Will we know the AC at Confirmation of the Covenant?

Hello, sog, 

I understand the basic premise of the thread, and I have a few theories.  But first, I think there are a few other premises going on in the thread that in my humble opinion, makes things unclear.    
First, my intent is not to prove anyone wrong, but rather start with clear terms and assumptions.  The first one is in the first verse, 2 Thes 2:1 above, and I've color coded that section.  Could it be that he's actually talking about two totally different and distinctly separate events? I think it's clear that he is.  Would it make sense for someone to say, "Tom, I'd like you to come to our cabin and stay over for sunday dinner and lunch just after church."   It would be clearly odd and redundantly redundant to simply use two similar phrases for the same thing, one after the other.   There is already different understandings of what people mean when they say supper or dinner, but everyone is clear about breakfast.   

Now see how this is completely different.  "Tom, we would like your family to come to the cabin for the weekend and join us for Sunday breakfast AND supper. "  There's no question that breakfast is different from dinner or supper, so we know it's two meals.  Still some abiguity re whether Tom is expected to join them for the Sunday afternoon meal or Sunday evening meal. 
So first, let's presume, - for the sake of clarity and fun, that Paul is being rundundantly repetitive, and using synonyms for effect.  One event.  (Our Gathering together and the Coming of our Lord are one and the same)   ;-) 

From this starting assumption, it's explicitly clear in the text that Paul says that the rapture will NOT  happen prior to/ or until 2 things happen first. 

    1. the the Great Falling Away happens, and 
    2. The Man of Lawnessness / Son of Perdition is revealed.     ***This scenario is going from the premise that the Day of the Lord is the Rapture.  [There are at least 3 other threads that specifically address this topic.  When we look at the passages where Paul and other writers use this - It's always connected with judgement, and terrible descriptions,  never used to describe a wedding or joyous event.    This phrase is used by Paul, Joel, and others. In stark contrast-  "Day of Christ" is only used by Paul, and is never accompanied by sun turning black or moon to  blood, or God's wrath.  It's linked with good things. ]      
But this would mean that the AC must be revealed, and the Great Falling Away happen before the rapture.  -- so we are all gone, - and the revealing of the AC would have no effect on us.  

The other premise is that Paul is writing to provide clarity about two separate events and so he lists the two events with "and" Not a hyphen.  The Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, AND our Gathering together unto him.   In this scenario - we assume that Paul is talking about two events - Breakfast with grits and Supper with mashed potatoes. So The Day of the Lord - [Judgement, wrath, terror, sun turned black and moon turned to blood] - Second Coming, won't happen until these things happen first.   

This still doesn't address the other issue of Pre-trib rapture or Mid-Trib, but just that the AC is revealed before Christ returns with his bride. 
I think in either case, the AC is someone who is on the world stage now, and is known world-wide.  I think at the Abomination of Desolation,  his act that defiles the temple - makes everyone see that his real identity.    
Just for the sake of kicks, let's just use Benjamin Netanyahu - He's one of the most world famous Jewish guys on the planet.  So his name is known now - we know him as a powerful world leader.  The AOD reveals his role and identity as the AC - and i think that's when the eyes of the Jewish people will be opened.   

Remember we will have 144,000 Jewish witnesses.  Something gets their attention fast and in a big way.   Hmmm.   I think the thing that does this is the rapture on a Jewish feast.   Then, we have their influence and witness.  But all the jews's eyes will be opened with the Abomination of Desolation, and they realize that the one they thought was the Messiah, is the AC.  



One point that venge and mike and others have made is that if we see a massive trigger event and a global leader quickly come into power and the start of the 3rd temple, it means that millions of pre-tribbers have to revise our statement. That's why it important to consider other views. The AoD doesn't just happen overnight in the Supreme Court or Oval Office by some rookie mayor DC.