May 14, 2016 - 68 years since the reestablishment of the nation of Israel in 1948. 

Five days ago on May 9th, Mercury transitted the sun. The last time it did so was on November 8, 2006.

Concerning November 8, 2006:

It was Heshvan 17 - Anniversary day of the Flood.
It was 40 360-day years from Israel taking the Temple Mount on June 7, 1967 in the Six-Day-War (or expressed as 120 X 120 days).
It was 120 after the Israel-Hezbollah War began.
Mercury transitted the sun 350 years after
Edmund Halley, discoverer of the famous comet, was born on November 8, 1656, who was the first to observe a transit of Mercury across the sun.
The Flood occurred 1656 years after Creation.
Noah died 2006 years after Creation. 

1948 years after Creation, Terah began his family which included Abraham.

The transit of Mercury on May 9, 2016 comes exactly 500 days before the Feast of Trumpets 2017. (2006's transit was exactly 400 days after the Feast of Trumpets 2005).

2017 also marks 500 years since the start of the Reformation. 

Some facts for your consideration.

The Ottoman Empire also began in 1517 and lost Jerusalem 400 years later in 1917 during the First World War.