I am sorry that this may be a bit long but if I may I would like to contribute to this discussion with the following:
Dan 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
The end times are here already. We have been in the end times since the days of Jesus. He, being the first fruits of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:20), shows that the resurrection has already started we are just waiting for our role in it. The two thousand years since the first coming of Christ is nearly over. The final seven year period spoken of in Daniel 9:24-27 is about to happen. It is very, very significant that Israel, in 1948, became a nation again, a nation established in one day. God is bringing them into their own land for judgement (the Day of the Lord).
It starts with Thlipsis (Greek) (tribulation Matt 24:4-8) and continues to the Mega Thlipsis (Greek) (great tribulation starts (Matt 24:9-21 Emphasis verse15 & 21 it is good to read these synoptically with the other gospels)), and when the abomination of desolation is set up in the temple the man of lawlessness (Antichrist) will persecute the Jews and all born again Christians. This is Satans last ditch attempt to prevent the second coming of Christ. When all the nations are gathered together against him (Israel) and have surrounded the city of Jerusalem they will not have any other hope but to call on their Messiah. Doing so then brings about His return to take His rightful place on the throne in Jerusalem. Consider David and Goliath. This is a picture of what will transpire when Jesus Christ returns. Israel is confronted with the Philistines and their leader Goliath. Goliath is a picture of the Antichrist and the Philistines a picture of the nations gathered together under one head to attack and destroy Israel. The leadership in Israel at that time is the same as their leadership today. A leadership without Gods anointing. Saul was without God (God had rejected him as king because of his blatant disobedience) and without an effective army. The leadership in Israel today is not anointed and is without God and by the time the nations gather against her their army and other defence mechanisms will be ineffective against a vast army surrounding Jerusalem. Then David, a type of Christ at His second coming, takes on and overcomes Goliath (a picture of the Antichrist) and the Philistines flee in fear. So then, when Jesus Christ returns He will take on Antichrist and God will supernaturally destroy the nations coming against Israel. These are the judgements of God seen in the book of Revelation starting at chapter 8. The book of Revelation is not a chronological book so one cannot start at chapter one and see the events happening one after the other chronologically. The first chapter is an introduction. Chapters 2-3 are letters to the seven churches in Asia minor but are also the condition of the church at different stages throughout church history. Chapters 4-5 show the throne room with the 24 elders which are the 12 patriarchs of Israel and the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. The first 6 seals are things happening here on earth regarding the tribulation and the great tribulation. They match Dan 7:25; Matt 24:4-8; Mk 13:8 and Matt 24:9-28 respectively. Between the 6th and the 7th seal we see the resurrection and the rapture happening. Israel’s repentance and receiving their Messiah happens after this (See the verses below the text).
Also consider Israel, especially Jerusalem – the city of our God - is the centre of attention now for all nations. Even the UN has more resolutions in the Security Council against Israel than any other nation. The so -called human rights abuses by other nations, including China, are not even dealt with to such an extent in UNHRC. Israel is always seen as the instigator of hostilities and is considered an occupying people in their own land. Also consider that currently with all the technology and with globalisation ever increasing we have all nations becoming one in preparation for the Antichrist a man possessed by Satan. Just in passing - What is happening in the US today is part and parcel of globalisation efforts. Once those Socialists masquerading as democrats get into power again they will start to restrict the Gospel from going out and there will be heavy persecution of the saints there. It is imperative that all believers in the western world get prepared for it and not be caught short. It is already happening on social media to a degree where alternative sites for posting video sermons and teachings are being sought. As long as the US is still sending out the Gospel and sending missionaries all over the world and they are assisting and are allies with Israel Gods blessing will remain. Satan is definitely attempting to bring the US to its knees. God has allowed one last time for the US to show where it wants to go so use your choice wisely. (Note: I am not residing in the US and I am not a citizen but one looking in and seeing what is happening).
In support of the above relating to Israel consider the following verses: Zec 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Zec 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. Zec 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Zec 12:4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. Zec 12:5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. Zec 12:7 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. Zec 12:8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zec 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. Zec 12:12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; Zec 12:13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; Zec 12:14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. NOTE! Between verse 2 and 3 there has been a change . Israel at this point has repented as a nation and has received their Messiah. First God brings the nations against Jerusalem then He comes against those same nations. They then fulfil the prophecy given in Zechariah 12 10-14.
This is a spiritual war between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). The seed of the woman is Jesus Christ who is the Messiah that comes out of Israel. The seed of the serpent is a man possessed by Satan and we know him as being the Antichrist. In the end Jesus Christ overcomes Antichrist and those in Him (Christ) will reign with Him here on earth for a thousand years. At the end of the thousand years there will be Gog and Magog coming against Jerusalem again when Satan is let loose out of the Abyss then God supernaturally destroys them. The second resurrection takes place and those who did not obey the gospel are cast into the lake of fire for eternal judgement. Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth, God and the Lamb (Jesus) will be the light as there will be not need for the sun or the moon anymore. We will eat again from the tree of life situated in the garden.
I end off with the following regarding the day of the Lord when God pours out His vengeance on the nations:
To read more about the Day of the Lord look at the Book of Zephaniah and Is 2:12; Is 13:6 & 9; Jer 46:10; Lam 2:22; Ezek 13:5; Ezek 30:3; Zep_1:7; Jer_30:7; Eze_30:3; Joel 1:15; Joe_2:1, Joe_2:11, Joe_2:31; Joe 3:14; Amos 5:20; Oba 1:15; Zec 14:1; Mal_4:5; Act_2:20; 1 Cor 5:5; 2 Cor 1:14; Rev_6:17.
1Th_5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
2Pe_3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Joe_2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Isa_34:8 For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
Amo_5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
I hope you are all blessed in the Lord Jesus, keep your eyes firmly fixed on Him as trying times are coming for all of us who hold unto the end the name of Jesus Christ. Amen