http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/june2006/kristyb610.htm

I was always taught that the tribulation doesn't start until the antichrist signs the covenant with Israel, and the many for one week ( 7 years)
 
Your understanding is correct. The first 69 weeks of years of Daniel's 70 weeks was fulfilled precisely on the day of the Triumphant Entry (Palm Sunday) into Jerusalem.  For the first time in Christ's 3 year ministry, He allowed people to worship Him as the Messiah.  When Christ was crucified, the clock stopped.  There has been a pregnant pause for roughly 2000 years while the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.  But in the fullness of time, on a day and an hour that only God the Father knows, the restrainer of evil will be removed from this earth, and THEN the anti-christ will be revealed (2Thes2).  The removal of the restrainer of evil (the Holy Spirit) marks the end of the time of the Gentiles and the resumption of the last week of Daniel or the last 7 years, the time known as Jacob's trouble.  The anti-christ can not come on the world scene in full power until the one restraining him has been "removed".  This is why the Christians will never know for sure who the anti-christ will be.  The anti-christ will reveal himself be affirming the 7 year covenant with Israel, no doubt for "peace".  Also, he will allow the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.  The Temple will be rebuilt and the animal sacrifices will be resume, no one knows for sure how long.  All we do know is that 3 and 1/2 years into this treaty the sacrifices will be stopped by the anti-christ.  He will set himself up to be worshipped as "God" in the Holy of the Holies within the new Temple.  This "Abomination of Desolation" (Matt24), marks the beginning the LAST 1260 days when the Full WRATH of God is poured out upon the inhabitants of earth.
 
For an excellent in depth bible study on this subject, I recommend Chuck Missler's
The 70th Week of Daniel:

Koinonia House - The Ministry of Chuck and Nancy Missler

Maranatha!
Deborah
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