But I do agree with much of what you wrote. Matt 24:21 is part of the scriptural support for the concept that the 42 month, or 3.5 years, tribulation of the saints precedes the catching away of the church.
Cool.
Verse 17 in context is about those in Judea (solely) fleeing to the mountains (which, IMHO will turn out to be Petra - there is a reference to Bozrah in some translations).
Those in Petra will be supernaturally-protected of course. How they will eat, drink, etc. during that time can only be described as miraculous because Petra, cough, is a rock. Though there may be a stream of water? (I think not sure)
Oh BTW, I also believe that 42 months in that verse describes the Great Tribulation. Which, IMHO, is preceded by a previous 42 months, which will see the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 preaching. I believe the Antchrist will kill them at the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week.
It is then he is revealed for who he truly is (Satan embodied) and the False Prophet (also Satan-possed) implemnts the Mark of the Beast.
The Absomination that Causes Desolation having just happened. 3.5 days after being killed, the Two Witnesses come back to life, stand on their feet and then are Raptured into Heaven, in plain sight of the world (shocking - I’ll post the verse from Revelation 11).