It partly depends on whether one believes in pre-tribulation/-millenial rapture or not, -if the anti-christ has to appear 1st.It is true that the bible says no one knows the day or hour. (Query is this literal day/hour or ?) But we can roughly know the signs of the times/"season".Personally I think we should live in preparedness (like the women & lamp oil parable) that it could be any time, both very soon and very far.My own way of determining the times is to say "is there only 7 yrs left or not?"Also, if any mysteries/discoveries (historical) are still yet to be made.I felt a shock when Clinton gave speach saying human genome had been (roughly) mapped.I personally (still) tend to think that it could still possibly be farther off then most other charismatics/pentecostals believe (they say betw about 2008 to 2029). I can see it could be either near or far.Things have sped up a bit from what I expected a couple of years ago (exponential).It is not wholly true to say Israel is back as a nation because most still live in USA etc.Chuck Misler says bible says those signs are only pre-signs.Another rough estimation is the world ages (and also/alt 7 (x 7) churches) of bible and mythology prophecy (& compare nostradamus/pyramidology), see my freeweb site article at freewebs dot com/lifetradition . (See also my dead sea scrolls article at headnheart dot blogspot dot com .)Bible says will be as days before Flood (cp Hancock type ideas).Misler reckons the iron & clay in Daniel implies that "Aliens" will come.Many make a big deal of the 8 in 2008, but the ad/bc system is not accurate (esp since should be from resurrection not birth) and the jewish yr is not significant number(s) either (tho I believe that periods betw modern israel dates such as fndtn of state, 6 day war etc might be significant?)Alot of people talk(ed) about Age of Aquarius, planetary synod, magnetic-polar reversal, return of "Nibiru", etc.pre signs and/or signs (many are/have appeared but some not or not wholly):earthquakes; rumours wars; children vs parents; drugs/witchcraft (pharmacia); homosexuality; israel return; way of kings of east; longevity (desire to die, death flee)?; increase knowledge; many run to and fro; false christs/prophets; pour out spirit on all flesh//latter rain; young/old dreams/visions; lukewarm church; gospel to all nations; temple rebuilt; oil run out (horses/horsemen)?; slaves; falling away of many/love grow cold; invasion of israel by/from ; one world govt?; mark of beast; iniquity (mystery of, of Amorites); roaring sea ; the Lie; sun marr people's skin; Babylon rebuilt; world trade; strange diet; calendar change; "revived Roman emp?; etc.I believe/discovered that the events of John's times (& after) were types of end time events: Pompey, famine, inflation, Pax romana, 10 caesars, fire of rome, barbarians (locust-scorpions), destruction of Jerusalem, etc.There is also parallels with middle (& modern) ages: Mongols described as locusts, black plague pictured as rider on horse, (yr 1666?), (horse riders genghis/napoleon/hilter?), etc.(Daniel's 4 beasts/metals are not only kdms betw Daniel & end but also layout of whole of history: lion/gold = Babel, etc.)