Verse 20
And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.
Referenced Verses
- Isa 65:8-9 : 8 This is what the LORD says:“When juice is discovered in a cluster of grapes, someone says,‘Don’t destroy it, for it contains juice.’ So I will do for the sake of my servants– I will not destroy everyone. 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah people to take possession of my mountains. My chosen ones will take possession of the land; my servants will live there.
- Zech 13:8-9 : 8 It will happen in all the land, says the LORD, that two-thirds of the people in it will be cut off and die, but one-third will be left in it. 9 Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say,‘These are my people,’ and they will say,‘The LORD is my God.’”
- Matt 24:22 : 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
- Rom 11:28-32 : 28 In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.
- Isa 1:9 : 9 If the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have quickly been like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah.
- Isa 6:13 : 13 Even if only a tenth of the people remain in the land, it will again be destroyed, like one of the large sacred trees or an Asherah pole, when a sacred pillar on a high place is thrown down. That sacred pillar symbolizes the special chosen family.”
- Rom 11:5-7 : 5 So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened,
- Rom 11:23-24 : 23 And even they– if they do not continue in their unbelief– will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?