<> Ask the Pastor Pastor Walter Snyder Q: Could you please explain Matthew 24:21-22? Does it mean that the 3 1/2 years will be shortened and, if so, by how long? A: Jesus says in this passage, "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." Jesus is both warning and comforting his disciples in this section. They wonder what the end of the age will bring, and the Lord tells them both the signs and the tumult that will come. As for this "great tribulation," the immediate context is the fall of Jerusalem to the Roman armies in A.D. 70. Pain and suffering will come upon all the inhabitants-- including the Christians. But salvation will not be taken away from the elect, the people of God. This prophecy then becomes a bridge to the ultimate end, when Christ will return in judgment. Just as the "abomination that causes desolation" brought destruction to the temple in Daniel's time, so the pagan Romans would destroy the temple in Christ's time. Both foreshadow the ultimate destruction of the earth in the Day of the Lord. Yet there is hope; as a remnant survived in Daniel's day, so would the faithful continue even after this next great tribulation, and likewise the elect will continue for all eternity. As for exact times, I hold the numerical prophecies of Scripture to be symbolic. The 3 1/2 years of tribulation reflect the "time, two times, and half a time" of Daniel 7:25. It means that a limit is placed upon Satan and his assaults. Just as the Babylonian captivity eventually ended, so also the Romans would fade, and finally even the devil's efforts will be ended. The Tempter may try to wear down the faithful with continuing attacks, but God both strengthens the elect and shortens the time to one that can be endured by his people. Some believers have attempted to give specific interpretations to symbolic numbers almost since God started using them. They may become more interested in attempting to figure out what the numbers "really mean" than in listening to the clear words of Scripture telling them of sin and salvation. All too often, false teaching and cults grow out of misguided attempts to make concrete these Biblical abstractions. For instance, there have been many who have used the numbers of Scripture to predict that the world would end at a certain time. Most of these times have already passed. As for how the numbers are understood, I favor a literal interpretation of the Bible. However, when the literal sense of Scripture is symbolic, then I suggest we make a symbolic interpretation. So also, if a passage purports to be historic, I believe it is a true history. If a section of the Bible is called a parable, I read it as such. If we are not careful, we blend the symbolic portions with the plain, clear sections, and come up with monstrous misinterpretations. Thus, some cults believe that only a literal 144,000 will be saved and taken to heaven. If this is true, why should I bother with Christianity, since heaven's probably almost full by now? Others believe in literal times, such as forty-two months, a thousand years, or some such as part of the end of the world. However, literal interpretations often put these numbers into conflict with each other, tempting us to speculate in an area that God has not informed us. If even the Son does not know the hour, why should we expect the Father to tell us? Instead, we have a simple object of our attention: Jesus Christ. He has taken away the sins of the world; he takes away your sins and mine. He gives us his Word, his Holy Baptism, and his body and blood in the Lord's Supper. He promises that he will never leave us or forsake us. He leads us with his Holy Spirit. These are things about which the Bible is clear. The times and seasons will come despite our toying with the numbers. A better focus of our attention is the One who brings us safely through time and leads us into eternity. His reign will never end. We, with all the elect from around the world and throughout the ages, are secure in our hope. So don't count the numbers, count on Christ. Remember to "Ask the Pastor" at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or catch me around town. Pastor Snyder serves St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches, Jasper and Woodville, Texas, and is the coauthor of "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1997 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.