The Endtime Mystery of
“The Days Shall be Shortened”
Robert D. Pace
Jesus said the Endtime would include the appearance of MEGA-SIGNS–signs of unequaled magnitude (Luke 21:11). It’s especially important to notice Christ’s description in Matthew 24:21 where he said, “There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” Ominous indeed! But it’s the next verse that portents horrors of this dystopian epoch. Matthew 24:22 says, “Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
Should Christians of the Endtime expect the Lord to literally constrict time to the point that it will work for their survival? If so, how will this occur? I have heard people postulate that God will shorten the seven-year timespan of the Great Tribulation in order to fulfill this prophecy. However, one must recognize that the Bible has carefully measured Daniel’s 70 Weeks and has mandated those days to fully run their course. So what is the answer?
Again, notice closely Christ’s words. He said, “unless the days were shortened.” That phraseology indicates that God will actually shave off the hours of a day. Before this assertion is relegated to the realm of fiction it should be noted that geophysical science affirms this postulation! In fact, the days have already been shortened! They just haven’t been shortened to the magnitude that Jesus forecasted.
Geophysicists have calculated that since 2004 the Earth has accelerated its spin and shortened our 24-hour day by about 10 microseconds. And they even explain how this has happened. The planet is made to increase its spin when a violent earthquake pushes Earth’s landmass closer to its polar axis. This concept is best illustrated by watching Olympic ice skaters. At some point in their routine, the skater glides to center rink and with arms wide out gracefully begins spinning. But as the skater slowly pulls in their arms to their body (or axis), their spin increases to a blazing, indiscernible speed!
I want you to consider this proposition: It is plausible to postulate that a series of violent earthquakes rippling around the globe, would shift massive portions of landmass toward the North and South poles. This would produce an unprecedented increase of Earth’s spin! The velocity of this gyration could constrict a 24-hour day by eight hours!
But while this scenario stirs the imagination, does the Bible forecast a series of massive earthquakes rocking the world? And does Christ’s prophecy of “shortened days” appear anywhere else in Scripture? The answer to both questions is Yes! And there are several passages of Scripture that affirm this.
First, notice the riveting words of Isaiah 24:18—20. As you read this passage, count the times that Isaiah pictures the planet being rocked by mega-quakes: [One] “The foundations of the earth shake. [Two] The earth is broken up, [Three] the earth is split asunder, [And four] the earth is violently shaken.” That’s a four-fold pummeling! And then verse 20 discloses the surreal consequence of these quakes: “The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls—never to rise again.”
Next, notice Revelation 8:12, as it shows the consequence of the blazing star “Wormwood,” colliding with our planet: “The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.”
And finally, Amos 8:9 forecasts this: “And it will come about on that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “That I will make the sun go down at noon, and make the earth dark in broad daylight.”
It’s startling how the Bible discloses a series of mega-quakes striking the earth! And once Christ’s prophecy to “shorten the days” is fulfilled, it will demonstrate his mercy toward the “elect” to alleviate their suffering. Praise God!
ATTENTION:
In cryptic and wondrous ways Christ and the Prophets reveal man’s march into the Endtime drama with precise accuracy. Without restraint, the Bible uses prophecy 1,817 times to capture our attention and convince us that God’s Word is true!
If you enjoyed this Endtime insight of Robert D. Pace, you can order his fascinating book, APOCALERT!, which discloses the Bible’s irrepressible forewarning of its walk into the Apocalypse. To order, postage free, click here.