Except Those Days be Shortened

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

I admit I use to wonder how God would shorten those days he was talking about concerning the prophecy of the end time. It is now becoming more obvious everyday how he would do it. 

I am one that spends time everyday in prayer and study of God’s word and the current events of our day and time as they pertain to prophetical end time events. There was a time when studying prophecy was more difficult because we didn’t have the events as they relate to end time prophecy so prevalent as they are today especially from the point of delivery such as a woman in travail with a child and this is exactly where we are today.   Things are happening at such a pace today it is hard for even someone like me that spends hours every day trying to keep up with them. I am not criticizing or blaming Obama and his team but the astute student would have to admit since his ascension to the presidency things have sped up with a pace unlike any other in my life time. When George W. Bush was president he was ostracized and viciously attacked for acting upon the national interests of the United States within the now dominate global environment. As a pronounced citizen of the world, Obama instead insists that we must all shoulder "the burdens of global citizenship." Thus, the United States of America, the last major holdout against global governance, has under President Obama joined efforts to deal with most matters within the framework of globalism. Whatever reluctance was shown in the past, America has now officially under the Obama administration joined the global community lock, stock, and barrel.

 It is as if everything is in fast forward. These shortened days are the result of the things Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24, Luke 17, 21, Mark 13 and Revelation not to mention many Old Testament prophecies of the end time such as Daniel, Isaiah, Joel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah several others. It is the culmination of events that are happening in an accelerated pace such as a woman in travail. Like a woman giving birth to a child the minutes and seconds come together closer and closer but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish so shall it be with those that have endured to the end. That is how it will soon be for those of us that have persevered. America’s financial crisis and the world’s leaders calling for the elimination of the dollar for a one world currency are revealing. America’s spiritual decline as recent polls suggests are all important signs of where we are in prophecy. Russia’s alignment with Iran and other of the Arab world as spoken of by Ezekiel and world leaders dividing up the world into regions are all important prophecies for the end time just prior to Christ’s return to earth for his church. I could go on and on because so many of the signs Jesus gave us to know when his return would be imminent are all about us. This is not to mention the many natural disasters encompassing the world and how on a worldwide basis mind altering drugs spoken of in Revelation are a major factor influencing the decisions and events we are witnessing. Without a doubt, it is easy to understand how those days will be shortened by the heightened occurrences of events in our day and time.

Scoffers in the last days

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. Isaiah described them this way, Isaiah 56:10-12 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.  Some can even be describes as those Isaiah 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. Granted, I could write a lot more on the subject of scoffers in the last days but in the interest of space I will limit it to an important happening at this time, which is the nation of Israel.

It is a sad fact that many who call themselves Christians are participating in a false doctrine hatched out of hell. I am talking about “Replacement Theology”. This theology put in its simplest terms says that Israel was replaced by the church after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jews were dispersed all over the world in A.D. 70. This despite the fact Israel is back in their land as God promised in Ezekiel 36 and 37 and many other prophecies that speak to the fact God would bring the Jew back into his land in the end time. As a matter of fact it is one of the signs the Lord gave us to know the time of the end is upon us. Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree (Israel); Matthew 24:33 so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. It is a little ironic that we are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem but instead much of the church world even in America is set forth to condemn Israel and much of it is because of this ridiculous “Replacement Theology” teaching. I realize some of these preachers and church organizations are doing through ignorance but many are not. What this spirit is doing is setting up or making it easier for so-called Christians to lend hatred toward Israel and make Israel out to be the cause of all the world’s problems. Of course part of the justification for this is the commodity that drives the economy, oil that is black gold.  Many of the more recognized church organizations are even divesting their interest in Israel in protest of what they perceive as unfair treatment of the Palestinians when it is the Palestinians doing the terror, not Israel. If you stop and think about whom in the Middle East is our real friend and ally? Israel is only protecting itself but so that the bible can be fulfilled, which says the whole world will hate Israel, we see this is a fact of life in the nation of Israel. The Lord did warn us if we would bother to wipe the dust off our bibles that Zechariah 12:3 and in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. I might add here the Obama administration has done a double-backed flip away from Israel, which is a dangerous thing because God said, Genesis 12:3 and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. You have to remind yourself if you are student of the bible the devil has always hated the Jew because this is the people God chose to bring the whole world the word of God and salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Jew the Lord Jesus Christ so it is no coincidence that the world hates the Jew as well. In case you haven’t noticed that hatred is finally catching up with the true Christian as well. Again Jesus warned John 15:18 if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If people would do as they are commanded and study to show themselves approved and at the same time periodically examine themselves to see if they are of the faith this theology wouldn’t have been able to grow to the dimension it has and deceive so many. As a result we have many Matthew 15:14 blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. If you are a student of the bible and pray for God’s understanding of his word then 2 Peter 3:17-18 ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Focus on the tree and not the forest

One key for you to remember is all these prophetical events that happen after the rapture of the church are for those that have not made themselves ready to deal with and not the church we’re outta here in eleven hundredths of a second or the twinkling of an eye. So I encourage you not to be as the five foolish virgins but be as the five wise virgins that stayed full of the Holy Ghost and power. After Revelation 4 and the first verse the church is not mentioned again until they are seen coming with the Lord Jesus Christ to set up his earthly kingdom at the end of the tribulation period. In other words, we can escape the wrath of God by preparing now to meet him in the clouds at the rapture just prior to the man of sin or anti-Christ is revealed.

John 16:19-22 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. John 14:1 let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Take hold of the faith of God that your belief in him fosters in your hour of need.