It is a well-known (but incorrect) view that when the Antichrist comes to power, he will make a seven year peace treaty with Israel, but will break the treaty at midpoint. This false teaching is based on Daniel 9:27 which 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.” (See also- Matthew 24:9-22; Luke 21:20-24; Mark 13:14-20; Daniel 12:11)
Three are a few problems with this view.
The words generally translated “confirm a covenant” or “make a firm covenant”, are literally translated “strengthen the covenant”. Therefore, the Antichrist is apparently not the one who makes the covenant, but simply enforces an already existing one.
The word translated “many” literally means multitude or masses. In scripture, the word is used to signify a great number. There is simply nothing to imply that it refers only to Israel.
In the middle of the Antichrist’s 7 year enforcement of the covenant, he puts an end to the Jewish sacrifice and offerings (see also- Daniel 8:11-14). Notice two things: nowhere does it say that the sacrifice and offerings began with the covenant; and nowhere does it say the covenant ended when the Antichrist stopped the sacrifice and offerings. There is simply nothing in scripture that unquestionably links the renewed Jewish sacrifice to the Antichrist’s 7 year enforcement of the covenant.
But, now I will concede, slightly. The covenant, which the Antichrist enforces, COULD involve a peace treaty between Israel and her many enemies. The stopping of the Jewish sacrifice and offerings COULD be caused by the breaking of a peace treaty. Yet, while these things COULD happen, they are not actually taught in scripture. A 7-year peace treaty with Israel is simply not a definite end-times signpost for which we should be watching.
The definite end-times signpost which scripture does teach about, is the abomination of desolation set up in the holy place after the Antichrist stops the sacrifice and offerings (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Daniel 11:31). This is the event for which Jesus warned us to watch (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14).
(See also- The Myth of the Revived Roman Empire)
the coming tribulation 