Matthew 24:15,16 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When ye therefore shall see, &c.— Whatever difficulty there be in these words, it may be cleared up by the parallel place, Luke 21:20-21. Whence it appears, that the abomination of desolation is the Roman army; and the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, is that army besieging Jerusalem. This, says our Saviour, is the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, Daniel 9 and Daniel 12. and so let every one who reads these prophesies understand them. The Roman army is called the abomination, because its ensigns and images were so to the Jews, among whom every image of a man, and every idol, was called an abomination. After the city was taken, the Romans brought their ensigns into the temple, and placed them over against the eastern gate, and sacrificed to them there. The Roman army therefore is fitly called the abomination, and the abomination of desolation, as it was to desolate and lay waste Jerusalem: and this army's besieging Jerusalem, is called standing in the holy place; the city, and such a compass of ground about it, being accounted holy. "When therefore the Roman armyshall approach to besiege Jerusalem, then let them who are in Judea consult their own safety, and fly into the mountains." This counsel was wisely remembered, and put in practice by the Christians afterwards. When Cestius Gallus came with his army against Jerusalem, many fled from the city: After his retreat, manyof the noble Jews departed from it; and when Vespasian was approaching it with great forces, a vast multitude, says Josephus, fled from Jericho into the mountainous country for their security. At this juncture all who believed in Christ left Jerusalem, and removed to Pella, and other places beyond the river Jordan; so that they all marvellously escaped; and we do not read any where that so much as any one perished in the destruction of Jerusalem: of such signal service was this caution of our Saviour to the believers! See Bishop Newton, and Bullock's Vindication, book, 1 Chronicles 4. Dr. Heylin reads the last words, Let him that reads consider it well.