These verses have excited all kinds of prophetic discussion. But we need to remember that their context is of the disciples viewing the walls of the Temple, when Jesus told them that it would be destroyed. They asked Him when it would happen (Matthew 24:1-3), and what would be the signs of His coming as King. The rest of the chapter answers the questions, more or less in that order. Although the passage has stimulated a variety of opinions about Christ's coming, the primary interpretation is of the events around the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem.
 
The Jews believed that the Temple would save them. It felt so permanent that they would even swear by the Temple (Matthew 23:16). But the purpose of the Temple was to get God's people ready to worship Jesus as Saviour and Lord. When they refused to do that, the Temple no longer had any purpose. Jesus was preparing His trainee apostles to lead the Early Church through the destruction of the Temple which would happen after the siege of Jerusalem in AD 66-70. During that time Zealots ransacked the Temple and at the end, the Temple was demolished and the blasphemous standards of pagan Rome were erected on Mount Zion.
 
Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11 all refer to the 'abomination which causes desolation', a generic term of gross blasphemy against God's Temple which would leave the faithful desolate. It happened in 167BC when Antiochus Epiphanes erected a pagan statue on Zion; and it would happen again. Jesus' warning was practical - the Temple cannot save you and you cannot save it; so get out of the city fast. Historians tell of the barbaric carnage of people and destruction of buildings. Nothing and nobody was spared. But many believers fled for their lives, carrying the gospel with them. They were scattered over the Roman Empire and became torchbearers of truth. They did not need the Temple any more because they had Jesus: He was their sacrifice for sins, He was their High Priest, and His presence went with them wherever they went.
 
Religion cannot save, but Jesus can. Eternal life is not about what we do to please God, but about what Jesus has done to make us acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-9). When religion becomes bigger than Jesus, something is wrong. When the face of religion obstructs the heart of God, He allows it to be removed. When God wants the world to know Jesus, He moves His people. It may be hard, but God will restrain the worst of evil so that the truth of the gospel can spread. Wherever you go, even if you do not want to go, you carry Jesus and His Word with you. So shine the Light!