What's ahead in this new calendar year of 2008? The Good News is not in the business of short-term political and economic forecasting, but we can bring you a region-by-region overview of major trends to watch around the world—undergirded by biblical teaching (see Luke 21:34-36).

As this column goes to press just before the turn of the year, long-term allegiances between various nations are being challenged by events, and dictatorships appear to be gaining ground on democracy in at least a few countries.

We will circle the globe here, briefly examining major regions and highlighting certain current events and trends in light of biblical prophecies. Since the largest portion of our Good News mailing list is in North America, we begin here.