Jesus instructs people in Judea to flee to the mountains immediately when they see the abomination of desolation in the temple.
In Matthew 24, Jesus warns that when the Antichrist stands in the holy place, those in Judea must escape to the mountains without going back for belongings. The warning applies to people on housetops, workers in fields, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, and Jesus even urges prayer that the flight not be in winter. Les Feldick teaches this is a real, urgent escape by a cross-section of Jews at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
Matthew 24:15-16 — This is the exact instruction Jesus gives for the Tribulation: when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place, those in Judea are to flee to the mountains.
Luke 21:20-21 — This is a parallel command Jesus gave, which Les also connects to the same flight from Jerusalem and Judea.
Jesus speaks in Matthew 24 about the latter part of the Tribulation. He says that when His hearers see "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place," those in Judaea are to "flee into the mountains." He then sharpens the urgency: "Let him which is on the house top not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes." Jesus also warns that it will be a hard time for mothers: "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" He adds, "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day." In Luke's parallel account, He says that when Jerusalem is "compassed with armies," those in Judaea should flee to the mountains, those in the city should depart, and those in the surrounding countries should not enter the city.
Les Feldick explains that this command is rooted in the rebuilt temple. He says Israel will have her temple rebuilt, and the Antichrist will come to it, defile it, and stop the sacrifice and oblation. When Israel recognizes that this man is not the Messiah, a remnant of Israel will flee from Jerusalem and Judea at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Jesus' words in Matthew 24:15-18 are a direct instruction to make that escape urgent—people on housetops should not go down to collect belongings, and people in fields should not return for clothes. He emphasizes that the flight is not just for a special group. Using Jesus' mention of pregnant women and nursing mothers, Les says this is a cross-section of Jewish society—retired people, working people, women, children, and infants. He compares it to the exodus: God protected and provided for Israel in the wilderness, and He will protect and provide for these escaping Jews. Les also notes that the nearest mountains are southeast of Jerusalem, and some believe the destination could be Petra.
Jesus gives the trigger: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place." Les explains that this occurs at the midpoint of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist comes to the rebuilt temple, defiles it, and takes away Israel's freedom of worship. At that same point, the command to flee to the mountains takes effect.
Scripture records Jesus' command that the person on the housetop must not come down to take anything out of his house, and the person in the field must not return to take his clothes. Les emphasizes that time is of the essence and that the fleeing remnant will not need these possessions. He compares the escape to the departure from Egypt, noting that God will protect and provide for them.
Jesus specifically mentions the hardship for "them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days." Les says this shows the fleeing group is a cross-section of Jews in the Jerusalem and Judea area—not the 144,000. It includes retired people, working people, women, mothers-to-be, young children, and infants.
Jesus says "let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains." Les notes that the nearest mountains would be to the southeast, and some think it could be the red rock city of Petra. In Luke's record, Jesus also says those in Jerusalem should depart out and those in the surrounding area should not enter the city.
The Rebuilt Temple as Background
Les sets the stage by showing that Israel must first possess a rebuilt temple for the abomination of desolation to take place—and he shows from current events that this is entirely possible in the near future.
The Abomination of Desolation
Jesus was referring to Daniel's prophecy that the Antichrist will come to the temple in Jerusalem, defile it, and take away Israel's freedom of worship—at which point a remnant is to flee from Jerusalem and Judea to the mountains.
The Command to Flee
Teaching from Matthew 24:15-18, Les shows that Jesus is speaking to the twelve, and when the abomination of desolation stands in the temple, those in Judea must flee to the mountains without going back for possessions.
The Fleeing Remnant
Les explains that the fleeing group is not the 144,000 but a cross-section of Jews in the Jerusalem area, including pregnant women and nursing mothers, and that they should pray the flight is not in winter.
Urgency and Divine Provision
Les stresses that time is of the essence and possessions will not be needed, drawing a parallel to the exodus from Egypt and promising that God will protect and provide for these escaping Jews.
The Defiled Temple
Les pictures the Antichrist entering the rebuilt temple, defiling it as Antiochus did, and turning on Israel—then Jesus' command to flee to the mountains without stopping to take anything out.
The Midpoint Turning Point
At the moment the Antichrist causes the Jews to stop their Old Testament worship, Les says Jesus' instruction is for Judea to flee to the mountains, and he connects this to the remnant Jew in the Tribulation.
Luke's Parallel Warning
Les also shows from Luke 21 that when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, the same instruction applies: those in Judea are to flee to the mountains, those in the city depart, and those outside are not to enter.
Matthew 24:15: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
This is the trigger event Jesus gives for the urgent flight—the abomination of desolation.
Matthew 24:16: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
This is the core instruction: flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:17: Let him which is on the house top not come down to take any thing out of his house:
It explains the urgency: don't stop to collect possessions.
Matthew 24:18: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
It reinforces the urgency for those working in the field.
Matthew 24:19: And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
It shows the hardship for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Matthew 24:20: But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
It tells them to pray for favorable conditions for the escape.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
It explains why the flight is so critical—the coming great tribulation.
Luke 21:20-21: And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
A parallel account with the same command to leave Jerusalem and Judea.
Jesus says they should flee when they see "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place" (Matthew 24:15). Les Feldick places this at the midpoint of the Tribulation when the Antichrist defiles the rebuilt temple and causes the Jews to stop their worship.
Jesus specifically says a man on the housetop should not come down to take anything out of his house, and a man in the field should not return for his clothes. Les explains that time is of the essence and the fleeing remnant will not need these possessions, since God will protect and provide for them.
The instruction is for those in Judea—the area around Jerusalem. Jesus mentions pregnant women and nursing mothers, and Les says this shows it is a cross-section of Jewish society, not just the 144,000.
Jesus says flee to the mountains. Les notes that the nearest mountains would be to the southeast and may be the red rock city of Petra.
Watch the Teaching: Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church