It was fun.
I really enjoyed reading it. I agree with the setting the stage concepts. While I am a pre-trib rapturist myself, I still think that position is arrived at by default rather than directly.
The rapture is just one event that we try to put on the timeline. If it is at the beginning of the tribulation, then it becomes imminent when the tribulation becomes imminent. We are not there yet.
There are a number of things that I have been watching all my life. The events surrounding Israel are truly awesome, but the prophetic puzzle pieces are not coming together as fast as I would like them to. The last event that I think is a specific event in prophecy is the possession of Jerusalem by Israel. That will be 40 years ago, come June.
Not all teachers of prophecy have taught that the rapture is imminent and I still do not think that it is imminent. I will admit that it is a position that is increasingly difficult to defend.
Tin foil bump.
Many believe that events are foretold and that they will play out a certain way. Many people are doing what they can to make those events come about according to what they imagine is foretold. However, the plan is the first thing to fall after contact with the enemy. But, it is interesting from a science point of view to see if facts can be massaged into a pre-existing script. Whatever latitude is needed should be taken--the universe has plenty of that.