While the "secret rapture" group teaches that the anti-christ mysteriously appears after Jesus leaves the earth; my bible says in:  

II Thes 2  (v. 1) Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, (v. 2) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled....as though the day of Christ had come. (v. 3) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (v. 4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

So, this verse states clearly that the "anti-christ" will appear first, before the day of Christ's return, not after.

The "Left behind" series quotes (Dan 9:27) as the biblical proof of this event happening in the near future.

Dan 9  (v. 27) Then He will confirm a Covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

Who is the “He” in that verse?        Is it the anti-christ?       Who is the one that makes a Covenant with Israel?

Heb 8  (v. 10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel....says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

And also, who is the one that makes a Covenant with us?

Gen 9  (v. 11) Thus I establish My covenant with you.... (v. 12) And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations....” (v. 15) and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh.... 

Nowhere in the bible is the anti-christ ever said to confirm a Covenant with anyone.  The word “Covenant” always applies to the Messiah, never to the anti-christ.

Matt 26  (v. 27) Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: "Drink from it, all of you."

(v. 28) For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Jesus used the same words from (Dan 9:27), because He knew that He was fulfilling that prophecy!!

So, if the verse (Dan 9:27) does not apply to the "anti-christ" then who does it apply to?

Let’s take a look at that prophecy that He was fulfilling!!

Dan 9  (v. 24) “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

So, this verse says that: 70 weeks are determined for your people to finish the transgression, to make reconciliation for iniquity.

The (NKJV) has a footnote for the word “weeks”; it says literally “sevens”.  Such that, ( weeks  =  7’s. )

The (NIV) reads verse 24 as:  “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people….”  So that, ( 70  x  7  =  490. )

A literal week equals seven literal days, but in bible prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year!!

Num 14  (v. 33) And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. (v. 34) According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.

So, this verse explains: for each day you shall bear one year and ( 40 days  =  40 years )

Luke 13  (v. 31) On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” (v. 32) And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” (v. 33) Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

So, this verse also explains it this way: today, tomorrow, and the third day ( 3 days  =  3 years )

Did Jesus finish His ministry in 3 days after that?     No!   He was prophesying that His ministry would last for 3 more years, before He would die.  There were still 11 chapters left in the book of Luke.  So, 1 day = 1 year and 70 x 7 = 490 years.

Ok, now that we know the time prophecy will last for 490 years, we need to find the starting point.  See the next webpage for all the details.