Was Nostradamus a true prophet of God?
Was Nostradamus a True Prophet of God?
Nostradamus, born Michel de Nostredame in 1503, was a French apothecary and purported seer whose writings have fascinated many over the centuries. He authored a book titled Les Prophéties, a collection of quatrains often cited as prophetic. Some claim his predictions have foretold significant historical events, such as the rise of Adolf Hitler or the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, the question remains: was Nostradamus a true prophet of God?
To answer this, it is necessary to evaluate Nostradamus' writings and claims against the biblical definition of prophecy.
Biblical Definition of Prophecy
In Scripture, prophecy serves two primary purposes:
Forth-telling the Word of God:
This involves proclaiming God’s revealed truth to edify, exhort, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). It is centered on the Word of God and aims to draw people closer to Him.Foretelling future events:
True prophecy includes detailed predictions about future events, fulfilled with 100 percent accuracy. Deuteronomy 18:22 provides a clear standard:
“When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (NKJV).
Moreover, even if a prediction comes true, the prophet must lead others to worship the one true God. Deuteronomy 13:1–3 warns against any prophet who performs signs but directs people away from God:
“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.”
By these standards, Nostradamus does not qualify as a prophet of God.
Evaluating Nostradamus' Claims of Prophecy
Lack of Specificity and Clarity
Nostradamus’ quatrains are famously vague and ambiguous. For example, one of his quatrains often cited as predicting the 9/11 terrorist attacks reads:
“In the year of the new century and nine months,
From the sky will come a great King of Terror.
The sky will burn at forty-five degrees.
Fire approaches the great new city.”
Critically examining this "prophecy," several issues arise:
Ambiguity of Terms:
What is the "new century"? Does it refer to 2001 or another time period?
Who is the "King of Terror"? This phrase has no clear connection to the 9/11 attacks.
How does "the sky will burn at forty-five degrees" relate to the event? Forty-five degrees could refer to latitude, but New York City is at 40.7128° N, making the connection tenuous.
Lack of Contextual Consistency:
The phrase “great new city” is problematic since New York City, established in the 1600s, is not “new” in any sense by 2001.
This quatrain demonstrates how Nostradamus' writings are so vague that they require subjective interpretation and retroactive fitting—a process called “retroactive clairvoyance.” True prophecy, by contrast, is clear, specific, and directly fulfilled without the need for reinterpretation (e.g., Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2).
Failure to Lead People to God
Nostradamus’ writings are devoid of any reference to the God of the Bible, let alone a call to repentance or worship of the Lord. Instead, his quatrains reflect astrological and mystical influences, practices condemned in Scripture:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer” (Deuteronomy 18:10, NKJV).
By biblical standards, Nostradamus’ failure to direct people to worship God disqualifies him as a true prophet, regardless of the accuracy of his predictions.
Biblical Prophecy: A Higher Standard
True prophecy is unmistakable in its fulfillment and rooted in divine revelation. For instance, Scripture contains hundreds of prophecies fulfilled with remarkable precision:
Messianic Prophecies:
“They pierced My hands and My feet” (Psalm 22:16, NKJV), fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Luke 23:33).
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2, NKJV), fulfilled in Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1–6).
Historical Prophecies:
The fall of Babylon was foretold by Isaiah:
“And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah” (Isaiah 13:19, NKJV). This was fulfilled when Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian Empire in 539 BC.
Biblical prophecy is always specific, consistent, and God-glorifying, a standard Nostradamus’ predictions fail to meet.
The Sufficiency of Scripture
As believers, we are called to rely on the Bible as our ultimate source of truth and prophecy. Peter emphasizes the reliability of Scripture in 2 Peter 1:19:
“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” (NKJV).
The testimony of Jesus Christ is the essence of prophecy:
“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10, NKJV).
God’s Word is sufficient for our guidance, encouragement, and understanding of the future.
Conclusion
Nostradamus was not a true prophet of God. His vague, ambiguous quatrains lack the clarity, specificity, and divine authority that characterize biblical prophecy. Furthermore, his writings do not glorify God or call people to repentance and faith in Him. As Christians, we should reject Nostradamus’ claims and place our confidence in the inspired, inerrant Word of God, which alone provides the sure foundation for understanding God’s purposes and promises.
