Except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be preserved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened;

and from the following:

After the affliction of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man; and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory;

and from other passages. That neither are the words now under consideration said concerning the destruction of the world, is also evident from many things contained in the same chapter; as from those which precede:

He that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take anything out of his house; and he who is in the field, let him not return back to take his garments;

and also from these now brought under consideration:

Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath;

and from the following:

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left; two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left. But it is evident that the words in question are said concerning the last time of the church, that is, concerning its vastation; for the church is said to be vastated when there is no longer any charity.