Miriam:
 
May you share more on how you came to the idea that the latter half of the tribulation would be focused back upon the gentiles.  I am not countering you in this, just the opposite.  I just have never thought of that possibility.
 
It would validate the dual meaning to Christ being described as having been crucified in the "midst of the week", both as during the calender week back then and also during the 70th week of Daniel.  This theory would still also allow for the tribulation to be made up of two 1260 day periods (plus).  It also rings true in that it gives a reason why the remaining remnant of Israel will be hidden/sheltered in the wilderness from the wrath of the serpent/dragon during that second tribulation time period.  70 full weeks is still for Israel and you also have God's wrath poured out upon the world, and the beast and his prophet, yet afterwards.
 
I appreciate folks looking at each feast anticipating Jesus' return, and struggling with calender issues.  I smiled at Arlene's candor, and identified with her, especially when she joked about looking at each feast as a possibility.
 
I might be a bit of a wet blanket when I suggest this in light of current watchfulness, but I lean towards the spring.  I find the resurrection of a small group of saints at the time of Christ's resurrection (and how they appeared to many) as being interesting/insightful and pointing to the possiblity of when the dead in Christ, of the bride group, would rise first.  I think they will also walk around for awhile and appear to many as well.  The scripture is not clear as to whether that group of saints ascended with Jesus at the Feast of Firstfruits or appeared to many for 40 days and then ascended with Jesus at His ascension (though they were not at the same spot as He was).  Possibly the upcoming 'dead in Christ that rise first' and 'those that remain' will all ascend on the day of Christ's original ascension.  These are only my opinions.
 
The above ascension timing would leave ten days until Pentecost, corresponding to the same waiting period of the first disciples.  Those not part of the bride group would have ten days of mourning that they were left behind and they would know their need to have a greater revelation of God, looking to Him with prayer and fasting, and in unity like the original 120.
 
Pentecost itself strikes me as a great transition day when God calls a group of people out of a larger group and sets them apart to Himself by providing a revelation of who He is in His comsuming fire.
 
For example, first, the tribe of Israel was seperated out of Egypt and became a nation unto God at Pentecost as the fire of God covered the mountain.
 
Secondly, the church was seperated out of greater Israel and became a people unto God at Pentecost when the fire of God came upon each individual, consuming the 'old man' and making each a new creation in Christ wherein they died out of the Adam race (having been crucified together with Christ) and were raised to newness of life having ascended and also having been seated with Christ in heavenly places, but only in their spirit.  They still must wait for the redemption of their bodies.
 
Perhaps those remaining after the upcoming ascension of the bride will also have a revelation of God's holiness at the next Pentecost transition.  God's fire will then consume the idols within each individual's heart, as preparatory for their going into the tribulation time.  These heart idols are judged at this time and in this manner because each failed to judge the same within themselves prior.  In contrast, each of the bride group "judged themselves" during their earthlifetimes, and so they were deemed by God as not needing to remain behind for judgement.  I Cor 11:31 and 32 says:  "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."  In other words if you do not judge yourself now with God's revelation, the purifying will take place during part of the world's judgment.
 
Frankly, when next Abib is determined, and the timing of the first month's Feasts are established, I am going to the local cementary and see if I might meet some of my brothers and sisters as they rise first at what I will estimate to be about the same time of Jesus' resurrection (comparing Israel time with Pacific time).
 
I will invite these strangers into my home (can you think of a verse that encourages that?) and allow the possible 40 day period for self examination (judgement) to be a time of fasting and purifying for me as a bride waiting for the groom's soon call to come up hither.  I think the "dead in Christ who rise first" will have a lot of good things to say and reveal about our Lord.  I can envision some believers being drawn to them, and possibly other believers writing them off as being weirdos like the folks they know who frequent websites like Five Doves.
 
I find it interesting that there are three times the men of Israel were to "go up" to Jesusalem (raptures), and how each of these times correspond to particular harvests (barley, wheat, grapes) and their firstfruits' celebrations.  I found MJ Agee's comments revealing as to the differences in how the grains of barley and wheat are each seperated out (wheat requires threshing with an implement whereas barley lets go easier and does not require the threshing).
 
I would like to think that when it is all over and we are reflecting back on this time we are currently in, that we will marvel how the clues of Jesus' timing for His coming for His Bride was so simply and almost obvious.  I would like to think it may be as simple as our rising when He originally did, or at the Feast of Firstfruits, and that we also will have our "dead in Christ who rised first" brothers and sisters to Biblically slap us upside the head so that we would clearly know when.  (To try to figure out timing by relying upon a study of the complexity of calenders is just too confusing for my scrambled brain.)
 
I put the above on the table for consideration.
 
Your "still-watching-because-he-is-borderline-psychotic" brother,
 
Douglas Henney.