²¹ because at that time there will be much ·trouble [distress; ^Ttribulation]. There will be more ·trouble [distress; ^Ttribulation]. than there has ever been since the beginning of the world until now, and nothing as bad will ever happen again [Dan. 12:1]. ²² ·God has decided to make that terrible time short [^LIf those days had not been shortened (by God)…; ^Cthe passive verb implies God as subject]. Otherwise, no one would ·go on living [survive; ^Lbe saved]. But God will make that time short ·to help the people he has chosen [for the sake of the elect]. ²³ At that time, someone might say to you, ‘Look, there is the ·Christ [Messiah]!’ Or another person might say, ‘There he is!’ But don’t believe them.