<p>7:29 <em>But this I say brothers, because the time is shortened, that from this time forward both those that have wives may be as though they had none</em>- The reference to the shortness of the time suggests that Paul reasoned as if the Lord's coming was imminent. His teaching about singleness could therefore be understood as for one place and at one time; although we are to indeed live our whole lives as if the Lord's coming is imminent. I discussed on :26 the possibility that &quot;the present distress&quot; has a similar reference. Paul has just been arguing that the married state should be continued; but on the other hand, he is now going on to point out that what goes along with married life and domestic issues can easily become an obsession that blunts our awareness that we are to be living as if the Lord's coming is imminent. Our personal relationship with the Lord and eagerness for His coming is to take emotional and psychological precedence in our hearts above literally all else, including our marital status.</p><p>The Olivet prophecy spoke of the time being shortened for the elect&rsquo;s sake. And it seems this happened- for 1 Cor. 7:29 says that &ldquo;the time is shortened&rdquo;. Perhaps this is why it was intended that there be 40 years from AD33 the crucifixion to the destruction of the temple; but this period was &ldquo;shortened&rdquo; by at least 3 years &ldquo;for the elect&rsquo;s sake&rdquo;. And the situation in the 1st century is evidently typical of ours today in these last days. They were to pray that their flight be not on the Sabbath or in the Winter, i.e. that the abomination that made desolate would not be set up at those times (Mt. 24:20). Clearly prayer affected the exact chronology of events and thereby the fulfilment of prophecy.</p><p>&quot;As though they had none&quot; may be alluding to Abraham and Isaac in time of persecution.</p>