May 1948 an event happened overlooked as being significant in prophecy. It was Israel restoration as a nation and recognized as such by the world {U.N.} Today it is possible in any nation for people to see the streets of Jerusalem live.
Twice Divine intervention has held man's advances back. The first at Eden before Adam and Eve could taste the fruit of life. The second event at the Tower of Babel.
Today communications and travel has set conditions for the leaders of the nations of the world and it's people to be deceived. Also The Gospel had to be preached to all nations.
I believe the generation of age who saw Israel restored as a nation in May 1948 will not pass away in it's entirety before the end of the age comes. We were not told the day nor the hour but we weren't left clueless either.
Actually, at the time, many Christians took note of the restoration of Israel as being significant in prophecy, including the Rev. Charles E. Fuller, whose Old Fashioned Revival Hour radio broadcast was heard by tens of millions around the world. Listening to his sermons, I never heard him make any specific predictions, but on many occasions he said that the restoration of Israel fulfilled Bible prophecy and warned listeners to be prepared for whatever may come.
You can download several of his broadcasts for free at http://biblebelievers.com/OFRH/index.html or visit their official site at http://ofrh.com, where you can listen to a number of archived broadcasts.