Sign of the end times (not)

Rumor has it that there was a minor panic across the Bible belt this morning when a number of pastors focused on this story as a sign that Matthew 24:15 was about to be fulfilled, advising their congregations to flee to the mountains.  Derek Thomas, however, wants to assure ref21 readers that there is no need to panic, given that he would certainly not have agreed to sing as part of the backing group at the event if it had any great eschatological significance.