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## DAY 27 - The Righteous and the Wicked

One final piece of information for consideration from the “Olivet Discourse” as it relates to the supposed “The Tribulation” comes from the following verse.

“**And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.**” (Matthew 24:22)

The question which I would like to pose is, “*Could such a statement really be made concerning a period of time in which God’s wrath is being poured out?*” 

No matter what kind of wrath of God we speak of (perpetual, periodical, eternal, or eschatological), true believers are not appointed to God’s wrath. 

Based on the following verse, I believe that it is irrational to believe that this statement could be made during the actual period of God’s end-time wrath. 

“**And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?... That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?**” (Genesis 18:23 & 25) 

Since, “**God hath not appointed us to wrath…**” (1 Thessalonians 5:9a), how could it be that “**except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved**,” not even “**the elect**”? 

Would God really have destroyed both the righteous and the wicked with His wrath?

It is Satan who wants to destroy all of mankind, and not God. 

It is against God’s character for Him to destroy the righteous with the wicked, and it would contradict other Scripture if God were to do so.
Here we have the message of this verse, “**except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.**” 

Unless something, or someone, restrained the events that were happening, all of mankind would be killed. 

However, specifically “**for the elect’s sake**”, the events of that time will be restrained (“**those days shall be shortened**”).

This verse is preceded by “**For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be**” (Matthew 24:21). 

This speaks of the “**great tribulation**” that begins *after* the “Abomination of Desolation” (Matthew 24:15), when the Antichrist makes “**war with the saints**” (Revelation 13:7). 

Note that when “**he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven**” (Revelation 13:6), I believe it is the same event as when “**he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods**” (Daniel 11:36) and when the Antichrist “**exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God**” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). 

I therefore conclude that this “**great tribulation**” which must be restrained is administered by Satan via the Antichrist *against* believers, and is not the wrath of God. 


## Point #1: Unless this time of “**great tribulation**” was shortened, all people would perish.
## Point #2: God does not need to be restrained to prevent Him from destroying the righteous *with* the wicked, for such is *against* His character.

2+2=4

Thanks, @narrowminded 

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--------------------
**In case you missed them,**

**[Introduction](https://steemit.com/christianity/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-introduction)**
**[Back Cover](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-back-cover)**
**[1 : The Foundation](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-1-the-foundation)**
**[2 : The Tribulation](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-2-the-tribulation)**
**[BONUS : A Biblical, New Testament Understanding of Tribulation](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-bonus-a-biblical-new-testament-understanding-of-tribulation)**
**[3 : The Seventieth Week of Daniel](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-3-the-seventieth-week-of-daniel)**
**[4 : Not Appointed to Wrath](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-4-not-appointed-to-wrath)**
**[5 : Wrath vs. Tribulation](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-5-wrath-vs-tribulation)**
**[6 : The Day of the Lord](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-6-the-day-of-the-lord)**
**[7 : The Lord Alone](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-7-the-lord-alone)**
**[8 : The Exaltation of the Antichrist](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-8-the-exaltation-of-the-antichrist)**
**[9 : Promises](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-9-promises)**
**[10 : The Presupposition](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-10-the-presupposition)**
**[11 : 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-11-2-thessalonians-2-1-4)**
**[12 : The Revealing of the Antichrist](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-12-the-revealing-of-the-antichrist)**
**[13 :  Same Day - 1](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-13)**
**[14 : Same Day -2](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-14-same-day-2)**
**[15 : Hand in Hand](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-15-hand-in-hand)**
**[16 : Overtake You as a Thief](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-16-overtake-you-as-a-thief)**
**[17 : Another Thief]( https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-17-another-thief)**
**[18 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 1](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-18-not-knowing-the-day-or-hour-1)**
**[19 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 2](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-19-not-knowing-the-day-or-hour-2)**
**[20 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 3](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-better-day-20-not-knowing-the-day-or-hour-3)**
**[21 : Ignorance](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-21-ignorance)**
**[22 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -1](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-22-olivet-discourse-armageddon-or-rapture-1)**
**[23 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -2](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-23-olivet-discourse-armageddon-or-rapture)**
**[24 :  For My Name's Sake -1](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-24-for-my-name-s-sake-1)**
**[25 : For My Name's Sake -2](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-25-for-my-name-s-sake-2)**
**[26 : Enduring to the End](https://steemit.com/rapture/@narrowminded/50-days-to-understanding-the-end-times-more-accurately-day-26-enduring-to-the-end)**