Hey Michael,
Lets see if we can't get to the bottom of this. I think what problem may be is that verse 22 is directed to the disciples and as such you are applying it to us who are alive now. Here is why I don't think this is necessary. There is no command(which definitely would apply to us, as per the great commission) given in verse 22, just a statement of fact that those disciples would desire to see Jesus' Coming again, and would not see it. His command doesn't come in until the next verse and is relative to other people saying, "Look here!" or "Look there!". His command is not to follow those people but to wait for the unmistakable sign of the Son of Man like lightening flashing across the sky. Here are the verses again from the NKJV.
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22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.
Jesus put several qualifications as to when His return would be, one in particular that would be a hindrance to their seeing "one of the days of the Son of Man" would be the gospel being preached to all the nations.
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14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.(Matt. 24:14)
So, while they would be diligent in their(and our) commission to make disciple, baptize, preach the gospel... they would know that until the gospel had gone out into all the earth they wouldn't see the return of Jesus. Even still they would desire to see it.
Another qualifier He put on His coming would be great apostasy and the revealing of antichrist.
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4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.(Matt. 24:4-5)
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10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.(Matt. 24:10-12)
Just as Jesus warned His disciples that these things must take place first, Paul reiterates these same things when believers in the Thessalonian church seem to be believing false reports as if from Paul.
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1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ
[a] had come.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for
that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin
[b] is revealed, the son of perdition(2 Thess. 2:1-3)
As to the question of what will happen in the places of safety... I don't know. I do know that every eye will see Him when he returns flashing across the sky and will be caught up to Him then, but I don't think deceivers will be getting the call to flee and as such have opportunity to call people away from safety to see their supposed Christ's which are not Christ at all. And also, not everyone will be fleeing to places of safety. Some will probably try to witness against the antichrist, and will most likely be martyred for it, others will not have been preparing and praying to be counted worthy and as such will undergo tribulation.
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34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy
[c] to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.(Luke 21:34-36)”
Blessings to you
-Logan
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