People — and especially Israel — will initially welcome the Antichrist with open arms, seeing him as a benevolent protector and even wondering if he is the Messiah.
Les Feldick teaches that the Antichrist will sign a seven-year treaty with Israel, making Israel feel secure and ready to accept his protection. Israel will almost think he is the Messiah and will enjoy temple worship again. The world at large will also welcome him as the answer to its dilemmas. This favorable response lasts only until the middle of the seven years, when he turns against Israel.
Daniel 9:27 — Describes the seven-year covenant with Israel and the midpoint turn that follows the initial peaceful reaction.
John 5:43 — Jesus predicted Israel would embrace another coming in his own name, identifying the Antichrist.
Revelation 6:2 — Pictures the Antichrist's initial white-horse conquest through a bow without arrows, reflecting flattery rather than military force.
The Bible describes the initial period of the Antichrist as one of covenant and apparent peace. Daniel 9:27 says, And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. That covenant gives Israel a seven-year framework, with temple worship functioning for the first half. John 5:43 records Jesus telling the Jewish leaders, I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. This predicts that Israel will accept the Antichrist even though they rejected Christ. Revelation 6:2 presents the same figure on a white horse, having a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. The text itself does not describe military force, only a bow and a conquering advance.
Les Feldick teaches that the Antichrist, coming out of the revived Roman Empire, will sign a seven-year treaty with Israel. That treaty starts God's prophetic clock again. Israel will feel so secure under his charisma and Western European military and economic power that they will almost think he is the Messiah. He will permit temple worship, so Israel returns to sacrifices and the law. Les points out that the Messiah many Orthodox Jews describe — a superman with military, economic, and charismatic strength — is actually the description of the man of sin. The world will see him as the answer to their problems and welcome him with open arms. This honeymoon lasts about three and a half years, until the middle of the week when he stops the sacrifices and turns against Israel. Les also suggests that Israel's quick acceptance makes it likely the Antichrist will be an apostate Jew. He sees the Red Heifer excitement in Israel as preparation for a counterfeit Messiah rather than the true one.
Les teaches that the Antichrist will sign a seven-year treaty of protection with Israel. On the strength of his charisma, along with economic and military power from Western Europe, he will guarantee Israel's safety and borders. He will give Israel permission to have temple worship, so the temple will soon be built and sacrifices resume. Israel will no longer need their massive military, can lower taxes, and will enjoy domestic prosperity.
Les says Israel will almost think the Antichrist is the Messiah because his offers of safety and temple worship match their hopes. He observes that Jewish people tell him the Messiah they are looking for is a superman with military and economic power — the very description of the man of sin. Rabbis quoted in the Jerusalem Post describe a Messiah who will rule the world in peace and elevate Israel, which Les calls a perfect description of the Antichrist. Because Israel will be so quick to accept his offers, Les suggests the Antichrist may be an apostate Jew.
The favorable reaction lasts only for the first half of the seven-year treaty, about three and a half years. During that time Israel will enjoy temple worship and freedom from enemy fear. But in the middle of the week, the Antichrist will cause all of it to stop. Daniel 9:27 says the sacrifice and oblation will cease at the midpoint, and Les connects that to the Antichrist's sudden turn against Israel.
The 70th Week Begins
Les teaches that the Antichrist's seven-year treaty with Israel restarts God's prophetic clock, which had stopped at the cross. Israel accepts this treaty, setting the stage for their initial positive response.
Israel's Initial Security
Les says Israel will feel so secure under the Antichrist's charisma and Western European military and economic power that they will almost think he is the Messiah. He will permit temple worship and a return to sacrifices.
The Expected Messiah or the Man of Sin
Les says the Messiah described by rabbis — a world ruler who brings peace and elevates Israel — is a perfect description of the man of sin. Israel will think they have finally arrived, until he stops everything at the midpoint.
A Quick Acceptance
Les points out that Israel will be so quick to accept the Antichrist's treaty and protection that he believes the Antichrist may be an apostate Jew. Otherwise, Israel would not readily accept him.
A Superman, Not God
Les says Jewish people he talks with expect a Messiah who is a superman with military and economic ability, not God. He tells them they are describing the Antichrist, while Jesus predicted they would embrace him.
A Short Season of Peace and Prosperity
For a little while the Antichrist appears to keep his word, bringing peace and prosperity. Israel enjoys temple worship and safety from enemies during that early period before the turn.
The White Horse and Flattery
Les sees Revelation 6:2's rider with a bow but no arrows as the Antichrist coming with flattery and political manipulation rather than military force. He will guarantee Israel's borders and sovereignty and restore temple worship, so the world welcomes him.
Red Heifer and a Counterfeit Messiah
Les sees the excitement among Orthodox Jews over the Red Heifer as proof they expect a Messiah who will restore temple worship — but it will be the counterfeit Messiah, the Antichrist.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This verse frames the Antichrist's seven-year agreement with Israel and the midpoint reversal.
John 5:43: I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Jesus predicted that Israel would receive a coming one in his own name, fulfilled in the Antichrist.
Revelation 6:2: And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
This verse pictures the initial appearance and conquest of the Antichrist on a white horse.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the world will think the Antichrist is the answer to their dilemmas and will welcome him with open arms. Israel will almost think he is the Messiah. The Bible predicts that Israel will receive one who comes in his own name.
Only for the first three and a half years of the seven-year treaty. At the midpoint, Daniel 9:27 says the sacrifice and oblation will cease, and Les teaches that the Antichrist will suddenly turn against Israel.
Because Israel will so readily accept his treaty, offers of protection, and permission for temple worship. Les reasons that an apostate Jew would be easier for Israel to embrace than a foreigner.
Watch the Teaching: Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church