There was a freaky prophet who predicted future from 1555 to 3797. His name is Michel Nostradamus. His prophecy was believed by many people and even people who are living now are interested in his predictions. His predictions draw many researchers’ attention because they talk about our past, present and even future.

Who is Michel Nostradamus?

 

As he was become known as an astrologer, he wrote a book called ‘Les Propheties de Nostradamus’. While he was writing the book, Henry II died during a tournament. As the rumor that this incident corresponded to the content of his book spread out, his outstanding predicting ability became popular as well. After that, Nostradamus was appointed as a court physician and advisor of new king Charles the ninth. 2 years later, he went on a trip as the king’s secret emissary and got gout, which killed him at the age of sixty three. His wife inscribed his epitaph saying “The famous Michel Nostradamus’ body is buried here. Of all human’s pen, only his holy pen had an honor to write and record the future happenings of all around the world’.

             His book ‘Les Propheties de Nostradamus’

‘Les Propheties de Nostradamus’ is his most famous prophetic writings. It is composed of 10 sections. Each section has 100 quatrains. Nostradamus explained that this book would predict all the historical events and grand scale catastrophe such as war, natural disaster, and infectious disease, etc. from 1555 to 3739. The prophecies that are in the book themselves are very vague. The one that is written in easy words is ‘letter to my son’. On that, he briefly explains the reason that wrote the book.

“Through certain outside power (…) sudden excite, the interactions of cause and effect in the celestial world is published. However, without holy inspiration, one cannot acquire perfect knowledge for the purpose. All the prestigious prophecies are from the Creator God, and after that on a good condition, lastly are from natural aptitude.”

The funny thing is that Nostradamus explained his predicting talent is inspired by God. Nostradamus wrote the book in French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, and many other languages together. Maybe this kind of difficulties was to avoid political and religious oppression.

             Nostradamus, a great prophet? Or a con artist?

 

Is Nostradamus really a prophet who could foresee the future? No one can say no, but there is no certain evidence that he was a real prophet. All the prophecies that are considered to be ‘accomplished’ are something like ‘after death comes a doctor’ and sophistry. Even like prophecy on July of 1999, when every prediction was certain of turned out to be wrong. From those, we can now say that Nostradamus’ prophecies are ‘invaluable’. Even though we can’t say that his prediction is ‘wrong’, but at least it is certain that we don’t have any method to prove his words. His prophecies are hard to interpret because of astrology’s irrationality, problem in historic confirm, and arbitrary interpretations, etc. Also, current major comments about his prophecies are on commercial context as one. In Korea’s 1980s’ his predictions were popular because Japanese Nostradamus interpreter Koto Ben’s books were all being translated. It was like a syndrome in Korea. However, most of these books were products for short time based on insecurity before the end of a century. They were also used as reasons for eschatology from certain religions.

                  However, there is a huge possibility that Nostradamus’ prophecies will be popular as they always have been. That is because people are born with strong curiosity and uncertainty for the future ahead of them. Therefore, like today when the future is so unclear and situations are full of crisis and dangers, people will be interested in Nostradamus’ prophecies whether they are true or not. As mentioned above, no one can say his words are right or wrong. His words as well can’t really tell what’s going to happen in the future. However, what is certain is that Nostradamus is stimulating people’s natural curiosity and insecurity. Just like we did, no matter how the science and technologies are developed, future generation will be interested in Nostradamus’ words and keep on searching to prove his predictions.

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