09.20.09 NOSTRADOMUS 2012: This was one of the most suggested topics so we started out by showing part of the History Channel’s special on Nostradomus as well as reading and discussing Matthew chapter 24 on the “signs of the end times”. Just what did this man predict some 500 years ago and why do so many people today seem to think that the year 2012 may be the final year - or at least the beginning of the end? More importantly, just what information has been given to us in God’s word that puts all of Nostradomus’s speculative “Quatrains” in their proper perspective!
NOSTRADOMUS 2012
(and more importantly, what does the Bible have to say about the signs of the end of the age?)
LYF Bible Class
9.20/27.2009
DCE Ken Koehler
NOTE: This topic was the most requested one of the many topics suggested for this coming year’s LYF Bible Class topics (from the 24 youth present at our 1st class held on 9.13.09). We viewed several portions of the recent History Channel special entitle “Nostradomus 2012", and studies Matthew, chapter 24 and several other biblical references to the signs of the end of the age. The primary lessons to be learned here are from the words of Jesus himself: “Watch out that no one deceives you” and “see to it that you are not alarmed”.
1. Just who is Nostradamus? Briefly, many people consider Nostradamus to be a “prophet” who could see into the future. He wrote down many predictions, mostly of disasters that would happen in the future.
2. Is this the same kind of “prophet” as the inspired prophets of God as recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible? No. While I’ve personally read very few of Nostradamus’s writings; of what I’ve read, other than several very general and similar references to end time disasters as found in the Bible, and a brief reference to “since the creation”, there seems to be little evidence to suggest that he was even a believer in Christ.
3. Nostradamus has remained quite popular for over 500 years with many people interpreting some of his predictions as being fulfilled in modern day happenings. Is there much proof of this? Again, though I’ve read only a small number of them, I would agree with a summary statement about Nostradamus found on Wikipedia which states: “There is no evidence in the academic literature to suggest that any Nostradumus quatrain has ever been interpreted as predicting a specific event before it occurred, other than in vague, general terms that could equally apply to any number of other events.”
4. So what’s all the recent fuss about Nostradomus? The History Channel recently did a special program on Nostradomus about some recently discovered drawings that they think are his. Some people have interpreted the drawings to suggest that there will be some major disasters taking place around 2012 - perhaps even the end of the world.
5. Why 2012? The tv special (now also out on DVD which we watched parts of in class) seemed to concentrate on two main points: First, the position of the sun within our galaxy on the year 2012; and secondly calender of the ancient Mayan civilization which ends on December 21, 2012.
6. Did Nostradomus actually predict the end of the world in 2012? Not at all. In fact this is simply another example of some people using the very general predictions of Nostradomus to try to promote their own interpretations of current and future events. Instead of getting caught up in all the hype of Nostradomus, simply read a few of his predictions and see for yourself what they are like. While the History Channel special was pretty “flashy”; I hope you also noticed how many times the narrator and those being interviewed used phrases like “might this mean?”, “could Nostradamus have been suggesting?”, “could this drawing possibly be interpreted as meaning?”, etc. Even they had to admit that they are simply guessing!
7. Could the end of the world come in the year 2012? Absolutely. Or 2013 or 2011 or 2099 or later today! But let’s remember that Jesus himself stated: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
8. But doesn’t the Bible also talk about many natural disasters and signs of the end taking place? Absolutely, and that’s where we should go to look for our information about the end times! But we must carefully study them and use caution in our interpretation (where the Bible does not clearly explain their interpretation). We must also remember that many prophecies contain both a short term prophecy, such as the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., mixed in with referenced to prophecies concerning the very end of time.
9. Since we can’t know when the end will come should be even make an effort to interpret the signs spoken of in the Bible? Yes. Jesus even specifically stated “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as it’s twigs get tender and it’s leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things (taking place) you know that it (the end) is near.” Matthew 24: 32-33. Jesus also tells us about these things so that “no one deceives” (Matthew 24:4) us about them!
10. In addition to helping keep our attention on the return of the Lord is there another reason why Jesus told us about these things? Yes, probably the main reason He has informed us is so that we “are not alarmed” (Matthew 24:6) or become frightened and lose hope when these things take place. Also, in Luke 21:28 we read these words of Jesus: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” We are to not only to live prepared for the return of Jesus at any time; but we are also to use the signs of the end to serve as an extra reminder and encouragement!
11. So even if Nostradomus isn’t a prophet from God, could his predictions about coming disasters be a good thing if they cause people to think about the end times? Personally, I think they could be. In our fallen nature we can all so easily get caught up with living for the day - and for ourselves - rather than remembering that we were not only made “by God”, but also “for Him” (Colossians 1:16). God can (and does) use whatever and whoever He chooses to bring about His purpose - which in this case may be to help prepare us for the end of the age. But while Nostradomus’s predictions may cause us to think about the end times - we must be careful to trust only God’s inspired and revealed word to tell us about them and about Him!
Main points to remember:
“Watch out that no one deceives you” ,
and
“see to it that you are not alarmed” (when these things happen)!
NOTE: The references listed above referring to the signs of the end times are but a few of the many to be found in the Bible. I encourage you to study them by using the various study helps in our Concordia Self Study Bible. Pastor and I also have a number of other resources on these topics which we would be glad to loan out to you for our further study at any time!
