# Where does it say in historic texts that Syria will be start of WW3 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938 "2016-02-12T15:37:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/1 "2016-02-12T15:37:19Z")
Rumour going round that it was predicted in ancient writings that WW3 will start in Syria. Where? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/2 "2016-02-12T15:49:53Z")
[This rather unscientific website](http://endtimesprophecyreport.com/tag/world-war-3/) claims there’s a connection between Syria and Revelation 6:4, but you can interpret an ancient writing to mean just about whatever you want it to mean. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/3 "2016-02-12T15:53:53Z")
It’s in the [Hadith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabiq#In_Islamic_eschatology); _The Last Hour would not come until the Romans land at al-A’maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the earth at that time will come from Medina (to counteract them).[7]_ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/4 "2016-02-12T15:54:55Z")
There are no ancient writings that mention World War III. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/5 "2016-02-12T16:21:34Z")
[Top 10 Nostradamus Predictions for 2016](http://alexnoudelman.com/top-10-nostradamus-predictions-for-2016/) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/6 "2016-02-12T16:32:12Z")
Here’s a checklist of what Nostradamus had predicted for 2015: > **[predictionsofnostradamus.com](http://predictionsofnostradamus.com/what-did-nostradamus-predicts-for-2015/)** > > This domain may be for sale! ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/7 "2016-02-12T16:43:07Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Top 10 Nostradamus Predictions for 2016](http://alexnoudelman.com/top-10-nostradamus-predictions-for-2016/) Truly amazing how well Nostradamus writes modern English … so you know it _has_ to be true. I am worried about the Poles melting, is that all the Poles or just the ones in Poland? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/8 "2016-02-12T16:43:40Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Here’s a checklist of what Nostradamus had predicted for 2015: > > [predictionsofnostradamus.com](http://predictionsofnostradamus.com/what-did-nostradamus-predicts-for-2015/) And boy did he nail it! ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/9 "2016-02-12T16:46:09Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > Rumour going round that it was predicted in ancient writings that WW3 will start in Syria. > > Where? > [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > It’s in the [Hadith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabiq#In_Islamic_eschatology); > > _The Last Hour would not come until the Romans land at al-A’maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the earth at that time will come from Medina (to counteract them).[7]_ The reason this little piece of prophecy has any significance in today’s public discussion is that it’s a part of the philosophical foundation of [Daesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant#Eschatology): > [@Wikipedia](#): > > One difference between ISIL and other Islamist and jihadist movements, including al-Qaeda, is the group’s emphasis on eschatology and apocalypticism—that is, a belief in a final Day of Judgment by God, and specifically, a belief that the arrival of one known as Imam Mahdi is near. ISIL believes that it will defeat the army of “Rome” at the town of Dabiq, in fulfilment of prophecy. The supporting cite for that part of the wiki article is article in The Atlantic online called [“What ISIS Really Wants”](http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/), which is also an interesting read. So, this claim is interesting because it’s the reason for the Daesh version of [immanentizing the eschaton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanentize_the_eschaton) ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/10 "2016-02-12T16:57:45Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Truly amazing how well Nostradamus writes modern English … so you know it _has_ to be true. I am worried about the Poles melting, is that all the Poles or just the ones in Poland? It would be kind of nice to link to the original text. The 2015 link talked about mount St Helen. I am pretty sure that mount St Helen was not named that by 1503 when Nostradamas died. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/11 "2016-02-12T17:33:01Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > It would be kind of nice to link to the original text. [Here you go](http://www.propheties.it/1500to1567.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/12 "2016-02-12T17:59:08Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > Rumour going round that it was predicted in ancient writings that WW3 will start in Syria. > > Where? Well thats where it started in the book alas babylon Declan ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/13 "2016-02-12T18:08:48Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Here you go](http://www.propheties.it/1500to1567.htm). Unfortunately that link is blocked at work. But I assume it links to Nostradamus’ writings. I was hoping that the people that say > [@](#): > > Western USA will suffer the major earthquake. Mount St. Helen may have the major volcanic eruption happening in May 2015, possibly. Even worse, the events may turn to be the superb volcanic eruption with the beginning of an earthquake. would point to the specific passage that they interpret as referring to the USA and mount St. Helen. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/14 "2016-02-12T18:47:02Z")
Good discussion of this in The Atlantic [here](http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/): > [@](#): > > The Islamic State has attached great importance to the Syrian city of Dabiq, near Aleppo. It named its propaganda magazine after the town, and celebrated madly when (at great cost) it conquered Dabiq’s strategically unimportant plains. It is here, the Prophet reportedly said, that the armies of Rome will set up their camp. The armies of Islam will meet them, and Dabiq will be Rome’s Waterloo or its Antietam. > > The Prophetic narration that foretells the Dabiq battle refers to the enemy as Rome. Who “Rome” is, now that the pope has no army, remains a matter of debate. But Cerantonio makes a case that Rome meant the Eastern Roman empire, which had its capital in what is now Istanbul. We should think of Rome as the Republic of Turkey—the same republic that ended the last self-identified caliphate, 90 years ago. Other Islamic State sources suggest that Rome might mean any infidel army, and the Americans will do nicely. Though what I found most interesting is this factoid. The critical action in ISIS’s apocalyptic prophecy is taken by Jesus: > [@](#): > > After its battle in Dabiq, Cerantonio said, the caliphate will expand and sack Istanbul. Some believe it will then cover the entire Earth, but Cerantonio suggested its tide may never reach beyond the Bosporus. An anti-Messiah, known in Muslim apocalyptic literature as Dajjal, will come from the Khorasan region of eastern Iran and kill a vast number of the caliphate’s fighters, until just 5,000 remain, cornered in Jerusalem. Just as Dajjal prepares to finish them off, Jesus—the second-most-revered prophet in Islam—will return to Earth, spear Dajjal, and lead the Muslims to victory. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/15 "2016-10-17T15:34:01Z")
Dabiq was liberated from Daesh recently [Cite](http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Turkish-operations-in-Syria-to-continue-after-Dabiq-liberated-470254) [Cite](http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/975074/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-ash-carter-on-the-liberation-of-dabiq) and [del]penis[/del] Armageddon did not ensue. 😛 So what will Daesh call their magazine now? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/16 "2016-10-17T16:05:46Z")
Predictably, they claim that the time for the foretold battle has yet to come. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/17 "2016-10-17T16:19:40Z")
Does it say it anywhere outright, as opposed to being an arcane interpretation? ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/18 "2016-10-17T16:40:11Z")
Predicting that there will be a war somewhere in the middle east doesn’t exactly take a lot of prophetic ability, so any prediction that says ‘there will be war in the middle east, then bad stuff happens’ would need to explain why all of the previous wars in the area don’t trigger the prophecy. And no ancient texts would actually predict World War III because no one came up with that name until after World War II started, calling whatever they predict ‘World War III’ is clearly someone putting a modern ‘interpretation’ on words that mean something different. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/19 "2016-10-17T17:01:22Z")
When I was a kid I told my mother I had to choose between immanetizing the eschaton and cleaning my room. ETA: That started as a joke, but call me Candide. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938/20 "2016-10-17T17:44:10Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Predictably, they claim that the time for the foretold battle has yet to come. Well … they’re right in that. No battle anywhere anytime will ever foretell some silly second coming. But it is a convenient excuse for them to keep promising “Wait 'til next year! We’ll be back.” I was going to make a joke about the Chicago Cubs, but that just miiiight be tempting Fate a bit too much. For once. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-it-say-in-historic-texts-that-syria-will-be-start-of-ww3/745938.md?page=2)