "God understands that slavery to sin will be unbearable" and "God will make it bearable by shortening, the days in which it is experienced". People will decide to sin, but they won't wait to understand what sinning means.
What is interesting, is that once God has shortened the days and everyone is going quickly about their business (without thinking about it) God will actually be able to foreshorten the days, meaning people won't even think about what is to come. People who don't think about what is to come, are far less judgmental than if they get it all their way and don't have time to react.
Remember what Jesus said to Judas "what you do, do quickly" we are not supposed to give time to sin!
What is interesting, is that once God has shortened the days and everyone is going quickly about their business (without thinking about it) God will actually be able to foreshorten the days, meaning people won't even think about what is to come. People who don't think about what is to come, are far less judgmental than if they get it all their way and don't have time to react.
Remember what Jesus said to Judas "what you do, do quickly" we are not supposed to give time to sin!
I never thought of this verse this way.... very nice and thank you.
I understand that from the context Jesus is talking about the last days prior to his return, when there will be persecution of Christians in a way and to an extent we have not seen.
That is why the days ( time ) will be shortened, tominimise there suffering.
That is why the days ( time ) will be shortened, tominimise there suffering.
Thank you. I have also heard that this represents an end time prophecy. Where things will get so horrible that unless He returns we will all perish.
Let me ask you if this could possibly not be an end time event - perhaps it speaks to His first coming period…
Aunty Jane
Well-Known Member
All of Matthew 24 is Jesus preparing his apostles for what is to come with a prophesy that applied to the time of his return. No one knew just when it would take place, but here we are in the “end times” and all of the features of his prophesy are in evidence. The only thing left to witness is “the great tribulation”, which could be triggered at any moment by something that could come right out of left field.
As Jesus said....Matt 24: 36-44...
“Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38 For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. . . . . 42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.”
Like the days of Noah, the world is again filled with violence......humans slaying one another. Immorality is rife and there are no standards of right and wrong anymore.....even some in the church are supporting the LGBTQ movement.
Just as the Christians had to remove themselves from the corrupted Jewish system of worship, so we too have to remove ourselves from the hopelessly divided religious system masquerading as “Christianity” today, when we are awaiting Christ’s manifestation as judge.....his promised return was identified in Matt 24. These world events are unmistakable, indicating that Christ is here, present and overseeing the greatest work his disciples were commanded to do. (Matt 28:19-20)....and as we move closer to the end, we need to be found by Christ at peace with God and with our neighbors......not tied up with the world and it’s affairs. (John 18:36) The greatest tribulation in the history of the world is almost upon us.
Things will get so bad that if God did not bring about the destruction of the wicked at Armageddon, “no flesh would be saved”......only in this day and age does man possess the ability to wipe out all life on this planet. God will never allow wicked humans to destroy his handiwork. (Isa 55:11)
He will step in to cut it short.....on account of his elect.
Well, there does not seem to be any question that Jesus is speaking about the end time events when asked by His disciples - 3 questions, but is it possible some of those verses are not end times?
In Matt. 24:22/Mk. 13:20, Jesus was referring to the abomination of desolation that will precede His Second Coming prophesied by Daniel, when He said that if those days were not shortened for the sake of those who are chosen, no one would be saved, because the satan-men will enter into an alliance with hell to torture men.
Jesus continued saying that even then, in order to corrupt and mislead those who have remained faithful to the Lord, some people will arise and say: "The Christ is there, the Christ is here. He is in that place. There He is." We must not believe them. Let no one believe them, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and produce great signs and portents, enough to deceive even the chosen, if it were possible, and they will speak doctrines that are apparently so comforting and good as to deceive even the best ones, if the Spirit of God were not with them enlightening them on the truth and the satanic origin of such portents and doctrines (Matt. 24:23-24, Mk. 13:21-22). Jesus was telling the apostles. Jesus was foretelling it, so that they and others may know how to behave (Matt. 24:25, Mk. 13:23). But do not be afraid of falling. If we remain in the Lord, we will not be led into temptation and ruin. Remember what He told them: "I have given you the power to walk on snakes and scorpions, and of all the power of the Enemy nothing will harm you, because everything will be subjected to you" (Lk. 10:19). But He would've also reminded them that, in order to achieve this, they must have God within them, and they must rejoice, not because they control the powers of Evil and poisonous things, but because their names are written in Heaven. (Lk. 10:20)
Remain in God and in His truth. Jesus is the Truth and Jesus teaches the truth. So I repeat to you once again: whatever they may say about Him, do not believe it. He alone has spoken the truth. He alone has told the apostles and us that the Christ will come, but when it is the end. Jesus went on to say, "So if they say to you: 'He is in the desert,' do not go. If they say to you: 'He is in that house,' do not listen to them. Because in His Second coming the Son of man will be like lightning striking in the east and flashing as far as the west, in a shorter time than a blink." (Matt. 24:26-27)
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Part 1
Thank you very much for your wonderful response. And I am in complete agreement with you that this speaks directly to the AOD found in the Book of Daniel. Further, as previously mentioned, I too find that most of Matthew 24 speaks of the end time events where Jesus responds to His disciples’ questions. However, I would ask that you might consider the following different interpretation, for these verses, that were found during my study on the Book of Daniel.
This particular issue also focuses on the meaning of the AOD. I am aware that almost everyone interprets this term to be an end time event where there will be a time of tribulation and evil not seen on the earth. Some / many have also interpreted (grossly misinterpreted in my view), that this is connected to a mythical “anti-Christ” figure who will and enter into a 7 year agreement with Israel only to renege half way through this time period. As you know, that is referred to as the 7 years tribulation theory or gap theory where they disconnected the last 7 years of the prophecy and threw it some 2000 years into the future (utterly nonsense but that is for another topic). Consequently, one of the most of “today’s accepted interpretations” of the AOD is speaking of an “end time event.”
There are two other “accepted interpretations” that contend this refers to the destruction of the Temple, the city, the Sanctuary, the million or more Jews by Titus in 70 AD. And there is a lesser sized group that attempts to take this back to the time of AE when he placed a pig on the alter, murdered many Jews and committed much destruction to the Temple. So you can see there is no consensus on the definition of the term “AOD.”
This term “abomination that causes desolation” does not refer to the destruction of the Temple, the city, the Sanctuary or even its people. That was already done by the Babylonians. The Jews were punished for 70 years, but God would bring them back home according to His 70 weeks of years prophecy. This was necessary since these physical elements were not meant to be “destroyed” because they still had a major role to play in God’s plan of salvation for the Jews and mankind. A complete restoration of all things must take place before the arrival of the coming Messiah on the first day of the 70th week of the prophecy.
But after the cross, these same physical elements and His people would once again be totally destroyed. This was allowed to be a “permanent” destruction because the Messiah would fulfill these “types and shadows” at His first coming. He would be our High Priest, our Passover Lamb, our Temple and Sanctuary. All of these physical elements and His sacrifice would also do away with them – He had fulfilled their God given mission. Now, they would never again house the presence of God, nor would they have any holy value to God – they were now just physical structures whose mission was completed. So, even though the Jews of today still have not accepted Jesus as their Messiah, they contend a 3rd Temple / Sanctuary, sacrifices, etc., must be reinstated. But that will not happen.
The” Abomination that causes desolation” is therefore not the destruction of the Temple, Sanctuary, the city, the walls, its people no matter what time period – it doesn’t fit the definition of the destruction of the 1st, the 2nd or a 3rd Temple. Been there, done that. This is on a whole other level. This is specifically called out in Chapter 9 d, e, and f. The “abomination” that causes desolation refers to the cross. First, this would be the most “abominable” act in the history of mankind – never to be equaled. The Jews would reject and crucify their Messiah. And although the city and the Temple, etc., would be destroyed – permanently in 70 AD, it would not compare to their punishment for rejecting Jesus. As a result of this, God would “make desolate” His relationship with His people for the next 2000 years. This is the definition of the term “desolation.” They would no longer have access to their God… He would turn away from them. This would bring in the “times of the Gentiles” where God’s Word and the Testimony of Jesus would go out to the world to the pagans / Gentiles.
God would make Himself “desolate” to His people until He decided the “time of the Gentiles” is completed and He will once again return to them. This will take place 3.5 years before He will / can return. At the beginning of this 3.5 year period, God will remove the blindness from their eyes and recognize the “One they have pierced.” They will go out into the world, just as Paul did after his Damascus experience and preach the Good News to the world.
Part 2
And this is where the discussion of the term in Matthew 24:22 fits in. There is only one thing that must be completed that pertains to the 70 weeks of years prophecy. This prophecy was fulfilled completely by the Jews and the Messiah during the 490 year period – nothing was left on the table. However, because the Jews rejected / crucified their Messiah, the 4th and final Great Jubilee cycle could not continue to be counted. This 4th GJ cycle began on the exact date of the 70 weeks of years prophecy – 457 BC and was to conclude exactly 490 years later or at the end of the prophecy. But the counting of this cycle would stop exactly 3.5 years before the end of the prophecy – the exact time of the cross. This meant there were only 486.5 years of the prophecy that were completed and they can only be completed by the Jews and only when they return to their “good standing” with their God. And God cannot return until the 4th Great Jubilee cycle is completed. Therefore, when God removes the blindness from their eyes (their own Damascus experience), the clock will begin to count again and after 3.5 years, the Messiah will return.
But we still must return back to Matthew 24:22, where it states, “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved.” The meaning of this specific verse is that Jesus willingly “drank from the cup,” He willingly went to the cross and obeyed His Father’s commands in every way. The first 69 weeks of the 70 weeks of prophecy was specifically assigned to the Jews to complete their part in the restoration (primarily physical elements) after their return from Babylon. But God would “set aside” the last week on the 70 weeks of years prophecy for His Messiah. Two things: It was during this last week that Jesus would fulfill all 6 of His God given requirements found in 9:24, AND, He was the ONLY one who could restore the final piece of furniture in the Sanctuary. Every piece of furniture in the Sanctuary, the Temple, the walls, the city, the Sabbatical cycles, the 7 Feast days were ALL fulfilled / completed by the Jews by the end of the 69th week. Only then would the Messiah arrive on the first day of the 70th week to begin His ministry and to fulfill His God given requirements. At the one piece of furniture only He could restore would be the very first piece that was taken away before the Babylonians could obtain it – the Ark of the Covenant. Everything was restored in the reverse order they were either taken away or destroyed and Jesus would represent the Presence of God once again within the Sanctuary. But Jesus would also willingly go to the cross before the end of the last week. Meaning, there is ONLY one way any one of us can go to the Kingdom, only one way to salvation for any one of us….. It is the cross that is the only way to be saved and thus, Jesus would willingly go the cross before the end of the last week – He would willingly “shorten those days” so all could be saved. If Jesus did not go to the cross, NO ONE would ever be saved. Thus, this is not an end time event but represents the most important sacrifice of our Lord and Savior – He willingly agreed to shorten the last week and go to the cross so whoever believed in Him and His sacrifice would be saved…. There is no other way to be saved- all flesh would be destroyed.
FYI, I have recently completed a 5 year study on the Book of Daniel with so many new interpretations – they are like the above and depart from the many different and accepted interpretations found within every commentary, paper or study. They all seem to repeat what others have already came up with but put their own “voice” to them… This new commentary is not based on an “historical” approach to interpreting Daniel but a “Messianic” approach – not how well we can match the kings, kingdoms and conflicts in Daniel’s verses to our history books (Daniel is not a history book or lesson), but how they speak to God’s plan of salvation for His people and mankind and His first coming.
If you would like to receive an “author’s copy” of this commentary, no cost to you, please send me your mailing / contact information in a private message and I will have it sent directly to you from Amazon. If you prefer to keep that information confidential, there are other options that have been used: Provide a PO Box, provide the address of your church and I will send two copies to your Pastor’s attention (yours and his), or you could simply ask for the relevant information to go onto Amazon yourself and purchase it directly from them. Or, you may not be interested at all and that is fine too. Let me know and thanks. (this offer is for anyone within this foum in addition to @asoul ... up to a point of course).
Thanks, would you want to comment on the new interpretation's mentioned in Parts 1 and 2? Thanks.
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