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The hardship of fleeing in winter symbolizes the difficulty of living the religious life during times which are not supportive of such a life, that is, a time when there is little belief and spirituality. Travelling on the sabbath symbolizes having to carry out the religious message or life at a times when tradition opposes it. (92:2) A Tribulation Without Parallel-- Christ states, 'For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be'. This verse casts great doubt on the literal interpretations which point solely to the Jewish Wars. Jesus appears to be speaking of a tribulation that is unparalleled in history. The physical suffering during the Jewish Wars was great, but terrifying wars of similar destructiveness, if not worse, such as the modern holocaust in Germany, the oppression under Stalin, or slaughters that took place in Cambodia, as well as many others, have filled the pages of history. (92:3) However, interpreting the tribulation in physical terms cannot be entirely ruled out. Such interpretation is, in part, plausible because spiritual tribulation will have an outward influence in the physical life of human kind. But, again, since the spiritual life of humankind is the special concern of Scripture, it seems only appropriate to direct our attention primarily to how this prophecy may be related to our inner lives. (92:4) We have already noted that the tribulation is described as an event which has no parallel 'since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be' (v. 21). This verse, if taken literally, suggests a single cataclysmic period which stands alone in history. However, we have seen that terms which appear to be all-embracing often are limited to specific contexts. For example, Paul indicated that the Gospel had been preached 'unto the ends of the world' and 'to every creature which is under heaven' (Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:23). Yet, at that time, Paul had not taken the message beyond the Roman world. These passages demonstrate that the verses of the Bible may be all-inclusive only in their specific contexts. In the case of the tribulation, the context is likely to be the Christian era.
(92:5)
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