God said he would only save a remnant - and it would be a short work.
Rom 9:27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED;
Rom 9:28 FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, [fn]THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.”
Literally: cutting it short