"Global Trends:15 Years in Advance?"

The National Intelligence Council (NIC) introduced Global Trends 2015 way back in the fall of 1999.

The purpose? To predict the future. (Yes indeedy, friends and neighbors, our tax dollars have been hard at work!) using the analysis of:

• academia
• think tanks
• the corporate world

Former CIA Director George Tenet launched this ambitious project enthusiastically declaring,

"Global Trends 2015, which takes a look at the world over the next 15 years (2000-2015) from the perspective of the national security policymaker. This is not a traditional intelligence assessment, depending on classified sources and methods. Rather, it reflects an intelligence community fully engaged with outside experts in a constructive dialogue about the future."

So far, so good. It truly is remarkably accurate (granted, they expected more global-warming than actually materialized, but at least there were no flying cars). Then...just as you think you're out of the woods...there's more.

Waaaay at the end, buried in the appendix, are four Alternative Global Futures...four Alternative Trajectories if you will.

Each scenario highlights "key uncertainties, discontinuities, and unlikely or 'wild card' events": from the use of WMDs to a global pandemic, we're sorry to say, none of these "alternative" scenarios bode well for the good guys.

But guess what gang--every one of these "wild card" events (and more) are suggested in Bible prophecy.

Like what, you ask?

Read Ezekiel 39:11-16. If that isn't describing a military protocol for burying bodies contaminated by WMD--#we'll eat our hats.

Zechariah 14:12 gives a very graphic idea of what may be the end result of using a modern weapon:

"...something so powerful and so sudden it will burn away flesh, eyes, and tongues while people are yet standing upon their feet." (from Atomic Bombs in the Bible).

Then there's Matthew 24 featuring:

• wars
• famines
• pestilences
• earthquakes

And that's just a small sample of coming attractions--time does not permit us to go into the book of Revelation or the many other prophecies detailed throughout Scripture.

Our point? If trends analysts and think tanks believe these "wild card" events are possible, how much more should we believe God's word?

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall become white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."  Isaiah 1:18

A wise man once said: "'The phrase 'Let us reason together' is a legal term.God is prepared to pardon our sins if we repent and turn to Him. He can forgive us based on the payment for sin in the death of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." -- Andrew Hill, Ph.D.

News:

• Associated Press: Russia appeals for calm as crisis forces it to cut budget amid surging inflation; country faces worst economic downturn in 15 years.
• Forbes: Layoffs Hit Oil Companies; Enormous Shock in Texas Economy Expected
• Reuters: "Global economic outlook glum despite cheaper oil," International Monetary Fund warns; nightmarish deflationary spiral may loom.

"Top 5 Threats for 2015"

What does National Security analyst Ryan Mauro of The Clarion Project believe jihadists will try to achieve in the upcoming year?

You guessed it--nothing good.

"From manufacturing an oil crisis to Iran's nuclear aspirations and lone wolf attacks, jihadists will be looking to exploit our weaknesses."

According to Mauro, often touted as one of the brightest analysts of our time, "The West will have to contend with two lessons it taught adversaries in 2014"

1. The US negotiates with terrorists
2. The US government/private sector will cave to threats

Mauro calls this: "The Bergdahl-Sony Effect"

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was the US soldier swapped in exchanged for five high-level Taliban terrorists--a lousy deal any way you slice it. Bergdahl was a deserter and the US broke (for the very 1st time) a cardinal rule: Never negotiate with terrorists.

Mauro says, "Hollywood reinforced the dangerous appeasement when movie theaters caved to threats from hackers linked to North Korea..." Though Sony Pictures later released the film, "The Interview", the damage was already done.

"In 2015, the West's enemies will be implementing these lessons," Mauro contends.

In addition to appeasement, what has Mauro determined to be our top threats in 2015?

• Iran nukes--"The Iranian regime is using negotiations as part of a long-term strategy to develop nuclear weapons capabilities. In 2015, the West may miss the opportunity to stop them."
• War--"In 2015, the low price of oil will maximize the incentives for Iran and other hostile governments to instigate conflict." Why? In order to save their oil-dependent economies.
• Terrorists will regain safe havens--"The Islamic State terror group has expanded from Iraq and Syria into Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia." Once US forces depart Afghanistan, we can expect them to expand there as well.
• Homegrown Terror--"The unfortunate reality is that a homegrown terror attack on US soil is all but certain in 2015. The Islamic State has inspired a new generation of homegrown terrorists and a study found that the number of jihadists has doubled since 2010. The number of attacks has tripled."

"Based on these trends," Mauro concludes, "it is safe to say that Islamic terrorism will dominate the headlines throughout 2015 as it did for most of 2014."

A wise man once said: "Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. Is is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." -- William Jennings Bryan, US Secretary of State (1913-1915)

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."--(Proverbs 19:21)

News:

• Y Net News.com: 2014 Record-breaking Year for Jewish Immigration to Israel With 32% Increase
• Watchdog.org: US state, local governments face massive, growing budget gaps in 2015; could mean higher taxes
• Sputnik International News: Islamic State to Systematically Target Europe in 2015--Predicts Mid-East Expert Jean-Michael Vernochet.