A large portion of scripture is a description of the end times. These passages occur in both the Old and New Testaments.
New Testament writings make it quite clear that the early church was always hopefully looking forward to Christ's second coming to earth. In fact, the early church fathers delayed in writing the scriptures we know as the New Testament because they believed it would be unnecessary. This is why the Epistles are slightly older than the Gospels.
With that in mind, I think that God has given us prophetic teaching so that we could "look up" from our current toils to anticipate His arrival.
I can see anticipating, and being ready for it to happen, but I doubt he really means for us to obssess as to when. I guess I believe that the descriptions and warnings within the scriptures are meant more as a warning, and an explanation of whats to come than a code for us to break.