They are the ordinary Jewish people living around Jerusalem and Judea — not the 144,000 — who must flee when the Antichrist defiles their temple.
Matthew 24:17-19 describes three specific types: someone on a housetop, someone working in a field, and women who are with child. Les Feldick teaches these represent a cross-section of Jewish society, including older retired people, younger working people, and pregnant women, all commanded to flee immediately at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
Matthew 24:16-19 — This is the passage where Jesus names the specific people — the one on the housetop, the one in the field, and women with child — who are told to flee from Judaea.
Jesus is speaking about the abomination of desolation, and He tells those in Judaea to flee into the mountains. The following verses describe three kinds of people: the one on the housetop, the one in the field, and women who are with child. The command is urgent: the person on the housetop must not come down to take anything out of the house, and the person in the field must not return back to take his clothes. Jesus then pronounces woe upon those who are with child and those who give suck in those days, showing that mothers with infants will face the hardship of the sudden flight. The passage does not identify the people as leaders, soldiers, or a special group; it simply describes ordinary people in everyday settings who must leave immediately.
Les teaches that these are not the 144,000, but a cross-section of Jewish society living around Jerusalem and Judea at the midpoint of the Tribulation. He explains that Israel will have a temple operating by that time, and when the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to stop and defiles the temple, Jesus tells these ordinary Jews to flee to the mountains. Les sees the person on the housetop as an older, retired, well-to-do person enjoying a rooftop patio common in Middle Eastern homes; he must not come down even to gather valuables or extra clothes. The person in the field is a younger working person, roughly 25 to 45, doing daily labor or other work; he must not go back for his clothes. The women with child are included in this mixed group and will face special difficulty. Because time is of the essence, none of these people can prepare; God will protect and provide for them just as He did for Israel coming out of Egypt.
Les identifies this person as probably an older, retired, well-to-do Jew who has time to spend on a rooftop patio, which is common on Middle Eastern homes. Jesus says he must not come down to take anything out of his house, because he will not have time to gather belongings — antiques, furniture, or extra clothes — and will not need them anyway.
Les says this is the working-class person — generally younger men and women, roughly ages 25 to 45 — who labor in fields, production, manufacturing, or any modern occupation. Jesus warns him not to return to get his clothes but to flee immediately with what he is wearing.
The Bible names them as pregnant women and nursing mothers. Les includes them among the mixed cross-section of men, women, young women, and children who must flee from Jerusalem and Judea at the midpoint of the Tribulation, and he notes that Jesus pronounces woe on them because of the hardship of the flight.
No. Les explicitly says this fleeing group is not the 144,000. They are a cross-section of any society — ordinary Jewish people living in the area of Jerusalem and Judea when the Antichrist defiles the temple.
Jesus gives an urgent command to flee, and Les emphasizes that time is of the essence. The Antichrist has come into the temple and defiled it, so there is no time to go back into the house or return to the field for clothes. Les also compares this to the escape from Egypt: just as God protected and provided for Israel in the wilderness, He will protect and provide for these escaping Jews at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
The Temple Context at the Midpoint
Les sets the scene for Matthew 24 by explaining that Israel will have a temple by the midpoint, and the Antichrist will stop sacrifice and defile it — the event that triggers the command to flee.
A Cross-Section, Not the 144,000
Les identifies the people in Matthew 24:17-19 as a cross-section of Jews in Jerusalem and Judea — not the 144,000 — and notes the woe to women with child.
Housetop Dweller and Field Worker
Les explains the housetop person is probably retired and well-to-do, while the field worker is a younger laborer told not to go back for clothes.
Middle East Rooftop Patios and Working Class
Les shows that Middle Eastern homes often have rooftop patios, so the person on the housetop is likely retired, while the one in the field is the working class.
Age Groups: Retired and 25 to 45
Les gives more detail: the rooftop person is older and retired, while workers in the field are younger men and women roughly 25 to 45.
A Mixed Crowd Forced to Abandon Possessions
Les reviews the mixed group — men, women, young women, children — and stresses that the retired person must abandon antiques and furniture, and the worker must flee with only what he is wearing.
Retired Jews Living in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
Les repeats that these are Jewish people in Jerusalem and the region living comfortably, and they must not stop even for extra clothes.
Not the 144,000; God Will Provide
Les emphasizes these fleeing Jews are a cross-section of any society, not the 144,000, and that God will protect and provide for them as He did in the exodus from Egypt.
Matthew 24:16: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
This is the command that introduces the people Jesus is warning in Matthew 24:17-19.
Matthew 24:17: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
This names the first category of people — the rooftop dweller who must leave without retrieving possessions.
Matthew 24:18: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
This names the second category — the field worker who must not go back for clothing.
Matthew 24:19: And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
This names the third group — pregnant and nursing mothers who will suffer hardship in the flight.
No. Les teaches that these are not the 144,000, but a cross-section of Jewish society living in and around Jerusalem and Judea. They are the ordinary people told to flee when the Antichrist defiles the temple.
Les says this is likely an older, retired, well-to-do Jewish person who is spending time on a rooftop patio. Jesus tells him not to come down to take anything out of his house, because he must leave immediately.
Les says this is a younger working-class person, roughly ages 25 to 45. Whatever their job is — field work, production, manufacturing, or other work — they are told not to return to get their clothes.
They are pregnant women and nursing mothers included in the fleeing remnant. Jesus pronounces woe on them because the sudden flight will be especially hard for them.
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