Prophecies and Panic: Are We on the Brink of World War III? | TDG Explainer

There have been strains between world powers come to a head after the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities using bunker-busting bombs. It led various Muslim nations to openly support Iran. The U.S. has aggressively supported Israel, making the situation more unstable and potentially leading to a much bigger war.

If Iran retaliates with equivalent force, the threats of a world war increase particularly because some nations in Europe are inclined to side with Israel. China’s and Russia’s silence has also attracted suspicion, increasing speculation on whether they are gearing up for a more prominent role.

Have Predictions Warned Us About World War III?

Although two world wars already rewrote history, the current sophisticated weapons render the likelihood of a third much more devastating. The United Nations, established to avoid just such a world crisis, now appears to be losing control in keeping the peace.

What Triggered the Last Two World Wars?

World War I started on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The resulting war consumed several countries and lasted approximately four years.

World War II broke out on September 1, 1939, with Germany’s invasion of Poland. It raged for almost six years and left unprecedented devastation.

Nostradamus’ Prophecies

16th-century French seer Nostradamus is often quoted in conversations regarding a possible third world war. He mentioned, in Les Prophéties, a great war to be seen in the 21st century, as purportedly originating from Mesopotamia (current-day Iraq) and continuing for 27 years. He foresaw it will start sometime between 2009 and 2013, a time frame that has obviously elapsed without one.

Athos Salom’s Warnings

Brazilian seer Athos Salom, who is sometimes called the ‘Living Nostradamus’, prophesied a global war to come, which will be triggered by EMP and artificial intelligence. He also highlighted rising instability in the Middle East and arms races as potential triggers.

Baba Vanga’s Cryptic Vision

Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga is also known for linking her visions to a potential third world war. She reportedly foresaw the Middle East as the likely epicenter of such a conflict. However, her predictions lack concrete timelines or detailed descriptions.

Indian Prophecy: The Bhavishya Malika

As per the ancient Indian scripture Bhavishya Malika, the last period of the Kali Yuga would see a calamitous war that would last six and a half years. The prophecy mentions an attack on India by China and some Islamic nations but finally foretells India’s victory. It also predicts a sequence of natural catastrophes, such as floods, earthquakes, and a meteorite impact in the Bay of Bengal.

Are These Predictions Credible

While these prophecies from Nostradamus and Baba Vanga to regional texts like the Bhavishya Malika frequently draw public attention, their accuracy is debatable. Many past forecasts have proven unreliable. Still, the current global climate rife with extremism, regional wars, and advanced military tech does heighten concerns.

Ongoing Crises Fuel Global Anxiety

Concerns for a second world war have strengthened because of wars such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which started in 2022. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, has threatened repeatedly to launch nuclear attacks in retaliation if NATO provides additional military aid to Ukraine.

In parallel, the heightening of tensions between Iran and Israel especially after Iran’s missile retaliation to Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities—has become the key flashpoint. The U.S. has since intensified its strikes against Iranian targets, further exacerbating regional tensions.

US-China Frictions Over Taiwan Add to the Risks

Another region of increasing worry is the U.S.-China confrontation on Taiwan. The threat of a Chinese invasion by 2027 was warned about by military experts, putting another twist of instability into the international scene.

The Rising Nuclear Threat

Nuclear threats posed by states like Russia, Iran, and North Korea are on the rise. There are also indications that South Korea is probing nuclear weapons for itself. All of this, along with the explosive growth in military technology, is rendering the world ever more vulnerable.

Record Number of Conflicts in 2024

In 2024, the globe experienced 56 ongoing conflicts, the most since World War II, surrounding 92 nations. There was an escalation of 25% in violent events, resulting in large-scale displacement of people in countries like Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Social Media Buzz

European and North American polls suggest that 41% to 55% of individuals think that a third world war may erupt in the next 5 to 10 years, primarily because of tensions with Russia. On social networking sites, individuals often associate the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine with possible causes of another world war.