Hi iconoclastic,
To see the fulfillment of what Jesus said, I do not have to be a high-profile scholar. Just common sense is enough. I remember seeing a picture published in many news papers during Vietnam War—half of it showing the hapless victims who lost all their properties and became physically disabled, and the other half of the picture showing the bungalow and paradaisic surroundings of the owner of the Dow chemicals that supplied napalm bombs. This shows in most cases one can become materially rich at the expense of other’s suffering, hence rich man is convertible with disregard for others’ wellbeing, hence will have to be in the hell he himself creates for him and others (which means: disregard will never brings joy, hence gives hell, whereas regard and care for others make one feel as if he lives in heaven).
Lets not forget Boeing who supplied the B52 bombers to drop incendiary bombs, napalm and agent orange. Today's 747 is a product of the development of wartime technology. The B17, the great grand daddy of the 747 flattened entire cities. So every time you board a jumbo jet to take a holiday you are supporting those same war mongers. The fact is as long as war is made companies will supply the machinery of war. So the idea is to reduce war so that companies and individuals no longer have to have blood on their hands.
We're certainly not going to get there by inflaming each other because each believes in their own God or Gods. As a Christian you should recognize that God does not adhere to human temporal expectations. You are recognizing 'signs' as an indicator of a coming apocalypse. As freemindfade pointed out: "Every generation says these prophecies are/were about them." As a Christian shouldn't you rather try to make the world a better place to live, and leave God's things to God. He has his own timetable.
Regarding the coming of Christ: I find it interesting that within the old testament Israel was always given a choice. Do this and things will go well with you, do that and you'll experience my wrath. I do not understand why under the new covenant humanity as a whole no longer has a choice in the matter. I would have imagined that the coming of Christ could be a joyous thing for everyone because if humanity manages to solve most of society's ills the kingdom will be established not with a slaughter but with a celebration. Now if mankind cannot solve the ills and things escalate to total chaos the kingdom would be established with violence. I would have thought that God would still have given humanity a choice as to how the kingdom would be established: With sorrow or with joy. However for some odd reason God went backwards in the new testament although conscience and freedom is constantly emphasized.
or
