ok, you say there will be 7 years of tribulation. this refers to daniels dream and the interpretation from the angel. 70 weeks would be given to the jews for a second chance from God, to change their ways and follow him as his special people. if you beleive in the rapture, you beleive that the first 69 weeks were given before the time of christ, but for some reason(not told in the bible at all) the sevent week is split off and will happen at the end of time, before the judgement. days=years so 483 years were given to the jews starting at the rebuilding of the temple in 457 BC(proven in archaeology to be the correct time told in Ezra) to the last week(70th week) the annointed one would be cut off. Messiah means annointed one, the christ means annointed one in their original languages. so, Jesus would be cut off after the 69'th week. "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven'." this means Jesus will confirm his covenant with the gentiles(not just the jews, their time is up. this is the end of the 490 years(70 weeks)). this is referring to when Jesus was cut off(the cross) and at the same time confirmed the covenant of the people to keep his law. We call this the New Covenant. this covenant was for all people to keep God's law by Jesus strength, and when they fail, receive his grace. "In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering." Jesus was crucified, making the lamb offerings useless. their symbolism had taken place for real. "the middle of the 'seven'" half of 7 is 3 1/2. so from 457(in the fall if you want to be specific), 69 'weeks'(483 days=years) 483-457, accounting for the BC to AD change is 27 AD(fall). this is the year that Jesus was annointed with baptism and started his ministry. this ministry lasted 3 1/2 years, until his death in the spring of 31 AD then in the fall of 34 AD stephen was stoned, a representation of when the jews rejected Jesus and all of his teachings. afterall, how could they admit to killing the son of GOD. they had to deny it.
The dates above can all be proven in archaeology and in study. Those who beleive in the secret rapture beleive that God will secretly take up all of the worthy christians who deserve the kingdom. everyone will wonder where they went, and the jews will know, rebuild the temple and try to win Gods favor again in the last 7 years, which, somehow, are cut off from the other consecutive 69. This beleif is proven wrong by The Word itself. "Every eye shall see Him, every ear shall hear him." and also, if there is a secret rapture, wouldnt everyone KNOW that God would come back exactly 7 years later? "No man shall know the day nor the hour that thou Lord cometh."
The rapture was a beleif thought up by the catholic church after they were blamed for being the anti-christ. do not be fooled.
God bless. ask for his wisdom and judgement.
