There are two primary reasons to conclude that the gap period takes more than a day, week or even a month. First, the fulfillment of the several gap prophecies takes time. Second, all aspects of the Daniel 9:27 covenant need to be in place. It is the confirmation of this covenant that concludes the Post-Rapture / Pre-Tribulation gap period.

If any or all of the prophecies identified in Apocalypse Road begin during the gap period, some time will elapse as they manifest sequentially. These are a few of these prophecies to be fulfilled in the Post Rapture / Pretribulation Gap.

1. The revealing of the Antichrist, (2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 6:1-2), though his true intent is yet hidden during ‘the gap period.’
2. The Gog of Magog War of Ezekiel 38 and 39,. (If this war hasn’t happened just prior to the Rapture, then it will likely occur within the gap period).
3. The ministries of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses, (Rev. 7:1-8) will be seen during the gap period.
4. The rise of the Harlot world religion, (Rev. 17) during the gap period.
5. The martyrdom of the Fifth Seal Saints, (Rev. 6:9-11) during the gap period.
6. The perpetration of the “overflowing scourge,” which causes Israel to become a signatory to the false covenant. (Isaiah 28:15, 18) during the gap period.

However, if perhaps none of the above events occur during the gap, then there is another solid reason to believe that the gap lasts longer than a day, week or even a month. This alternative reason is predicated upon, a MAJOR PREMISE below, which is supported by several minor premises.

MAJOR PREMISE: We know from the text that the seven-year Tribulation-period doesn’t start until the Antichrist appears to “confirm the covenant” of Daniel 9:27 between Israel and some other parties. The the Post-Rapture / Pre-Tribulation gap period will not conclude until the Tribulation period starts,

“²⁷  And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading [the pinnacle] of abominations he shall make it desolate [void of God], even [that is] until the consummation [the end of the 7-year tribulation period], and that determined [of God’s wrath] shall be poured upon the desolate [the stunned]. (Daniel 9:27 KJV; emphasis added)

Minor Premise #1: In order for the Daniel 9:27 covenant to be consummated, Israel, the Antichrist and the other parties to the covenant must all exist.

Minor Premise #2: More than exist, the Antichrist must have also risen to a position of prominent political power. This world leader must achieve sufficient political prowess and power to earn the respect of both Israel and the other covenanting parties – the Muslin countries local to Israel. Otherwise, they would not allow him to confirm the covenant between them.

For example, US Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton confirmed separate agreements between Israel and Egypt in 1979, (Carter), and Israel and Jordan in 1994, (Clinton). In these scenarios, Israel, Egypt and Jordan trusted these political leaders to mediate between them. Likewise, Israel and the other covenanting party will trust the Antichrist as the intermediator between them.

Minor Premise #3: The “overflowing scourge [overwhelming menace]” spoken of in Isaiah 28:15 must already be taking place within the world. According to Isaiah, Israel becomes a party to the covenant in order to avoid this “overflowing scourge,” the worldwide menace. The scourge can’t be a figment of Israel’s future fearful imagination, but this scourge must have already become a legitimate active threat to the national interests of the Jewish state.

The examples of Egypt and Jordan are cases in point. These two Arab nations had been in three major wars against Israel in 1948, 1967 and 1973. Both countries, along with Israel, all decided that it was in their collective national interests to make a peace-pact together. Likewise, Israel and “Death and Sheol’s” representation, in the form of Antichrist and the other parties on earth at the time of the covenant’s confirmation, will mutually agree to make a seven-year agreement together. The Lord through Isaiah says;

“Because you [Israel] have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, [Israel will say] It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.” (Isaiah 28:15)

These premises establish the fact that Israel feels the need to make a covenant with some party that can prevent an “overflowing scourge” from adversely affecting the Jewish state. This implies that the other party is either the perpetrator of the overflowing scourge, or that they have the capability to protect Israel somehow from being victimized by the scourge. Israel would not make such a pact with a party that was incapable of controlling this overflowing scourge.