Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
Thus, as we study the historical record of Jesus’ first coming, we discover that the Jews at that time were caught off guard even as they had all the prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah, Moses, David, and Hosea at their disposal. That suddenness was not so much on the part of God, but rather, is on the part of the human agent. Similarly, Jesus has given us a specific sign which has to occur before His second coming, and until it does, the final conflict on planet earth will not wrap up. It is the sign pointing specifically to the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
The abomination of desolation is a direct reference to the time when the symbols of pagan Rome were set up within the precincts of the Temple as the city of Jerusalem was being laid waste to destruction by Titus. The Roman symbols were planted just outside the city one year earlier by Cestius who, just prior to the invasion got up and left for no apparent reason. This was the providence of God giving the Christians the heads up to leave in a hurry, which they did, and not one perished in the conflagration.
Thus, since the prophecies in Matthew chapter 24 were given in the dual context, of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the final conflict to precede Christ’s second coming, the abomination of desolation will again be fulfilled when the symbols of papal Rome are once again planted within the precincts of the holy place.
Matthew 24:15 When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!