Life Duration and Rebirth

Did Buddha speak about the duration of lives in any way that related it to where one currently stands on the path? For example: "When one is closer to enlightenment, one will have shorter lives after each successive rebirth." This wouldn't make a lot of sense when following the literal doctrine of Rebirth, but maybe it would make sense as a metaphor. At any rate - is anything like this idea touched upon in the sutras?