Wikipedia: “The Bible code, also known as the Torah code, is a series of messages alleged to exist within the Bible text, that when decoded form words and phrases supposedly demonstrating foreknowledge and prophecy. The study and results from this cipher have been popularized by the book The Bible Code.” When this first became popularly portrayed in documentaries, I admittedly was impressed. The problem with conjecture, in general, and something I’ve come to know over time is that, although it can look extremely convincing, unless you have knowledge in that field, it can simply be deceptive.
I didn’t know other research was going on to disprove it quite neatly. An interesting article put it this way: “When the Bible Code first became notorious, the claim was made that ‘no other book contains these codes." The bible was unique. However, as time as gone by, this claim of uniqueness has been completely disproved. Amazing codes have been found in War and Peace (in the Hebrew translation) and in Moby Dick (in the English translation) and even in the text on cereal boxes.
This really does indicate that a person should always listen to two sides of any debate if you want to make an informed decision. Codes are found in any piece of writing, in any language, and, yes, even the most fantastic and unbelievable predictions of the future are found everywhere and anywhere.”
Here are some samples of the Bible Code predictions in 2008:
In the sea; a shifting of the crust.
Groan of the Earth, but in the depths. - The mound of year 5768 (2008).
Groan of the Earth. - Law of the pole. - Rise in the west.
Reversal of the Pole; the sufficient burden. - From Yah; vast is the earthquake! - Since it comes from the year of 5768 (2008).
Shrieking of the Earth.
Rebelliousness of the sunrise.
And we complain that Nostradamus was vague in his descriptions?
Proponents of the Bible Code are really similar to those frightened folks who depend on psychics to tell them what’s going to happen. Some people don’t want to let life unfold and are terrified of the lack of control we have over future events. They clutch and desperately claw to find some ledge to hold onto. Anyone with foreknowledge is sought out by these weak-willed people.
The Bible Code has its audience willing to pay for the book and all the computer programs to try and get an edge up. They probably also believe 2012 is the end of the world. It seems in a way to counter the message that the Christian God would have for His followers; to plod on knowing the future is unclear and continue the human experience for the afterlife reward. Or, as a wise person once said, "we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings have a human experience."
This is in no way a post about the efficacy of the Bible. The Bible should stand alone as the single best collection of life lessons and instructions on living that was ever composed by different people, different languages, different times; all of them wise and good storytellers (well, some of them were. Did you ever trudge through Genesis and its “begat” passages?). The true content in the Bible is not in mathematical codes believed to be hidden messages from God. The true content is in its meaning as a whole and the messages from our ancestors.