He will confirm a covenant with many; the last one seven now begins.* In the middle of the “seven” he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
Dan. 9:27 (Appendix C in the Last Days book explains this translation.)

Many of us have heard that this verse teaches us the antichrist will make a peace treaty with Israel and that this is the way the temple will be allowed to be built in Jerusalem. As pointed out in the Last Days book, this verse does not say anything about a peace treaty. Still, some insist it must mean a peace treaty because they think that would be the only way a temple would come about.

Consider some other ways a temple might happen—

• The Jews themselves may work out a deal so that they can have some sort of worship in a temple. The Jews in Israel have been striving toward this goal for a long time.
• The Jews and Arabs might work out their own deal that is in some way mutually beneficial.
• A politically-aspiring Jew or Arab may work out an arrangement that allows Jews to worship.
• Or a political party in Israel could work out an agreement so that a temple would be built.
• Or some other way that is simply not evident to us now.

Keep in mind that the antichrist hates Israel and would also hate any worship by the Jews, which may be one reason that he is not the one who will be bringing this about.

Remember, there is no verse in the Bible that says the antichrist makes a peace treaty. There is no verse in the Bible anywhere that says he has anything to do with causing a new temple to be built. It’s good to know this so that we don’t miss important events that are happening.

To be clear, we are not saying “the covenant cannot be a peace treaty”—it might be. The point is, we shouldn’t be looking only for a peace treaty.