Two things. The bible says, in many places, a generation is 70 years. I know it is an aproximation, but I know Israel became a nation in 1948 and “this generation shall not pass” means approximately 2018.
Now, nobody knows the day, but we are told to recognize the season.
Second thing: I came to Christ through reading “The 1980’s. Countdown to Armageddon”. However, I’ve caught Hal in a bold faced lie in one of his books. Specifically, it was in his book http://www.biblio.com/prophetical-walk-through-by-lindsey-hal/work/134749
It is the caption of a photo in the “upper room”. The caption is even less believeable to someone who is a photographer (me) than Hillary’s email scam is to anyone who had worked with government email (me again).
Still, he was the vessel that brought me to the lord.
Also, regarding pre-trib, my Sunday school teacher at the time I was thinking about mid-trib was a very well versed Christian and had written a white paper on the pre-trib position. I was very excited because I WANTED to believe it was the correct interpretation (who wouldn’t?). The logical fallacies in his arguments actually pushed me MORE to the mid-trib position.
The mid trib position gets really messed up trying to rectify the last seven years due the nation of Israel from Daniel's prophesies. Another interesting consideration although not specifically in scripture is the ancient Jewish wedding custom. The bride and groom are sequestered in the bridal chamber for seven days before coming out for the wedding feast. That would coincide with the seven year time frame for the bride to be with Christ during that last seven years of God dealing with Israel.