I very much appreciated your round up of the Middle East situation but I am not sure you answered your own question. So, is ISIS, ISIL, IS, or whatever they call themselves, the apocalyptic end times scenario or will God wipe them out? I believe He will. Others have intimated the same thing you did, that they are the AC predecessors but I think they are a flash in the pan. Maybe I misunderstood what you were saying but clearly, won’t God just wipe this vermin out like Hamas and the rest of the foes of Israel?
In this situation the community of nations can either act quickly and decisively and rid the world of the danger, or they can adopt a wait and see attitude like they usually do. Although many nations are alarmed at the threat IS poses, at least to the region, they are all looking for someone else, namely the USA, to lead the charge. It remains to be seen whether the USA will rise to the challenge, but I don’t believe IS is a flash in the pan. If they become the catalyst for fulfilling the Psalm 83 prophecy then God will have Israel wipe them out. Otherwise it’s anybody’s guess.
As for Hamas and the situation in Gaza, at present Israel seems determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Public approval of PM Netanyahu’s handling of the situation has plummeted from 82% to 38% in the past month because he won’t let the army go for a decisive victory. Unless some drastic change in direction occurs, Hamas might just wind up being the winner.