The midpoint of the tribulation is marked by the death and resurrection of the two witnesses, the Antichrist's defilement of the temple, Satan's expulsion from heaven, and a great earthquake.
At the exact middle of the seven-year covenant (Daniel 9:27), the Jewish temple sacrifices stop and the Antichrist takes over the temple. The two witnesses are killed and then ascend to heaven, a great earthquake strikes, and the final three and a half years of wrath begin.
Daniel 9:27 — This verse explicitly says that in the middle of the seven-year week he will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease.
Revelation 11:11-13 — These verses record the two witnesses' resurrection and the great earthquake that happen at the midpoint.
Revelation 12:9 — This verse describes Satan being cast down to the earth, which Les places at the midpoint.
Daniel 9:27 prophesies that a prince will confirm a covenant with Israel for one week ('seven years'), and in the middle of that week he will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. The same verse says that because of abominations he will make the temple desolate. This is the scriptural anchor for a midpoint event in the seven-year period. Revelation 11 describes the two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260 days (Revelation 11:3). When they finish, the beast kills them, their dead bodies lie in the street, and after three and a half days the Spirit of life enters them; they stand and ascend to heaven (Revelation 11:11-12). At the same hour a great earthquake destroys a tenth of the city and kills seven thousand people (Revelation 11:13). Revelation 12 shows the great dragon, 'that old serpent,' being cast out of heaven to the earth (Revelation 12:9).
Les Feldick teaches that the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation is a cluster of major events. Daniel 9:27 shows that the covenant is for seven years and that in the middle of the week the sacrifice and oblation stop, meaning temple worship has restarted. Les says that in the first three and a half years Israel may think the Antichrist is the Messiah, even though the world experiences war, famine, and turmoil all along. At the midpoint, the two witnesses who have preached in Jerusalem for three and a half years are killed, lie dead for about three days, and are resurrected and taken up in full view of the world. The Antichrist then moves his headquarters from Western Europe to Jerusalem, defiles the temple, and demands to be worshipped as God. Les emphasizes that this is what triggers the final three and a half years, which he associates with the wrath and vexation of God. At the same midpoint, Satan is cast out of heaven for the last time, and a great earthquake occurs that kills seven thousand people in the city. Les sees this earthquake as the same one mentioned in Revelation 6, and he marks it as the beginning of the day of God's wrath.
The two witnesses preach for three and a half years (1,260 days) in the area of Jerusalem (Clip 0). At the midpoint they are killed and their bodies lie in the street; then they are resurrected and ascend to heaven so the whole world can see them go (Clips 1, 5, 6). Les says this happens within about three or four days (Clip 3). Scripture places the resurrection 'after three days and an half' (Revelation 11:11).
The Antichrist moves his headquarters from Western Europe (possibly Rome or Brussels) to the temple in Jerusalem (Clips 1, 4, 5). He defiles the temple, stops Jewish sacrifice and worship, and demands that he himself be worshipped as God (Clips 0, 4, 5). This triggers the final three and a half years of tribulation and the turning against the Jewish people (Clip 7).
Clip 1 states that at the same midpoint period Satan is cast out of heaven for the last time and comes down to earth. Revelation 12:9 says Satan is cast into the earth with his angels. Les connects this with the beginning of the final half.
At the midpoint, as the two witnesses ascend, 'the same hour' a great earthquake occurs (Revelation 11:13). A tenth of Jerusalem falls and seven thousand people are killed (Clip 6). Les says this is the same earthquake mentioned back in Revelation 6, and that it sets in motion the day of God's wrath (Clips 3, 6).
Daniel's Seven-Year Covenant
Les points to Daniel 9:27 to show the covenant is for seven years and the sacrifices stop at the midpoint.
Midpoint Event List
Les lists the key midpoint events: the death and resurrection of the two witnesses, the Antichrist's move into the temple, and Satan's expulsion from heaven.
Two Witnesses and Antichrist at Midpoint
Les groups the ascension of the witnesses and the Antichrist's desecration of the temple as midpoint events.
The Earthquake and Day of Wrath
Les places the great earthquake at the midpoint and connects it to the beginning of the day of God's wrath.
Antichrist Demands Worship
Les explains that at the midpoint the Antichrist stops Jewish worship and demands to be worshipped as God, triggering the final three and a half years.
Worldwide Witnesses Seen
Les repeats the sequence of the two witnesses' death and ascension and the Antichrist forcing the Jews to worship him.
Revelation 11 Earthquake
Les shows the ascension and the great earthquake happen in the same hour, tying Revelation 11 to Revelation 6.
Trigger to the Last Half
Les says the midpoint defilement turns the Antichrist against the Jewish people and triggers the final half, which he calls beyond human description.
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 Old Testament prophecy pinpoints the midpoint as the stopping of temple sacrifice and worship.
Revelation 11:3: And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
This establishes the 1,260-day ministry of the two witnesses leading up to the midpoint.
Revelation 11:11: And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
This records the resurrection of the two witnesses after their dead bodies lay in the street.
Revelation 11:12: And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
This describes the ascension of the two witnesses that the whole world sees.
Revelation 11:13: And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
This describes the great earthquake that happens at the midpoint with the same hour as the witnesses' ascension.
Revelation 12:9: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
This describes Satan being cast out of heaven, an event Les places at the midpoint.
Revelation 6:12: And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Les ties this earlier mention of a great earthquake to the midpoint earthquake in Revelation 11.
They are killed and their bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem; after three days (three and a half according to Scripture) they are resurrected and ascend to heaven while the whole world watches. This event marks the midpoint of the seven years.
At the midpoint, the Antichrist moves from his European headquarters to the Jerusalem temple, stops the sacrifices, and demands that the Jews worship him as God. This triggers the final three and a half years of tribulation.
Les points out that the earthquake in Revelation 11 at the midpoint repeats the earthquake mentioned in Revelation 6. He sees them as the same event that launches the day of God's wrath.
Watch the Teaching: From Adam to Tribulation: God's Biblical Timeline Explained