Those in Judea should flee to the mountains because the Antichrist will defile the temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation.
At the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation, the Antichrist will enter the temple in Jerusalem, stop the sacrificial worship, and commit the abomination of desolation. Jesus connects that sign directly to the command for the people in Judea to flee to the mountains. Les Feldick explains that the fleeing remnant—a cross-section of Jews—will be protected by God for the final three-and-a-half years.
Matthew 24:15-16 — Jesus points to the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place and then immediately commands those in Judaea to flee into the mountains.
The Bible records Jesus' warning about the abomination of desolation 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 commands, "Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains." Jesus immediately adds urgent instructions not to turn back: "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." He also pronounces woe on those who are pregnant or nursing in those days.
Les Feldick places this command at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week. At that time, the Antichrist will stop the Jewish sacrifice and oblation at the temple in Jerusalem and then defile the temple—what Jesus called the abomination of desolation. Les compares this to Antiochus Epiphanes, who defiled the temple by sacrificing a hog on the altar. He emphasizes that the people told to flee are not the 144,000, but a cross-section of Jews in the area of Jerusalem and Judea—including those on housetops, laborers in the fields, and mothers with young children. They must leave without going back for possessions. Les calls this group "the escaping remnant of Israel," and he teaches that they will flee to the mountains southeast of Jerusalem (possibly Petra), where God will protect them for the last three-and-a-half years, just as He cared for Israel in the wilderness.
Jesus says that when the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel is seen standing in the holy place, those in Judaea are to flee (Matthew 24:15-16). Les places this at the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation: the Antichrist will stop the sacrifice and oblation at the rebuilt temple, enter Jerusalem, and defile it. He compares the defilement to Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificing a hog on the altar.
The command is specifically to the Jews living in the area of Jerusalem and Judea. Les stresses that this is not the 144,000; it is a cross-section of Jewish society. Jesus depicts people on housetops, people in the fields, and women who are pregnant or nursing. Les adds that these include the retired and well-to-do on the housetop and the younger laborer who must not go back for his clothes.
Jesus tells the one on the housetop not to come down to take anything from the house and the one in the field not to return for his clothes. Les makes the point that when the Antichrist comes in and defiles the temple, the Jews are to flee at that point without delaying to gather possessions.
Jesus simply says flee to the mountains. Les teaches that the nearest mountains are southeast of Jerusalem, with some thinking of the city of Petra. He calls this group "the escaping remnant" and says it is only a percentage of Israel, not the whole nation. God will protect them supernaturally for the final three-and-a-half years, just as He protected Israel in the Sinai wilderness.
Midpoint Defilement
Les teaches that at the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation, the Antichrist will stop the sacrifice at the temple and cause an abomination of desolation, like Antiochus Epiphanes offering a hog on the altar.
Who Flees and Why
Les explains that when the Jews realize the Antichrist has defiled the temple, Jesus directs them to flee to the mountains. The fleeing group is a cross-section of Jews in Jerusalem and Judea, not the 144,000.
Different People in the Flight
Les describes the variety of people instructed to flee, such as a well-to-do person on the housetop and a laborer in the field who should not go back for his clothes.
The Escaping Remnant
Les says the Antichrist will defile the temple at the midpoint, and a remnant of Israel will flee from Jerusalem and Judea to the mountains, possibly to Petra.
God's Protection
Les calls the fleeing group the escaping remnant and teaches that God will protect them in the mountains for the last 3.5 years, like Israel in the Sinai wilderness.
Point-in-Time Command
Les ties the command to the moment the Antichrist defiles the temple and stops Jewish worship, and then notes the instruction not to go down from the housetop.
The Temple Defiled
Les says the Antichrist will move into the rebuilt temple and defile it, probably offering a hog on the altar, and then Jesus says those in Judea should flee to the mountains.
Remnant From Every Category
Les teaches that the escaping remnant includes Jews from every category of life who flee to the mountains, where God will watch over them for the whole three-and-a-half years.
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 sign Jesus gives 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 leave Jerusalem and Judea when the sign appears.
Matthew 24:17: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
The warning not to pause for possessions shows the flight must be immediate.
Matthew 24:18: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Even those working in the fields are not to return for clothing.
Matthew 24:19: And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Jesus' words show that the flight will include mothers with children, a cross-section of the Jewish population.
Jesus calls it the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. Les Feldick teaches that the Antichrist will defile the temple, probably like Antiochus Epiphanes offering a hog on the altar.
At the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation, when the Antichrist stops the sacrifice and oblation and defiles the temple. That is the moment Jesus said to flee to the mountains.
Jesus commands that the one on the housetop not come down and the one in the field not return for clothes. Les emphasizes that the Jews must leave immediately when the Antichrist defiles the temple, without gathering possessions.
No. Les teaches that only a remnant—a cross-section of Jews from every category of life—will flee. God will protect that escaping remnant for the last three-and-a-half years.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens at the Midpoint of the Tribulation?