In the middle of the seven-year period, the Antichrist will cause Israel's sacrifice and oblation to cease, defile the temple with abominations, and force Israel to worship him as Messiah.
Daniel 9:27 places this action at the midpoint of the seven-year covenant. Les Feldick teaches that since something must be operating before it can be stopped, Israel will have rebuilt the temple and resumed sacrifices. He also compares the coming defilement to Antiochus Epiphanes, who offered a hog on the temple altar.
Daniel 9:27 — This is the key verse directly describing the Antichrist's mid-week actions: stopping the sacrifice and making the temple desolate.
Daniel 9:27 says: "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 verse clearly identifies a seven-year covenant, a midpoint, and a forced cessation of sacrifices. It also connects the desolation of the sanctuary to abominations, without further detail in this passage.
Les Feldick teaches that the Antichrist will confirm a seven-year treaty with Israel and others, and that at the midpoint — after three and a half years or 1,260 days — he will suddenly turn on Israel. Les emphasizes that because the sacrifice and oblation must cease, they first have to be running. This means Israel will have rebuilt the temple and resumed sacrificial worship, with the Antichrist's permission, before the midpoint. At the midpoint, the Antichrist will enter the temple, cause an abomination, and make the temple and its worship desolate. Les compares this to Antiochus Epiphanes, who sacrificed a hog or sow on the altar and horrified the Jewish people. Les concludes the Antichrist will do something much like that, including forcing Israel to worship him as their Messiah. For the first three and a half years, Israel will be so awed by his protection that they may wonder if he is indeed the real Messiah.
Les repeatedly points out that you cannot stop something that is not going. Daniel 9:27 says the sacrifice and oblation will cease in the middle of the week, which proves those sacrifices were already taking place. He therefore concludes that Israel will rebuild the temple and resume temple worship before the midpoint, with the Antichrist granting permission as part of the treaty.
Les points to Antiochus Epiphanes, who overran Israel around 200–300 B.C. and defiled the temple by sacrificing a sow or hog on the altar. This act horrified the Jews. Les sees it as a preview of what the Antichrist will do: he will defile the temple, perform acts of abomination, and the horror may be epitomized by the offering of a hog on the altar in Jerusalem.
Les says the Antichrist will shut down temple worship and make the temple desolate. He will force Israel to worship him as their Messiah. During the first three and a half years, Israel will enjoy his protection and may even wonder if he is the real Messiah. At the midpoint, he turns on them and the temple worship ends until the consummation.
The Seven-Year Covenant Confirmed
Les explains that the world ruler from the revived Roman Empire will confirm a seven-year covenant with Israel, which sets the stage for the midpoint events.
Antiochus Epiphanes as a Type of Antichrist
Les says Antiochus defiled the temple by sacrificing a hog on the altar, and the Antichrist will perform similar abominations in the temple.
The Antichrist Turns on Israel
At the midpoint, the Antichrist will enter the temple, cause an abomination, make it desolate, and force Israel to worship him as Messiah.
Sacrifices Must Have Started Before They Cease
Daniel 9:27 says the sacrifice and oblation cease at the midpoint, which proves Israel had resumed sacrificial temple worship before that point.
Israel Rebuilds the Temple
The temple must be operating by the midpoint; the Antichrist will give Israel permission for temple worship and guarantee their borders.
Temple Worship Restarts Then Ends
Israel restarts temple worship under the Antichrist's protection, then at the midpoint he moves in and makes the temple and its worship desolate until the end.
The Treaty and the Midweek Stop
The covenant involves Israel and her neighbors, and the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to stop at the midpoint, requiring a temple.
The Temple Must Exist to Be Entered
If the Antichrist goes into the temple at the midpoint, the temple must already be there and operating, so Israel will get it rebuilt.
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 foundational verse showing the Antichrist's mid-week actions of stopping sacrifices and making the temple desolate.
Yes. Daniel 9:27 says, "In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." Les Feldick points out that this implies the sacrifices were already operating, so Israel must have rebuilt the temple.
Les teaches yes. The Antichrist will go into the temple, perform abominations, and make it desolate, just as Antiochus Epiphanes defiled the altar by sacrificing a hog.
Because a cessation cannot happen unless something is already happening. For the sacrifice and oblation to stop, temple worship must have been restored, and the Antichrist will give Israel permission to rebuild and worship.
He was a ruler who overran Israel around 200–300 B.C. and defiled the temple by sacrificing a sow or hog on the altar, causing horror among the Jews. Les sees him as a type of the coming Antichrist.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens at the Midpoint of the Tribulation?