OK, so I can already hear the wheels turning in your heads. If the abomination that causes desolation occurred on March 22, 2013, then why did the desolation event not occur immediately or shortly after March 22, 2013? Jesus very clearly warned those living in Judea to flee to the mountains when they saw this event, indicating that the desolation would take place very shortly after this happened. And here we are, several years later, and no desolation has taken place.
This is where we have to start putting pieces of the puzzle together to see the whole picture. Right after Jesus spoke about the abomination event and fleeing to the mountains, he said this in Matthew 24:22: “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” He then goes on to say in Matthew 25:5, “When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” Then we also read in Revelation 10:5-7 - “Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
These 3 verses tell us that there will be a delay in the coming of the Bridegroom for His Bride and that the days of Tribulation will be shortened in order that some flesh might be saved. So, how do we know how long the delay will last for? The Bible tells us! There are actually TWO delays given to us in the Scripture. Let’s look at the first delay in chapter 6.
