Well so much for the "Blessed Hope". OP, I think that was the longest opening post I've ever read on this site.

I think the Rapture happens right before the 7 Bowl judgments about 1/2 way through the trib. When the 2 witnesses are resurrected and called up to meet the Lord in the air when he says "Come Up Here". That is when I think it will happen because the Bowl Judgements are God's wrath specifically intended for all the unbelievers. That period of time is when Satan fights Michael and gets thrown down to earth and possesses the Antichirst and wages Jihad on the Jews and Christians.

There will be a lot of converts to Christianity when the rapture happens and they finally set the big picture.Those post-rapture Christians are the ones that will have to accept the Mark or get beheaded in the last 1/2 of the trib.period when the "Great Tribualtion" kicks in.

You can have your view, I'm not trying to convince you otherwise. Over the past 30 years, studying Rev. and Daniel, I came up with what I think is correct and have believed in both pre and Post trib at one time or another as I was still learning things. I think it wise for all Chistians to be ready to meet the Lord at anytime but also to be prepared to go through some or all the trib. events in case he tarries.