Why would it be better to be single during persecution?
Being single would be easier during persecution because a spouse and children would suffer when authorities seize a husband in the night or kidnap children, leaving painful uncertainty. A single person could face persecution and death alone, without dragging family through that anguish, and have it over with.
Les explains that Paul expected the Lord to come at any moment and, by the sovereign grace of God, had a foreview of the horrible persecution that was going to come upon Christians. If persecution suddenly fell, it would be easier for people to be single. A wife would not have to suffer the consequences of her husband being taken away in the middle of the night, or children suddenly being kidnapped with no one knowing what happened to them. It would be better to be alone, face persecution, face death, and have it over with.