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 think this refers to His first coming.  They wouldn't have crucified him if they had believed He was their Messiah.  Judas wouldn't have needed to betray him.  He came early and confused the priests and rulers.  So they crucified him and he paid the price we could not pay.  He brought us SALVATION.

 

There is an extra-biblical verse in Edras/Ezra that says:

 

"He has weighed the world in the balance, and has measured the times with a measure, and carefully counted the hours, and he will not move or disturb them, until the prescribed [appointed time] measure is reached." [2 Esdras 4:36-37]

 

God measures the time for Belshazzar and the Babylonians:

 

Daniel 5:25-28 "And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. [26] This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. [27] Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. [28] Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

 

In the end of time he is measuring again:

 

Rev. 11:1 "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." 

 

So what temple is he talking about ?

 

1 Cor. 3:16-17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

 

This temple has been in the building stage since Pentecost almost 2,000 years ago.

 

Isaiah 40:12, 22 " Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?" "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"

 

My take on the subject, jfh