The Lord warned of men like this that will show up in the last days speaking of doom and gloom here or there. His writings need interpretation and most times his followers give it to you after an event has already happened rather than before, not much help there.
I was thinking in the same thing that Mc Kay just said. Reading Nostradamus prophecies are quite complicated because they are written like poetry but why this man did not write these things in a more "open" way for everyone to understand? It could be because that's the way his "visions" occur?
Having said that, I believe in the gift of Prophecy and I do not believe it is only entitled to Church members.
I believe that visions are not exclusive to members of the Church, but I do not necessarily believe Nostradamus was one of those who had visions of the future. His visions just seem too vague to me.
Even Nostradamus admitted he was not a prophet.
An Open letter to Privy Councillor (later Chancellor) Birague, 15 June 1566[
QUOTE |
I do but make bold to predict (not that I guarantee the slightest thing at all), thanks to my researches and the consideration of what judicial Astrology promises me and sometimes gives me to know, principally in the form of warnings, so that folk may know that with which the celestial stars do threaten them. Not that I am foolish enough to pretend to be a prophet. - |
He is just a good marketer. I saw a documentary about him and basically he made poetry to sell papers, thats how he made money. Today his crew just wants to read into his poetry and come up with all kinds of nonsense about prophecy. If he were alive now he would probably have a good laugh.
I remember when I was a newbie in Church, recently converted. I attended the investigator class and during one of these classes the teacher brought up something from Nostradamus. It only took like a couple of minutes before we all could feel the spirit disappear from the room. The teacher felt really bad and decided not to talk about him ever again. As we changed the subject the spirit returned and we all felt good again. What happened there is something I will never forget.
An aspect of this is that the heavens were apparently closed during the time of the Great Apostacy.
Would such visions and "prophecies" come to men during this time that did not coincide with the calling of Prophet or Seer.
I just do not believe that his prophecies are inspired by God. I would not however disparage someone who did believe that.