'Shortened' does not mean the Tribulation is cut short; it means those days will end exactly on schedule so that anyone survives.
Les Feldick teaches that the Greek word translated 'shortened' means the days will end right on schedule — 1,260 days for each half of the seven years. If the final three and a half years continued even a short time beyond its appointed end, no one would survive. But because God ends the days on schedule, survivors remain, including the escaping remnant of Israel and Gentile believers who enter the Kingdom.
Matthew 24:21-22 — Jesus directly describes the great tribulation that precedes His coming and states that the days are shortened 'for the elect's sake' so that flesh would be saved.
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus speaks of a time of distress without equal. Matthew 24:21 says, 'For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.' The next verse answers the question asked here: 'And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.' The Scripture itself connects the shortening of those days to the preservation of human life — if the days were not stopped at their appointed end, no human being would survive. The elect are the reason the days are limited and will not be prolonged.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the word 'shortened' in Matthew 24:22 has been 'unfortunately' translated. It does not mean God will shave the seven-year Tribulation down to six and a half years, nor does it mean the time might be extended. Rather, it means the days will end right on schedule — 1,260 days for the first half and 1,260 days for the second half. If the final half went even ten or twelve days longer, or an extra month, no one would survive. Les bases this on the severity of the final three and a half years. He says it will be 'great tribulation' unlike anything in history, far worse than the Holocaust, famine, war, or any suffering the world has seen. Natural calamities such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and cosmic disturbances will take such a toll that the period cannot be prolonged in any way. At the same time, survivors do remain. Les points to two groups that will enter the Kingdom: the escaping remnant of Israel that flees to the mountains at the midpoint and survives under God's protection, and Gentile believers who become the seed stock of the nations. God is in total sovereign control; the seven years are God's 'short work' in righteousness, and when the seven years are complete, He is through.
No. Les Feldick says the word 'shortened' is unfortunately translated in Matthew 24:22. It does not mean God will squeeze the seven years into six and a half, and it does not allow for the period to be extended. Instead, it means the days will end precisely on schedule — 1,260 days for the first half and another 1,260 days for the second half. If the final half lasted even ten or twelve additional days, no one would survive.
Scripture gives the reason: 'but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened' (Matthew 24:22). Les explains that this means people must live through the Tribulation. Survivors are necessary because they will enter the Kingdom. He points to the escaping remnant of Israel that flees to the mountains at the midpoint and is protected for the final three and a half years, and to Gentile believers who survive and become the seed stock of the nations. He also connects the fixed seven years to Paul's statement that the Lord will 'finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness' (Romans 9:28).
Jesus says the great tribulation 'such as was not since the beginning of the world' (Matthew 24:21) will be worse than anything before it. Les applies this to the final half of the seven-year period. He says Israel's past horrors — including the Holocaust, famine, and war — cannot measure up to what is coming. The last three and a half years are beyond human description, and they will involve such catastrophic loss of life that the days must end exactly on schedule. Yet even in that destruction, survivors will remain around the world.
The Escaping Remnant and the Seven-Year Timeline
Les explains that the whole seven years is tribulation and that a remnant of Israel flees to the mountains at the midpoint to be protected for the final three and a half years.
The Greek Meaning of 'Shortened'
Les directly answers the question, teaching that 'shortened' means the days end right on schedule at 1,260 plus 1,260 days; going even ten or twelve days beyond would leave no one alive.
Survivors Enter the Kingdom
Les shows that survivors remain at the end of the seven years: believing Gentiles become the seed stock of Gentile nations, and the remnant of Israel has been preserved in the mountains.
God's Sovereign Short Work
Les connects the seven-year tribulation to God's righteous 'short work' — once the seven years are complete, God is through and the believing remnant enters the Kingdom.
The Great Tribulation Defined
Les explains that 'great tribulation' in Matthew 24:21 refers to the final three and a half years, far worse than anything Israel has ever suffered, before commenting on the Greek word for 'shortened.'
End on Schedule or No Survival
Les teaches that if the final three and a half years continued even an extra month, not a soul would survive; the good news is that survivors will be found all around the world.
Seven Years Complete, God Is Through
Les restates that 'shortened' does not squeeze seven years into six and a half; when the seven years are complete, God is in total sovereign control and is through.
The Horrors of the Last Half
Les emphasizes that the last three and a half years of tribulation are beyond human description, but they are still future and will come when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Matthew 24:21-22: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Jesus directly states the reason the days are shortened — so that flesh would be saved.
Romans 9:28: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
Paul's quotation shows God cutting His work short in righteousness, which Les applies to the fixed seven-year tribulation.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the Greek word for 'shortened' means the days end right on schedule — 1,260 days for each half — not that God reduces the time. If the final half were extended even slightly, no one would survive.
The final three and a half years will involve catastrophic loss of life from natural calamities, earthquakes, volcanoes, and cosmic disturbances, along with God's wrath on the unbelieving world. If those days ran just one month beyond schedule, every human would perish; God ends them on schedule so survivors remain.
According to Les, survivors will include believing Gentiles who have heard the message and become the seed stock of the Gentile nations in the Kingdom, as well as the escaping remnant of Israel that fled to the mountains at the midpoint and was protected.
The escaping remnant is the portion of Israel that flees from the Jerusalem area to the mountains at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Les says God watches over and protects them for the entire remaining three and a half years.
Watch the Teaching: The Antichrist's 7-Year Treaty & Israel's Great Escape