I agree that Christians (indeed all people) should pay attention to current events. However, what is it in your theology that necessitates you identify the state of this world on a last things time-line?
Well to keep it simple. I see the nearness of the hour based on the two forecasted, upcoming Middle East wars. The first being in Psalm 83 where all the surrounding Muslim nations that border Israel come to wipe Israel off the map. And we finally get a one state solution as God unleashes judgment on the Edomites and sons of Esau. Then the war to follow, and I'm unsure of the time interval in between, would be the Magog Invasion spoken of in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Russia, Iran, Turkey and a confederacy of other Islamic nations invade Israel and attempt to take a spoil. Two motivations for two different wars. And then after Magog war comes the AntiChrist signing the 7 year covenant with Israel.
Everything is virtually in place int he Middle East for the Psalm 83 war and its a very real possibility that the "rapture" occurs before the Psalm 83 war is launched. Based on the incredible specific nature of these upcoming prophecies, its very hard to deny the very real possibility that the Lord could come calling soon. And this possibility excites the heck out of me. I can't imagine what it would be like to see the Lord and enjoy the same 10 dimensional nature that He does in my new incorruptible body.
So to be clear, as far as how I see it, the general main events occurring before the 7 year Tribulation are as follows:
1. "Rapture" of the church
2. Some time after the "rapture" we have the Psalm 83 war
3. Some time after the Psalm 83 wear we have the Ezekile 38 & 39 war.
4. Aftermath of this war leads to the AntiChrist signing a 7 year covenant with Israel
Its also important to note that I believe that the AntiChrist will probably come from Northern Iraq. He's called the Assyrian in the OT. The Roman Empire had an eastern leg that outlasted the western leg by a 1000 years. I think many are looking for him to come out of the western empire and it may not go that way. Just my opinion on that. The world's first dictator, Nimrod, came out of Babylon. It should not surprise anyone that the final dictator should come out of Babylon. And I wouldn't be surprised if the AC made Babylon the world capital during the Tribulation, as opposed to Rome.
Lastly, Nimrod also appeared to be a Nephilim. Satan was promised a "seed" back in Genesis. I firmly believe that the AC will also be a Nephilim. Its interesting to note that the AC raises up a "god of fortresses" as spoken of in the book of Daniel. I tend to wonder if there is any connection with that passage and the "face" on Mars. Lots of things to contemplate. I have come to believe that in the very near future things will look like they are right out of a sci-fi movie. Satan is preparing a cosmic deception, in my estimation, that involves perpetrating a fraud event of ET contact with the human race. The UFO phenomenon has its place in this end times deception. I would not be the least bit surprised if this ET contact event took place before or right after the "rapture." What better way to explain the vanishing of tens of millions of adults and children all over the world.
And no I do not think that there really are ETs from other planets. I think the demonic angels that rebelled with satan are doing their part to pass themselves off as ETs in order to shake the foundation of every religious, philosophical and scientific institution on earth. I think this is going to be the "strong delusion" that God sends so people believe the lie. I also tend to think that this phony ET event is what Jesus was alluding to when he indicated, "...and men's hearts failing them for seeing what was coming on the earth." He did after all warn that many false christs would come. I think far too many times we Christians tend to think too small, as if Jesus was just referring to guys like Jim Jones, Benny Hinn, etc. Jesus certainly didn't use 21st century sepak so the false christs and things coming on the earth could have a broader event in mind lile a UFO event prepared by satan. He would need something pretty sensational to happen before the Tribulation in order to keep people confused and to keep them from believing in Jesus Christ. Imagine seeing "entities" land on earth claiming to be our "space brothers" and claiming to have engineered man. How man people would be easily fooled by what they saw because they don't know scripture? We tend to forget that demonic angels can take some kind of physical form in our reality and they certainly can manipulate matter, can manipulate their appearance.