Two or three people have protested my mention of the name of Nostradamos in my post: http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2006/jim75-1.htm.

However, as John pointed out, I clearly qualified the mention by saying, "I put no faith in Nostradamus." I reported the matter as an item of interest.

Another writer protested that I quoted the rapture vision of an unsaved person.

Christians are always quick to point out that we must always "test the spirits," as per 1 John 4:1.  The context is to test for the spirit of antichrist.  There are times when this is very important, but other times where it is clearly not intended.

For example, it is amusing to think how Balaam might have handled the situation described in Numbers 22.

Balaam's donkey actually spoke to him!  She said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?'"

What if Balaam had said to himself, "This can't be.  A donkey cannot be a believer.  It must be the antichrist. I'd better 'test the spirits.'"

Then Balaam might have said to the donkey, "Er, excuse me Mr. Donkey, what do you confess?"

Can you imagine the dumb look and blank stare on the donkey's face?  The donkey would probably have given Balaam a puzzled look and replied with a loud, "Hee-haw."

My point is that if God can speak through a dumb donkey, with Balaam not even testing the spirits, God can speak through anyone, including Nostradamos or an unsaved person.

Nevertheless, again I say, based on what I have read, I have no faith in his prophecies.

Jim