Mathman - you quoted from primarily Matthew 24 to teach a post trip rapture, exactly as every single expositor who ever taught a post trib rapture does. Matthew 24 is NOT the rapture. It is speaking of the return of Christ in glory when he is about to set up his KINGDOM. The rapture is a return of Jesus as a THIEF in the night. A thief in the night does not ANNOUNCE that he is coming, nor put on a big display when he does! The rapture is PRE-TRIB or PRE TIME OF JACOB's TROUBLE.  The tribulation is better stated as the time of Jacob's Trouble.  The church is NOT Jacob. Jacob is NOT the Church. The church was not present for the 69 weeks of Daniel and won't be present for the 70th week of Daniel. My BLESSED HOPE is not looking forward to having to outrun the antichrist, having my head sliced off, or watching my children die of starvation when we don't take the mark of the beast.  My BLESSED HOPE is the return of Jesus as a thief in the night to harpazo the Church out, end the Church Age, and begin the Time of Jacob's Trouble - dealing again with the Jewish nation.
 
Rene