Prophetic timing of events:

Rev. 8:10, "...and a great star, blazing like a torch fell from the sky..." These verses depict a comet striking the earth.

Rev. 9:1, "... I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to earth. The star was given the key to open the shaft of the Abyss." These verses predict that this impact will penetrate the earth's crust, sending up smoke and ash.

Rev 17:8, "The beast, which you saw...will come out of the Abyss and go to his destruction" The beast will not rise to power before the comet strike, but he will begin to rule just after.

Rev 13:5, "The beast was given...to exercise his authority for forty-two months." The beast will rule for 3 1/2 years starting from the comet strike.

"...whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of His COMING," 2 Thessalonians 2:8. The Appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ will be the end of the beast.

Thus, a small comet will strike the earth at which time the beast will begin his reign. He will exercise his authority for 3 1/2 years after which he will be destroyed by the Appearing of the One True God.

About the timing of Rapture:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3..

"Concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to becomes easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord (in which we are gathered, or raptured) has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness (the beast of Rev. 13) is revealed, the man doomed to destruction....whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming."

And how are we to define "revealed" in this context about the man of lawlessness (the beast)? 2_Thessalonians_2:4 clearly states what Paul meant by "revealed": "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God."

So the rapture will not take place until the beast is revealed for who he is. And the beast will not be revealed before the comet strike. For he comes out of the Abyss which the star blazing like a torch and falling to earth had the key to open. Rev.9:1, 17:8.

So those who say that no other Scriptures need to be fulfilled before the rapture are clearly contradicting this most explicit passage of Scripture.

And if we are to recognize the beast (man of lawlessness) by the fact that he is destroyed by the splendor of His coming, and if the beast must exercise his authority for 42 months (Rev. 13:5), then we know that the rapture is at least 42 months after the comet strike and the reign of the beast.

And why should we think that the Rapture will take place at the judgment of all nations? Judgment is judgment. If you decide who is worthy of being raptured and raised from the dead, then you automatically decide who is not worthy of eternal life. And whoever is not worthy of life is worthy of death.

Links to pages on my Website that might indicate timing:

http://www.sirus.com/users/mjake/page73.html

http://www.sirus.com/users/mjake/page103.html