Why does the Antichrist turn his wrath on the 144,000?
Because he realizes he cannot touch the escaping remnant of Israel, the Antichrist redirects his fury onto the 144,000. These Jews have spent three and a half years proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, warning the world the King is coming. He then imprisons them, leaving them hungry, thirsty, and naked.
Les explains that the 144,000 have already been out there for three and a half years, literally screaming at the world that the King is coming. At the midpoint, an escaping remnant of Israel heads to the mountains in the east; that remnant will be saved when they see Christ at His second coming. Isaiah says a nation will be born in a day, and Zechariah describes wounds in His hands. When the Antichrist realizes he cannot touch that escaping remnant, he turns all his wrath on the 144,000. By Matthew 25, they are thrown in prison, naked, hungry, and thirsty, because the Antichrist directs his wrath on those 144,000 Jews.