The Antichrist breaks his seven-year treaty in the middle, stops Israel's temple sacrifice, desolates the temple, and demands that Israel worship him as God.
According to Daniel 9:27, in the middle of the week he causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease and makes the temple desolate with the abomination. Les Feldick explains that this happens after Israel has rebuilt the temple and resumed worship. The Antichrist then moves into the temple, defiles it, and forces Israel to worship him as their Messiah/God.
Daniel 9:27 — This is the key midpoint verse describing the covenant confirmed for one week and the sacrifice ceasing in the middle.
Daniel 11:36 — Describes the king who exalts himself above every god, which Les identifies as the Antichrist.
Matthew 24:15 — Jesus confirms that Daniel's 'abomination of desolation' will stand in the holy place.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 — Reveals the same figure sitting in the temple of God and declaring himself to be God.
Daniel 9:27 predicts: '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 places the stopping of sacrificial worship and the abomination at the middle of the seven-year 'week.' Daniel 11:31 again says, 'And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.' Jesus affirmed these words in 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:)' Paul also described the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians 2:4: 'Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.'
Les teaches that the Antichrist signs a seven-year treaty with Israel (and many in the Middle East), which kicks God's prophetic clock back in gear after the church age. Israel is so impressed by his promises of peace, secured borders, and permission for temple worship that they begin to wonder if he is the real Messiah. At the midpoint, after 3.5 years / 1260 days, he suddenly turns on the nation with whom he made the treaty. He goes into the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, stops the sacrifice and oblation, defiles and desolates the temple, and forces Israel to worship him as their Messiah/God. Les stresses that the temple must be operational by the midpoint because something must be in operation to cease. He identifies this as the abomination of desolation and describes it as Hitler's Nazism all over again, only a thousand times worse. Les also notes that Daniel 11:36 says this man will exalt himself above every god. Because he is Satan's tool, he has bought into Satan's original lie: 'You can be like God.' Les gives his personal opinion that the Antichrist will probably be an apostate Jew, especially since Israel will so readily accept him as their promised deliverer.
Les draws a simple observation from Daniel 9:27: in order for the sacrifice and oblation to cease, they must first be in operation. Israel is going to rebuild her temple, and by the midpoint of the seven years the temple worship will be operating. The Antichrist will then command that all sacrificial and temple worship come to an end.
Daniel describes it as 'the overspreading of abominations' that makes the temple desolate. Jesus speaks of 'the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place.' Les connects this to the Antichrist entering the rebuilt temple, stopping the temple worship, and setting up his own headquarters there, causing the temple to be desolate.
Les says that after turning on Israel at the midpoint, the Antichrist will move into the temple complex in Jerusalem, defile it, and force the Jew to worship him as God. Daniel 11:36 says he will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god. Les reminds the reader that this man is the tool of Satan and is convinced of Satan's original lie, 'You can be like God.'
Les teaches that for the first half of the seven years Israel will be protected by this individual and will be so awed by what he does that they will begin to wonder if he is really the Messiah. This is one reason Les thinks the Antichrist will be an apostate Jew: Israel will accept him and nearly receive him as their Messiah before he turns on them.
Exalting Himself Above Every God
Les explains Daniel 11:36 as the Antichrist exalting and magnifying himself above every God, because he is the tool of Satan and has bought into the lie that he can be like God.
Turning on Israel at the Midpoint
Les describes how in the middle of the seven years the Antichrist turns on the nation with whom he made the treaty, enters the temple, causes the abomination of desolation, and forces Israel to worship him as their Messiah.
Evidence for an Apostate Jew
Les teaches that Israel will be so enraptured by the Antichrist's promises of peace, protected borders, and temple worship that they will accept him—which is why Les thinks he will be an apostate Jew.
Defiling the Temple and Demanding Worship
Les says the Antichrist will move into the temple complex in Jerusalem, defile it, and force the Jews to worship him as God, ushering in the final 3.5 years.
Sacrifice and Oblation Cease at Midweek
Les emphasizes that the sacrifice and oblation can only cease if they have started, so Israel must have temple worship operating by the midpoint of the seven years.
The Treaty Includes Israel and Her Neighbors
Les says the prince from the old Roman empire signs a peace agreement with Israel and many Arab states, then in the middle of the week causes the sacrifice and oblation to stop—which requires a temple.
Temple Worship Stopped with an Abomination
Les teaches that in the middle of the seven years, the Antichrist commands all sacrificial and temple worship to end, and then makes the temple desolate with the abomination of desolation.
The Treaty That Restarts the Prophetic Clock
Les reminds that the Antichrist's seven-year treaty with Israel kicks God's prophetic clock back in gear after the church age, setting the stage for the midpoint events.
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 for the midpoint: he confirms a covenant for one week and in the middle causes sacrifices to cease and makes the temple desolate.
Daniel 11:31: And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
This verse repeats the prediction that the sanctuary is polluted and the daily sacrifice is removed by the abomination.
Daniel 11:36: And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
This describes the Antichrist's arrogance in exalting himself above every god, as Les teaches.
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 points to Daniel's 'abomination of desolation' standing in the holy place.
2 Thessalonians 2:4: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
This New Testament verse describes the same man sitting in the temple showing himself to be God.
Yes. Les points out that for the sacrifice and oblation to cease, they must first be in operation. Israel will have rebuilt her temple and will be conducting temple worship by the midpoint.
Les says for the first three and a half years Israel will enjoy his protection and be so awed that they will begin to wonder if he is the real Messiah. He thinks this is why the Antichrist will probably be an apostate Jew.
Les says he will go down to Jerusalem, move into the temple complex, set up his headquarters, defile the temple, and force the Jew to worship him as God.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Antichrist — Daniel 8 & 11