Does The Old Testament Really Contain A Secret Code And Predictions?

Could there actually be a hidden code in the Bible that reveals secret messages and even predictions about the future? Have some of these predictions already come to pass, lending credibility to the code’s supposed accuracy? If so, who embedded this coded information in the Bible? Was it God—however we may understand God—or could it be the work of some other mysterious intelligence? The fact is, while many people dismiss claims of The Bible Code as nothing but nonsense, there really could be more to it than many people might think.

Multiple researchers have explored these fascinating claims over the decades, and with rumors that a stone key code waiting to be discovered that will decipher the Bible Code in full, these claims will continue to rumble on for the foreseeable future. Indeed, if there is any truth to the claims that some kind of code and predictions have been written into the Old Testament, then it would be history-changing for all of us.

Whether there is any truth to these claims or not remains to be seen, but it also appears unlikely that those who have been involved with these claims finding their way into the public arena were part of a hoax. With that in mind, we might suspect that rather than being absolute truth and outright hoax, the reality of The Bible Code likely resides somewhere in between.

An Idea That Has Captivated Researchers For Years

The Bible Code, also known as the Torah Codes, has captivated scholars and believers for many years. This intriguing concept suggests that the Bible contains hidden messages, predictions, and prophecies within its text.

The core idea of the Bible Code is that the Bible’s text, particularly the Old Testament, holds encrypted messages that, when deciphered, can reveal future events, historical facts, and even personal details. Supporters of the Bible Code believe these hidden messages were deliberately embedded by a divine source.

What’s particularly interesting is that the Old Testament, which dates back approximately 2,000 to 3,000 years, has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. This preservation, far from being accidental, may have been intended to keep these supposed codes intact. It’s a point worth considering.

The Bible Code gained wider attention following the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on November 4^th, 1995. His assassination sent shockwaves through Israel and the world, profoundly impacting the course of Israeli history.

Warnings Of Assassinations Ignored

However, it later emerged that in September 1994, Rabin had received a handwritten letter warning him of his imminent assassination. The warning even specified the date and the name of his future assassin. Tragically, Rabin dismissed this warning, which turned out to be chillingly accurate.

On the night in question, Yigal Amir approached Rabin at the end of a peace rally in Tel Aviv and, without hesitation, fired three shots at point-blank range, fatally wounding the Prime Minister. Amir’s motivation is believed to have been Rabin’s efforts to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians.

The letter, as it turned out, was sent by American investigative journalist Michael Drosnin. We’ll return to Drosnin and other predictions found in the Old Testament shortly. But first, if the Bible Code is indeed real, how are these complex messages and predictions uncovered?

To truly understand the Bible Code, it’s important to explore the mechanisms and decoding techniques behind it. Doing so will offer a deeper insight into how this mysterious phenomenon works and why it has captivated so many.

Research That Goes Back Centuries

One of the key techniques used to decipher the Bible Code is the Equidistant Letter Sequence (ELS). This method involves carefully selecting letters at regular intervals within the text to form words or phrases that may carry hidden meanings. Advocates of the Bible Code believe that these meaningful ELS combinations can reveal important information embedded within the sacred text. ^[1]

One of the earliest known figures to use this technique was a 13th-century Rabbi, philosopher, and Biblical commentator named Bachya Ben Asher. He is said to have uncovered information about the moon—how it was formed, its cycle, and its exact length of 29.53 days—using ELS. Rabbi Bachya allegedly identified this data by highlighting four letters, skipping 42 letters, and then highlighting four more, continuing this pattern.

Interestingly, the precise lunar cycle of 29.53 days wasn’t conclusively determined and agreed upon until 1996, through careful astronomical observations and calculations. Given this, it seems unlikely that Rabbi Bachya arrived at this information purely by chance.

As the 20th century progressed, some researchers and religious scholars revisited Rabbi Bachya’s findings and methods, seeking to uncover additional hidden messages within the text.

The Great Rabbis Experiment

However, it wasn’t until the advent of the technological revolution in the latter half of the twentieth century—particularly with the arrival of computers—that these codes could be explored more thoroughly and at a much faster pace. With this new technology, more sophisticated methods for deciphering the Bible Code became possible.

One such method involves creating a matrix—a grid-like pattern formed by arranging the text in a specific way. By reorganizing the letters in various directions, researchers believe previously hidden patterns within the sacred text may come to light.

In the mid-1980s, mathematician Eliyahu Rips, physicist Doron Witztum, and journalist Yoav Rosenberg employed statistical analysis and Equidistant Letter Sequencing to unlock the Bible’s secrets in a project they called “The Great Rabbis Experiment.” They used the names of over 30 renowned Rabbis from history—who were born long after the Old Testament was written—and ran a computer program to see if these names appeared in the ancient text using the methods discussed earlier.

To their astonishment, every name was found. Furthermore, by applying matrix grid techniques, they also uncovered the birth and death dates of these Rabbis, all corresponding accurately with the respective names. They repeated the experiment with 30 more names and, once again, the program identified each one along with the correct dates of birth and death.

Even more intriguing was that when they used the novel War and Peace in a similar attempt to find the same names, the program only returned random letters without any meaningful patterns. The three researchers published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Statistical Science, with Rips, in particular, asserting his strong belief that the codes were genuine and could not simply be dismissed as coincidence.

The Investigations Of Michael Drosnin

In fact, Rips had already begun exploring what other information might be hidden within the Old Testament, particularly regarding people alive today and possible predictions about the future. Once again, he made astonishing discoveries.

For instance, in the first week of January 1990, Rips input Saddam Hussein’s name into the computer program to see if it appeared in the Bible Codes. Not only did he find Hussein’s name, but the code also predicted that he would launch an attack on Israel within the month, using a Russian missile. Remarkably, just as the Bible Code indicated, Hussein ordered a strike on Israel on January 18th, 1990, using a Russian missile.

At this point, Michael Drosnin enters the picture. In 1992, while covering conflicts in Israel, Drosnin met with Rips. Although not a religious person, Drosnin was fascinated by Rips’ work and ended up staying in Israel far longer than he had planned to delve deeper into it. ^[2]

Drosnin soon realized that the Old Testament appeared to be filled with predictions and scenarios relevant to the modern world. One of the most intriguing examples he found was in the book of Genesis, where Abraham is told to “Look now toward Heaven and count the stars.” According to the program used by Rips and now Drosnin, the words “Apollo 11” and “Spaceship” appeared alongside the date July 20th, 1969—the date of the first moon landing.

Signs That Future Events Can Be Changed

The pair also discovered the word “Oklahoma” linked to “Murrah”—the name of the building destroyed in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Additionally, they found the phrase “His name was Timothy,” which eerily matched Timothy McVeigh, who was convicted and executed for the attack.

They also uncovered information related to the Shoemaker-Levy comet, which struck Jupiter in July 1994. The code revealed not only the name of the comet but also the phrase “Will pound Jupiter,” along with the precise date, July 16th, 1994, when the comet collided with the gas giant.

During these investigations, Drosnin discovered the name of Israel’s Prime Minister at the time, Yitzhak Rabin, accompanied by the phrase “Assassin will assassinate.” As we know, Drosnin attempted to warn Rabin about this discovery. Beyond the immediate concern of preventing a potential assassination, he also noticed the numbers 57-56. In Hebrew, numbers can carry symbolic meanings, and this combination, according to some researchers, could be interpreted as “you can” or “will you change this.”

To Drosnin, this suggested that future events are not predetermined and can indeed be altered. Despite his warnings, Rabin was assassinated the following year. However, this wasn’t the last time Drosnin would uncover apparent warnings of future events and try to prevent them from occurring.

A Secret Heeding Of Warnings Behind Closed Doors

In January 1996, Drosnin used the Bible Code to identify the word “Libya” and was alarmed to find it associated with the phrase “Atomic Holocaust.” Even more unsettling was the fact that the predicted date for this event was only 24 hours away, on January 27th, 1996. Despite their attempts to warn various authorities, it seemed they were not taken seriously, at least not officially.

As the date approached, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared on television to deliver a speech. During his address, he stated that Arab nations had the right to possess nuclear weapons, particularly those who felt threatened by Israel. While his speech did not escalate into nuclear conflict, it was noteworthy that Gaddafi made these statements on the exact date the Bible Code had indicated an “Atomic Holocaust.”

This led Drosnin to wonder if authorities behind the scenes might have taken his warnings more seriously than he initially thought and possibly negotiated a deal with Gaddafi in secret.

Although not officially confirmed, it is widely believed that after the apparent prediction of Rabin’s assassination, Israeli authorities were less dismissive of the Bible Code than they publicly admitted. As more and more alleged predictions proved accurate, increasing numbers of people began to seriously consider the possibility that the Bible Code might indeed be genuine.

An Ancient Stone Pillar Somewhere Near The Red Sea

One of the most intriguing—and unsettling—predictions attributed to the Bible Code was the death of Princess Diana in a car crash in Paris, France, in August 1997. The Bible Code not only accurately predicted the date and location but also specified that the crash would occur in a tunnel near the River Seine. Additionally, the code appeared to identify the other passengers in the car, Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul.

The Bible Code also seemed to predict the September 11th attacks in 2001, the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, and the pursuit and eventual capture of Osama Bin Laden. However, not all of its predictions came true, leading skeptics to increasingly question its accuracy and authenticity. Still convinced of the Bible Code’s validity, Drosnin sought supporting evidence.

Drosnin claimed he had received information about a stone pillar in Jordan, near the Red Sea, which supposedly contained inscriptions linked to the Bible Code. These inscriptions were said to include encoded predictions and messages about future events. Initially, Drosnin was granted permission to excavate the site, generating excitement among supporters of the Bible Code theory and those eager to validate its claims.

However, the situation took a dramatic turn when the excavation permission was suddenly revoked. The reasons behind this decision remain speculative and controversial, with some attributing it to political or religious pressures, and others citing concerns over potential damage to archaeological sites or doubts about the credibility of the Bible Code theory.

Whatever the case, if this pillar does exist, it remains buried and undiscovered. With Michael Drosnin’s passing in 2020, any future discovery of the pillar would require someone else to continue his work.

The Work Of An Ancient “Intelligence!”

Ultimately, Drosnin believed that “an intelligence” encoded the information within the Bible in such a way that it would only be revealed in the modern era, specifically with the help of contemporary computers. He argued that if modern computers were necessary to decipher the code, then similar advanced computers must have been used to encode it in the first place.

Drosnin strongly suggested that this intelligence could be extraterrestrial beings from another world, and perhaps even another time. He proposed that the Bible Code employed advanced algorithms capable of analyzing and predicting various potential outcomes for humanity. According to Drosnin, if the code could be fully deciphered, it might enable humanity to navigate around and even avoid future disasters.

As one might expect, Drosnin’s theories faced significant criticism. Dr. Rips, who initially introduced the Bible Code to Drosnin, later expressed skepticism about Drosnin’s conclusions, suggesting that Drosnin might have been seeing what he wanted to see rather than objective truth.

Rips himself faced scrutiny over his early work on the Bible Code. Brendan McKay, a computer science professor at the Australian National University, accused Rips of being overly lenient with his interpretations. McKay argued that Rips used initials or nicknames to identify individuals within the Bible Code, a method that McKay demonstrated could also uncover names in any random text, including the novel Moby Dick.

Still A Subject Of Debate

So, what should we make of all this? Is there genuinely encoded information about historical world events in the Old Testament? Could there be predictions about future events waiting to be discovered? Or are the claims of such messages and predictions merely the result of researchers seeing what they want to see, something that could potentially be achieved with almost any text?

The discovery of the Bible Code has certainly sparked interest in the use of codes and patterns within texts for predictive purposes. While the validity of the Bible Code remains debated, its underlying principles have influenced the development of predictive models in fields such as finance and data analysis.

Researchers and mathematicians have explored applying similar coding techniques to other texts, aiming to uncover hidden patterns and messages that might hold predictive value. This has led to advancements in computational linguistics and the creation of algorithms designed to analyze large volumes of text for potential hidden meanings.

Additionally, the study of the Bible Code has prompted a broader discussion about the role of patterns and codes in understanding complex systems. It has challenged traditional views on causality and randomness, suggesting that hidden patterns may exist in various aspects of life and nature.

While the Bible Code may not provide definitive proof of future events, its exploration has opened new avenues for research and inquiry. It has inspired scholars and scientists to think creatively and explore unconventional methods for understanding the world.

Ultimately, the Bible Code continues to intrigue and provoke debate regarding its authenticity. Whether one views it as a source of hidden prophecies or merely as coincidence, examining the Bible Code offers a fascinating perspective on the intersection of faith, mathematics, and human curiosity. Whether this potential code will ever be fully deciphered remains to be seen.

The short video below explores the alleged Bible Code a little further.