As each day passes, we are one day closer to the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave us signs and as each year passes the signs become more frequent and intensive. There were three main news stories, two continuing and one reoccurring throughout 2015 which made the year a simmering pot for Biblical prophecy. There were no specific prophecies fulfilled, but it was a year of events leading up to and enabling the fulfillment of prophecies. Like a simmering pot of chili, it’s not quite yet ready, but it soon will be.

The first of our three news stories is the war in Syria. I believe the Syrian war is making great strides for setting up the invasion of Israel as prophesied in Psalm 83.

Using the modern day names for the invading confederacy of Psalm 83 the invaders are (the Biblical KJV names are in parenthesis) – The Palestinians (tabernacles of Edom), Arabs (Ihmaleites and the Hagarenes), Central Jordan (Moab), Jubayl Lebanon aka Byblos (Gebal), Northern Jordan (Ammon), The Negev into the Sinai (Amalek), Gaza (Philistines), Lebanon (inhabitants of Tyre), Syria into western Iraq (Assur), and Southern Jordan (the children of Lot).

Assur, as far as ISIS is concerned, is interesting. When Amos wrote his prophecy, Assur was what is currently Northern Syria into Iraq ending just south of modern day Baghdad. ISIS controls nearly all of this territory now. Is ISIS the resurrection of the Biblical Assur? Will ISIS control more or all of the territory that eventually invades Israel? Does ISIS take over Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan? No one knows for sure, but it will be interesting to watch how ISIS and the Syrian war develops.

One way or another, these areas along with the Palestinians from Gaza form an alliance and invades Israel. If you are wondering the outcome, Psalm 83:9-18 describes Israel’s victory. Amos chapters 1-2 also, lists all the invaders one by one and their destruction by “fire.” Israel is not without considerable damage; as her government is likely destroyed – Amos 2:5, “But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.”

The second major news story with prophetic implications are separate reoccurring events – terrorism and mass shootings.

Luke 21:25 speaks of, “upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity” as one of the signs of Christ’s return. Jesus is talking about times in which nations will be under so much duress they won’t have answers to the problems. This situation is critical to end time events because the world suffering from multiple problems that seem to have no answer is the type of world that allows the Antichrist to arise as what appears to be a savior.

When it comes to terrorism, opinions range from allowing all Syrian refugees to enter the country, to closing the door to all Muslims, to listening to all phone conversations and reading all emails to showing probable cause and a warrant issued before surveillance can begin. The lines are being drawn between safety and freedom and with many, any compromise is unacceptable.

The situation is much the same with mass shootings. Opinions range from gather all handguns and the banning of assault rifles to everyone should have a gun unless they have a felony conviction. Again, both sides, unwilling to make any compromise.

I’m not writing this to give an opinion; I’m writing this to show that these are only two problems that are causing “perplexity” within the nations just as the Bible said would come. Other problems will arise; the economy is probably the next one in line.

Throw the Psalm 83 invasion (especially if the “fire” that destroys Israel’s neighbors are Israeli nukes used in a last-ditch effort to save their country) into the mix, and we have the recipe for a world leader, someone with the answers to rising from the ashes.

The last major news item with prophetic implications is still ongoing – The American Presidential election.

When the Antichrist rules there will still be nations; there will still be Heads of State, however, the world will be under the control of one man.

The Trump phenomenon is fascinating. Even his supporters don’t agree with everything he says, but, support him or not, the vast majority do see him as a man that speaks his mind and is a leader.

Before you put two and two together and come up with five, I do not think Donald Trump is the Antichrist, but he does have a bandwagon people are still climbing on when all the indications are that the wagon should have crashed a long time ago.

The entire Trump bandwagon thing is an indication that people are warming up to the idea of a leader; one who has answers to the problems whether they agree with him or not. This mindset is the type of mindset that will allow the entire world, including the United States, to accept the dictates of one man.

The signs are in the pot, and the chili is steaming. It will be done before we know it.