Yes — in the middle of the seven-year treaty, the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease.
Daniel 9:27 says that in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. This means temple worship in Israel is stopped at the midpoint. Since worship cannot be stopped unless it is already taking place, the temple must be operating by the middle of those seven years.
Daniel 9:27 — This is the key verse that explicitly states what happens in the middle of the seven-year period: the sacrifice and oblation cease.
Daniel 9:27 records: "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 directly states that in the middle of the seven-year week, the one who confirms the covenant stops Israel's sacrifice and oblation. It also connects this act to abominations that make the temple desolate.
Les Feldick teaches that the seven-year treaty is made between the Antichrist—the Prince that shall come—and Israel, along with her Arab neighbors. He emphasizes the simple logic of Daniel 9:27: in order for the sacrifice and oblation to cease, they must first be happening. Therefore, Israel must have a rebuilt temple and must be offering sacrifices by the midpoint, under the Antichrist's supposed protection, for the first three and a half years.
Les Feldick points out that you cannot stop something that is not already going. Since Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist "shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease," the temple sacrifices must have already been underway. Thus, the temple has to be built and functioning by the midpoint of the seven years.
At the midpoint, the Antichrist turns on the nation with whom he made the treaty. He enters the temple, not to make peace, but to defile it. He causes an abomination, makes the temple desolate, and shuts down temple worship. He then forces Israel to worship him as their God and Messiah.
Les Feldick teaches that for the first three and a half years, Israel will enjoy the protection of this individual and will be so awed by what he can do that they will begin to wonder if he is actually the real Messiah. Then, at the midpoint, he suddenly turns on them.
Les Feldick also notes that at the midpoint the two witnesses are killed, lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days, and are then brought back to life and ascend while the whole world watches. At the same time, the Antichrist comes back from Europe and enters the temple to defile it and force the Jew to worship him.
The Antichrist's 7-Year Treaty & Israel's Great Escape
places where they aren't, and so this becomes just as important in Bible study as to not only see what is here, but realize that a lot of times there are some things that aren't in here, which we may have thought really were. Well again I'd like to welcome the people in the Oklahoma City area who can now pick our program up on Saturday evening at 7.
The Midpoint and the Ceasing of Sacrifice
Les explains that in the middle of the seven years the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and that this could only happen if temple worship had already started.
Temple Required for Sacrifices
Les points out that sacrifices can only be offered at the temple, so the temple must be present and functioning when the Antichrist stops the worship and makes it desolate.
The Temple Must Be Rebuilt
Les stresses that because the sacrifice ceases at the midpoint, it must have been going on, which tells us Israel will get her temple rebuilt.
Treaty and the Need for a Temple
Les reminds readers that the treaty involves Israel and her Arab neighbors, and he asks the simple question: for Israel to practice sacrifices, what do they have to have? A temple.
Israel's Initial View of the Antichrist
Les says that in the opening days of the tribulation Israel will almost think the Antichrist is the Messiah, and the temple will be operating under his supposed protection for three and a half years.
The Antichrist Turns and Defiles the Temple
Les teaches that at the midpoint the Antichrist turns on Israel, enters the temple, makes it desolate, and forces Israel to worship him as their Messiah.
The Two Witnesses and the Defiling of the Temple
Les mentions other midpoint events: the two witnesses are killed and raised, and the Antichrist returns from Europe to defile the temple and force worship of himself.
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 explicitly identifies the midpoint of the seven-year week as the time when the sacrifice and oblation cease.
The sacrifice and oblation cease in the middle of the seven-year period, which is after three and a half years, or 1,260 days. This is what Daniel 9:27 refers to as "the midst of the week."
In order for something to cease, it has to have started. So when Daniel says the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, it means temple worship was already taking place. Therefore Israel must have a functioning temple by the midpoint.
According to Les Feldick's teaching, the Antichrist enters the temple, causes an abomination, makes the temple desolate, and forces Israel to worship him as their God and Messiah.
Watch the Teaching: The Antichrist's 7-Year Treaty & Israel's Great Escape