If the time statements in the New Testament do not mean anything, then the exhortations based on the time statements do not mean anything. In other words, if the statements are applicable in all ages and the time references do not point to an imminent first century even, then the specific exhortations relative to the particular time are applicable in all ages, also.
For example, if “at hand” does not mean “soon” and therefore applies to all generations, then the exhortations given in 1 Corinthians 7:25 apply to all generations. It reads,
“Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But should you marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passes away.”
Paul speaks of a (1) “present distress” and that (2) single people should not get married to avoid tribulation in the flesh. (3) The time has come when those who have wives will be as though they had none…because the fashion of this world is passing away.
Because of this tribulation, Paul advises the unmarried to remain unmarried. However, it is not just the virgins that he gives this advice. The distress will affect everyone. Paul is advising them to make no changes; they were to stay (bound or loosed) in that state. The Catholics have used this text to support celibacy for priests because one can give their full attention without being concerned about a wife. So, is this passage a timeless universal teaching that there is a blessing in remaining celibate for the sake of the kingdom? Or, is there a specific context of persecution that will would give the newly married greater hardship? To ignore the context of a “present distress” is a mishandling of the word of truth (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15) and forces conclusions that are unwarranted. God said in the beginning that it was not good that man be alone (Gen. 2:18) and Paul taught that to avoid fornication, let a man have his own wife and every wife her own husband (1 Cor. 7:1). As far as we know, today’s man or woman that is an ordained priest has experienced the natural God-given sexual drives and the application of 1 Corinthians 7 has led to untold problems relative to this abstinence imposed on Catholic priests.
More proof from the this text is found in verse 29 where he speaks of the time being shortened (cf. Mark 13:20). It reads:
But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.”
The only other passages that refers to the shortening of days in the New Testament are the two references to the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20). The “times of trouble” is parallel to Paul’s “present distress.” It was so great that God shortened the time. He did not prolong it. Prolonging it would support the view of my premillennial friends. Saints were living at the end of the age in which the distress was so severe that God shortened the days for the elect’s sake (Matthew 24:22). They were the ones living at the end of the age, or the closing period of the Mosaic age. Surely, if an age is going to end, it will have last days.