Yes these things are optional but since we have very little teshuva[repentence] i think gog u magog armmagadon will happen ,i hope not
to the original question, it definitely is possible (G-d forbid). But then again truthfully everything is for the best, and even if their are tragedies in reality its for the best. Its said in oral tradition that the gentile kingdom will control Israel for 9 months (the time a women is in labor).
To Mord- thats not true, their is a lot of Tishuva being done everywhere around, I see in Queens and im sure the same in Israel, but I agree that their needs to be a lot more from everyone starting with our individual selves.
This is not to say that all hope is lost, but anything can happen and its all in G-d's hands, only what can be certain is that one will not loose out if s/he does Tishuva and follows G-d's ways.