19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Even though these verses are referring to the events prior to Lord’s return, He still mentioned the fact that the days of the Great Tribulation were shortened for the Elect whom He has chosen. Not to get too far off the subject but this is another area where a lot of believers are wrong. How can God shorten days that are already numbered? Easy. He is referring to the church, and the days of the Great Tribulation will be shortened (in quantity) for the Elect by the Rapture... (i.e. the church is still here during the Great Tribulation.)
Even though these verses are referring to the events prior to Lord’s return, He still mentioned the fact that the days of the Great Tribulation were shortened for the Elect whom He has chosen. Not to get too far off the subject but this is another area where a lot of believers are wrong. How can God shorten days that are already numbered? Easy. He is referring to the church, and the days of the Great Tribulation will be shortened (in quantity) for the Elect by the Rapture... (i.e. the church is still here during the Great Tribulation.)
Anyway ...whom He has chosen. Hmmmm,,, Well, since Jesus clearly said He chose us, we didn’t choose Him (Bible Truth #19), and that we become children of God NOT by human decision (Bible Truth #9) - I don’t understand what part of “whom He hath chosen” in verse 20 that those who believe in decisional salvation do not understand.
They like to say that He chose those who chose to accept Him. Sorry, that conclusion is impossible because it requires a lost man to make an affirmative decision for Christ and God’s Word clearly says we become children of God NOT by human decision (John 1:13). Jesus also said a lost man hates the Light and will NOT come into the Light (John 3:20). God also had Paul write that a man in the flesh (which includes EVERY lost man) CAN’T please God (Romans 8:8) and I DO believe a man coming to Jesus would be pleasing to God, don’t you? True repentance would be pleasing to God would it not? Since the answer to both of those questions is yes, it only stands to reason that a lost man CAN’T do either.
Bottom Line: only a saved man can please God - which means God looks at one of those He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world, quickens his DEAD spirit through faith, the faith that God gives him (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8). God simultaneously gives him belief (John 6:29; Philippians 1:29), and repentance (2 Timothy 2:25). That man NOW believes, repents of his sin, and confesses Christ as his Savior - and not one second sooner.
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