Understanding the Nature of Prophecy

What constitutes authentic prophecy? Are there instances of deception involved?

Illustration by Nat Basil via iStock Photo.

“Two metallic birds will descend from the heavens upon the city / The atmosphere will ignite at forty-five degrees latitude / Flames will advance toward the great new metropolis / In an instant, a vast, scattered blaze erupts / Within months, blood will fill the rivers / The undead shall wander the earth for a brief period.” Yet, no one recognized this Nostradamus ‘prophecy’ prior to the September 11 attacks, nor could anyone pinpoint the date, location, or method of the assault. Speculation only took root after the event, much like a wildfire fueled by JP-4.

On September 11, 2011, Benjamin Radford from LiveScience remarked, “Believers in prophecy sift through countless vague writings of Nostradamus, attempting to extract new interpretations from tired phrases.” At first glance, the initial lines may seem specific, but are they truly? What alternative meanings could be derived from “twin towers”? What did the prophet imply by “steel birds”? In Nostradamus’ era, cities were often fortified. Castles, typically surrounded by moats, had drawbridges that could be lowered for entry while providing protection during sieges. Towers flanking the drawbridge would house soldiers ready to fend off intruders. Could “steel birds” not refer to heavy projectiles launched from catapults, with the flames representing incendiary devices soaked in oil? Given that warfare was prevalent, Nostradamus would have been aware of the likelihood of such assaults.

However, we need not explore alternate interpretations because the prophecy in question is apocryphal, penned post-event. This is evident as it doesn't conform to the quatrain format typical of Nostradamus’ writings, and it references steel, a material not discovered until 1854—centuries after his death. Other instances exist where modern authors have fabricated prophecies following significant events, a tactic reminiscent of the priests and scholars who chronicled the Tanakh (Hebrew Old Testament) beginning no earlier than the 10th century BCE, long after Moses’ time. Documenting the sites of ethnic cleansing was quite straightforward.

Ancient writings often employed mythical language to impart lessons through parables. Such verses typically lack precise timing and locations, leading to diverse interpretations among different denominations, and even within individual congregations. This is similarly seen in the New Testament’s discussions regarding apocalyptic events. Due to their ambiguous nature, every generation believes they are living in the prophesied end times—a phenomenon that has persisted for over 2,000 years, yet no end has been observed.

Certain prophecies may reference future events with enough specificity to be proven false or true, but such occurrences have not materialized. For instance, both Tyre and Sidon are prominent port cities in Lebanon that remain standing today. While there are fishing nets drying in Tyre, modern structures also exist. Ezekiel claimed (EZK.26.1–21) that Nebuchadnezzar would devastate Tyre, leaving it in ruins forever. Although the destruction occurred from 586 to 573 BCE, it coincided with Ezekiel's exile. Thus, the biblical narrative is more historical than prophetic, and the assertion of it never being rebuilt is clearly false, as evidenced by contemporary images of Tyre.

Wikimedia Commons.

Sidon by Robysan, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons.

The situation grows even more complex with prophecies that can influence behavior, potentially leading to self-fulfilling outcomes. The prediction regarding Israel's scattering and subsequent regathering in the Levant may have spurred the revolt against Rome in 70 CE, as well as the restoration of Israel by the League of Nations. Thus, these occurrences are not particularly surprising.

It is conceivable that a medium or shaman could interpret the will of a divine entity or foresee future events through the arrangement of tea leaves. Perhaps future scientists have developed time travel and are among us, prepared to unveil what lies ahead.

However, belief in any claim should be reserved until those making the claims fulfill their responsibility to provide evidence. Genuine prophecy, being an extraordinary assertion, demands extraordinary proof. We would anticipate that such claims would be both verifiable and falsifiable, yet I have yet to encounter a prophecy that meets this criterion.

Chapter 2: The Implications of Prophecy

In the video "What You Must Know About Prophecy," the complexities surrounding prophetic claims are explored, addressing the historical context and implications of believing in such predictions.

The video "Let's Talk About Prophecy" dives deeper into the interpretations of prophetic texts and the impact of these beliefs on society today.