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00:00 In the modern world, it can feel as though we're all hurtling through life at breakneck
00:05 speed, never quite sure of what will happen next.
00:08 However, there are also those who claim to foresee exactly what's coming.
00:13 The making of predictions is universally human.
00:16 We all want to feel as though we have at least a little control over what's lurking on
00:20 the horizon.
00:21 But, as history shows, a select few of us are apparently better at it than others.
00:27 This is Unveiled, and today we're taking a closer look at four ancient predictions
00:32 that came true.
00:35 Do you need the big questions answered?
00:37 Are you constantly curious?
00:39 Then why not subscribe to Unveiled for more clips like this one?
00:42 And ring the bell for more thought-provoking content!
00:45 Throughout history, humankind has continually looked ahead of itself.
00:49 We've forever peered further along in our timeline, trying to make sense of what's
00:53 hiding in our future.
00:54 It's a tricky skill to master, and if there is a science to it, then it's usually the
00:59 case that not everyone's convinced.
01:02 Apparent prophets and supposed future-tellers have almost always been met with skepticism,
01:07 and often with good reason.
01:08 But that said, there are still some instances that stand out as having been remarkably accurate,
01:15 as having come extremely close to the truth that actually unfolded.
01:19 Arguably the greatest and most infamous fortune-teller of ancient times was the Oracle of Delphi
01:24 - a key figure in classical Greek legend and history.
01:28 It's said that she was able to in some way channel spiritual forces between the material
01:32 and immaterial realms, often to inform Greek leaders, warriors, politicians, anyone who
01:39 came to seek her counsel.
01:41 Interestingly, it's said that she may have attained her powers through inhaling a particular
01:45 and unknown gas, but one that some researchers now believe may have been naturally released
01:51 via geological vents in the grounds of her temple.
01:54 But however she did it, the Oracle occasionally delivered some cutting and irrefutable foreknowledge.
02:00 Perhaps most notably, it was she who first foretold the fate of Croesus, the famously
02:05 wealthy one-time ruler of the Kingdom of Lydia.
02:09 It was said that a message from the Oracle was delivered to Croesus in or around the
02:13 year 547 BCE.
02:15 In short, she advised him that if he crossed the Halles River, if he went to war with Persia,
02:21 then a great empire would be destroyed.
02:23 Fueled by confidence and legendary riches, Croesus continued his advance, apparently
02:29 sure that the only lost empire would be the one that he was going to war with.
02:33 However, as history shows, he would ultimately bear witness to the obliteration of his own
02:39 empire, as he lost out to the Persian king Cyrus the Great.
02:43 Although the Oracle's cryptic warning was somewhat open to interpretation, there's
02:48 little denying that they did at least get it right.
02:50 So what do you think?
02:52 Was this a genuine piece of divine inspiration?
02:55 Or more a clever play of words and misdirection?
02:58 Regardless, the fall of Croesus became a cautionary tale in the centuries that followed, echoing
03:03 through the corridors of time and underlining just how important words from the Oracle could
03:08 be.
03:09 There's perhaps only one figure in history who can rival the Oracle when it comes to
03:13 high-profile prophecy.
03:15 The 16th century French astrologer Michel de Nostredame, otherwise known as Nostradamus.
03:22 This legendary seeming seer left behind a trail of cryptic verses that purportedly foretold
03:28 all manner of future events, including among others the French Revolution and the rise
03:33 of Adolf Hitler.
03:34 In the case of the French Revolution, advocates point to various phrases that Nostradamus
03:39 penned, such as references to revolutionary brothers and to situations raised by the rebellious.
03:46 Slightly more specifically, Nostradamus once wrote of the enslaved held captive by the
03:51 nobles in their prisons, which many interpret as predicting the eventual storming of the
03:56 Bastille in 1789.
03:59 In the case of Hitler, Nostradamus wrote verses referring to a child in Western Europe being
04:04 born to poor parents, as Hitler was, who would go on to gain a huge following.
04:09 Meanwhile he also wrote of "ferocious beasts in the same region", of "battlefields"
04:15 and of "a cage of iron".
04:17 For some, the combined writings of Nostradamus amount to a prediction of the rise of the
04:21 Nazis.
04:23 On the other hand, critics argue that whatever Nostradamus had to say was sufficiently vague
04:28 to accommodate numerous interpretations.
04:31 And while he's remembered for "knowing" the future, perhaps his powers were never
04:35 quite so set in stone.
04:37 We're heading a few centuries further back in time, though, for our next claimed fortune-teller,
04:42 whose predictions were so extensive that we're still currently in the midst of them.
04:47 In the 12th century, Saint Malachi, Archbishop of Armagh, was said to have received a series
04:53 of visions depicting the future of the Catholic Church.
04:56 The details have since been preserved, in particular via a list of 112 Latin phrases
05:02 attributed to Malachi that are said to forecast the line of future popes.
05:07 In other words, Saint Malachi's visions can seemingly be consulted and have been analysed
05:12 for hundreds of years because they tell all about every Catholic leader.
05:17 The prophecy of popes, as it's commonly known, unfolds with eerily accurate descriptions
05:22 of pontiffs leading up to the present day, referring to aspects of their rule, key historical
05:28 events or specific individual challenges.
05:31 What's especially concerning, however, for those that subscribe to its accuracy, is that
05:36 the prophecy is now seemingly close to its end.
05:39 By some readings, it could even be that the next pope will be the last pope before the
05:44 apocalypse arrives on Earth.
05:47 As with the Oracle and Nostradamus, however, the seeming accuracy of the prophecy of the
05:51 popes has been called into question.
05:53 The main criticism against it is that, while the record is deemed extremely accurate up
05:58 to around the late 1500s, after then, its effectiveness appears to fall away, and potentially
06:04 with very good reason, as it was in 1595 when the prophecy was first published, by the Benedictine
06:10 monk Arnold Wyan.
06:12 The allegation is, then, that it should serve more as a "historical record" until that
06:17 point, and pure speculation afterwards.
06:21 But what do you think?
06:22 Finally, and as if the fall of empires, the rage of war, or the supposed divinity of papal
06:27 ascendancy weren't enough, then how about modern technology?
06:31 Now, in this case, the number of attempted predictions from the past is through the roof.
06:36 It's a feature of humanity that we can see working in the here and now, as well, given
06:40 the continual stream of future predictions that we ourselves make for the coming years.
06:46 That said, there are again some who come far closer to the truth, far more often.
06:51 Francis Bacon was one such figure, operating at the height of the Renaissance period in
06:56 the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
06:59 While never revered as a prophet in quite the same way as Nostradamus was, many of Bacon's
07:03 seeming predictions trace back to an unfinished novel of his, New Atlantis.
07:08 It's a cautionary tale borrowing heavily from the long-told Legend of Atlantis, complete
07:13 with the moral warning that greed and arrogance could ultimately lead to destruction.
07:18 But the details of Bacon's vision are especially of interest.
07:22 In the text, he refers to ways of "imitating the flights of birds" and to "ships that
07:27 can travel underwater", seemingly imagining the planes and submarines of today.
07:32 There's also an apparent importance on "engine houses", which could double up as
07:36 the factories that would go on to power the Industrial Revolution.
07:40 In general, Bacon was outlining his idea of a better world shaped by science.
07:45 This is what his New Atlantis amounts to.
07:48 And so, somewhat unsurprisingly, Bacon's supporters now believe that he was in fact
07:53 simply way ahead of his time… and that his writings really did foretell what was to come.
07:59 So what's your verdict?
08:01 On the Oracle of Delphi, Nostradamus, Saint Malachy, and Francis Bacon?
08:06 All of them were clearly interested in peering into the future.
08:10 All of them shared in abundance that oh-so-human trait of wanting to know what comes next.
08:15 And all of them reportedly divulged what would go on to become some vital information.
08:20 These figures of times gone by offer a glimpse into a certain branch of mysticality that
08:25 has captured human imagination for centuries.
08:28 And whether born of divine insight, poetic ambiguity, or sheer coincidence, their prophecies
08:34 continue to spark curiosity and debate.
08:37 Reason and scepticism are never far away, and perhaps with good reason.
08:42 But nevertheless, those are four ancient predictions that came true.
08:48 Most of the myths and legends of India are derived from ancient religious texts.
08:52 They've been passed down through the ages, enthralling generations of readers and listeners.
08:58 But over the years, they've also been interpreted as portals and doorways giving insight into
09:03 the future of humanity.
09:05 This is Unveiled, and today we're exploring 4 Bizarre Predictions from Ancient Indian
09:10 Texts.
09:11 Are you a fiend for facts?
09:13 Are you constantly curious?
09:15 Then why not subscribe to Unveiled for more clips like this one?
09:18 And ring the bell for more fascinating content!
09:20 We'll start on a somewhat pessimistic note.
09:23 A key concept for today's video is that in Hinduism, time is cyclical.
09:28 Each cycle lasts 4,320,000 years and is comprised of four great seasons, or yugas.
09:35 Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga.
09:40 According to various ancient texts, we're now in the last of those, the Kali Yuga.
09:45 It's generally described as being 432,000 years long and is said to have begun in the
09:51 year 3,102 BC, at the climax of an epic war, the Kurukshetra War.
09:58 So, while we're already some 5,000 years through this final season, there are still
10:02 426,000 years left for it to run.
10:06 But the bad news is that the world of the Kali Yuga isn't a good one.
10:10 And our first bizarre prediction for the future of humanity is, well, that we've only just
10:15 begun an age of unrelenting darkness, misery, and vice.
10:20 With each yuga, humanity's moral and physical well-being deteriorates.
10:25 Which means that the Kali Yuga is the summit of our deterioration, the pinnacle of all
10:30 of our problems.
10:31 And unfortunately, it's been invariably highlighted how we can seemingly see signs
10:35 of the Kali Yuga all around us today.
10:38 In this most unfortunate of seasons, humanity's spiritual purpose is said to have diminished.
10:44 Wealth becomes the key metric, but it's often guided by deceit and corruption.
10:48 Law and order are then guided by wealth, while the collection of taxes hangs heavy over a
10:53 busy, bustling society.
10:55 These conditions are then worsened by things like war, conflict, famine, drought, harsh
11:00 weather and disease, leading to more and more suffering.
11:04 As part of the Kali Yuga, it's the most corrupt who rise to political power, and they
11:09 use that power to control everyone else.
11:11 For those more inclined with a cynical worldview, then the most bizarre aspect to these predictions
11:16 might only be how close to real life they appear to fall.
11:20 And it's going to get worse before it gets better.
11:22 That's because today's second bizarre prediction for the future is World War Three.
11:27 Thankfully, the Kali Yuga story concludes with the eventual arrival of a messianic figure
11:32 known as Kalki.
11:34 At the latest, this should happen around the year 428,899, but some say it could happen
11:40 before then.
11:41 It's said that Kalki, the tenth and last incarnation of the god Vishnu, will one day
11:46 bring the cycle of yugas to an end, refresh the seasons, and move us back to the first
11:51 yuga, the Satya Yuga, which should be of golden age.
11:54 It's just that between now and then, it's predicted that rampant corruption, poverty,
12:00 greed, hatred, and intolerance will have utterly deprived humanity of its soul… and World
12:05 War Three could be the endgame for all of those issues.
12:09 While the Great Kalki's arrival does have the upside of bringing this nightmarish time
12:13 to an end, it's also said that it will happen only following a great war.
12:18 A war vast and devastating enough that it will leave the world in total ruin.
12:22 And today, most onlookers agree that World War Three will do exactly that.
12:27 Most texts stop short of going into great detail about what the war could look like,
12:32 and most don't suggest that it's coming tomorrow.
12:35 But it is coming, and when it happens, humanity will have perhaps reached its lowest ebb.
12:41 Of course, we know that human history is already strife with war, conflict, and suffering.
12:45 But we also know that, somewhat ironically, some wars have served as a means toward technological
12:50 advancement as well.
12:52 And in Hindu mythology, wars have often been portrayed in this way, wherein they, too,
12:57 feature the use of imaginative machines and contraptions.
13:01 One such machine, the Vimana, particularly stands out as it appears to be a prediction
13:06 - today's third prediction - toward modern-day spaceflight and propulsion technology.
13:11 The ancient Vimanas were machines piloted by the gods.
13:15 They came in all shapes and sizes and were multi-use, made for land and sea as well as
13:19 for space travel.
13:21 References to them have been found in many ancient texts, including the Hindu epic Mahabharata
13:26 and another, more contemporary text, the Vimanaka Shastra.
13:30 One particular passage in the Mahabharata, for example, provides a description of the
13:34 Vimana that's reminiscent of jet propulsion, referring to them "radiating light" and carrying
13:40 a "deep rumbling sound".
13:43 The Vimanaka Shastra also includes similar references, indicating, for instance, that
13:47 "the Vimana propulsion was enabled by the use of rotating gyroscopes of electricity
13:51 and mercury, in what's essentially a vortex engine".
13:55 Importantly, the Vimanaka Shastra was penned less than one hundred years ago, so it can
14:00 by no means be considered an ancient text.
14:02 Plus, a 1974 study of it, carried out by the Indian Institute of Science, found that the
14:07 crafts detailed within it were unfeasible and were much more closer to fictional steampunk
14:12 flying machines than real life.
14:14 Nevertheless, this hasn't stopped theorists from listing it as the last in a long line
14:18 of works that seemingly pre-empt the engines, systems and machines developed by the likes
14:23 of NASA ever since the 1950s.
14:26 But finally, Hindu scriptures touch on many more cosmological concepts, too - not just
14:30 space travel.
14:31 The legend of Revati, found in the Vishnupurana text, for example, provides the basis for
14:36 today's fourth bizarre prediction - that humanity, and the world, is shaped by time dilation.
14:43 It's estimated that the Vishnupurana was composed between 1,100 and 2,200 years ago,
14:49 and yet it includes within it a mode of thought more in tune with Albert Einstein and twentieth
14:54 century science.
14:55 In the story, Revati is the daughter of King Kakudmi, a descendant of the sun god, Surya.
15:01 Believing that no human is worthy enough to marry his daughter, Kakudmi takes Revati
15:06 to seek counsel with the god, Brahma the Creator.
15:09 When they arrive at Brahma's abode, they wait a short time while the god watches a
15:13 musical performance.
15:15 Then, when they explain the situation to him, and when Kakudmi requests that a suitable
15:19 partner be found for his daughter while presenting a short list of candidates, Brahma laughs.
15:25 He explains that time isn't the same across different levels of existence.
15:31 So, within the short time that Kakudmi and Revati had awaited his counsel, 108 yugas
15:37 - that's more than 100 million years - had passed on Earth.
15:41 Which means that every suitor on Kakudmi's short list will have died long ago, as well
15:45 as all of his and Revati's friends, family and everyone they'd ever known.
15:50 Returning to Earth, Kakudmi and Revati marvel at the incredible changes that have taken
15:55 place on their home planet, during what had seemed a brief visit to Brahma.
15:59 And again they bear witness to the shocking extent of humanity's regression, having
16:03 been away from it for so long.
16:06 But regardless of how humanity may have fared, the central concept here is literally millennia
16:11 ahead of its time.
16:13 Time dilation is a relatively modern school of scientific thought, but the ancient scholars
16:17 appear to have predicted its nature within this story.
16:21 Now we see it as a basis for scientific experiment and science fiction, with various movies featuring
16:27 characters who age differently to everyone else because of the physical journeys they
16:31 take through space and reality.
16:33 But really, Revati was the first to take that trip.
16:37 Such is the rich and huge history and tradition that the ancient texts cover.
16:41 It would be impossible to summarise all of them within one video, but we can see in just
16:46 these four cases that the earliest works, at times, provided a window into the future.
16:51 And part of that future is what we're living in today.
16:54 The nods towards space travel and flying machines certainly fit.
16:58 The discussion around time and the true nature of reality still feels very modern.
17:02 It remains to be seen whether World War Three will take hold, and perhaps it's an issue
17:07 of contention as to whether all the worst parts of the Kali Yuga really are taking place
17:12 today…
17:13 But for now, those are four bizarre predictions from ancient Indian texts.
17:18 What do you think?
17:19 Is there anything we missed?
17:20 Let us know in the comments, check out these other clips from Unveiled, and make sure you
17:23 subscribe and ring the bell for our latest content.
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