Yes — Psalm 2 outlines God's Old Testament prophetic program: rejection of His Anointed, derision, tribulation wrath, and the kingdom on Zion.
Les Feldick calls Psalm 2 'the outline of the Old Testament prophetic program.' The early verses show Jews and Gentiles rejecting the Messiah; verse 4 pictures God holding the nations in derision; verse 5 introduces His wrath, which Les identifies as the tribulation; verse 6 brings in the kingdom with God's king on Zion. The psalm contains no hint of the church age, which Les says is a parenthetical interruption between verses 3 and 5.
Psalm 2:1-6 — The whole psalm is the outline of God's prophetic program that Les uses.
Psalm 2:5 — The word 'Then' introduces God's wrath after the rejection and derision, which Les identifies as the tribulation.
Psalm 2:6 — It immediately brings in the kingdom, with God's king set on Zion.
The opening verses of Psalm 2 show the nations and the people in rebellion against the LORD and His anointed King: 'Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed' (Psalm 2:1-2). Their intent is to throw off His rule: 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us' (Psalm 2:3). The psalm then reveals heaven's response: 'He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision' (Psalm 2:4). The word 'Then' at verse 5 marks a turning point: 'Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure' (Psalm 2:5). After that comes the establishment of the king: 'Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion' (Psalm 2:6).
Les Feldick consistently calls Psalm 2 'the outline of the Old Testament prophetic program' (Clip 7). He explains that it is a simplified outline of everything that will happen concerning Israel: the Gentiles (heathen) and the Jewish people join together in rejecting the Anointed One, which pictures the crucifixion of Christ (Clips 2 and 3). He notes that the Romans carried out the execution, but the Jewish rulers took counsel together with them, so both were in consort (Clip 2). Verse 4 shows God laughing at man's foolishness and holding the nations in derision — total confusion — which Les says is where the nations are today (Clips 3 and 5). Les then draws attention to the word 'then' in verse 5. After the long period of rejection and derision, God speaks to the nations in wrath and vexes them in His sore displeasure — the tribulation (Clips 3, 4, and 5). Verse 6 immediately follows with the kingdom: 'Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion,' centered in Jerusalem (Clips 5 and 6). So the psalm presents rejection, derision, tribulation, and kingdom — with no room for the church. According to Les, the Old Testament program was interrupted after the rejection of Christ. He places a parenthesis between verses 3 and 5, because the wrath and vexation did not happen at Christ's first coming (Clip 4). The interruption is for the purpose of calling out the bride of Christ, completing the body of Christ, and taking it out of the way before God resumes the prophetic program (Clip 1). Psalm 2 itself says nothing about the church age or a parenthetical period (Clip 6). He also stresses that all true prophecy is directed only to the nation of Israel, usually within a time frame (Clip 7).
In Les's reading, Psalm 2 moves in a clear sequence. Verses 1-3 show the Gentiles and Israel joining together to reject God's Anointed, even saying, 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us' (Psalm 2:3). Verse 4 shows God in heaven laughing and holding them in derision — total confusion, which Les sees in the nations today. Verse 5 then begins with 'Then,' marking the point where God speaks in wrath and vexes them in His sore displeasure — the tribulation. Verse 6 follows immediately with the kingdom: 'Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion,' centered in Jerusalem.
Les explains that the wrath and vexation of Psalm 2:5 did not happen at Christ's first coming. Between verses 3 and 5, he says, you can put a parenthesis, because the Old Testament program was interrupted. God was not finished with Israel's program; it was interrupted for the purpose of calling out the bride of Christ to complete the body of Christ. When that is done and the body is taken out of the way, the prophetic program will continue.
Nowhere in Psalm 2, according to Les Feldick. He notes that after verse 5 — the tribulation — the very next event in verse 6 is the kingdom on Zion. 'Again, any interlude for the church? No, it's not in here.' The Old Testament says nothing of this parenthetical period of time that we now know is in here. Psalm 2 does not reveal the church age.
Why the Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem: Israel vs. The Church
Welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick, a 30-minute walk through the Scriptures, teaching in-depth Bible truths that change people's lives. Now, here's your host, Les Feldick. And once again, we'll turn right into Psalms chapter 2, where we left off.
The Interruption for the Bride
Les teaches that the Old Testament prophetic program in Psalm 2 was interrupted so God could call out the bride of Christ, complete the body, take it out of the way, and then resume the prophetic program.
Jew and Gentile Reject the Anointed
Les explains that Psalm 2:1-2 shows the heathen/Gentiles and the Jewish rulers taking counsel together, and that both Jew and Gentile were involved in rejecting Christ — Romans carried it out, Jews demanded it.
Derision and Then Wrath
Les reads Psalm 2:4 as God laughing at man's foolishness and holding the nations in derision/confusion, and the 'then' of verse 5 as God speaking in wrath after rejection is complete.
The Parenthesis Between Verses 3 and 5
Les tells listeners to put a parenthesis between Psalm 2:3 and 2:5 because the Old Testament program was interrupted there; the wrath and vexation did not happen at Christ's first coming.
Tribulation and Kingdom
Les says Psalm 2:5's wrath and vexation is the tribulation, and verse 6's king on Zion is the kingdom centered in Jerusalem.
No Church Age in the Psalm
Les emphasizes that Psalm 2 goes directly from tribulation to kingdom and contains no interlude for the church; the Old Testament says nothing of this parenthetical period.
Psalm 2 as the Outline
Les identifies Psalm 2 as the outline of the Old Testament prophetic program, and notes that all true prophecy is directed to Israel and usually within a time frame.
Psalm 2:1: Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
This opening line introduces the two groups — the heathen and the people — who oppose God and His Anointed.
Psalm 2:2: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
The kings of the earth and Israel's rulers take counsel together, which Les says points to the joint action of Romans and Jews in Christ's crucifixion.
Psalm 2:3: Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
This is the rejection Les paraphrases as 'We'll not have this man to rule over us.'
Psalm 2:4: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
God's response to man's foolish attempt to rule without Him — He holds the nations in derision and confusion.
Psalm 2:5: Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
The 'Then' marks the next step after derision, which Les identifies as the tribulation.
Psalm 2:6: Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Immediately after the tribulation comes the kingdom, centered on Zion/Jerusalem, with God's king installed.
According to Les Feldick, Psalms 2 is the outline of the Old Testament prophetic program. It moves from Jew and Gentile rejecting God's Anointed, to God's derision of the nations, to the wrath of the tribulation (verse 5), and then to the kingdom with God's king on Zion (verse 6).
Because the wrath and vexation described in verse 5 did not happen at Christ's first coming. The prophetic program was interrupted so God could call out the bride of Christ; later He will resume the program and bring in the tribulation and kingdom.
No. Les Feldick says there is no interlude for the church in Psalm 2 — the psalm goes directly from tribulation to kingdom. The church age is a parenthetical period that Old Testament prophecy did not reveal.
Les teaches that Psalm 2:5 — 'Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure' — describes the tribulation that will come after the nations reach a state of derision and confusion.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem: Israel vs. The Church