The following guest sermon was submitted by ULC minister Cassidy Trevors. All ULC Ministers are invited to contribute their own sermons for consideration/publication. To submit a sermon, please email it to sermons@ulc.org.
The continued COVID pandemic, war in Ukraine, and the release of a new Avatar movie – 2022’s had its fair share of troubles. Many of us are undoubtedly looking for a reset in 2023, to wipe the slate clean in hopes that the world might actually improve in the new year.
Well, not so fast. If the predictions of Nostradamus are to be believed, 2023 might not turn out to be the great year we’re all hoping for.
His prophecies for the future include war, cannibalism, and even the possible coming of the antichrist. Some argue there are signs that these predictions could come to pass in 2023.
Who Was Nostradamus?
Nostradamus is a controversial figure in history, to say the least. The French astrologer published his book Les Prophéties in 1555, a collection of poems and quatrains that many say has accurately predicted future events with eerie accuracy.
The French Revolution, the rise of Hitler, the death of JFK; fans of Nostradamus’ predictions say that he’s accurately predicted global events big and small in the centuries since his death.
But others argue that these predictions are written so vaguely that they could be applied to nearly anything. Here's what Nostradamus predicts is in store for us.
1. World War III
Nostradamus says we have “seven months great war, people dead through evil,” waiting for us in 2023. Many have said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is likely the war Nostradamus foretold. Will the war escalate into a global conflict in 2023? Will Russian president Vladimir Putin utilize his nuclear arsenal? Or perhaps the conflict will actually end seven months into 2023?
2. Global Warming
You know what goes great with a potential global apocalypse through war? How about an environmental apocalypse through climate change?
Nostradamus predicted that “like the sun the head shall sear the shining sea: The Black Sea’s living fish shall all but boil.” It’s predicted that upwards of 60% of the planet’s fish species could die thanks to global warming raising water temperatures. If one of the world’s most common sources of protein suddenly becomes scarce, we could see a global famine.
3. Cannibalism
It makes sense that, with all the fish dead, we’ll turn to eating one another. And Nostradamus wrote that “so high the price of wheat, that man is stirred, his fellow man to eat in his despair."
4. Death of the Monarchy
Is Buckingham Palace going to be hit by a meteor? Or maybe this is just one of those metaphorical meteors? Nostradamus predicted “celestial fire on the royal edifice,” although whether that’s literal or metaphorical is up to interpretation.
5. A Mars Disaster
Something is going to happen on Mars, predicts Nostradamus. “The light of Mars will go out,” he wrote, a passage which many have interpreted as predicted a manned mission to Mars will fail.
Elon Musk anticipates he’ll be sending a mission to Mars in 2029, but perhaps the timetable will change?
6. The Antichrist
And finally, why not the end of life and civilization as we know it? Nostradamus predicted that the antichrist will emerge and give us a 27 year war. “The unbelievers are dead, captive, exiled,” he anticipates. “With blood, human bodies, water and red hail covering the earth.” Let’s hope he’s wrong about this one.
Predicting the Future
Sounds like we’re in for a rough year... if Nostradamus’ predictions turn out to be true. But that's a big "if." How much trust can we put in such prognostications?
It's worth considering what makes Nostradamus such a well-known figure in the first place. If you look up the source material yourself, you'll see that _Les Prophéties _is primarily composed of terrible disasters. He was essentially an early doomsday prophet – focusing his predictions on great tragedies, betrayals, or acts of war.
In modern times, we've also had our share of doomsday prophets -- typically full of religious zeal and claiming that the rapture is imminent or apocalypse around the corner.
What better way to make a name for yourself than by screaming that the sky is falling? People are bound to pay attention, and if it doesn’t fall, you can simply say you were wrong about the timing.
Then, in the event you’re even half right about something, you point to it as proof of your ability to see the future.
Nostradamus has been credited with being right in his predictions… but perhaps only because they are so vague and coded (and free from any specific date on the calendar) that they’re bound to apply to something.
How much stock should we put in such projections?
26 comments
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Marie Grace Maroney
The “celestial fires on the royal edifice”, since most of Nostradamus’ predictions were very vague with hidden meaning I believe this could be the celebrity invasion of American Politics. Or “stars” getting elected to our Government positions. That also could be connected to the predictions of wars. Since it seems our Government is at War within itself lately.
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Chantelle Renae Scott
I personally think it interprets to King Charles getting a raging case of hemmoroids from too much spicy food.
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Magistar Mormaer MacLean
What joyous interpretations of the perpetually vague Quatrains.
Let us not allow such to pass.
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Nicholas J Page
Nostradamus could not predict the future no one can .Astrologers can't predict the future it's all false If you read the horrorscopes every one is different that's the first sentence Horrorscopes that's all it is they must be paid good money all mumbo jumbo none of it's true .
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CB Cuff
I'm a Taurus. We don't believe in all that astrology stuff.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
One of my dad's first cousins was Dr. Bernard Forer, the psychologist who did the 1st in depth study of the Barnum Effect in 1948. His experiment took affirmations from a list of 13 positive statements and gave them out at random to his class of 39 students. They rated the statement as accurate at a rate of 4.3 out of 5. Repeats of the experiment over the decades since have come within .1 of that result.
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Rev Frankie PG
There have been thousands, if not more, of greats that have come in some form to earth and bestowed their wisdom. Whether it be the greats such as the Lord Jesus Christ and Moses, other times there are crazies, like the corner crackhead and Hitler. When their messages are sent out, it is those that have received the message to believe and share with others. Some choose to believe while others deny. Though this forum is specifically referring to, Michel de Nostradame, there should be no reason why it should sway away from the principle of believing. What does it hurt for people to believe, as long as they are not causing damage to others? It is themselves that choose to believe and take the measures that they feel is necessary to fulfill their belief, again I ask, what does it hurt for people to believe, as long as they are not causing damage to others? Yes, it is great for people to unite, as there is greatness in numbers but others shall not be forced to fall in line to join another. No matter where you live, ultimately you still have the choice to believe. If your country is oppressive and you don't choose to believe the same way they do, it is best to chalk it up to a show performance if needed, to appease those that matter to you and in some countries the matter between severe punishment and life.
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Esperanza Ramos
I beg to disagree. Encouraging people to believe nonsense creates fear and chaos. Our thoughts and beliefs are what paint the picture of what will manifest in our lives. Why would anyone want to focus on fear and negative thoughts. Positive affirmations and believing in a god that loves and blesses rather than angers and punishes allows for feelings of peace, inclusion, love and unity through oneness.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Nostradamus became a cannibal when he ate a piece of the body of Jesus during his first Communion— for those who don’t accept “transubstantiation”— an eternity in a fiery-pit in Hell awaits them.
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Rev. Laurie G. Cleveland RN
I actually do believe that WW3 is coming. Putin has the right to keep his borders free from what is happening in the Ukraine. I believe him over the bunk that has been fed to us by a corrupt President and that sneaky bill by Congress. If that does happen, then what comes next is more than likely to come true. When you use nuclear weapons, then the inevitible happens, unfortunately. Biden has been interringbin Ukraine now for awhile. As for cannibalism, that has happened throughout recent times. I do, believe that the Antichridt has been here for somethime manipulating things. When he said that "the unbelievers shall be slain or thrown into jail, this is disturbing because that little piece alludes this time around to fanatical branches of Islam. It is already happening and has been happening in countries like Nigeria where Christians and now indigenous people are being targeted and killed. Nobody can help those people because the dictator, a fanatical Muslim has forbidden it. I hope that this person finally comes out of the shadowscand shows himself. I have little respect for him and his ideation.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Out of the woodwork they crawl...crazy meets crazier still
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Pain has 15,000 nuclear missiles. Takes them less than 10 minutes to get to London and 20 to anywhere in the US. UK and US reaction time is 30 minutes and we have enough defenses to block maybe 500 of them if we are lucky. Putin’s already one the war.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Out of the woodwork they crawl...crazy meets crazier still
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Ronaldo
Scripture tells us that not even Jesus knows the time of His return. That knowledge is reserved to the Father alone. If that is the case, then how can a prophet or seer predict the Second Coming as Nostradamus did? That one prediction shows that he could not see the future. He also predicted a King of Terror would appear from the sky in July of 1999, and that did not happen no matter how you interpret events of that year. In fact, even if you assume that the Gregorian calendar is off by as much as four years, no King of Terror appeared from 1995-2004.
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David W Otte
"Do the right thing."
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Albert A Hernandez
"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible." St. Thomas Aquinas, Theologian.
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Lionheart
Comment removed by user.
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Thomas J Maxwell
We are missing a lot not following the planets, they are the only thing to guide us that is not man made, God wants us to build our soul, knowing we are not perfect we would need guidance, today the dictators would loose power if everyone look at the sky, also society does not realize some things are to happen, they have to point a finger sue.... anyway 3/26 1345 Scholars, called a triple conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, in the 40 degree of Aquarius, caused the Black Death the Bubonic Plague. I've been writing 20 years I wrote,( look past the stars), about the coronavirus, when Jupiter and Pluto come together, it's like mixing heaven and hell, in the year 2020AD on April 4, June 30th, Nov 12, within Capricorn Jupiter, and Pluto travel aside and meet. For more Google: the original tom Maxwell/poems
I wouldn't call that a sermon but it was an interesting article. I've read much of Nostradamus and it is laughable that anyone could get any real information out of it.
As fun as these predictions appear they are no better to rely on than random letters on a page.
I know what you mean, Colleen. I totally agree with you. I feel the exact same way about the Bible.
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Sorry Lionheart we do not agree. I believe in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.
If you have implicit belief in it, I’m curious as to how you handle God’s decision to kill the 1st born children due to his anger management issue with Pharaoh. How would you have handled that if he’d killed one of yours?
Are you happy that he condoned slavery, and stoning people to death?
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right? and since HE is actually man who wanted to control people with words from a supposed higher entity. i think you have to use the bible for life lessons on being good to others and enjoying the stories. but to think its all facts- its been re written like 1000 times.. if someone has faith and walks the walk, i have to respect that, dont see much of it these days-so many hypocrites who claim to be religious just make me laugh
The revelations are in full effect and the world needs to come with terms
Revaluations is in full effect and the world needs to take notice everything has been told in the revelations and it’s time too get right we are in the end of times
Nah! People said the same thing during the 1st and 2nd World Wars and we are still here. I admit that under Biden it doesn’t look good, but it never does under woke Liberal governments.
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