Islam in 21st Century

Is it the beginning of the end of the world or a new beginning. We are aware from scripture from both christian and islamis through the Quran that the world will end one day. When that day will occur as Muslims we say Only Allah knows. not like the man from I think California who predicted i think the world was going to end yesterday.
According to the Quran which Muslims accept is the word of God which was related directly to the last of Gods Messengers on earth before the world ends there will be certain signs.
These are classified into minor and greater signs. may Islamic scholars are of the opinion the minor signs are now here amongst us and a few say at least one maybe two of the greater signs have happened.
Ina short book by S.M Bleher from UkIM dawah Centre he discusses the new millennium through Muslim eyes.
We are getting politicians, economists, scientists, religious leaders and media anticipating and trying to predict the future for us all and planet earth.
The repertoire ranges from the doom and gloom scenario to euphoria for the brave new world about to begin, which is now the 21st Century that we are in.
it is an age of change and life is one long change, but not in every area.
The main problem between Islam and secular democracy is western government's think Islam and sharia law is outdated, barbaric and no longer accepted in the 21st century and only democracy can rule through the minds of humans. Humans being that they are in a position like the current president of the US Obama often refferred to as the most powerful man on earth.
What amazes me is when you look at leading politicians in their hey day like for example Margaret Thatcher, she was known as the iron lady. Recent pictures show this lady to be lonely and very frail with her life coming to an end. her husband long gone her son involved in dubious deals around the business world.
leaders come and leaders go. As a Muslim this is all planned and Allah knows all this. According to Islam nothing happens without the will of the creator, be it a new elected leader, even if it be someone who is an enemy of Islam. A cloud an speck of dust does not move until the divine order from God comes.
We have in years gone by witnessed a period of tremendous human development and still do. science and technology is amazing and in Islam seeking knowledge in all these fields is vital, not just religious knowledge. This is why Islam was the leading empire in the world for so long it led the world in science. The rest of the world today owes the Muslim world so much.
Anyway where things are going wrong is we are beginning to play God and are now on a very large scale raping our very land in which we walk in exploitation of natural resources. the exploration of land, sea and sky. We are seeing scientists on the verge of moving into dangerous areas of research in clowning species, genetic make up coupled with an attempt at manipulating the determining factors of our own existence.
These are exciting time but also very dangerous time and we as humans must stop and perhaps come to the conclusion that we have gone too far too quickly without thinking of the consequences for our actions.