Disaster have

overtaken countries of course ........ many times throughout history.

However, have prophecies ever served any useful purpose in predicting gloom and doom?

No. The disasters never occur exactly according to any predictions anyway and so they're pointless and useless insofar as preparing anyone to cope.

So if predictions and prophecies aren't accurate, what purpose do they serve other than to inspire fear?

Even Jesus, said ............ Matthew 6:34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

-Vince