Watch and pray.

 Mark 13:33 KJV

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

I used to assume that, when everything happen that Jesus warned us about, it would be obvious and everyone would immediately know when it happens but that is not true. The enemy works in the dark, he does not publish all his work for everyone to see. Satan is also a deceiver; he is trying to trap people. This is why Jesus said, " watch and pray because you do not know when the time is." If the signs of the time is obvious then, why will the day of the Lord come as a thief in the night, unexpected? Jesus told His generation that they could read the sky and say what the weather would be, but they could not read the signs right before their eyes that He is messiah. In the same way it is possible to miss the fulfillment of prophecy now too.

2 Peter 3:3-4 JKV

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Peter said people will say " everything is the same as always, where is the coming of the Lord?" (paraphrase) They will say this in spite of all the changes the Bible predict. This is the first thing we should know about the end times, that there will be people like in the days of Noah who won't see it and mock us who believe. It all happens before their eyes and they don't see it. Therefore, we must watch and pray!  watch what's happening and pray that God would lead us into all truth and give us understanding.

John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 For example, if you live in Southern Africa, how will you know if the Euphrates river dries up? You won't see it you're not there. You might see it in the news, but there is so much fake news. How do you know the video you see is real?  It could be another river. We need the Holy spirit's help. Many prophecies are being fulfilled but mainstream media doesn't broadcast it. We need to pray that God would show us. Also know scripture, the river dries up as one of the 21 judgments. Are we in that time yet? If not, it can't be the complete fulfillment of that scripture. 

I'm not arguing whether the river is really drying up, I'm making the point that it won't be as obvious as we assume... r as I assumed. we need to study the word. Watch and pray by God's grace.