Nostradamus is one of the most famous people who have predicted the apocalypse, which some say will happen in 2012. He has had many predictions about other events that have happened in history, such as the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the prominence of Napoleon and Adolf Hitler in our history. Many have come to believe that Nostradamus’ predictions about 2012 will also come true.
Like most people who have a talent for clairvoyance, he does have his share of skeptics. Many of his predictions could have fit the bill for many other catastrophes and happenings in history. Others say that Nostradamus’ ability for predicting the future may have been overblown by opportunists who have a knack for causing a stir. Whatever your own personal beliefs in 2012 may be, Nostradamus still remains a highly prominent figure in history.
Who Was Nostradamus?
Nostradamus, or Michel de Nostredame, was a French Apothecary who lived in the 16th century. For those who aren’t familiar with the profession, an apothecary is medical professional who formulates medical treatments, and provide medicine to doctors, surgeons, and patients for treating ailments. An apothecary also gives out medical advice to people seeking recommendations to treat diseases.
It is probably these experiences as a medical professional that led Nostradamus to carve his reputation as a prophet. His disillusionment with medicinal practices of the day led him towards more occult practices. He changed his name from Nostredame to Nostradamus and continued to publish almanacs once a year or more.
Nostradamus published a book named Les Propheties, or “The Prophecies” in 1555. Since its introduction, it has rarely, if ever been out of print. “The Prophecies” compiled many of his major predictions across his almanacs. This gave the book the chance to be read by a wide variety of people, most especially with popular media outlets today.
However, printing practices during the 16th century meant that no two editions of “The Prophecies” were completely identical to each other. For this reason, it would not be unheard of to find out that even the punctuation marks contained between words were of Nostradamus’ doing. This may also be true for his prediction of “a horrible undoing of people and animals” in 2012.
Nostradamus and 2012
A major underlying topic of Nostradamus’ body of work is the coming of the Antichrist. His works state that an invasion of Europe will be perpetrated by Muslim people and will be headed by the Antichrist. This reflected the Ottoman invasion at the time of Nostradamus’ and was interpreted in such a way that the end of the world as they knew it was imminent.
The name “Mabus” has become synonymous with Nostradamus and the impending doom scheduled to happen in 2012. In Nostradamus’ works, the name “Mabus” is synonymous with the embodiment of the antichrist. Because of this close association, many have taken to associate the name “Mabus” with the powerful figureheads of our time, such as Barack Obama, Osama Bin Laden and George W. Bush.
Another common 2012 doomsday theory based on Nostradamus’ works is that a massive comet will collide with earth. The verse “In the sky will be seen a great fire dragging a tail of sparks” suggests that an asteroid or comet will collide with the earth, causing cataclysmic enough events to wipe out the entire human race.
Some do not think that this asteroid collision will wipe out the earth, but change it dramatically. Many skeptics who still believe in 2012 doomsday theories to an extent speculate that it will not be the end of the world, but the end of the world “as we know it.” This could mean that while an asteroid collision will bring about an earth-changing event, it will not spell the end of the human race.
Like all forms of literature, many of Nostradamus’ works can be up to interpretation.
Nostradamus’ Other Works
Nostradamus followers, as well as enthusiasts of his works, have likened many of his other prophecies to current events, and not just predictions for 2012:
- The September 11 Attacks – As the attacks on the World Trade Center happened, many followers of Nostradamus were quick to liken quatrains and prophecies to the tragedy. The nearest appropriate quatrain from Nostradamus’ “The Prophecies” was VI.97, stating that “the sky shall burn…to the great new city the fire draw nigh.”
- The French Revolution – Loyal readers of Nostradamus’ works have also likened quatrains and verses to events of days past. The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte was one of these events; he was likened to a person named “Pax Ney Loron,” who appeared in Nostradamus’ works.
- The Rise of Adolf Hitler – Nazi Generals of World War II also seemed to believe in many of Nostradamus’ works as well. However, the Nazis also believed in many other supernatural causes that they tried to use to win the war, but history eventually took its course.
- George W. Bush – Nostradamus remains so popular to this very day that people have taken to creating fake verses and quatrains. One of these includes a supposedly translated text which turned out to only be available in English: “The village idiot will come forth, to be acclaimed the leader.”
Only time will tell if Nostradamus’ works will come to pass in 2012.
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