What will the Antichrist do before the Jews flee Jerusalem?
According to the context, the Antichrist will defile the temple and then turn on the Jew. The Jews will flee Jerusalem as soon as they get word that he has defiled the temple and turned against them. This triggers their urgent flight from the city.
Les explains that the Jews will be fleeing from the city of Jerusalem as soon as they get word that the Antichrist, or whatever his name may be at that time, has defiled the temple, and has turned on the Jew. So the defilement of the temple and the turning against the Jewish people are what precipitate their flight. The flight is urgent: Jesus said in verse 17 that the one on the housetop must not come down to take anything out of his house, and verse 18 says the one in the field must not return to take his clothes. Les projects that these are likely retired, wealthy people reluctant to leave expensive things, and working-class people who must drop their work and get out fast. Verse 19 adds woe to those with child. This is a cross-section of Jewish society fleeing, not the 144,000, probably heading southeast.
More Questions
Where will the Jewish people be fleeing from in the end times?
Les says the Jewish people in these verses will be fleeing from the city of Jerusalem.