Nostradamus was a 16th century French astrologer and physician who is best known for his book Les Prophéties, a collection of 942 poetic quatrains that allegedly predict future events. Many interpreters of Nostradamus claim he predicted major world events like the Great Fire of London, the French Revolution, World Wars I and II, and even the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
But what does the Bible say about Nostradamus and his prophecies? Was he truly a prophet of God like the biblical prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel? Let’s examine what Scripture teaches.
The Biblical Definition of a Prophet
The Bible provides clear criteria for discerning true prophets from false ones. True prophets speak on behalf of God, proclaiming His words and revelations. Deuteronomy 18:18 says, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.” True prophets thus speak God’s very words, not their own intuitions or predictions.
False prophets speak from their own imaginations, guesses or evil motives. Jeremiah 23:16 warns, “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.'” While true prophets boldly proclaim “This is what the Lord says”, false prophets interject their own ideas and musings.
True prophets lived in submission to God’s Word and were held accountable for any prophecy that did not come true. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 states that any supposed prophet whose predictions fail is a false prophet. The test of a true prophet was 100% accuracy in foretelling the future. False prophets delivered an erratic mixture of hits and misses.
Examining the Prophecies of Nostradamus
When examined under biblical criteria, the prophecies of Nostradamus fail to meet the standards of true prophecy from God. Consider the following:
- Nostradamus made numerous predictions that never came true, such as the end of the world happening in 1999.
- His prophecies are vague and ambiguous, with language allowing for multiple interpretations and post-event matching to history.
- He relied on occultic practices like astrology to receive his visions, something forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-11).
- His focus was looking into the future through psychic ability, rather than proclaiming God’s truth and calling people to repentance like biblical prophets.
- He wrote to curry favor with powerful patrons, not because he was commissioned by God.
While a handful of Nostradamus’ prophecies can be creatively matched to actual events after the fact, this is true of any self-proclaimed psychic. Even a broken clock is right twice a day! But the sheer volume of failed or vaguely interpretable prophecies shows Nostradamus fails the biblical test for true prophets speaking on behalf of God.
The Dangers of Psychics and Occult Practices
Why does God forbid occultic practices like psychic predictions? Because they undermine faith in God’s wisdom and draw people away from His truth. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 explains that prophets like Nostradamus who use psychic abilities and occult arts are an abomination to the Lord.
Rather than trusting in the all-knowing God who declares “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10), people get drawn into necromancers who “chirp and mutter” supposed secrets of the future (Isaiah 8:19). But only God truly knows what the future holds. No psychic or medium, no matter how gifted they seem, can declare anything with certainty outside of God’s foreknowledge.
Scripture exhorts people to avoid fortune tellers and diviners who lead people astray with half-truths and vague prophecies that inspire fear of the unknown. Such dark arts open one’s mind to demonic influences that undermine God’s truth and authority.
Leviticus 19:31 declares “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.” The lure of counterfeit guidance apart from God, especially in times of uncertainty, often traps people in destructive bondage and falsehoods that deny the sufficiency of God’s Word.
The Closure of Biblical Revelation
Nostradamus claimed to receive divine visions centuries after the close of the biblical canon. But Scripture declares the gift of prophecy would cease after the apostolic age. Ephesians 2:20 describes the Christian church being “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” This indicates a foundational role for prophets that ceased with the passing of the apostles.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 clarifies that supernatural gifts like prophecy are “imperfect” compared to the “perfect” and lasting nature of faith, hope and love. And that which is “perfect” has now come in the completed revelation of Scripture, rendering prophecy no longer necessary. So the office of prophet, along with working miracles, has ceased in this dispensation.
Hebrews 1:1-2 explains that “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” The climax of divine revelation for this age is the incarnation of Christ recorded in the New Testament. Any alleged new revelation must align with Scripture or else be rejected as fraudulent.
So Nostradamus’ purported 16th century prophecies centuries after the time of Jesus and the apostles must be viewed as fraudulent divination, not divinely inspired prophecy. They lead people away from God’s definitive revelation in Christ.
Test All Supposed Prophets Against Scripture
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 offers crucial advice for discerning all claims of prophets: “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” All prophecies must be carefully weighed against the written Word of God.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 teaches that even if a self-proclaimed prophet performs signs and wonders, if he draws people away from the true knowledge of God, he is to be rejected as false. Scripture is the benchmark for testing every prophetic utterance, not subjective amazement at predictions or how much they resonate with our feelings.
Isaiah 8:20 offers this clear standard: “Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” Even genuinely supernatural prophecies must not contradict or go beyond the completed revelation of Scripture (Revelation 22:18).
As an astrologer and occultist who contradicted biblical revelation and morality, Nostradamus’ prophecies clearly fail the test of Scripture. Believers should avoid and warn others against such deceptions that usurp people’s faith in Christ alone and God’s Word.
The All-Sufficient Revelation of Jesus
Rather than seeking hidden knowledge from false prophets like Nostradamus, Christians have the open revelation of God in the Bible and especially in Christ. Colossians 2:2-3 proclaims that in Jesus “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” His living Word is the only sure guide for discerning truth and future events.
2 Peter 1:19 commends paying attention to the prophetic Word of Scripture that shines as “a light in a dark place.” Aligning our understanding with settled Scripture protects us from “cunningly devised fables” and “cleverly invented stories” of false prophets (2 Peter 1:16).
Jesus alone is the Judge of all things and the flawless Prophet who declares God and the future with final authority (Matthew 23:10, Acts 3:22-23). All other claimants to prophecy must be tested against His standard. So we can confidently dismiss the vague prognostications of Nostradamus and trust instead our all-knowing God.
