Unless Those Days Were Shortened

UNLESS THOSE DAYS WERE SHORTENED by Craig Wm. Peters

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:22

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His wrath that will come forth upon the lawless nations of the earth, and in that Day, hwhy alone will be exalted!

Our world is bent on confusion, disarray, and destruction: From violent, power-hungry, Israel-hating dictators, to the supposedly “civil” nations of the “free world,” all mankind fails to know the things that make for peace.1 In religious sectors, matters are not much better: Many false prophets have used doctrinal fear tactics to keep the multitudes under their thumbs. The major claim here is that they are the only “true church,” and, thus, they are also the only source of salvation. Other fal$e prophet$ have u$ed doctrinal fear tactic$ to obtain their following and to harve$t tithe$ and offering$ from the many $heep who are willing to blindly follow them. One of the greatest clarion call$ of $uch fal$e profiteer$ ha$ been a cry ba$ed on our opening text. These false teachers will cite the above Scripture and then make the grand proclamation:

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The Days Will Be Shortened In other studies, we have contemplated the nature of the forthcoming cataclysms which will be characteristic of the Day of hwhy: These fiery judgments of burning devastation will be immense, they will be overwhelming, and they will come upon the entire world in the near future. The forthcoming judgments in the Day of hwhy will contribute towards wiping out much of the world’s population: Monumental earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis; fire and brimstone from heaven; asteroids hitting the globe; the scorching heat of the Sun; and warring nations seeking to conquer other peoples for life-giving sustenance – all these judgments will not only end life as we know it on planet Earth, more importantly, they will be sent forth to punish the lawless nations of the Earth and to begin the establishment of the Kingdom of hwhy worldwide.

“Nuclear destruction is coming, so come join me and be saved!” But carnal man always turns things upside down.2 We argue that, instead of warning us of a nuclear holocaust, the opening Scripture is actually showing us the Messiah will prevent just such a catastrophe! The Sovereign eswhy will do something to forever end man’s reign of terror! The Messiah King will render useless the nuclear arsenal which has been amassed worldwide by the various “superpowers!” And based on the Savior’s own words, it appears He will do this by shortening the days! In the Day of hwhy, it is 1 2

Many people have long-speculated that mankind will destroy himself via an all-out nuclear exchange between the world’s superpowers. But eswhy assures us this will not be the case: He knows what is in the heart of man,3 and the Messiah will shorten the days to prevent the complete annihilation of all mankind:

Luke 19:41-42, Romans 3:17, Isaiah 59:8 Isaiah 29:16, 5:20

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John 2:24-25

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:22

During all the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease. Genesis 8:22

We argue that this shortening of the days has nothing to do with the planned moment of the Messiah’s return: in that respect, the unerring timetable of hwhy will come to pass right on schedule. In other words, the Messiah will not come back a moment sooner or a moment later than has already been planned from the foundation of the world!4 Said still another way, it is not as though hwhy had originally planned to send forth the Messiah on say, October 1, 2015, and then something will occur that He is suddenly shaken into a panic saying, “Oh no! Mankind is about to get wiped out in a nuclear exchange! I better send the Messiah forth on September 30th!”5

According to this text, the covenant of day followed by night will simply never cease! hwhy later said the very same thing through the prophet Jeremiah: 20 Thus says hwhy, “If you can break My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night – so that there should not be day and night in their season – 21 then My covenant may also be broken with David, My servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, My ministers. Jeremiah 33:20-21 So we see the order of day followed by night cannot be broken! With these facts in mind, we once more ponder the prophecy of Revelation (8:12):

However, the prophecies of Revelation do give us an indication of what the Savior meant by the days being shortened. And readers should note these events all occur at the behest of the Sovereign Messiah, the Ruler of All Creation:

We understand this is telling us the day and night will both be cut short by a third of their normal durations. So if it is no longer day, what must it then be: A four-hour period of “limbo?” No. According to Genesis 8:22, if it is no longer day, then it must be night! And if it is no longer night, then it must be day!

And the fourth messenger sounded, and a third of the Sun was struck, and a third of the Moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. And a third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. Revelation 8:12, ISRV

So we believe the Revelation 8:12 prophecy indicates the days will literally be shortened! If the day and night are both cut short by a third of their normal durations, then the entire day will be cut short by 8 hours. We see this as implying the Earth’s rotation will be markedly accelerated.

How can this text be explained? What happens when Sun does not shine for a third part of the day? What happens when Moon and the stars do not shine for a third part of the night? The promise of hwhy associated with the Rainbow-Covenant gives us the best clue:

And since 24 - 8 = 16, we see that days will be 16 hours in length instead of 24. Given the Earth’s circumference is about 24,902 miles, and given we have just about 24 hours in each day, the approximate speed of rotation at the equator is 1,038 miles per hour. Of course, this also means a person living at the equator is actually moving at 1,038 miles

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Hebrews 4:3 5 Important: The date provided for this hypothetical example is just that: hypothetical! This future date is used here only for the sake of example! We make no claim as to the exact date of the Messiah’s return to catch away the Firstfruits (John 14:1-3) for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Matthew 22:1-10, Revelation 19:69

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of man’s technology: In the Day of hwhy, the Most High is going to bring down all of man’s pride!10 And hwhy alone will be exalted in that Day!11

per hour, the same speed as the Earth’s surface. 6 Presently, one can only speculate as to how hwhy will affect this predicted increase in the Earth’s rotational velocity, but if cosmic upheavals somehow result in the Earth’s rotation time being reduced by 8 hours, this would literally shorten the days and fulfill the prophecy.7

We now progress to ponder the numerous Scriptures which clearly indicate man’s technologies are to be rendered powerless in the Day of hwhy, the Day of His wrath upon all that has been raised up12 in opposition to His Kingdom and righteousness.

Sixteen-hour days will mean the Earth’s rotational velocity at the equator will be increased to about 1,556 miles per hour. We have yet to experience what this will do to the electro-magnetic and gravitational forces of the Earth. But many indications are that this increased rotational velocity will result in, and be accompanied by, massive cataclysmic events – events which will be so apocalyptic in scope that they will forever end man’s capability of wiping out the entire human race!8 So said the Messiah!9

Man’s Modern Day Technology Will Be Rendered Powerless There are many indications in the Word of hwhy that mankind will be returned to the days of using barbaric weaponry, just as he did before modern-day technology reigned supreme. Scripture upon Scripture speaks of chariots and horses, of bows and arrows, of shields, of swords, and of spears. Because of the indescribable nature of the coming apocalypse, we believe the texts that foretell of such ancient weaponry are to be interpreted and understood in a literal fashion.

This writer believes that, somehow, the Earth will be so electro-magnetically energized that modern-day electronics will be rendered null and void: they will no longer be functional! And this includes electronically operated and guided nuclear warheads! When speaking of the upheavals surrounding the Last Days, hwhy said through Isaiah,

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 hwhy of hosts is with us; the Elohim of Ya’acob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of hwhy, what desolations He has made in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; He burns the chariots in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am Elohim: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:6-10

“Cease from man whose breath of life is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be esteemed?” Isaiah 2:21 The implied answer is: Man is not to be esteemed in anything! And we believe hwhy is going to take away all the pride, all the esteem,

The context of these words speaks of the time in which the seas will so powerfully roar that their waves will cause earthquakes when they impact the mountains.13 It speaks of the time in which the surface of the Earth will melt

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This speed gets lower as one approaches either the South or the North Pole: In Johannesburg this velocity is about 933 miles per hour; in Los Angeles this speed is about 864 miles per hour; and in Boston, this rate is about 771 miles per hour. 7 (i.e., Matthew 24:22) 8 Psalm 10:17-18 9 Matthew 24:22

10 11 12 13

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Isaiah 2:10-21 Isaiah 2:11,17 Isaiah 2:10-12, 2Corinthians 10:3-5 Psalm 46:2-3, Luke 21:25

because of His burning judgments.14 It speaks of the time when He, alone, will be exalted.15 It speaks of the time leading into the 1000-year Millennium of peace and joy, the time when “nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more.”16 And at the time hwhy makes wars cease to the ends of the Earth, we also notice in Psalm 46 what manner of weapons are being destroyed:

… who may stand in Your sight when once You are angry? Psalm 76:7 This is the time of His great, smoking wrath spoken of in the Revelation: 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven messengers seven golden bowls full of the wrath of Elohim, who lives to the ages of the ages. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the splendor of Elohim, and from His power; and no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers should be finished. Revelation 15:7-8

• Bows are being broken. • Spears are being shattered. • And chariots are being burned in the fire. When was the last time you heard of a war being conducted with bows and arrows, with spears, and with horse-powered chariots?

All of this brings us to what must be the most popular and widely known prophecy regarding what will occur in these Last Days, as the judgments of hwhy usher in an unprecedented era of peace and good will:

Yet there are still more texts which mention this barbaric weaponry. One such passage is seen in Psalm 76: 1 Elohim is known in Yahudah: in Yisrael, great is His Name; 2 and His tabernacle came to be in Salem; and His dwelling place in Tziyon. 3 There He has broken in pieces the arrows of the bow, shield and sword, and battle. Selah 4 You emanate light:17 more majestic than the mountains of prey. 5 The valiant of heart have become a spoil, they have slept their sleep; and none of the men of might have found their hands. 6 At Your rebuke, Elohim of Ya’acob, both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep. 7 You, even You, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your sight when once You are angry? 8 Out of the heavens, You did cause judgment to be heard: the earth feared, and was still. 9 When Elohim arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. Psalm 76:4-9

2 And it will come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of the House of hwhy will be established on the top of the mountains, and will be exalted above the hills; and all nations will flow unto it. 3 And many peoples shall go and say, “Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of hwhy, to the House of the Elohim of Ya’acob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: For out of Tziyon will go forth the Torah, and the Word of hwhy from Yerushalayim. 4 And He will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:2-4

We see the ultimate fulfillment of this Scripture will come when hwhy arises to save His people in the Day of His wrath: 14 15 16 17

Once more, we see it is barbaric, antiquated weaponry that is slated to be altered for a peaceful purpose! Spears and swords are the objects of this transformation! Again, this tells us modern-day weapons will, somehow, be rendered powerless in the day Heavenly Wrath falls upon this Earth from Above. The established mode of warring nations at the

Psalm 46:6, 144:5, Nahum 1:5-6, 2Peter 3:10-12 Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 2:11,17, Zechariah 14:9 Psalm 46:9, Isaiah 2:4 1John 1:5, Revelation 21:11,23, 22:5

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time of the Messiah’s return will involve swords and spears, bows and arrows, and horse-drawn chariots.

Since when did men last go to war on horses? While horses were heavily used in World War I, they had nearly become obsolete by World War II being largely replaced by tanks.18 Yet we see a messenger/angel calling birds to prepare them to eat the flesh of horses after a number of warring kings and their legions are defeated at the Battle of Har-Megiddo!19

Yet these prophecies regarding the nature of End-Time weapons are not without an answer in the New Covenant Writings. The prophecies of Revelation also indicate that man’s technology will be rendered of no use in the Day of hwhy:

The Messiah is the Sovereign New Covenant believers should exult in the fact that our Messiah has been given all authority in heaven and on earth:

And the sixth messenger poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. Revelation 16:12

And eswhy came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18, ISRV

How many years/decades has it been since a river – whether wet or dry – prevented warring nations from initiating an attack? What will keep them from simply flying over the Euphrates River with their jets? If we can take hwhy at His word (and we can!), then jets will no longer be an option at that future time. The coming cataclysms will completely nullify all mankind’s modern technologies: This may occur if hwhy fully destroys those nations that wield such weapons; or it may occur by the indescribable power and magnitude of the approaching electro-magnetic and cosmic forces which will most certainly rain down on our planet; or it may be a combination of both.

These words of eswhy show us show us that, after His resurrection, the Messiah was made the Sovereign of all.20 He is no longer a helpless babe in a manger: He is the Sovereign Ruler over all the earth, and nothing can happen apart from His will. This Messiah eswhy is “the Lion of the Tribe of Yahudah,”21 and His wrath will soon be kindled22 to conquer the kingdoms of this world and to burn up the lawless inhabitants of the earth.23 18

See the following websites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_warfare

But there is still more. Hear the Word of hwhy regarding those kings and nations which will be so hopelessly arrogant as to imagine they can successfully oppose and fight against the returning Messiah:

http://www.hoofcare.com/horsesofww2.html http://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/bhs/SocStud/O'Toole/ WorldWarOneandHorses.htm 19 The literal Hebrew is, “Har (mountain/hill) (of) Megiddo,” but this is often translated as “Armageddon.” For other Scriptures which speak of crude weapons of war, and whose context indicates an End Time scenario, refer to the following: Daniel 11:33, 40, Micah 5:2-15, Haggai 2:21-23 (This text in Haggai, we believe, will see its fulfillment when Zerubbabel is resurrected to war against the armies opposing Yerushalayim.) 20 Acts 2:36, 10:36 21 Revelation 5:5 22 Psalm 2:12 23 Psalm 2:2-3. The rulers of the earth conspire to cast away the Torah – considering it to be as fetters and cords of oppression, all the while they themselves are held by the cords of sin’s bondage. Proverbs 5:22 Thus,

17 And I saw a messenger standing in the Sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great Elohim; 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. Revelation 19:17-18

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And through the prophet Zephaniah, hwhy says it like this:

To more fully understand the prophecies of Revelation given to Yochanan/John some 2000 years ago, we need to see the Savior acting in His sovereignty! He is the One in complete control of all that is about to happen: He is the One seen opening the Seals and bringing the prophesied judgments of hwhy upon the earth. And He is the One who dispatches the Heavenly Messengers to do His bidding – including the release of those powers that will result in the days being shortened!24 Words really cannot describe the magnitude of the many terrible judgments which will soon befall the Earth. When the powers of heaven are shaken, the result will be overwhelming cataclysms upon the earth:

Seek hwhy, all you meek of the earth who have performed His judgments: Seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you will be hidden in the day of the anger of hwhy. Zephaniah 2:3 C.P. 7/23/2009 Northridge, CA t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a

Recommended for Further Reading • The Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy’s Merger With the Milky Way Galaxy: http://www.viewzone.com/milkyway.html [While not setting dates, we believe the above study provides strong evidence behind why and how the heavens and the earth are about to shake as never before.]

And there will be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in bewilderment at the roaring of the sea and the waves; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Luke 21:25-26

• The Real Doomsday? December 21, 2012: Part 1 http://www.viewzone.com/endtime.html

In this very same period of time, eswhy the Messiah will shorten the days so as to prevent mankind from total annihilation.

Part 2 http://www.viewzone.com/endtime2x.html • Strange Rumblings at the Center of our Galaxy http://www.aztlan.net/rumblings_center_galax y.htm

Consequently, we do not need to look to any man for deliverance! Our trust needs to be in hwhy alone: and our goal and prayer in these times should be just as the Messiah has taught us:

Postscript What This Study is Not Saying While we make no claim regarding nuclear war, it is certainly our prayer that such a tragedy will never befall the Earth. The author makes no claim we will completely avoid a nuclear holocaust at some level, although numerous texts indicate all peoples will know the Source of the coming wrath: All people will acknowledge this Wrath is from Above. Revelation 6:12-17

Watch, therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36

in having rejected the Torah, they subsequently legislate lawlessness. But in response to this lawless outrage, hwhy will justly arise in flaming anger, and He will destroy the Earth’s inhabitants for nullifying His immutable and age-abiding Torah. Psalm 119:126, Isaiah 24:3-6 24 Revelation 8:12

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nonprofit. Further, whether an organization’s publication is of a religious nature, or otherwise, this restriction still applies.

Copyright Stipulations Copyright 2008 - 2009, by Craig Wm. Peters

This document may be freely copied and distributed (in hardcopy or electronic pdf format) if it is left unaltered and in its entirety. It must also be given away without cost to recipients, and it may not be included in any publication without the author’s written permission.

• With the exception of the first stipulation (specified under the first bullet point), publishing any portion of this work without the author’s written permission is strictly prohibited. All peaceable correspondence is invited:

hwhy El Shaddai will rebuke anyone who copies these truths for republication and/or who subsequently attempts to reproduce and sell them. Isaiah 55:1-2, Micah 3:11, 1Peter 5:2

Craig Peters P.O. Box 280114 Northridge, CA 91328-0114 For other free documents which are offered to provide encouragement and edification from the Word of hwhy, please refer to the following website:

We believe most copyrights have been abused worldwide in religious circles as false shepherds and other merchants feed themselves instead of feeding the sheep. Ezekiel 34:1-3 These many abuses have filled the worship house of hwhy with money changers who hinder True Worship by robbing and oppressing the poor. Zechariah 7:10

http://www.yahuyahweh.org/iah An Excellent Translation of the Scriptures “ISRV” is an abbreviation which readers will have seen at various locations in the study. “ISRV” is an acronym which means: “INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE RESEARCH VERSION.” Thus, ISRV is our abbreviation for the Institute’s translation of the Scriptures.

Many have turned reverence and the worship of hwhy into a means of great, personal gain. Micah 3:11, 1Timothy 6:5-10, 1Peter 5:2 We assert such things were never meant to be. Isaiah 55:1,2, Mark 11:15-17 Hence, our copyright is intended to allow for free distribution of the Word of hwhy with the following minimal limitations:

The INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE RESEARCH is an organization of Messianic believers based in South Africa. They have published an excellent version of the Word of hwhy which they have called, “The Scriptures.”

• This document may be copied and distributed (or freely printed in its pdf format after being downloaded from the Internet):

This outstanding translation (the ISRV) fulfills the Word of hwhy to Mosheh by restoring His Qadosh Name – the Name which hwhy declared to be His unchanging Memorial across an immense time span of 1000 generations! Exodus 3:14-15, Deuteronomy 7:9. For those wishing to make further inquiry, or for those who are inclined to order this translation, the website address for ISR is:

– If it is left unaltered. – If it is left in its entirety. – And if it is given away at absolutely no cost. (Matthew 11:5, Luke 4:19, Galatians 2:10) • Neither this article, nor any portion of this article, may be included in any publication which is sold. This stipulation applies regardless of the nature of the organization or the nature of its sales, meaning: profit or

http://www.isr-messianic.org

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