Matthew 24:15-20

You will see The Awful Horror.' Luke says: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies. (Luke 21:20). This identifies The Awful Horror' as the Roman army. Cestius Gallus, first in 66 A.D.; Vespasiam, 68 A.D.; lastly under Titus, 70 A.D. The first time is understood to be what the sign meant. Standing in the holy place. Jerusalem itself is the Holy City (Matthew 4:5). [Some think the Zealots (see Mark 15:7) were the "cause of desolation" by seizing the temple and making one of their own people (Phannius) the high priest in direct violation of the Law. Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells about it.] Then those who are in Judea. Not just Jerusalem only. Run away to safety! The man who is on the roof. It is so urgent to get away quickly, that they could not spare time to get their things! [Houses had flat roofs, and people slept out on them in good weather.] How terrible for women who ore pregnant. Because of the hardships. Compare what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:26-31. During the winter or on a Sabbath. Floods came in winter, making travel impossible, On the Sabbath [Saturday] the city gates were closed and locked, and no one could get out. History tells us the army of Cestius Gallus surrounded Jerusalem in 66-67 A.D., then went back to Caesarea. This was the signal for the Christians who immediately escaped to Pella in the north of Perea.