I agree, it was a very informative essay. Henkster’s observation of the different experiences of Germany and Japan was insightful.
Regarding whether the End is Near, one has to note that Christians have always believed it is, regardless of the calendar year. Regarding whether the American experiment is near its end - Conclusion: It was the best thing going for quite a while. - all states to date have ultimately given way to entropy.
“Build the America you want on your street, and keep looking up,” as Sarah Palin said. For now, things are good one my street ... even if they go downhill as soon as you get to the Walmart, where the $2.97 wine is now $3.17.
You're absolutely correct, of course. But Christians have always before engaged in mere wishful thinking about it, without the substantial evidence we now have for its actual imminence. For example, Jesus instructed us to take the Gospel to the entire world before the end could come, but the practical means for doing that have never existed, meaning that any expectation of the end times was therefore nonsensical.
However, recently these significant phenomena have occurred, for the first time:
* the reestablishment of Israel after two millennia, as predicted by Moses
* the appearance of the escalating signs of the end, as predicted by Jesus
* the technology, finally, as predicted by Daniel and Jesus, to take the Gospel to the entire world, via safe worldwide transport, television/radio, and internet.
At some point the wishful thinking must transform into reasoned expectation, and events strongly suggest that the time has come at last. I do not expect my grandchildren to have their own grandchildren.