“ If the Lord had not cut the time short, no one would live. But because of God’s chosen people, he has shortened it.

若不是主减少那日子，凡有血气的，总没有一个得救的；只是为主的选民，他将那日子减少了。

若不是主减少那些日子，凡血肉之躯的，就没有一个能得救；但是为了他所拣选的选民，他将那些日子减少了。

若不是主减少那些日子，凡血肉之躯的，就没有一个能得救；但是为了他所拣选的选民，他将那些日子减少了。

如果主不缩短灾期，恐怕没有人能活命，但为了祂所拣选的子民，祂已经缩短灾期。

如果不是主减少那些日子，没有一个人可以存活；但是为了自己的选民，他必使那些日子减少。

如果不是主减少了那些日子，就没有一个人能得救。然而，为了那些蒙拣选的人，就是他所拣选的，他减少了那些日子。

若不是主減少那日子，凡有血氣的，總沒有一個得救的；只是為主的選民，他將那日子減少了。

若不是主減少那些日子，凡血肉之軀的，就沒有一個能得救；但是為了他所揀選的選民，他將那些日子減少了。

若不是主減少那些日子，凡血肉之軀的，就沒有一個能得救；但是為了他所揀選的選民，他將那些日子減少了。

如果主不縮短災期，恐怕沒有人能活命，但為了祂所揀選的子民，祂已經縮短災期。

如果不是主減少那些日子，沒有一個人可以存活；但是為了自己的選民，他必使那些日子減少。

若不是主截短了那些日子，凡是血肉之人就沒有一個能得救。但為了他所揀選的選民，他已截短了那些日子了。

如果不是主減少了那些日子，就沒有一個人能得救。然而，為了那些蒙揀選的人，就是他所揀選的，他減少了那些日子。

若主未減其日、則無得救者、但為選民故、乃減其日也、

若主不稍減其日、則無有得救者、惟為所選之民、是日其稍減耳、

若主不稍減其日、則無一人得救、惟天主為其所救之選民、已稍減其日、

主若不減其時日、則血氣之倫、將無遺孑！惟為選民之故、主必減之耳。

“ If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.

And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.

If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect, whom he chose.

And if the Lord had not shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

Unless the Lord limited those days, no one would survive. But He limited those days because of the elect, whom He chose.

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.

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.

Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

The Lord says,“ Sometimes juice is still left in grapes that have been crushed. So people say,‘ Don’t destroy them.’ They are still of some benefit.” That is what I will do for the good of those who serve me. I will not destroy all my people.I will give children to the families of Jacob and Judah. They will possess my entire land. My chosen people will be given all of it. Those who serve me will live there.

“ If the time had not been cut short, no one would live. But because of God’s chosen people, it will be shortened.

As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies. This is for your good. But as far as God’s choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved. This is because of God’s promises to the founders of our nation.God does not take back his gifts. He does not change his mind about those he has chosen.At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey.In the same way, Israel has not been obeying God. But now they receive mercy because of God’s mercy to you.God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone.

Here is what will happen in the whole land,” announces the Lord.“ Two- thirds of the people will be struck down and die. But one- third will be left.I will put this third in the fire. I will make them as pure as silver. I will test them like gold. They will call out to me. And I will answer them. I will say,‘ They are my people.’ And they will say,‘ The Lord is our God.’ ”

Suppose only a tenth of the people remain there. Even then the land will be completely destroyed again. But when oak trees and terebinth trees are cut down, stumps are left. And my holy people will be like stumps that begin to grow again.”

If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again.After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren’t you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn’t that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!

Some are also faithful today. They have been chosen by God’s grace.And if they are chosen by grace, then they can’t work for it. If that were true, grace wouldn’t be grace anymore.What should we say then? The people of Israel did not receive what they wanted so badly. Those Israelites who were chosen did receive it. But the rest of the people were made stubborn.

The Lord who rules over all has let some people live through that time of trouble. If he hadn’t, we would have become like Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.