Yes — for temple worship to be disrupted, Israel must first have a rebuilt temple that is actively operating its sacrificial system.
Les Feldick explains that you cannot stop something that is not going, so the temple must be rebuilt and functioning before the Antichrist can stop the sacrifices. The interruption occurs at the midpoint of the seven-year covenant, when the Antichrist enters the temple, causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and sets himself up as God.
Daniel 9:27 — This verse directly says the coming prince will confirm a covenant for one week and in the middle of that week he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.
Daniel 9:26-27 describes a coming prince. It says that after sixty-two weeks the Messiah would be cut off, and that the people of the prince that shall come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The following verse then says that this prince will confirm a covenant with many for one week, and in the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. Scripture itself does not explicitly describe the rebuilding of the temple, but it speaks of sacrifices and oblations being active enough to be stopped. The temple worship, as described in Daniel, must be taking place for it to be disrupted.
Les Feldick's core point is that the temple worship must be in full operation before it can be stopped. He says, "You can't stop something that's not going." Therefore, Israel will rebuild her temple and have it operating by the midpoint of the seven-year treaty. Les points to the Temple Institute in Israel, where priestly garments, instruments, trained priesthood, and the red heifer are already prepared; all that remains is the actual building and permission to construct it. The Antichrist will sign a seven-year covenant with Israel, giving them peace, prosperity, protection, and permission for temple worship. For the first three and a half years this worship will continue, but at the midpoint he will enter the temple, stop the sacrifices and oblations, set himself up as God, and force Israel to worship him. Les also notes that Israel will be so impressed with the Antichrist that they may think he is the Messiah, and that he will likely be an apostate Jew because of the ease with which he gains their trust.
Les Feldick says that for temple worship to cease, it has to be going. He reasons from Daniel 9:27 that the Antichrist cannot cause the sacrifice and oblation to stop if those sacrifices are not already happening. So the temple must be rebuilt and its worship operating by the midpoint of the seven years.
Les cites the Temple Institute in Israel, which has everything ready for the reinstitution of temple worship. The garments are hanging on mannequins, the instruments for sacrificial worship have been made, the priesthood has been trained, the priestly clothes have been sewn, and the red heifer has been bred and raised. He says all they are waiting for is permission to build the temple.
According to Les, the Antichrist will make a seven-year treaty with Israel. He will guarantee their borders against enemies, give them peace and prosperity, and permit temple worship. Israel will be overjoyed and may even wonder if he is the Messiah. For the first three and a half years, the temple worship operates. At the midpoint, the Antichrist will enter the temple, stop the sacrifice and oblation, set himself up as God, and force the Jewish people to worship him rather than the God of the Old Testament.
Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church
still ahead of us. They still have to be fulfilled. Now then, as you go into verse 26, it speaks of a coming prince. "...after the threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off," that's the crucifixion, not for Himself. He didn't die because of anything He had done. He died for us. And the people, now here's where you have to watch carefully as you read, "...
Temple Preparations Ready
Les shows that the Temple Institute already has garments, instruments, and everything else needed for temple worship, so only the building itself is lacking.
You Can't Stop What Isn't Going
Les directly answers the question by saying temple worship must be operating before it can be stopped, proving Israel will get her temple rebuilt.
Antichrist Takes Over the Temple
Les describes the midpoint moment when the Antichrist enters the temple, sets himself up as God, and forces Israel to worship him.
Seven-Year Treaty Sets the Stage
Les teaches that the Antichrist signs a seven-year covenant with Israel, promising peace, prosperity, protection, and permission for temple worship.
Temple Operating by Midpoint
Les says Israel will have her temple and it will be operating by the midpoint of the seven years, because the Antichrist will come into it to stop the sacrifices.
First Half of the Tribulation
Les explains that Israel will have temple worship for the first three and a half years and that the Antichrist will approve it, elating the nation.
Priesthood and Red Heifer Ready
Les cites the Jerusalem Post report that the priesthood is trained, the priestly clothes are sewn, and the red heifer has been bred and raised.
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 is the central verse that describes the covenant being confirmed and the sacrifice and oblation being stopped in the middle of the week.
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.
This verse introduces the coming prince and the destruction of the city and sanctuary, connecting the prophecy to the temple context.
No. Les Feldick says you cannot stop something that is not going. For the Antichrist to cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, a temple must be rebuilt and its sacrificial worship must be operating.
He will stop them in the middle of the seven-year covenant, after three and a half years. Daniel 9:27 specifically says that in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.
Yes. Les points to the Temple Institute in Israel where garments, instruments, trained priests, and the red heifer are already prepared. The only thing missing is permission to build the temple.
Les reasons that the Antichrist must be able to sign a seven-year treaty with Israel and gain their trust so completely that they are willing to accept him. This would be easier if he were a Jewish figure, and he also shows or gives Israel permission for temple worship, which delights them.
Watch the Teaching: Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church