Why Nostradamus´ predictions were the real deal

First, lets address this scientifically, so no religious crap, no woo woo-ing etc.

Why were his predictions obscure, and seem vague?

Nostradamus explains that this was done to avoid persecution from the Inquisition. He also gives this as the reasoning why the quatrains are not in chronological order, so there´s alot of work to be done, to ACCURATELY predict, the end times.

his predictions in the form of several letters, almost 1000 4-line verses called quatrains (the Centuries), and a collection of 6-line verses called sixains. The prophesies are not sequential by date. Some interesting coincidences have been observed between the quatrain number (in the Centuries) and the last two digits of the year of the corresponding event, but this is not uniformly true. Nostradamus almost always concealed his meanings in anagrams, symbolism, and mythological allusions, and to top it all off Nostradamus wrote primarily in "early Modern French," with a mixture of archaic words mostly derived from Latin and Greek. Confusing huh? He also incorporates words from the "Languedoc" or Provencal dialect of southern France. That is why so many of his prophecies are left wide open to interpretation.

To put it in simple terms, he combined 3 languages, mixed it all together with symbolism and cryptic messages, and then put them into 4-line "verses" or "quatrains." Sort of like prophectic poetry I guess.

Another possible explanation for the obscurity of the quatrains has to do with the dynamics of Nostradamus´ visions. His visions seem to span thousands of years. It was proabably difficult for him to interpret 20th and 21st century technology using 16th century French. He simply lacked the vocabulary. Also, it is possible that a single quatrain could refer to several events. The incorporation of ´links´ to several different events would further increase the obscurity of a quatrain. I would also like to point out from my studies:

-use of language that was, even when written, archaic and chaotic
-use of anagrams and unknown names (symbolism) locations and objects
-use of astrological or mythological references (references to planetary alignments and other phenomena).

Throughout Nostradamus´ quatrains he speaks of three powerful and tyrannical leaders that he calls anti-Christs. He said they would lead their people through reigns of terror after first seducing them with promises of greatness. Napoleon is thought to have been the first of these anti-Christs. Of Napoleon´s rise to power and years as Emperor Nostradamus wrote:

An Emperor shall be born near Italy.
Who shall cost the Empire dear,
They shall say, with what people he keeps company
He shall be found less a Prince than a butcher.

Napoleon, who was considered a butcher even by his supporters, certainly cost the Empire dearly in both manpower and political strength.

From a simple soldier he will rise to the empire,
From the short robe he will attain the long.
Great swarms of bees shall arise.

After becoming Emperor, Napoleon adopted the beehive as his imperial crest. He was born near Italy on the island of Corsica, a most unlikely place for a ruler of France to come from.

AThe second anti-Christ Nostradamus wrote about was "a man stained with murder...the great enemy of the human race...one who was worse than any who had gone before...bloody and inhuman." Experts are in agreement that the sixteenth century prophet was referring to Adolf Hitler.

Out of the deepest part of the west of Europe,
From poor people a young child shall be born,
Who with his tongue shall seduce many people,
His fame shall increase in the Eastern Kingdom.

Adolf Hitler, born in Austria of poor parents, with his knowledge of mob psychology and powers of speech, was successful in seducing many people , even in the Eastern Empire of Japan. In some quatrains Nostradamus refers to Hitler as the child or sometimes captain of Germany. Here are two examples:

He shall come to tyrannize the land.
He shall raise up a hatred that had long been dormant.
The child of Germany observes no law.
Cries, and tears, fire, blood, and battle.

A captain of Germany shall come to yield himself by false hope,
So that his revolt shall cause great bloodshed.

All of these images certainly describe Adolf Hitler. After seducing his people, Hitler ignored all treaties and began a massive invasion of Europe. In the following verse, some experts say that Nostradamus actually referred to Hitler by name but missed by one letter. (A side note : "Hister" is the ancient name for the river Danube also.)

Beasts wild with hunger will cross the rivers
The greater part of the battlefield will be against Hister.

Finally, Nostradamus sums up Hitler´s life and even predicts the fact that his death in Berlin in 1945 would never be confirmed:

Near the Rhine from the Austrian mountains
Will be born a great man of the people, come too late.
A man who will defend Poland and Hungary
And whose fate will never be certain.

The 3rd and final Anti-Christ

According to Nostradamus, the first two anti-Christs were extremely evil, and history has shown this to be so; however, Nostradamus speaks of a third anti-Christ who is more hideous than all the others combined. Some have said Sadaam Hussein, the dictator from Iraq (proved false now), or even Osama Bin Laden. (Not likely) Could he be this evil tyrant? Others say that he has not yet appeared. What does Nostradamus say about this third anti-Christ? First, Nostradamus tells us he will come from the Middle East.

Out of the country of Greater Arabia Shall be born a strong master of Mohammed,
He will enter Europe wearing a blue turban.
He will be the terror of mankind.
Never more horror.

Here, Nostradamus says that a man from Greater Arabia will lead his forces on an invasion through Europe. This invasion will start a third world war that will be far worse than all the other wars put together. When will all this take place? In one quatrain Nostradamus gives us an exact date in which the war will be well under way.
In the year 1999 and seven months
From the sky will come the great King of Terror.
He will bring back to life the King of the Mongols;
Before and after war reigns.

In this read, it sounds like Nostradamus predicts the war will begin shortly before or AFTER the year 1999. It doesn´t make much sense SINCE we are in 2005, right? Well in 1582, we switched calendars, and lost 5 days, for each year since. That is six years. (Approximately)**** Thus, an argument could be made, for September, 2005 and September 11th set these events in motion... as we are now ´at war with terror.´ Interpret it how you will. He also tells us how long the war will last.

The war will last seven and twenty years. (so 27 years)

Nostradamus says that the war will be so terrible that the world will come face to face with final annihilation. Here, he implies that the war might involve some kind of horrible weapon, possibly nuclear. Nostradamus tells what the first target will be.

The sky will burn at forty-five degrees.
Fire approaches the great new city.

In this phrase, Nostradamus refers to a great city in the new world of America near forty-five degrees latitude. Experts agree this could only be New York. I know many of you are thinking of other websites that claim this means he predicted September 11th. Again, interpret it how you will. The sky did burn at 45 degrees, but New York was not destroyed, nor was it a nuclear attack.

By fire he will destroy their city,
A cold and cruel heart,
Blood will pour,
Mercy to none.

Although Nostradamus ´s predictions for our future sound frightening, the accuracy and dates he gave do not seem to flow. Are they being misinterpreted, or are they just plain wrong? Is the New City at 45 degrees yet to be destroyed? He does give us some hope by telling us how this third world war will end. He says it will end as a result of an unexpected alliance.

When those of the Northern Pole are united,
In the East will be great fear and dread...
One day the two great leaders will be friends;
Their great powers will be seen to grow.
The New Land will be at the height of its power:
To the man of blood the number is reported.

Again, the new land was a common term used by Nostradamus to refer to what we now call America. The countries of the northern pole could be Russia and the United States. We have recently seen the breakdown of Communism in Russia and an increasing friendship between Russia and the U.S over the years...Even though at this moment, Russia and China are aligned with Iran, and Israel is aligned with the U.S. Perhaps the two countries will work together against the source or sources of evil. Who knows....


Was Nostradamus a whack-job or a true prophet? That is for you to decide.