The final seven years will begin when the Antichrist confirms a seven-year covenant with Israel, and at the midpoint he stops Israel's temple sacrifices and defiles the temple.
Daniel 9:27 places the covenant, the midpoint cessation of sacrifice, and the desolating abomination within one seven-year period. Les teaches that the temple must be operating before the midpoint, and at that midpoint the Antichrist will turn on Israel and force worship of himself.
Daniel 9:26 — Identifies the prince that shall come and the destruction of the city and sanctuary.
Daniel 9:27 — Directly describes the final seven-year covenant, the midpoint stopping of sacrifice, and the desolating abomination.
Daniel 9:26-27 gives the structure of the final week. Verse 26 says that after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, and that the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Verse 27 then describes the one-week period: '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.' In Matthew 24:15, Jesus refers to this same event as the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.
Les teaches that the final seven years begin when the Antichrist signs a seven-year treaty with the nation of Israel. This treaty kicks God's prophetic clock back into gear after it had been stopped during the church age, and Israel will lay down her defenses once the treaty is signed (Clips 3, 4, 6, 7). The temple must be rebuilt and operational before the midpoint, because the sacrifice and oblation have to be happening in order to be stopped (Clips 1, 2, 6). At the midpoint, after three and a half years, the Antichrist turns on Israel, enters the temple, causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, makes the temple desolate through the overspreading of abominations, and forces Israel to worship him as the Messiah (Clips 1, 5, 6). Jesus' warning in Matthew 24 applies at this moment: those in Judea are to flee to the mountains (Clip 0). Les also cautions against viewing the first three and a half years as lasting peace and prosperity; it will be short-lived (Clip 7).
God's prophetic clock, which has been stopped during the church age, kicks back into gear when the Antichrist signs a seven-year treaty with the nation of Israel (Clip 3). Daniel 9:27 says he confirms a covenant with many for one week. Les explains this is with many Jews who are back in the land, and Israel will lay down her defenses when the treaty is signed (Clip 4).
In the middle of the seven-year week, the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (Daniel 9:27; Clips 1, 2, 6). Jesus referred to this as the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, and Les says those in Judea are to flee to the mountains (Clip 0; Matthew 24:15). The Antichrist will also make the temple desolate and force Israel to worship him as their Messiah (Clips 1, 5).
Because the sacrifice and oblation have to cease, they must first be in operation. Les reasons that temple worship must be taking place for it to be stopped, so Israel will rebuild and operate the temple by the midpoint (Clips 1, 2). The Antichrist's action in the temple also assumes a temple exists and is functioning (Clip 6).
Midpoint Fleeing and the Abomination
Les connects Jesus' warning about the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15 to Daniel 9:27 and explains that at the midpoint those in Judea are to flee to the mountains.
Midpoint Sacrifice Stops
Les explains that in the middle of the seven years the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to stop, and the temple must be in operation for that to happen.
Treaty and Temple Worship
Les points out that a seven-year treaty with the Jews begins the week, and at the midpoint the Antichrist turns on Israel and stops the temple worship that had been running.
Prophetic Clock Restarts
Les says the Antichrist's seven-year treaty with Israel kicks God's prophetic clock back into gear after the church-age pause.
The Seven-Year Covenant
Les says the Antichrist confirms a seven-year covenant with many Jews back in the land, and Israel lays down her defenses when the treaty is signed.
Temple Desecration
Les explains the Antichrist enters the temple at the midpoint, makes it desolate, and forces Israel to worship him as their Messiah.
Temple Operating Required
Les stresses that temple worship must be going on for it to cease, so Israel will rebuild and operate the temple before the midpoint.
Two Halves of the Week
Les confirms the seven-year period is divided into two halves and cautions that the first three and a half years are not to be seen as lasting peace and prosperity.
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 core prophecy of the final seven years, including the covenant, the midpoint sacrifice stoppage, and the desolation.
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 identifies the prince that shall come and the destruction that follows, setting up the prince's seven-year covenant in the next verse.
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 directly references Daniel's abomination of desolation, which Les applies to the midpoint of the final seven years.
It begins when the Antichrist confirms a seven-year covenant with Israel. Les says this treaty kicks God's time clock back into gear after being stopped during the church age.
Yes. Les teaches that the sacrifice and oblation must cease at the midpoint, and for something to cease it must first be happening. So Israel's temple must be rebuilt and operating by the midpoint.
At the end of three and a half years, he goes into the temple, causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and makes the temple desolate with the overspreading of abominations. Les says he does this to force Israel to worship him as Messiah.
Watch the Teaching: All Israel Shall Be Saved — What Romans 11:26 Really Means