The church age (the age of grace) is missing from the Old Testament prophetic timeline.
The Old Testament prophets laid out a continuous program from Israel's history straight through to the end, with no hint of an intervening age of grace (Clip 1). Les Feldick emphasizes that the prophetic program was meant to run without interruption, but historically it was paused when Israel rejected Christ, leaving a gap—the church age—that was never revealed in prophecy.
Psalms 2:1-3 — These verses describe the rejection of the Messiah by both Jews and Gentiles, which Les Feldick uses to show where the prophetic clock stopped.
The Old Testament prophets, such as David in Psalm 2, spoke of the nations and rulers taking counsel against the Lord and His Anointed, saying, 'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us' (Psalm 2:3). This prophecy found fulfillment in the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as both Israel and Rome conspired against Him (Acts 4:27). However, the Bible also shows that after this rejection, Peter quoted Psalm 2 and acknowledged that these events had happened, but the subsequent verses (Psalm 2:5-9) about God's wrath and the establishment of the Kingdom still await fulfillment. This indicates that the prophetic program described in the Old Testament is not yet complete.
Les Feldick teaches that the entire Old Testament prophetic program 'knows nothing but the prophetic program moving right straight through to the end' (Clip 1). It never gives 'a hint of that intervening church age' (Clip 1). He often uses the illustration of a timeline: God's prophetic clock was set for 490 years of dealing with Israel, with 483 years culminating at the cross, and then 'God's clock stopped' (Clip 5). The seven years that remained (the Tribulation) could have commenced immediately after the ascension had Israel accepted her King, but they rejected Him, so God interrupted the prophetic program and inserted the church age—a period that was a mystery, kept secret and never revealed in the Old Testament (Clip 4). Les emphasizes that this interruption is why prophecy and the age of grace fall into correct perspective once understood (Clip 2).
Les Feldick explains that the Old Testament prophets moved 'straight through to the end' without any interruption (Clip 1). For example, in Psalm 2, the text goes from the rejection of Christ to the coming wrath and the setting up of the Kingdom, with no parenthesis for the church age (Clip 6). Similarly, Psalm 118 shows the same pattern, where the prophetic plan continues, but we know it has been interrupted in actual history (Clip 6). The Old Testament promises 'never considered the outcalling of the Church' (Clip 4); they spoke of Christ coming as King, Israel going through the Tribulation, and then the Kingdom being established (Clip 4).
Les Feldick teaches that the prophetic clock was on schedule for 490 years of dealing with Israel. 483 years concluded with the crucifixion, and then 'God's clock stopped' (Clip 5). The remaining seven years could have begun immediately after the ascension, but Israel rejected the King, so the program was paused (Clip 7). This interruption was not part of the Old Testament prophetic revelation; it was a mystery kept secret by God until later (Clip 4).
Jews and Gentiles Reject the Anointed
Les explains that both the Jewish rulers and the Roman authorities were responsible for crucifying Christ, fulfilling Psalm 2's description of the heathen and people imagining a vain thing.
No Hint of the Church Age
Les explicitly states that the Old Testament prophecies never hint at an intervening church age; the prophetic program moves straight to the end without interruption.
Understanding Prophecy and Grace
Les repeats that the Old Testament knows only the prophetic program and that realizing the church age was hidden helps put prophecy and the age of grace in proper perspective.
Silent About the Church Age
Les emphasizes that throughout the prophetic time of God dealing with Israel, the church age is never mentioned—not a word about the age of grace or the outcalling of Gentiles.
The Church Was a Secret
Les explains that all Old Testament promises and programs never considered the outcalling of the Church; God kept it secret, and the prophets only spoke of Christ coming as King after the Tribulation.
God's Clock Stopped
Les uses the analogy of God's time clock: 483 years culminated at the cross, and then the clock stopped, postponing the day of vengeance and the Kingdom.
Parenthetical Break in Prophecy
Les shows how in Psalm 2 and Psalm 118, you must stop reading after the initial fulfillment because the rest is still future; this demonstrates the prophetic break where the church age fits.
Israel Rejected, Program Paused
Les notes that even after Christ's ascension, there was still no hint of the church age; the seven years of Tribulation could have begun immediately, but Israel rejected it, causing the interruption.
Psalms 2:1-3: 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, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
This passage describes the rejection of Christ by both Gentile and Jewish rulers, which Les uses to show where the prophetic program was interrupted.
Psalms 2:5-6: Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
These verses are still unfulfilled according to Les, demonstrating that the prophetic clock stopped after the rejection and has not yet resumed.
Psalms 118:22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Les points to this verse as another example where the Old Testament prophecy continues without mentioning the church age, but it was interrupted with Christ's rejection.
Les Feldick teaches that God kept the church age a secret because it was not part of the original prophetic program. The Old Testament prophecies focused on Israel and the coming Kingdom, but when Israel rejected Christ, God paused that program and inserted the church age as an unrevealed parenthesis.
Les uses the analogy of a time clock to explain that God's dealing with Israel was set for 490 years (Daniel's 70 weeks). After 483 years, at the crucifixion, the clock stopped. The remaining seven years (the Tribulation) have been delayed because Israel rejected the King, and the church age now occupies the interval.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Old Testament Never Predicted the Church Age