¹⁶ “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. ¹⁸ And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. ¹⁹ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! ²⁰ And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Jesus described in Matthew 24:16-28 how to deal with the event of the “abomination of desolation” beginning in the middle of the Tribulation.

24:16

“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

The temple was in Judea in the city of Jerusalem. All those who will not worship this apostate (abomination of desolation) idol should flee to the mountains. They will need to take decisive action about this (present imperative).

24:17

Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

Utmost urgency will be necessary to flee, to the point that they should not take any possessions out of the house. “Don’t pack your bags.” Flight without encumbrance of carrying a load would be quicker.

24:18

And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

A person working in the field should not go home for his clothes.

24:19

But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

Jesus referred to special circumstances during this time of unusual apostasy. Pregnant women and nursing mothers will have difficulty fleeing with speed.

24:20

And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

People should pray that this situation will not come in a time when travel is difficult—such as during winter, when the wadis are full of water, or on the Sabbath, when long-distance travel is prohibited.

24:21

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

This particular persecution will be unusual as persecutions go. It will occur during the “great tribulation.” This is a time of great prophetical judgment on the nation Israel. Previous holocausts will not measure up to this holocaust.

24:22

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;

This persecution will be so intense that no one will survive unless this period is shortened.

but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

God will give relief for believers at the end of the Great Tribulation (Da 7:25; Re 12:14).

PRINCIPLE:

The Antichrist will turn against Israel in the middle of the Tribulation.

APPLICATION:

The Bible predicts a time of sheer trial before a time of great peace. This time of trial will encompass the entire world but focus on Israel as a nation in particular. Many prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Zechariah, spoke of this time.

At the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will form a confederacy of 10 European nations (Da 7:24). This will be the United States of Europe. He will pretend to deliver Israel from her enemies. She will then make an alliance with the Antichrist (Da 9:27). After the Antichrist defeats nations from the south, north, and east of Israel, he will turn against Israel (Da 11:40-45). This is the time he will establish the “abomination of desolation” against Israel.