The seven-year peace treaty is the pivotal event that restarts God's prophetic clock and begins the final seven years of tribulation for Israel.
Daniel 9:27 says a coming prince will confirm a covenant with many for one week. Les Feldick teaches that this treaty, signed by the Antichrist with Israel, triggers God's remaining seven-year time clock that has been stopped since the crucifixion. At the midpoint, the Antichrist will stop Israel's temple sacrifices.
Daniel 9:27 — This is the key verse that names the covenant with many for one week and the midpoint stopping of sacrifices.
Daniel 9:24 — It establishes the seventy-week framework, showing how the final seven years fit into God's timeline for Israel.
Daniel 9:26 — It introduces the coming prince after Messiah is cut off and connects to the covenant-maker in verse 27.
Daniel 9:24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." The prophecy is given for Israel and Jerusalem. Daniel 9:26 says Messiah will be cut off, and "the people of the prince that shall come" will destroy the city and sanctuary. Daniel 9:27 then reveals that this coming prince will confirm a covenant with many for one week, and in the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. Jesus later refers to the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel in Matthew 24:15.
Les Feldick teaches that Daniel 9:27's "prince" is the Antichrist, who will arise from the revived Roman Empire and confirm a seven-year covenant with the nation of Israel. He promises Israel peace, prosperity, and safety from its neighbors, so Israel is willing to sign. That signing is the event that "kicks God's time clock back in gear"—the prophetic clock stopped at the cross when Israel rejected Messiah, and it remains stopped throughout the church age. Once the Antichrist signs the treaty, the final seven years of the 490-year prophecy begin. Les emphasizes the period is divided into two halves: the first three and a half years and the last three and a half years. In the middle, the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to stop, which implies Israel must have a rebuilt temple and restored temple worship. Matthew 24's warning about the desolation in the temple points to the same midpoint.
Daniel 9:27 describes the covenant as lasting one week—one week of years, i.e., seven years. Les Feldick identifies the person making the covenant as the Antichrist, who will come from the territory of the old Roman Empire and confirm this treaty with the nation of Israel, while also involving Arab neighbors. This covenant is the peace treaty that begins the final seven-year period.
Daniel 9:24 determines seventy weeks for Israel. Les explains that the first 483 years ended with Messiah being cut off at the cross, and then the church age occupies an undetermined gap. He says the seven-year treaty is the final week that completes the 490 years, and it will begin when the Antichrist signs the treaty with Israel.
According to Les, the Antichrist will promise Israel peace and prosperity, safety from their neighbors. He will sign the seven-year treaty with Israel, making it look like a genuine peace agreement. This is the event that triggers God's time clock, kicking it into gear.
Daniel 9:27 states that in the middle of the week the covenant-maker will cause the sacrifice and oblation to stop. Les points out that the seven-year period is divided in half, with the first 3½ years and the last 3½ years. He also notes that Israel must have a Temple and temple worship in place for this verse to be fulfilled, and he relates this to Jesus' warning in Matthew 24 about the desolation standing in the holy place.
Les teaches that once the Antichrist signs the seven-year treaty, God's prophetic time clock starts running. The church age will be over, and the final seven years—the Tribulation—will unfold exactly as Daniel and Revelation describe. Les says there is no argument: there will be seven distinct scriptural years.
When Will the Tribulation Begin? The 70th Week of Daniel
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The Antichrist's Covenant with Many
Les identifies the covenant-maker as the Antichrist from the old Roman Empire and explains that the covenant with Israel and Arab neighbors is the treaty Daniel 9:27 describes. He also notes that for the sacrifices to stop in the middle of the week, Israel must have a temple.
Peace, Prosperity, and the Treaty
Les says the treaty promises Israel peace, prosperity, and safety, and that it triggers God's time clock for the final seven years.
Restarting God's Prophetic Clock
Les connects the Antichrist signing the seven-year treaty with Israel to the prophetic clock restarting after the church age.
The Day the Clock Kicks In
Les teaches that the day the Antichrist signs the seven-year treaty, God's time clock starts running for seven distinct calendar years.
The Midpoint and the Temple
Les teaches that the treaty restarts the seven-year clock and that at the end of 3½ years the Antichrist stops the sacrifice, matching Jesus' warning in Matthew 24.
The Opening Event of the Final Seven Years
Les says the final seven years of the 490-year prophecy begin with the Antichrist signing the seven-year treaty with Israel, after the church age ends.
The Seven Years Divided in Half
Les emphasizes Daniel's own layout: the seven-year period is divided into two 3½-year halves, with the first half's peace being short-lived.
Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Establishes the framework of seventy weeks of years for Israel, into which the seven-year treaty fits.
Daniel 9:26: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Points to Messiah being cut off and introduces the coming prince whose people destroy the city and sanctuary.
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.
The key verse describing the covenant for one week and the midpoint abomination.
Matthew 24:15: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Jesus refers to Daniel's prophecy about the abomination of desolation in the temple, which Les connects to the midpoint of the seven years.
Les teaches the Antichrist, the prince that shall come from the old Roman Empire, signs the treaty with Israel. Daniel 9:27 says he confirms a covenant with many for one week.
It begins the day the Antichrist signs the treaty with Israel. Les says at that moment God's time clock, stopped since the crucifixion, kicks back in gear for seven distinct years.
Daniel 9:27 says the sacrifice and oblation cease in the midst of the week. Les explains this is after three and a half years and requires Israel to have a temple with worship in place.
Les warns that the peace will be short-lived. Though the treaty promises peace and prosperity, he says not to believe that the first three and a half years are a time of real peace.
Watch the Teaching: When Will the Tribulation Begin? The 70th Week of Daniel