First, here is an older translation, which is made much clearer in the newer translation listed below:
The Rhodians will demand relief,
Through the neglect of its heirs abandoned.
The Arab empire will reveal its course,
The cause set right again by Hesperia. (C4: Q39)
Here is a modern translation:
The people of Rhodes will demand help.
Forsaken by neglect of their heirs.
The Arab Empire will slack its course,
Its cause revived again by Spain.
Rhodes was invaded by the Ottomans in 1522 and finally obtained relief 1912 when it was freed by the Italians and was eventually returned to the domain of Greece. Notice that this passage predicts the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and that it will be revived. It will not be revived by the West but because of the West, which refers to it reviving to conquer the Western nations. Spain was once conquered by Muslims and then reconquered, so if its cause is revived by Spain, then this could indicate that its desire is to reconquer all land that was once part of the original Ottoman Empire, but that did not include Spain.
Nostradamus also predicted that a Muslim in the Middle East will rise to invade Europe and bring terror to all humanity, which means he will be a global terrorist and he may be the leader of the coming Islamic empire:
One who the infernal gods of Hannibal
Will cause to be reborn, terror of mankind
Never more horror nor worse of days
In the past than will come to the Romans through Babel. (C2 Q30)
Hannibal was what we would call the arch enemy of the Romans, he devoted his life to fighting them. This passage indicates that those who live in the same region where he lived will rise to attack Italy again. Hannibal lived in what is today Tunisia, a Muslim nation between Libya and Algeria. All those nations were once part of the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, it refers to the rebirth of the Islamic Empire.
The words “never more horror” indicates that this will take place during World War III and may indicate nuclear war. The words “nor worse days” probably refers to the Great Tribulation. Notice also that the people spoken of will bring terror, the very word we use to describe these people today; “terrorists.”
Babel is located in present-day Iraq, a Muslim nation, and its mention here indicates that Iraq will be aligned with those in North Africa that invade Italy and other European nations.
Hannibal defeated Rome so thoroughly that in one battle over 50,000 Roman soldiers were killed, not one survived. But Hannibal did not sack and burn the city of Rome as he could have done allowing Rome to eventually rebuild its army and defeat Hannibal. Rome then attacked Hannibal’s home city, Carthage, which was a great and prosperous city; those that survived the attack were sold into slavery, only ruins remained of Carthage. Does Nostradamus also intend the meaning that after the Muslim empire attacks Europe, Europe will totally destroy them?
Out of the country of Greater Arabia
Shall be born a strong master of Mohammedan law.
He shall vex Spain and conquer Grenada.
And by sea shall come to the Italian nation. (C5:Q55)
This passage indicates that someone from the Middle East, near or in Saudi Arabia, will lead an army to conquer Spain and other nations in Europe.
One prophecy may refer to Saturn being close to Earth for seven days:
The great star will burn for seven days,
The cloud will cause two suns to appear:
The big mastiff will howl all night
When the great pontiff will change country. (2:41)
The Pope will flee when the armies of Islam and/or Russia invade Europe, which is the big mastiff. A “mastiff” is a great evil. the Sun could burn with extra heat for 7 days.
The great mountain, seven stadia round,
after peace, war, famine, flooding.
It will spread far, drowning great countries,
even antiquities and their might foundations. (C:1 Q:69)
Some translations of this passage suggest an asteroid impact, but this one could easily be the mountain of the second trumpet that will slide into the ocean. It could be saying that peace, war, famine, & flooding follows this event, rather than the mountain slide happening after those events.
The year of the great seventh number accomplished,
It will appear at the time of the games of slaughter:
Not far from the great millennial age,
When the buried will go out from their tombs. (C10:Q74)
The great seventh number could to the 7th trumpet which will bring the resurrection, which is clearly described here. Notice that he uses the same word that Rev. 10 uses, “the mystery of God will be accomplished” (10:7). What will appear is not even hinted at, perhaps the sign of the cross in the sky. The “great millennial age” could be the start of the Kingdom Age.
After great trouble for humanity, a greater one is prepared
The Great Mover renews the ages:
Rain, blood, milk, famine, steel and plague,
In the heavens fire seen, a long spark running. (C2:Q49)
We can see this referring to the time when God will bring in the Kingdom Age. The “great trouble” is the Great Tribulation and the even greater event is the global destruction by fire from heaven, at the end of it. The long spark running could be the tail of a comet or asteroid.
Sun twentieth of Taurus the earth will tremble very mightily,
It will ruin the great theater filled:
To darken and trouble air, sky and land,
Then the infidel will call upon God and saints. (C9:Q83)
This quatrain seems to say that a great earthquake will destroy a stadium filled with people, darkness will come with poison air, and many sinners will repent. Sounds like something I have read somewhere before?!
Nostradamus prophesied about a city that will be hit by a tsunami and it likely refers to New York City:
Garden of the world near the new city,
In the path of the hollow mountains:
It will be seized and plunged into the Tub,
Forced to drink waters poisoned by sulfur. (C10: Q49) (Leoni, p. 49)
New Jersey is the Garden State, just across the bay from New York City. The “path of hollow mountains” refers to long straight roads lined on each side with sky scrapers. Therefore, New York City will be hit by huge tsunamis of poisoned water. A normal tsunami is not poisoned, but one caused by an asteroid ocean impact will be poisoned.