Well, this post is old enough that perhaps no one will see my response, but here is my take anyway. We have been in the end times since Jesus ascended to heaven (e.g. Hebrews 1:2), and we will be in the end times until he he returns. This obsession that American Christians have with trying to match newspaper headlines with Scripture is highly suspect, and has led to ridiculous things, like predicting the date of the rapture, which only brings shame to the church. We are to watch for Christ's coming, but it won't be in the newspaper.

No!, Jesus willingly made his own sacrifice for us. As he told Pilot, you would have no power over me, had not the father given it to you.

Had Jesus been forcibly sacrificed, it would have meant nothing but his death. But his sacrifice was made freely, so his death provided a remittance for the sins of many. But his resurrection is the basis for our faith, and an assurance of our Salvation.

If Christ had not risen, then tomorrow we all die. So those of us who place our faith, and trust in Jesus, would be the most foolish of men. But he has risen, and therein lies our promise. Not in hid death, but in his life.