Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 24:15-18

"When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains: let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house: and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak." — Matthew 24:15-18 (ASV)

This portion of our Savior’s words appears to relate solely to the destruction of Jerusalem. As soon as Christ’s disciples saw the abomination of desolation, that is, the Roman ensigns with their idolatrous emblems, stand in the holy place, they knew that the time for them to escape had arrived, and they did flee to the mountains.

The Christians in Jerusalem and the surrounding towns and villages in Judea, availed themselves of the first opportunity for eluding the Roman armies and fled to the mountain city of Pella, in Perea, where they were preserved from the general destruction that overthrew the Jews.

There was no time to spare before the final siege of the guilty city. The man on the house-top could not come down to take anything out of his house, and the man in the field could not return back, to take his clothes. They must flee to the mountains in the greatest haste the moment that they saw Jerusalem compassed with armies (Luke 21:20).

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, (whose readeth, let him understand; ) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

This portion of our Saviour's words appears to relate solely to the destruction of Jerusalem. As soon as Christ's disciples saw the abomination of desolation, that is, the Roman ensigns, with their idolatrous emblems, stand in the holy place, they knew that the time for them to escape had arrived; and they did flee into the mountains. The Christians in Jerusalem and the surrounding towns and villages, in Judaea, availed themselves of the first opportunity for eluding the Roman armies, and fled to the mountain city of Pella, in Perea, where they were preserved from the general destruction which overthrew the Jews. There was no time to spare before the final investment of the guilty city; the man on the house- top could not come down to take anything out of his house, and the man in the field could not return back to take his clothes.

They must flee to the mountains in the greatest haste the moment they saw Jerusalem compassed with armies (Luke 21:20).