The Antichrist's Covenant
The concept of the Antichrist making a covenant comes from Daniel's prophecy, and it comes at the beginning of the 70th week:
And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put
a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete
destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. (Dan 9:27)
Set within the context of the angel Gabriel's decree of 70 weeks (Dan 9:20-26), of which
7 weeks and 62 weeks are described, Daniel is being told of the 70th week.
1. The Antichrist will make some sort of agreement / covenant that was to last for 7 years.
2. The conjugation "but" (Dan 9:27) suggests that the agreement is broken
after 3-1/2 years.
3. The implication is that the covenant involved the allowance of worship practices within the Temple, which the
Antichrist violates after 3-1/2 years and descrates the Temple.
John's account in Revelation appears to support Daniel's prophecy of a covenant:
Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple
of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it
has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months."
(Rev 11:1-2)
1. It appears that the outer court is given to the Gentiles for 3-1/2 years; but, the Temple itself is
not.
2. When the Second Temple (Herodian) existed, Gentiles had access to the outer court; however, John's use of
"tread under foot" is with a view towards disrespect / desecrate.
Jesus also makes a reference of this time to His disciples:
They questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign
when these things are about to take place?" And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying,
'I am He,' and, 'The time is near ' Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these
things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately." Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise
against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and
there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute
you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will lead to an
opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance
and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and
relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of
your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize
that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must
leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are
written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great
distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the
nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will
be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory." (Luke 21:7-27)
1. It is significant to note that all of these events occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.