The current crisis in the Persian Gulf may be only a prelude to worldwide destruction springing from the turbulent region in the 1990s, according to interpretations of the writings of Nostradamus, a 16th century prophet.
Michel de Nostredame, or Nostradamus, whose obscure, darkly prophetic poetry has been credited with accurately foreseeing events for more than 400 years, seems to have predicted the current heightened tension in the Middle East.
Many interpreters of the cryptic verse of the French physician- turned-prophet say he predicted the rise in the Middle East of an 'Antichrist' who would unite the Arab world and stage an attack on the West with nuclear and chemical weapons toward the end of the 20th century.
'In the year 1999 and seven months, from the sky will come the great king of terror,' Nostradamus wrote. 'He will revive the memory of the king of the Mongols.'
Some scholars have interpreted the following translation of verses Nostradamus wrote in the mid-1500s as predicting an attack on New York City and New York State, which lie between the 40th and 45 parallels.
'The sky will burn at 45 degrees. Fire approaches the great new city. Immediately huge, scattered flame leaps up...
'Garden of the world, near the new city, in the road of the hollow mountains. It will be seized and plunged in the tank, forced to drink water poisoned with sulphur.'
According to some interpreters and believers in Nostradamus, the attack will herald the beginning of World War III, during which nuclear weapons will ravage the earth for 27 years.
'The Antichrist will soon annihilate three countries. The war he will wage will last 27 years. Opponents will be put to death. Blood from bodies will redden the water, the land will be riddled with blows.'
In many of his predictions, Nostradamus seems to point toward a growing alliance between the Soviet Union and the United States, his followers say, noting the alliance eventually will quash the Middle Eastern forces.
But the meaning of each four-line verse in which Nostradamus crafted his grim poetry is anything but clear.
The seer wove together strands of Latin, Latinized-French and phonetic Greek. His prophecies, peppered with double meanings, puns and key words, were linguistic labyrinths even for scholars of his day, let alone modern translators.
Many of the 20th century interpretations of Nostradamus's predictions fail to pass the ultimate test -- they simply have not come true. Some academics maintain his prophecies were solidly rooted in the 1500s, others say they were so vague that, with a little imagination, they could fit almost any event.
For example, Nostradamus predicted the decline of Spanish power in the Mediterranean during the mid-1660s and the rise of the influence of the French. In fact, the opposite occurred.
Nonetheless, Nostradamus and his gloomy predictions have been remarkably durable, retaining widespread credibility for more than 400 years.
Since his book of poetic predictions, Propheties, was first printed in 1568, it has spawned hundreds of translations and interpretations and has yet to go out of print.
Among events Nostradamus has been credited with accurately predicting are, the rise of Adolf Hitler, various battles during World War II, London's Great Fire of 1666, the French Revolution and Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.
