The following guest sermon was submitted by ULC minister Cassidy Trevors. All ULC Ministers are invited to contribute their own sermons for consideration/publication. To submit a sermon, please email it to sermons@ulc.org.
Another year down, another year many are looking forward to leaving in the past. From real wars, to culture wars, to "War of the Worlds" on Amazon Prime – 2025 brought with it a lot of horrific events.
As we say goodbye to 2025, many of us are likely looking ahead towards what 2026 holds for us. And if the new year is anything like Nostradamus’ predictions… Well, we may be in for an electric year. Literally.
Who Was Nostradamus?
Born Michel de Nostredame in 1503, Nostradamus was a physician and apothecary who developed a strong interest in astrology and the occult. In his lifetime, he was a sought-after soothsayer, even providing horoscopes for European royalty, including the court of Catherine de’ Medici.
The French astrologer published Les Prophéties in 1555, a collection of poetic quatrains that many believe predict future events with uncanny accuracy.
Supporters claim his writings foresaw everything from the French Revolution to the rise of Hitler to the assassination of JFK. Critics argue the verses are so vague they can be retroactively applied to almost anything.
Still, his predictions continue to fascinate readers centuries later – whether through prophetic insight or clever ambiguity. Nostradamus’ legacy endures, and once again readers are looking to his words to see what he might have predicted for 2026.
Lightning Strike
If you consider yourself a great man, you may want to avoid going outside during storms. Nostradamus wrote that "the great man will be struck down in the day by a thunderbolt," which many believe refers to a celebrity, elected official, religious leader, or royalty.
It would be a bizarre way to go for anyone, let alone a figure of importance, though some have interpreted this as a metaphorical thunderbolt... meaning this could also refer to an assassination by gunshot.
Bees?!
Nostradamus predicted a swarm of bees in 2026. Yes, bees. "The great swarm of bees will arise by the night ambush," he wrote, putting everyone with bee allergies eternally on edge.
New plague sent from God? The resurgence of killer bees? The optimists among us might say that this refers to a bounce back of the honeybee population. One can hope.
Blood in Switzerland
Nostradamus’ predictions are often incredibly vague, but he is occasionally very direct. For 2026, Nostradamus says that "the Ticino will overflow with blood" and there will be "deaths, drowned by the long-edged blow."
The Ticino is an Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, and considering the specificity of the prediction, any Nostradamus-believing residents may want to consider relocating.
A New Idol
Nostradamus warns us of false idols in 2026, writing "they will prepare idols of Kings and Princes." It’s unclear who is making these idols, and of whom, but in the aftermath of the "No Kings" marches, some have interpreted this to be in reference to President Trump.
Trump’s affinity for putting his name on things, as well as the upcoming minting of a special one-dollar coin by the U.S. treasury featuring Trump’s face on it, have also played into this narrative.
Was Nostradamus warning us not to worship a false idol? And is it possible that leader is the president?
Could Nostradamus See the Future?
Sometimes it feels like we’re living through far too many “historic” moments. And if Nostradamus is to be believed, that trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon. But put a big emphasis on the if.
Most of his prophecies read like broad doomsday warnings: disasters, wars, and betrayals, written vaguely enough to fit almost any era.
It’s a tactic familiar to modern end-times prophets, who confidently announce the apocalypse is just around the corner… until it isn’t. When predictions fail, the timing was simply “off.” When something does happen, it’s held up as proof.
That flexibility is a big reason Nostradamus is said to have predicted nearly every major world event since his death. His verses are cryptic, undated, and open to interpretation, making them easy to apply retroactively. Still, some of his predictions do feel uncomfortably close to real events, and that uncanniness is what keeps people coming back.
So how seriously should we take Nostradamus’ forecast for 2026? That is up to you.
49 comments
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Anne 'Arie
I've read a lot of the comments regarding Nostradamus' predictions. Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, Mother Shipton, Rasputin, the Book Of Revelations in the Christian Bible (Isaiah?): all of these, and more have made predictions of future events. All are quite cryptic, leaving them open to fertile minds of potential believers. Any of them, as with astrology, can be twisted around to mean whatever the person trying to interpret them wants to believe. I think there actually are people who can predict specific future happenings. There are people whose intuition I rely on heavily. I strongly believe in the Huna theory: "The world is what you think it is." I believe in the power of prayer/meditation. So, if enough people all believe in the same powers pray/meditate to stop some upcoming event because of the harm it will do, can any of these predictions that some have read into cryptic messages be undone? Mind what you are thinking. If it be evil against anyone, keep in mind that what goes around comes around. My money's on the honey bees. Blessings be upon you!
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Teena HilyardPistoleSmith
Rev. Priest. Tevyonne Hpistole
Lighting does strike and has been known too. Medical cases provide.
Bug outbreaks have happened. In Missouri around 1991 to 1988
We had faulse people before and yes unfortunately will happen again.
The blood could be speaking of war.
May God bless us regardless and watch over us.
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Rev. Michelle Love
I do believe the prophecy. I believe that the blood in Switzerland prediction is referring to the Swiss bar fire that killed 40 people on New Years Eve. I think that bees are supposed to be a reference to the sting operation that was conducted by the United States to kidnap President Maduro and his wife from Venezuela. I do agree that the lightning strike is a reference to potential assassination by gunshot. In regards to idols, I think Nostradamus was talking about a new wave of celebrities who will start off as social media influencers who are noticed then promoted by actual celebrities in the industry.
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Steven Ferrell
No one can predict the future. Sadly however, people read stuff like this and as a result do things in their lives to help bring predictions to reality for them.
Live each the best you can. Try to do good and live a life pleasing to God.
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Alfred B Jacobson
There are many, many comments already made. Will any one of them help --- or harm any one?? Hym?? That's what I thought. Neither!!!
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Lion on the Beach
There were several courses divided by timelines concerning false prophets while I studied in the seminary. The actual truth is: Nostradamus had only about 30% of the real world to work with while prognosticating. Interpreting his writings is similar to the Mayan Calendar prophecy from several years ago.
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Joe R Day
I have read the translated version several times in my twenties. I found the quatrains to be purposely vague, maddeningly convoluted, and almost useless for 'Real Prognostication'. There have been several humans who have predicted the future and were amazingly correct! "Ray Kurzweil: A renowned futurist, Kurzweil made over 100 technological predictions, including the rise of mobile computing, AI assistants, and voice recognition." These predictions were not cloaked in obscure writings, rather they were written and spoken in plain language.
"He (Nostradamus) then began his project of writing a book of one thousand mainly French quatrains, which constitute the largely undated prophecies for which he is most famous today. Feeling vulnerable to opposition on religious grounds,[29] he devised a method of obscuring his meaning by using "Virgilianised" syntax, word games and a mixture of other languages such as Greek, Italian, Latin, and Provençal.[30] "For technical reasons connected with their publication in three instalments (the publisher of the third and last instalment seems to have been unwilling to start it in the middle of a "Century," or book of 100 verses), the last fifty-eight quatrains of the seventh "Century" have not survived in any extant edition."
In conclusion, it is my opinion that Nostradamus did noy have the 'Gift of Foresight'. He was notable for more than his quatrains. "Astrologer and Physician: Nostradamus was a French astrologer and physician, known for his innovative medical treatments during outbreaks of the plague."
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Christina Joy Duckworth
Possibly someone on the golf course raising a golf club up in the air and getting struck by a thunderous lightening bolt? Golfers beware. Lightening strikes can happen quite unexpectedly even on a nice day. Be careful.
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Stephen A. Fossi
Christina, as the old joke says, if you are out on the golf course and caught in a lightning storm, you take your 1-iron out of your bag and hold it up in the air. Why? "Because even God can't hit a 1-iron."
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Cam Kirmser
Nostradamus is fun and I use his writings as inspiration for events in my Call of Cthulhu RPG campaign.
But, anything he wrote, given enough time, can be "seen" and declared as prophetic, particularly given his vague style.
So, yeah, he's fun to play with, but to be taken seriously? Not so much...
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James Michael Garrison
old proverb- sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn't.
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Kenneth Norman Kroeger Jr
“Blood in Switzerland
Nostradamus’ predictions are often incredibly vague, but he is occasionally very direct. For 2026, Nostradamus says that "the Ticino will overflow with blood" and there will be "deaths, drowned by the long-edged blow."
The Ticino is a southern Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, and considering the specificity of the prediction, any Nostradamus-believing residents may want to consider relocating.”
The Swiss resort of Crans-Montana where the devastating fire took place Jan 1 right after midnight is about 90 miles west of the Ticino region.
Not bad for a prediction 417 years ago.
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CJC
A swing and a miss...
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Patrick Conklin
The fire was in Valais, not Ticino. Not even close
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Kenneth Norman Kroeger Jr
Not sure if you believe in Nostradamus and his predictions as they are usually vague but in 1555 he had one that was a bit more specific for 2026.
Blood in Switzerland
Nostradamus’ predictions are often incredibly vague, but he is occasionally very direct. For 2026, Nostradamus says that "the Ticino will overflow with blood" and there will be "deaths, drowned by the long-edged blow."
The Ticino is a southern Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, and considering the specificity of the prediction, any Nostradamus-believing residents may want to consider relocating.
The Swiss resort of Crans-Montana where the devastating fire took place Jan 1 right after midnight is about 90 miles west of the Ticino region.
Not bad for a prediction 417 years ago.
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Robert Louis Rada
May have missed that thunderbolt by a year...
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P. Keith Benefiel
Thunderbolt? Golf Course? Hmm...
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Delmar Germyn
Dont get your hopes up..
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Rev Elle
LOLOLOLOL yaaaaaaas!
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Oliver
I also love to read Nostradamus. As to the accuracy, Time Lines have changed far too much for much to remain.
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Oliver
I also love to read Nostradamus. I also believe that certain people have special skills - that are spirit led. As to the accuracy, Time Lines have changed far to much for anything to still remain.
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Todd Richard Thorne
The thunderbolt reference most likely isn't an actual lightning strike nor a conventional bullet. When even a small nuclear device is exploded, the thermal mushroom cloud gives off radioactive lightning bolts that destroys everything in its path. Too many countries with radical leaders, including our own here in America, are trigger happy with their fingers on buttons. As for the "bee's", I believe that is a metaphorical term as certain countries have "silent whisper" aircraft such as our Spec Ops attack helicopters that leave death and destruction. I believe in most of his predictions but some are too vague on context and date profiling. But take heed on a lot that's going on in the world and the outline of his previous predictions. He may have not seen them as single individual happenings, but as a warning that given too many corrupt powerful people with corrupt ambition's, history will repeat itself over and over again until we the people see and recognize it and put a stop to it.
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Harold George Chauvin
Nope, not Trump. Same was said about Obama and he has come and gone, but not before doing more damage to America than any previous American president. Name on coins and objects isn't what that prophecy was about. Nostradamus prophecies were related to astrological signs. So the times were approximate rather than specific. Most people who publish their interpretation of prophecies do so for their own attention.
People have always been obsessed with doomsday that they forget they are to live each day as if it's their last day here. This is especially important for those of us who realize that this is only a stepping stone in our spiritual growth. Everyday we face our own spiritual challenge. Some we pass, some we fail but try again. Different religions, different terms, same stuff. Keep that in mind when being critical of someone else's way of thinking.
Plan your future, save and build, but always try to be spiritually ready as Love is the only treasure you will get to take with you.
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Roy S. Thorpe
Every day in 2026 a great ball of fire shall rise in the eastern sky and it shall travel through the heavens only to set in the western sky! Some times the ball will hidden from sight by dark gray mists which will block the view of this wondrous ball! Fear not for the gray mists shall bring life giving waters from heaven!
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Richard T. Dallas
AS FAR AS FALSE PROPHETS AND BLOWHARDS GO, NOSTRADOMAS IS FUN TO READ. Rich Dallas-Chaplain-A.C.L.C.
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Michiko Roberts
I believe in the predictions but as a example when it comes to bees I myself see it as a upheaval of a army with swords and not directly insects. Just my thinking as their stingers and the sound bees make could reference a group that has made much noise before their attach. That is how they interpreted things back in the day.
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Michael Manning
I totally believe that him and others can see the future some in greater detail.
The thing is can we change these visions and keep the Christians safe.
I believe the good Christian’s do change the core of evil every single day. Jesus will put us in the correct place to change the outcome of all visions but a percentage of evil gets through because a small percentage of Christians will not trust In Jesus
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Lawyer John
As noted elsewhere, These "predictions", with those of other "prophets" are extremely vague and are applied after an even has occurred. I suspect he wrote these to enhance his reputation.
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Joseph Grieco
Nostradamus has been interpreted and misinterpreted ever since King Henri II's death during a tournament.
“The young lion will overcome the older one, On the field of combat in a single battle; He will pierce his eyes through a golden cage, Two wounds made one, then he dies a cruel death.”
After that, every prediction has been warped and twisted to fit the beliefs of whoever wants them,
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Lawrence A. Benson
Very well stated, Mr. Grieco.
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Alejandro Medina de Wit
Agreed. Like the newspaper horoscopes, it can be accommodated to every desire, fear, political or social event you feel deem fit
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Patrick Conklin
Did you know that the prediction you referenced wasn’t printed until 2 years after the actual event?
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Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski
blest be amen.
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Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski
interesting article. God wont give us more than we can handle. I hope & pray that everyone has a better year than last year be happy in 2026. Blest be amen.
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Joe R Day
It is my opinion that the saying "God won't give us more than we can handle." to be cruelly untrue.
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Nicholas J Page
Nostradamus couldn't see into the future no one can not even weather forecasters get it right. As for a swarm of bees at night total rubbish bees do not come out at night. Lightening bolt can happen anytime anywhere so that's false.Like all of his predictions all fake. Apart from that Happy New Year Everyone
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Tom Wade
I've learned to never say never because inveribly I get stung. lol But on the bee issue it would almost have to happen based on the the following information. "While roughly 99% of bee species are diurnal (active during the day), about 250 species are known to fly at night or during twilight. These species have specialized anatomical adaptations, such as significantly larger eyes and light-sensing organs called ocelli, that make them up to 27 times more sensitive to light than common honeybees.
Truly Nocturnal Species These bees are capable of flying in complete or near-total darkness:
Indian Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa tranquebarica): The only known "obligately nocturnal" bee, meaning it can forage on the darkest, moonless nights.
Sweat Bees (Megalopta genus): This genus includes several nocturnal species, such as Megalopta genalis and Megalopta atra, common in Central and South American rainforests.
Plasterer Bees (Ptiloglossa genus): Widespread from the southern United States to Argentina, these bees often nest in the ground and are active in low-light conditions."
Please don' take me wrong, you are absolutly right in the the fact that nobody can predict the future. Keep caaring and sharing!
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Joe R Day
"No one can see into the future." That's not entirely true... History has recorded several 'Seers' whose predictions were eerily correct. No disguised quatrains filled with mixed languages to be translated. Her is but one example.
Nicola Tesla, 1926. "When wireless is perfectly applied to the whole earth, we shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance.
"Not only this, but through television and telephony, we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face despite distances of 1000s of miles.
"And the instruments through which we shall be able to do this will be amazingly simple compared to our present telephone. A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket."
Hope this helps to understand why I disagreed with that statement.
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Rev. Laurie G. Cleveland RN
Second submission. I studied a lot about Nostradamus. John Hogue was one of the suthors ofcquite a few books. There are several problems and the biggest are his quatrains and mothing is one after the other and he usedca lot of phrasing to conceal his prophacies. There are several more that have attempted to do the right thing. Some of them had to do with his time period, but some were far into thr future and the things thst he saw, but he didn't know exactly what they were so there are problems. Did he prophesy Napoleon correctly? Pretty much. The fire in London? Yup. Ww2. Unquestioned as is JFk's murder. Prophecies have always interested me. Maybe because it runs through my mum's bloodline as does healing. What really bothers me is the antichrist. Everything is lining up. After all of the killing over ideologies, you would think that this final horror could b avoided. I believe that's why he wrote them. He knew like many people that these didn't have to happen. We are all children of God or whatever it is you call the He/She IAM. I am not being sacriligious. I am looking at the The Bible which, everytime it getscre-written, something is being taken out. They don't want you to know the truth. That is very sad. I did comparative theology in college as I had a choice. Learn or remain ignorant. So here is my bekief. God chose to shoe Himself to different groupd of people so that they could understand him. All believe in a Supreme Being. Every mother wants thr best for her children. One sex idn't beyter thsn the other. One man'svskin doesn't matter. We are all built the same on the inside. I had to leatn this so I could complete my promise to God. Blesdings of Spirit to all.
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Jennifer Roussel
We are all children of God or whatever you choose to call him/her. I call it my source. Jesus said in the Bible, "these thing I do, ye also can do". I have had prophetic dreams since I was a child. People can and will be cruel, especially "good Christians". Do I doubt some prophets? Yes, I do when they come dressed as wolves in sheep's clothing (Jimmy Swaggart, et. al). Are there still good prophets out there? Yes, there are. Use your discernment.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
In my Secular Humanist Pantheist denomination of the Universal Life Church, in order to offer 100% accurate profiles to my congregants, I obtained a “Prophecy Certificate” from my mother church, the ULC (in which I’m an ordained minister/missionary, with two DD’s) Every morning (as long as I get up on time) I prophesize that the Earth will rotate towards the Sun, and later (10 hours, or so) that our Earth will rotate away from our Sun) and for these two daily prophecies, I’ve been accurate 100 % of the time. Any of my fellow ministers, can become as accurate with their prophecies as I am — all they have to do is consult the Farmers Almanac— and select their prophecies accordingly.
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Rev Elle
It seems George Orwell has also been pretty good a prophesying. So has The Simpsons and South Park.
And I agree. If we see all these things coming true WTF aren't we doing anything to stop it? ugh
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Cyndi McReynolds
These are some thought provoking predictions. My first thought about the lightening bolt was that it may be a reference to an aircraft being literally struck down by lightening, so avoid flying in bad weather, your greatness, whoever you may be.
My next thought was about the bees arising in a night strike. This one is a bit more alarming because it might refer to a swarm of drones attacking at night. They do make a sound similar to bees and Nostradamas would have no idea that we would have man made machines capable of attacking en-masses, sounding like a swarm of bees.
The long edged bow, or the longed bow as it would have been called in Nostradamas' time, seems to me to be referencing the capability of delivering missiles at great distances. Again, Nostradamas would have interpreted a vision of those projected objects as arrows, which were his only frame of reference at that time.
Switzerland has been a militarily neutral country since the 19th century, so the likelihood of their engaging in a war is unlikely unless they were defending themselves. Who would want to attack Switzerland?
According to Swiss federal authorities, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are increasingly attempting to procure dual-use goods and technologies for their military and nuclear programs through Switzerland.
The FIS and SECO are raising awareness among Swiss companies about the risks related to espionage, sanctions evasion, and proliferation.
The FIS says they have never experienced such a density of threats. So, yes they are a strategic target.
As far as false idols go, I'd have to go along with the theory that it could be a reference to Trump, for all the reasons listed in the article.
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Tom Wade
Tahnk you for taking the time to post your well thought out post. Here is a reponce I posted to another reply I thout you might find it interesting.
"I've learned to never say never because inveribly I get stung. lol But on the bee issue it would almost have to happen based on the the following information. "While roughly 99% of bee species are diurnal (active during the day), about 250 species are known to fly at night or during twilight. These species have specialized anatomical adaptations, such as significantly larger eyes and light-sensing organs called ocelli, that make them up to 27 times more sensitive to light than common honeybees.
Truly Nocturnal Species These bees are capable of flying in complete or near-total darkness:
Indian Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa tranquebarica): The only known "obligately nocturnal" bee, meaning it can forage on the darkest, moonless nights.
Sweat Bees (Megalopta genus): This genus includes several nocturnal species, such as Megalopta genalis and Megalopta atra, common in Central and South American rainforests.
Plasterer Bees (Ptiloglossa genus): Widespread from the southern United States to Argentina, these bees often nest in the ground and are active in low-light conditions."
Please don' take me wrong, you are absolutly right in the the fact that nobody can predict the future. Keep caaring and sharing!"
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Joe R Day
I must respectfully point out that you have 'interpreted' this so that it 'fits' something that is happening today. In other words, this is your 'opinion'... Therein lies the problem with reading a translated book from the 1500's and trying to shoehorn his writing to fit 2025 happenings. It is always speculation and opinion... It goes without saying, this is my Opinion lol...
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David Cuevas
If it happens it happens. There's nothing you can do about it, theres knowhere you can go.
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Robert Louis Rada
The South Pacific!
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Colleen McAllister
Pure poppycock.
Bees? or drones? he did not have the vocabulary then. Floods and climate change? So many people make predictions now and most of them are vague, insipide, wrong, you tube is full of them 🥱