According to the peace treaty at the beginning of the 70th Week, won't Israel still be at peace when the Antichrist walks into the temple after 3½ years?

Ted’s Response:

First of all, you would have to show me, in Scripture, where it indicates that Israel will be at peace when the Antichrist walks into the Third Temple after 3½ years. I know that people (especially those who believe in a "Pre-tribulation" Rapture) SAY that this will be the case, and I have heard them say it for decades. When people hear something long enough, they tend to believe it.

Basically, the ones saying it now have heard it from someone else, who heard it from someone else, who heard it from someone else, ad infinitum. It fits into their "Pre-trib" Rapture fantasy very well. They are under the assumption that the 70th Week will begin with a so-called "peace treaty" involving Israel for 7 years. Then the Antichrist will interrupt this "peace treaty" after 3½ years by walking into the temple in Jerusalem and proclaiming himself to be "God." However, "peace treaty" is a term made up by someone, way back when, which has no basis in Scripture. (See How can the European Neighbourhood Policy be the Daniel 9:27 covenant, if the latter is a "peace treaty"?)

Although the ENP does indeed specify that "lasting peace in the Middle East is a central aim of the EU" (see the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument: Israel document), the ENP is not a "peace treaty" guaranteeing peace for any length of time. I have invited people to show me, anywhere in the Bible, that the seven-year agreement, involving Israel, will be one primarily of "peace." The most common verses that have been sent to me are Isaiah 48:22, 57:21; Jeremiah 8:11; and Ezekiel 13:10. If you look at the overall context of these passages, there is no indication, whatsoever, that any of them apply to the 70th Week of Daniel.

Jeremiah 6:1-30 does seem to be indicative of what will happen in Jerusalem during the 70th Week, but only during the second half. Those in Jerusalem are told to flee in 6:1, which will be at the midpoint, as Jesus warned (Matthew 24:15,16) and John recorded (Revelation 12:6). If the "'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace" of Jeremiah 6:14 applies to the middle of the 70th Week, then it shows that even if the people are looking for someone (such as the Antichrist) to bring them peace at that point, there will be none.

The ENP is not a "peace treaty" but still very well may qualify as the agreement prophesied in Daniel 9:27. (I have seen absolutely nothing yet negating or contradicting the idea that it does.) The ENP specifically is for 7 years, it involves Israel, and it confirms and strengthens a prior agreement: the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EuroMed). All of the elements are there, according to the prophecy. Yet "pre-tribbers" cannot accept it as being the prophesied agreement, because it does not fit their definition of an alleged "peace treaty," besides the fact that their imaginary "pre-tribulation" Rapture has not yet taken place.

What people say about prophetic issues is irrelevant to me unless they can show it to me in the Bible. After having read through the Bible several times in the past 18 years (most recently in 2008), I have yet to see any indication of peace at the midpoint of the 70th Week written anywhere.

As far as the present situation in Israel, with the Israeli troops having now walked into Gaza [at the beginning of 2009], I do not believe that any type of "peaceful resolve" will result from this, nor would I expect it to—especially if we have entered the 70th Week. I do not believe it is possible for any group of people who embraces Islam to stop harassing and hassling Israel, whether they have agreed to a "peace" plan or not. I suspect that things will go downhill for Israel from now until Jesus returns to earth, to save them from the Gog/Magog invasion (see Final Battles).

The Temple Institute wants for the Third Temple to stand where the Islamic Dome of the Rock now stands. I do not know how this can happen, although I can think of a few possibilities, such as that an earthquake or a missle will destroy the Dome of the Rock. But these are speculative. Some even have speculated that the Dome of the Rock would actually become a "House of Prayer" for Jews, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque (also on the Temple Mount) would be used by Muslims. In any case, I do not think that it necessarily will require any type of "peace treaty," or other mutually inclusive "peace" settlement, for a temple to be built.