Unless the Lord had shortened the days…

Psalm 1 says it about as simply and clearly as it can be said:  “the wicked will not stand in the judgment” (v. 5).

But few believe it.

Ask an unbeliever about hell and the judgment of God and he will characterize them as a debauched party with friends or something severe, but manageable — something akin to a particularly hot summer in Texas:  it’s hard, but it can be endured and survived.

A sober reflection on God’s perspective of His judgment is appropriate.  And Jesus provides such a view in Mark 13.  While the chapter encompasses the Tribulation, the return of Christ, and the judgments of Christ, listen to this brief summary of His judgment in the Tribulation:

“For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.  Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days” (vv. 19-20).

Just how bad will it be in those days?  Revelation tells us that in just one of the seal judgments one-forth of the world’s population will die (6:8).  Then in a series of three trumpet judgments, an additional one-third of the world will die.  With these judgments alone, the world’s population will be reduced by half in a matter of a few months or a couple of years at the most.

Further, the extent of the torment of the judgment will be so great that men will desire death and they will not be able to even kill themselves (9:5-6).  In controlling the timing of their deaths, the Lord demonstrates in still one more way that He is sovereign over the lives and the judgment of men, and no one else.

What Jesus says in Mark is a sober reminder about the severity of God’s justice.  Unless he had shortened the days, no one would stand.

This reality should encourage us to gratitude and evangelistic proclamation if we have been saved and repentance for salvation if we have not.

Let him who has ears hear…