It is the best of times because of the ultimate conclusion, but like death, the getting there is generally not pleasant. In order to understand Revelation, it must be read in conjunction with Daniel for Daniel gives the key timing of events and underscores what John saw. Besides the books already men- tioned, Joel and Thessalonians also help fill in the blanks. There are a few others as well, but the main information regarding Tribulation and events leading up to it, is mostly found in these books. There is a lot of talk these days that our world is totally screwed up.
People fret that their kids are unmanageable and families are disintegrating.
Natural disasters have reached unprecedented highs and people kill just to see what it feels like. New and previously controlled diseases are emerging and there is the ever-present threat of wars. All these events and more were predicted approximately 1900 years ago as the sign posts when the Messiah would return and set the world to rights. Lots of people have studied scripture and assembled to the best of their ability, a time line that depicts prophetic events. One of the best examples is Rapture.