Prophesies of Nostradamus and the Bible

1. Prophesies of Nostradamus– 27th March 2017
“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,
encouraging and comfort.”(1 Corinthians14:3).
Nostradamuswasa Frenchpharmacistwhowas born inthe year 1503 anddiedon July2, 1566.
Nostradamushasbeencreditedbysome withpropheticwritingsthathave supposedlypredicted
moderneventsrangingfromHitler'srise inGermanytothe 9/11 attacks on the U.S. These are supposed
to be predictions. ButdidNostradamusreallypredictanyof these events? Orare theysimply“add-ons”
by mischief makersor…? Toanswerthat question,itisnecessarytoexamine firstwhatitmeanstospeak
or write prophecy.
Prophecycan be dividedintotwocategories.First:Speakingof Prophecy relatedtothe Wordof God
(the Bible) intothe livesof people,the proclaimedprophecy shouldbe forpeople tobe edified,
exhorted,andcomforted aswe can readin 1 Corinthians14:3, “ Butthe one whoprophesies speaksto
people fortheir strengthening,encouragingandcomfort.” Inotherwords,prophecyissharing
applicable Scripture verseswithsomeone, inordertodraw himcloserto God (edify),toencourage
properbehavior(exhort),ortogive assurance of the Lord's faithfulness,control andhelpinany
situation(comfort).
Second:Prophecyisforetellingfuture eventsbefore theyhappenwithspecificityandwith100 percent
accuracy. If the prophesiedeventdoesnothappen,thenitwasnota true prophecy. We can readin
Deuteronomy 13:1-3, “If a prophet,or one who foretellsby dreams, appearsamongyou and
announcesto you a signor wonder, 2
andif the signor wonder spoken of takes place,and the prophet
says,“Let usfollowother gods” (godsyouhave not known) “andlet us worshipthem,” 3
youmust not
listento the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your Godis testingyou to findout whether
you lovehim with all your heart and withall your soul.”We are alsoadvisedin Deuteronomy18:22, “If
what a prophet proclaimsinthe name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message
the LORD has not spoken.That prophet has spokenpresumptuously,sodo not be alarmed.” Itis
evidentfromabove passagesthatthe Bible saysthatevenif whata prophetsayscomestrue,if he does
not leadotherstoworshipthe one true God, thenhe isstill a false prophetbaseduponthatalone !
Nostradamuswascertainlynota prophetbythe firstdefinition.Butitisassertedbysome thathe wasa
prophetwho foretoldfuture events.Butdidhe?Prophecies,inordertobe verified,mustbe specificand
detailedenoughtobe undeniablytrue.Forexample,inthe Bible,aMessianicprophecyaboutJesusthe
MessiahbeingnailedbyHishandsandfeetisfoundwhere itpropheticallystates manycenturiesago
that "theyhave piercedmyhandsandmy feetasstatedin Psalm22:16, “Dogssurroundme, a pack of
villainsencirclesme; they pierce my hands andmy feet.”That isexactlyhow Jesusdied.There are
specificdetailsthatare clearand correlate to the fulfillment.There are hundredsandhundredsof such
detailedprophecies statedinthe bible aboutJesus’,all of whichcame true.

2. But Nostradamusdidnothave thiskindof detail inhisprophecies.Forexample,thisprophecyof
Nostradamusisbelievedbysome toforetell the 9/11 attacks: "In the year ofthe new centuryand nine
months, From the sky will come a great King of Terror. The sky will burn at forty-five degrees.Fire
approaches the great newcity."The problemswiththis“prophecy”are numerous.First,statementsin
differentwritingsfromNostradamushadtobe compiledtocreate thisfour-statementsection.Second,
whois the Kingof Terror comingfrom the sky,and how doesthat relate tothe airplanesthatflew into
the buildings?Third,howdoesthe skyburningatforty-five degreesrelate tothe burningof buildings?
Finally,innowaycan NewYork Citybe describedasa “new city” in2001. It is,infact, one of the oldest
citiesinthe country.
The extreme vaguenessof the prediction,coupledwiththe applicationtothingsthataren'tclearlybeing
spokenof,iscalled"retroactive clairvoyance."Thisiswhensomethingwrittenbeforehandneedstobe
changedand the moderneventsqueezedintoaveryvague andunspecificstatement.Nostradamus'
propheciesall fitintothiscategory.Finally,whetherNostradamusactuallywrote themorwhetherthey
were writtenafterhisdeathisstill verymuchinquestion.
As Christians,we cannot andshouldNOTtrustwhat isspokenof inthe writingsof Nostradamus orany
othersoothsayer.Furthermore,whywouldwe wantto,especiallyknowingthatwe have a sure wordof
prophecyinthe Bible aswe can learnfrom2 Peter 1:19, “ Wealsohave the propheticmessage as
somethingcompletelyreliable,and youwill do well to pay attentionto it, as to a lightshiningina
dark place,until the day dawnsandthe morningstar rises inyour hearts.” We know as Christians that
the testimonyof Jesusisthe spiritof prophecy aswe can learnfrom Revelation 19:10, “Atthis I fell at
hisfeet to worshiphim.But he saidto me, “Don’tdo that!I ama fellowservantwith you andwith
your brothers andsisters who holdto the testimony ofJesus. WorshipGod!Forit is the Spirit of
prophecy whobears testimony to Jesus.” The Bible'sprophecieswillneverfail,andwe are to recognize
onlythe inspiredWordof God as our sure source of prophecy.