Patti,I think you make some valid points. If we are indeed not yet in the final 70th week of Daniel, it may be that what is keeping the rapture from happening and the 70th week of Daniel starting is that maybe it is not a set date that God is going by but rather a number that must be reached of "fullness of gentiles" who must come to Jesus before He can turn back to Israel and commence the 70th week of Daniel. (Someone recently said this on 5 Doves I believe and it makes a lot of sense.) So this may be why the bridegroom tarries and why it seems like we are still here past the time we all thought we should have left by now.The lateness of the time has caused many so suggest that we are now into the 70th week of Daniel and may be looking for the mid point to be raptured. But if we are in the first half already where are the two witnesses and all the other things that should be happening? Patti makes some good arguments that they cannot be here for the second half but must be for the first half so it looks like we have not yet entered any of the final week or 7 year period of Daniel yet. And yet it must be close because of developments in the holy land that could bring about the temple and a literal fulfillment of those passages in Daniel and the gospels about the abomination of desolation.