Jesus means that when the Antichrist defiles the temple in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation, the Jews in Judea must flee immediately to the mountains.
This command is tied to Daniel's prophecy of the abomination of desolation. Those in Judea, a cross-section of Jewish society rather than the 144,000, are to leave without delay, while God protects the escaping remnant for the final three and a half years.
Matthew 24:15-16 — This is the direct command where Jesus tells those in Judea to flee when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place.
Daniel 9:27 — Les Feldick points to this verse as the prophetic timetable showing that the Antichrist stops sacrifice in the middle of the week.
Jesus warned in 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:)" Then verse 16 follows, "Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains." The command is urgent. Jesus continues, "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" (Matthew 24:17-18). Daniel 9:27 shows why this warning is so urgent: "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Les Feldick shows that the command uses the same midpoint timeline as Daniel 9:27. He explains that before the midpoint of the Tribulation, Israel's temple will be functioning, but the Antichrist will enter it, defile it, stop the sacrifices and oblations, and force the Jews to worship him. When the Jews of Jerusalem see this, Jesus tells them to flee to the mountains. Les calls this group the "escaping remnant." It is not the 144,000 but a cross-section of Jews in the area of Jerusalem and Judea, from wealthy retirees to young laborers. The mountains are southeast of Jerusalem, possibly Petra, and God will protect that remnant for the final three and a half years.
Scripture says they must flee when they see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15). Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease in the middle of the week. Les ties these together: the flight happens at the midpoint of the Tribulation, after the Antichrist enters the temple and defiles it.
Jesus specifically says "them which be in Judaea" (Matthew 24:16). Les emphasizes that this is not the 144,000 but a cross-section of Jews living in the area of Jerusalem and southern Israel. The examples of a person on the housetop and a worker in the field show that people from various situations are included.
Les teaches that the Jews flee to the mountains to the southeast of Jerusalem, and he says Petra is a possibility though he does not know for certain. He calls these fleeing Jews the escaping remnant and says God will protect and provide for them for the final three and a half years, just as He protected Israel in the wilderness.
The Covenant and the Stopped Sacrifice
Les explains that the Antichrist confirms a covenant and in the middle of the week causes the sacrifice and oblation to stop, which requires a functioning temple in Jerusalem.
Who Flees and Why
Les describes the fleeing group as a cross-section of Jews, not the 144,000, who flee when the Antichrist defiles the temple and forces worship of himself.
Flight from Judea and God's Care
Les shows that Judea means the area around Jerusalem and southern Israel, that urgency prevents gathering belongings, and that God will protect them as He did Israel in the wilderness.
The Escaping Remnant and the Mountains
Les calls the fleeing believers the escaping remnant and points to the mountains southwest of Jerusalem, possibly Petra, where God will protect them for three and a half years.
A Cross-Section of Fleeing Israel
Les describes the varied people in the fleeing remnant: a retired person on the housetop and a younger laboring person in the field.
The Escaping Remnant in Review
Les reviews that the escaping remnant is not all Israel but a percentage, going to the mountains southeast of Jerusalem, protected supernaturally for the last three and a half years.
The Abomination in the Holy Place
Les emphasizes Jesus' words about Daniel's prophecy: when Israel sees the abomination of desolation stand in the temple, those in Judea must flee at once.
The Defiled Temple and the Urgent Command
Les explains that once the Antichrist defiles the temple and stops Old Testament worship, the Jews are told to flee without taking anything from their houses.
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:)
Jesus identifies the signal event that triggers the command to flee.
Matthew 24:16: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
This is the direct command to those in Judea.
Matthew 24:17: Let him which is on the house top not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Shows the urgency of the flight.
Matthew 24:18: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Shows even workers must not go back for clothing.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Les connects this midpoint stopping of sacrifice to the time when the command to flee takes effect.
Because when they see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, they are to escape immediately. Les explains that this happens when the Antichrist enters the temple, defiles it, and stops Israel's Old Testament worship.
No. Les says explicitly that the fleeing group is not the 144,000 but a cross-section of Jews in the area of Jerusalem and Judea.
Les says the mountains are to the southeast of Jerusalem, possibly the city of Petra, though he says he does not know for certain. The key is that God will protect the escaping remnant there for the last three and a half years.
Watch the Teaching: All Israel Shall Be Saved — What Romans 11:26 Really Means