While reading Straub's new book "Changed", I ran across a concept I found pretty intriguing.

Revelation 11:2 - But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

Revelation 13:5 - And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.

Revelation 12:14 - And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

All three of these verses mention a 3 1/2 year period of "Great Tribulation".

Then we have this:

Daniel 12:7 - And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.

The Angel (or Christ), swears by him who lives forever that the time will be 3 1/2 years. If Christ has spoken it, then it cannot change. It must be carried out just as prophecied over and over in scripture.

But we run into a question with this verse:

Mark 13:20 - 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.

I have heard many preachers say that the 3 1/2 years will not actually be 3 1/2 years because it will be shortened. But is that what it actually says?
In both Matthew 24 and Mark 13, it says the days will be shortened; Not the length of the time of trial.

Is there scripture that could confirm this?

Revelation 8:12 - And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

According to Straub, the length of the day will be shortened by a third, and the length of the night by a third. If we are to remove two thirds of our day, it would leave us with an eight hour day.

Amos 8:9 - And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

Again, confirming a possibility that the actual length of the day will be shortened.

The only way I'm aware of for the day to consist of 8 hours, would be for the rotation of the earth to be affected.

Luke 21:25 - And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Isaiah 13:13 - Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Isaiah 24:1 - Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Isaiah 24:20 - The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.


With only a few hours of sunlight each day, and an extremely short night, it would certainly cause much distress and great perplexity.

If something could cause the rotation of the earth to be sped up, that same something could also cause the earth to move from it's current location.

Revelation 16:8 - And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

Although the total amount of time will still consist of 42 months, they will go by much more quickly if the day itself is only eight hours long.