After the midpoint, the Antichrist desecrates the Temple, Israel faces the abomination of desolation, and the Great Tribulation—the worst time in history—begins.
Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease in the middle of the week and make the Temple desolate. Les also places the death and ascension of the two witnesses and the coming of God's wrath at that point. What follows is the great tribulation Jesus described in Matthew 24:21 as unparalleled in human history.
Daniel 9:27 — This verse fixes the midpoint event: the Antichrist stops the sacrifices and makes the Temple desolate.
Matthew 24:21 — Jesus describes the great tribulation that follows the midpoint as unprecedented in world history.
Revelation 6:17 — Les connects this verse to the midpoint—the day of God's wrath has come.
Daniel 9:27 states: '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.' That is the midpoint event. Jesus expands this in Matthew 24:15-16, telling those in Judaea to flee into the mountains when they see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place. Then Matthew 24:21 says: 'For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.' Revelation 6:17 adds, 'For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?' Revelation 11:7-12 also records the two witnesses being killed and then raised to life and taken to heaven.
Les teaches that the first three and a half years are not a utopia. Israel may even wonder if the Antichrist is the Messiah. At the midpoint, however, everything changes. Les places a great earthquake at the midpoint, along with the death and resurrection/ascension of the two witnesses. The Antichrist returns from his European headquarters, enters the Temple, stops the sacrifice, defiles the Temple, and forces Israel to worship him as God. He says this is exactly what Daniel 9:27 predicted, and everything determined will be poured out on the Antichrist. After that midpoint, the second half of the seven years is where 'things really get tough.' Both Satan's wrath and God's wrath are poured out on the human race, and the planet goes through mind-boggling events. Jesus, in Matthew 24:21, called it a great tribulation with no parallel in history. The first half, while already filled with war, invasion, famine, and pestilence, is only the 'beginning of sorrows' leading up to this. By the end, God's righteous dealing with Israel results in the unbelieving element suffering wrath and the believing remnant entering His Kingdom.
Bible: In the middle of the week the Antichrist causes sacrifice and oblation to cease and makes the Temple desolate (Dan. 9:27). Les: At the midpoint, the two witnesses are killed, lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days, then are raised and ascend. A great earthquake comes, and 'the day of his wrath is come' (Rev. 6:17). The Antichrist then enters the Temple, defiles it, and forces Israel to worship him as God.
Les says that during the first half, Israel is so awed by the Antichrist that they begin to wonder if he is the real Messiah. At the midpoint they suddenly realize he is quite the opposite—not bringing a utopia but the most devastating years the world has ever known.
Jesus calls it great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world and never will be again (Matt. 24:21). Les says the second half is where both Satan's wrath and God's wrath are poured out on the whole human race, making what the planet goes through mind-boggling.
Les notes that the first three and a half years are not a Sunday school picnic; the treaty leads to invasion, famine, and pestilence, all of which Jesus called 'the beginning of sorrows.' This means the second half is built on a worsening tribulation that crescendos into the midpoint.
Les says God deals with Israel in His righteousness throughout the seven years. By the time the seven years end, the unbelieving element among Israel will have suffered His wrath and judgment, while the believing remnant will enter the glory of His rule and reign when He sets up His Kingdom.
Israel Discovers the Antichrist's True Nature
Les explains that after the midpoint Israel suddenly realizes the Antichrist is not the Messiah and that his rule will bring the most devastating years in the world's history.
The Midpoint: Earthquake, Two Witnesses, and Wrath
Les places the great earthquake and the resurrection/ascension of the two witnesses at the midpoint and announces that the day of God's wrath has come.
Daniel 9:27 and the Stopping of Sacrifice
Les teaches that in the middle of the week the Antichrist stops sacrifice and oblation and makes the Temple desolate, and all that is determined will be poured out on him.
The End of the Seven Years for Israel
Les says that by the end of the seven years the unbelieving element will suffer God's wrath and judgment while the believing remnant enters His Kingdom.
The Temple Defiled and Worship Forced
Les says the Antichrist returns from Europe, enters the Temple, defiles it, and forces Israel to worship him as their God.
The Great Tribulation Begins
Les says after the midpoint both Satan's wrath and God's wrath are poured out on the human race, exactly as Jesus described in Matthew 24:21.
The Early Tribulation: Beginning of Sorrows
Les describes the treaty, invasion, famine, and pestilence of the first half as the 'beginning of sorrows,' setting the stage for the worse second half.
The Covenant That Starts the Seven Years
Les reminds that the final seven years are triggered by the covenant in Daniel 9:27, which frames the midpoint and all that follows.
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 identifies the midpoint event: the Antichrist stops the temple sacrifices and makes the Temple desolate.
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 tells Israel what to look for when the Antichrist enters the Temple.
Matthew 24:16: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
This is the urgent instruction that follows the appearance of the abomination of desolation.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This describes the unprecedented tribulation that comes after the midpoint.
Revelation 6:17: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Les connects this verse to the midpoint and the beginning of God's wrath.
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 at the time of the midpoint.
Yes. Les says the last three and a half years are where things really get tough. Both Satan's wrath and God's wrath are poured out on the human race, and Jesus described this period as great tribulation unlike any in history (Matthew 24:21).
Les teaches that the two witnesses are killed at the midpoint, lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days, and are then resurrected and ascend to heaven while the world watches.
Les says that for the first three and a half years Israel may wonder if he is the real Messiah, but at the midpoint they suddenly realize he is the opposite. He does not bring utopia; he brings the most devastating years the world has ever known.
Watch the Teaching: Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church