Why Is Prophecy Centered on Israel and Not the Church?

Direct Answer

Yes—all true prophecy is centered on the nation of Israel, and the church is never the subject of prophecy.

Les Feldick teaches that true prophecy not only foretells future events but gives them a time frame, as when God told Daniel that 490 years were determined upon Israel. The church age has no comparable prophetic utterance or timetable; it is a parenthetical Gentile period revealed through the Apostle Paul. The Body of Christ must be removed so the things connected with Israel's prophecy can take place.

Key Scriptures

Daniel 9:24 — This verse is Les's clearest example of true prophecy—490 years are determined upon Israel and filled with details.

Joel 2:28 — Les quotes this Old Testament prophecy to show that such promises are directed to Israel, not the church.

What Does the Bible Say?

In Daniel 9:24 the angel tells Daniel, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." This time frame belongs to Daniel's people, Israel, and to the holy city. In the Daniel 2 account, King Nebuchadnezzar asks Daniel, "Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen and the interpretation thereof?" God then reveals the secret to Daniel in a night vision, showing that the prophetic details of Gentile world empires are given through an Israelite prophet. Joel 2:28 also speaks of a future outpouring: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." This is Old Testament prophetic language directed to the nation of Israel.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Prophecy, Israel, and the Church?

Les Feldick consistently teaches that all true prophecy centers on the nation of Israel. He defines true prophecy as God not only foretelling a future event but also placing it within an exact time frame—his example is Daniel 9, where God tells Israel that 490 years are determined upon the nation and gives the details that will fill that period. Les contrasts this with the church age, saying there is no prophecy to the church and no timetable for it. The church age is a parenthetical period of time slipped into the prophetic program, and it is Gentile in nature. He also stresses that the church is a strictly Pauline revelation—you cannot find the church in the Old Testament, which is why no Old Testament prophecy describes it. Les is careful to say that current world events such as earthquakes, world government, world economy, and world religion are not themselves the wheels of prophecy turning. They are only getting the world ready for the time when prophecy resumes. In order for those prophetic events to take place, the Body of Christ must first be removed.

What Is True Prophecy According to Les Feldick?

Les says many people think anything that speaks of the future is prophecy, but true Old Testament Bible prophecy is more specific. God foretells what is coming and puts it in a time frame. His example is Daniel 9: 490 years are determined upon the nation of Israel, and God gives all the details of what will fill those years. That combination of future events and an exact period of time is what Les calls true prophecy, and it is always associated only with Israel.

Why Is There No Prophecy for the Church?

Les repeats in several lessons that there is no prophecy for the church. The church age has nothing that compares with Israel's prophetic timetable. It is a parenthetical period, Gentile in nature, slipped in between God's prophetic program. The church is strictly a Pauline revelation—the Old Testament has nothing about a church age made up of Gentile believers. Because the church was unrevealed in the Old Testament, no Old Testament prophecy gives any indication of it.

Are Today's World Events Prophetic?

Les says we can see the world getting ready for prophecy even now, but that is not the same as prophecy actually being fulfilled. He mentions increases in earthquakes and the whole world preparing for world government, world economy, and a world religion. These are not yet the wheels of prophecy turning—they are simply getting the world ready for when prophecy does begin.

What Must Happen Before Israel's Prophecy Can Continue?

Because prophecy deals with Israel and never with the church, the church age must end before Israel's prophetic program can continue. Les says the Body of Christ has to be removed, and he describes this as coming out of the church age. He also stresses that what counts is whether we are a member of the Body of Christ through His salvation, not a particular denomination.

From the Teaching

God Reveals Daniel's Dream

Les recounts how God sovereignly revealed Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream to Daniel, showing that prophetic revelation comes from God through Israel.

Prophecy Centers on Israel, Not the Church

Les states plainly that all true prophecy centers on Israel and usually includes a time frame, then contrasts the church age, for which there is no prophecy.

Bible Prophecy Is Built on Israel's History

Les repeats that all prophecy centers on Israel and urges students to learn history, because prophecy is historically based on the nation of Israel.

Prophecy Defined by a Time Frame

Les defines true Bible prophecy as God foretelling future events and placing them in an exact time frame, and says this is always associated only with Israel.

The Church Is a Parenthetical, Pauline Revelation

Les explains that no prophecy connects with the church; the church age is a Gentile parenthetical period and the Body of Christ must be removed.

World Events Prepare, Not Prophesy

Les says all prophecy is directed to Israel, and today's world events are only preparing the world for prophecy—not the actual turning of prophecy.

No Old Testament Word About the Church

Les emphasizes that not a word in the Old Testament indicates the church age of Gentile believers.

Prophecy Concerns Israel, Never the Church

Les reinforces that everything connected with prophecy is primarily concerned with Israel and nothing in prophecy concerns the church.

Bible Verses

Daniel 9:24: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

This is Les's primary example of true prophecy—490 years are determined for Israel and filled with details.

Daniel 2:26: The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen and the interpretation thereof?

This shows God using an Israelite prophet to interpret the future of Gentile world empires.

Joel 2:28: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Les quotes this as an Old Testament prophecy that is directed to Israel, not the church.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any prophecy about the church?

Les Feldick says no. No prophecy associates itself with the church; all true prophecy is directed to and connected with the nation of Israel. The church is a parenthetical, Pauline revelation that is not found in Old Testament prophecy.

Are today's world events signs that prophecy is being fulfilled?

Les says not yet. World events such as earthquakes, world government, world economy, and world religion show the world is being prepared for prophecy, but they are not the wheels of prophecy turning.

What is the best example of true prophecy?

For Les Feldick, Daniel 9 is the clearest example. God tells Daniel that 490 years are determined upon Israel and then gives the details of what will happen during that time. True prophecy includes a time frame and is centered on Israel.

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