Nostradamus Predictions

QUESTION: Nostradamus predictions - What is the accuracy?

ANSWER:

Prophet and astrologer Nostradamus has captivated the imaginations of many generations through his cryptic predictions that seem to have an uncanny accuracy.

Nostradamus is credited by many people with predicting such things as the rise of Adolf Hitler, World War II, and even the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy.

Typically, the predictions require some stretches. For example, here is a verse that people say points to the Kennedy assassination:

"The great man will be struck down in the day by a thunderbolt.
An evil deed, foretold by the bearer of a petition.
According to the prediction, another falls at night time."

Another passage has been cited as evidence that Nostradamus not only knew of the assassination, but was aware of the mysterious "second assassin" some have postulated fired from the "grassy knoll" in Dallas when John F. Kennedy was shot.

"The ancient work will be accomplished,
and from the roof evil ruin will fall on to the great man.
Being dead, they will accuse an innocent of the deed,
the guilty one hidden in the misty woods."

Fascinating stuff, but hardly the same as if Nostradamus had named Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald hundreds of years ago. And hardly in the same league with the Messianic prophecies fulfilled in the Bible foretelling the coming of Jesus, His death, and His resurrection.

Look at Psalm 22:16-18 which depicts in 1000 B.C. the details of Christ's crucifixion: "Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."

Now look at Luke 23:33-34, which details what happened that day in A.D. 32: "When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals-one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."

Interestingly, Nostradamus had many Christian influences in his own life. His family converted from Jewish to Catholic when he was 9 years old and maintained that affiliation throughout his life.

Many of his own prophecies mirror those found in the Bible and his favorite books of the Bible included Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Malachi, and Revelation.