Great Tribulation Shortened?

Q

Thank you very much for your website, I could spend a thousand words describing its blessing in my life. Instead, I have a question. Matthew 24: 15 – 22 Jesus references Daniel specifically, who was precise in his dates and time, and timing. Jesus says “those days” will have to be cut short to preserve creation. What’s the deal here? So Daniel’s prophetic days will be “cut short”? Again, what is the thing that Jesus is saying?

God Richly Bless You and Yours!

A

The phrase “cut short” in Matt. 24:22 is thought by many scholars to be a poor translation of the Greek.

The Great Tribulation, to which the phrase refers, is the most thoroughly documented period of time in all of End Times prophecy. It’s variously spoken of as having a duration of 3 1/2 years (Rev. 12:14) or 42 months (Rev. 11:2) or 1260 days (Rev. 12:6).

Over 100 years ago Sir Robert Anderson, working with the London Royal Observatory, determined that God’s prophetic calendar has always retained the 30 day month, 12 month year measurements with which the Earth was created. That being the case 3 1/2 years, 42 months and 1260 days are all equivalent measures. To say in this one instance that the time would be cut short is contradictory to these other references.

For that reason, many believe that the intent of Matt 24:22 is to say that if the Lord didn’t come and put an end to the Great Tribulation at its appointed time, no one would survive, so for the sake of the elect He will end it on schedule. There’s simply no Biblical reason to believe that the duration of the Great Tribulation will be shortened.