A cross-section of Jewish people living in Judea and Jerusalem, not the 144,000, must flee to the mountains.
Jesus says that when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place, those in Judea must flee to the mountains without delay (Matthew 24:15-16). Les Feldick explains that this fleeing remnant is not the 144,000 but a cross-section of Jewish society, including retired people on housetops and younger laborers in the field, and Scripture also names women with child and nursing mothers.
Matthew 24:15 — Identifies the trigger: the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.
Matthew 24:16 — Gives the direct command for those in Judea to flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:17-18 — Addresses those on the housetop and those in the field.
Matthew 24:19 — Extends the warning to women with child and nursing mothers.
In Matthew 24:15, Jesus describes the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. Then He commands in verse 16, 'Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.' The people in view are those in Judea. Verse 17 adds, 'Let him which is on the housetop 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.' Verse 19 extends the warning: 'And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!' So the Bible's answer includes those in Judea, whether on a housetop, in a field, or a pregnant or nursing mother.
According to Les, the people who must flee are the Jewish remnant living in Jerusalem and Judea when the Antichrist defiles the temple. He emphasizes that this group is not the 144,000; it is a cross-section of Jewish society from every category of life. Les describes the rooftop people as probably retired, well-to-do individuals who spend time on rooftop patios and will be reluctant to leave valuable possessions. The field workers, he says, are younger people who labor every day, and they must not go back to get their clothes. Les ties this to the midpoint of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist turns on the Jews and takes away their worship, and says God will protect this escaping remnant in the mountains for the final three and a half years, just as He provided for Israel in the wilderness.
No. Les Feldick explicitly says twice, 'This is not the 144,000.' The fleeing group is instead a cross-section of Jewish society, and in one clip he calls it 'the Escaping Remnant,' a remnant of Jews from every category of life. The instruction to flee is given broadly to Jews in Judea.
Les projects that the people on the housetop are probably retired folk, people of means who are spending their spare time on a rooftop patio. Jesus says they are not to come down to take anything out of their house, and Les notes they will be reluctant to leave expensive belongings.
Les contrasts the housetop person with the person in the field. He describes the field worker as a younger laboring person who works every day. Jesus says such a person must not go back to get his clothes; he must flee immediately.
Les places the flight at the midpoint of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist enters the temple, defiles it, and causes the Jews to stop their temple worship. At that same hour a remnant of Israel flees from Jerusalem and Judea to the mountains, possibly the red rock city of Petra, where God will watch over them for three and a half years.
When Will the Tribulation Begin? The 70th Week of Daniel
Remember? He hired some at noon, and they worked for the same amount. And then He hired somebody about an hour before sunset. And how much did they get? The whole day's wage. Why? Any part of a day is considered a whole. Any part of a year is considered a whole. Now, you see, the chronologists were having fits of reconstructing time back in the Old Testament because of this very thing.
Who Is in the Fleeing Group?
Les states the fleeing group is not the 144,000 but a cross-section of Jewish society, and interprets the housetop people as retired, wealthy residents reluctant to leave their possessions.
The Flight at the Midpoint of the Tribulation
Les places the command in Matthew 24 at the midpoint of the Tribulation, identifies the people as Jews in Judea and Jerusalem, and says God will protect them as He did in the wilderness.
The Trigger: The Antichrist Defiles the Temple
Les connects the abomination of desolation with the Antichrist defiling the temple at the midpoint, causing a remnant of Israel to flee from Jerusalem and Judea.
Two Kinds of People: Housetop and Field
Les contrasts the retired, well-to-do person on the housetop with the younger laborer in the field who must flee without returning for clothes.
The Escaping Remnant
Les calls the fleeing group the Escaping Remnant, a remnant of Jews from every category of life, not the whole nation, protected by God for three and a half years.
Defiling the Rebuilt Temple
Les says the Antichrist will enter the rebuilt temple, defile it, and turn on Israel, and at that signal those in Judea are to flee.
Time of the Flight
Les emphasizes the time trigger: at the point the Antichrist defiles the temple and stops Jewish worship, those in Judea are to flee, and he connects this to the remnant Jew.
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 sign that should trigger the flight of those in Judea.
Matthew 24:16: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
This is the direct command to the people in Judea when the abomination is seen.
Matthew 24:17: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
This addresses people on housetops, who must not go inside to gather possessions.
Matthew 24:18: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
This addresses laborers in the field, who must not return for clothing.
Matthew 24:19: And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
The warning also specifically includes pregnant and nursing women.
No. Les Feldick explicitly says, 'This is not the 144,000.' The people who flee are a cross-section of Jewish society living in Judea and Jerusalem when the Antichrist defiles the temple.
Les describes them as probably retired, fairly wealthy people who spend spare time on rooftop patios. Jesus says they must not come down to take anything out of their house.
Les says they are younger laboring people who work every day. Jesus instructs them not to return back to take their clothes, but to flee immediately.
At the midpoint of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist defiles the temple and causes the Jews to stop their worship. At that point, a remnant of Israel flees from Jerusalem and Judea.
They flee to the mountains, possibly the red rock city of Petra. Les says God will watch over and protect them for the final three and a half years.
Watch the Teaching: When Will the Tribulation Begin? The 70th Week of Daniel