The year is winding down, and it is time to look ahead to the next calendar year in anticipation of new things. One of the favorite things of those who write on world affairs is to try to predict what will happen in the coming months among all the hot spots in the world. What is needed most of all in looking ahead to 2007 is a set of fresh eyes.

You don't need a crystal ball to foresee the large trends of 2007. It is easy to look at Iraq and the larger Middle East and see more conflict and violence before any hope of a relative peace settlement occurs. Iran will inch closer toward developing a nuclear weapon. China's economy will continue to grow as that nation desires to be the power broker in the Far East, thus undermining the influence of the United States. The rapidly expanding global economy will further flatten our world and bring nations together into a tighter interdependency that will be heralded as the way to peace. These will be the headlines of the coming months.

But one thing I have learned in my years of watching and writing on world affairs is to never forget the biblical perspective. Most writers ignore the fundamental themes of Bible prophecy that form the foundation of our world because they do not believe what God's Word says. Yet the Bible directs our understanding as no other source can. Peter wrote, "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).

Christ's Olivet prophecy provides a benchmark for understanding our world and the course of events. When the disciples asked Him, "What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?," He gave clear and unmistakable trends to watch for in the unfolding of end-time events. The first two deal with false religion and war. Jesus said, "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:4-6).

These twin problems of false religion and war are in the headlines today, and will be more so in the next year. In the Middle East the seeds of religious strife continue to swell and grow and will drag other powers, including those from Europe and Asia, into their affairs. Pope Benedict XVI's recent trip to Turkey serves to accentuate the role of religion in world politics. His September speech at a German university sparked outrage in the Islamic world over the presumed slight to Islam. Churches were sacked and a priest and nun were murdered. World attention was focused on an academic speech that quoted an obscure source.

The pope's trip to Turkey last month created no more fireworks, nor did it signal a retreat by this pope or the Vatican on its position toward Islam. The lines are still drawn in this age-long struggle between two world faiths. The final round is yet to come. Religion will play a significant role in the events that lead to the end of the age.

Jordan's King Abdullah recently said the Middle East is on the verge of at least three civil wars, in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. The Lebanese government is on the verge of collapse, with mass protests led by the Shiite Hezbollah. It seems any institution or person who supports or is supported by America, the West or anything capitalistic and modern is under attack. And frankly, demographics will determine much of the outcome in the short term as the sheer number of Muslims dominates Israel or any Christian entity in the region. Muslims are also outpacing the native populations of France , Spain and the Netherlands. In Lebanon the Muslim majority seems to be pushing out the Christian/Western elements that remain in Beirut. Will the trend continue?

The "fresh eyes" we all should use to look into the future come from God's Word, the sure word of prophecy. It takes the Holy Spirit to discern what is behind the headlines and what they mean in the light of God's Word. WNP