what is it ?
The Bible Calculator is a computer tool for researching numbers and time intervals found in God's Word, the Bible.
what does it do ?
Take a look at its major components:
how do I start it ?
Click "Bible-calculator" in the menu above, or click "Use It Now" ( the orange button ) on the homepage.
This will open the Bible-calculator in your browser.
Don't see it? You may need to Enable Java or Get Java on your computer.
"Java" is merely the name of a programming language. Your computer may already have it.
To enable Java: In your web browser, go to the menu at top--
Tools > Internet Options > click the "Advanced" tab > scroll to "Java", and check the box to enable it.
Don't see "Java" listed here? Then you merely need to download and install the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) from the Java site. It is free, safe, quick, and easy. Once there, it will even show you If your computer has Java before doing anything. The Java language and Java website are respected and trusted in the programming world-- there is no cost or risk involved.
After getting Java, you may need to restart your computer and enable Java as described above. Since the Bible-calculator is written in the Java language, your computer will need Java to use it, or even see it.
what happens when I start it ?
There is basically no difference from opening any other webpage.
A computer program called a Java Applet opens inside a regular webpage (an "applet" is a small application...it has nothing to do with apples or Apple Computers).
You have probably already used Java applets online without knowing it. They lend greater computing power to the web experience. The mathematical operations within the Bible-calculator call for greater complexity in their execution than other non-Java web solutions.
why was it made ?
The Bible-calculator is a computer tool for researching numbers and time intervals found in God's word, the Bible.
Every word in the Bible (the original Hebrew and Greek) is true and accurate. There are no mistakes. Nothing in it is by man's design or by blind chance.
An integral part of what God has included in His Word are numbers and years.
1. Numbers: Numbers bear special significance given them by repeated usage in similar contexts. The number 17, for instance, appears frequently in regards to heaven. Multiples of a number may also serve to bring an enhancement to, or an intensification of, the stressed meaning. The 153 fish caught in John 21 equals 17 x 9, or 17 x 3 x 3 (the number 3 stressing God's purpose). Fish are often used to represent those God draws into His kingdom, so the 153 fish would represent those whom God wills to be drawn into heaven.
Numbers may thus contain added meaning, understandable once they are broken down into:
a. Prime numbers (numbers that are not divisible by anything). Some examples: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 23, 37, 43
b. Numbers that, while not "prime", appear frequently in Scripture. For example: 4, 6, 10, 12, 40, 100, 1000.
Here is an informally compiled list of numbers pointed to by Bible content:
-------- CATALOG OF SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS --------
2 - Keepers of Gospel (Israel, churches, true believers);
Doubling-up (certainty)
3 - God's purpose
4 - To the farthest extent (in time, distance, or scope)
5 - The atonement (entails both judgment and salvation)
6 - Work (spiritually, towards salvation or righteousness)
7 - The perfect fulfillment of God's purpose
9 - God's purpose (3) with extra emphasis (3 x 3 = 9)
10 - The completeness of what is in view (10, 100, 1000)
11 - The first coming of Christ (11,000 years after creation)
12 - The fullness of whatever is in view
13 - End of world (begun exactly 13,000 years after creation)
17 - Heaven, People going to Heaven
23 - God's wrath or judgment; Tribulation
37 - God's wrath or judgment
40 - Testing, trial
43 - God's wrath or judgment
84 - Tribulation; Hours in 1/2 week
100 - The completeness of what is in view (10, 100, 1000)
144 - Hours in six days; Twelve dozen
153 - # of days hell on earth; # of fish caught in net (John 21)
168 - Hours in one week
276 - Paul's shipwreck: # of passengers, survivors (Acts 27)
365 - Avg. days per year
666 - # of the beast; 2/3 of 1000, thus 2/3 of any whole
1000 - The completeness of what is in view (10, 100, 1000)
There are some who have tried to apply more mystical systems of "numerology", such as assigning numerical values to letters, etc. They are in danger of violating the strict warning God gives in Revelation 22:18+19, to add no words to the Bible. One must not be so hungry for secret messages from God that one invents a methodology of Bible study that varies from the one God puts forth: Compare spiritual things with spiritual things (compare verses with other verses).
2. Years: God has included enough information in the Bible to piece together a timeline of earth history from creation onward, with many Bible events assignable to precise years:
Creation: 11013 BC... Noah's flood: 4990 BC... the Exodus from Egypt: 1447 BC... etc.
It has been noted by those analyzing this historical record that events occur with curious regularity based on certain intervals of years. These intervals are based on the afore-mentioned numbers of Biblical significance. Yet this research into God's timing is continuing. One of the most-wondered questions is, "When will Christ return?" Or, "When will the world end?"
There is much evidence showing the end will occur in 2011. Hence we are to be seriously studying the Bible, along with its numbers and dates, to behold whatever God will show us in his word... that we may be wise, sober, and ready to warn others.
what about the name ?
The site's name was chosen to be easily remembered and passed along. It would be presumptuous to proclaim it as the ultimate "bible calculator" or the ultimate anything.
It is a collection of functions deemed useful to the Bible student in Time-research, Calendar-understanding, Fact-checking, etc. This tool cannot produce any wisdom. No machine can "squeeze" the Bible like an orange. God will reveal truth and cause believers to understand whatever He wants, whenever He wills.
This computer program is merely a tool in the hands of the student, like a concordance, pen, or paper. It simply does more quickly and efficiently what could be done by hand anyway.
where do these dates and years come from ?
Some time circa 1960 a Bible teacher named Harold Camping pieced together the timeline of Earth's history, using information and clues contained in the Bible. The date of Creation was found to be 11013 BC, the Great Flood in 4990 BC, the Exodus from Egypt in 1447 BC, etc.
In recent years Mr. Camping has been busy researching everything the Bible has to say on the End Times. The mostly-ignored prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel speak of God's plans to conclude Israel (His chosen poeple) in unbelief and cast them off for their treachery.
These chapters speak even now to the churches of the world who, in similar fashion, have strayed from the Bible and emphasized salvation by the works of their own hands. This rejection of the redemptive work of Christ, who alone can save men from destruction for their sins, has brought God's judgment on the earthly institution of the churches in a second fulfillment of these ignored, dust-covered prophesies ...whose predictions for the end of the church are echoed throughout virtually every other book of the Bible.
More recently, 2011 has been tied to timelines and strong hints in the Bible as the year that the world will end and Christ will return. The timing has been further clarified by the Bible's references to months, days, and calendar festivals. Mr. Camping's studies construct a strong case for Destruction on October 21, 2011. (Mr. Camping's recent Bible study, "We Are Almost There", explains all of this.)
While there is some debate as to whether the timing of actual revelation of Bible truths (the time when God opens our eyes and "unseals" scripture) can figure into timelines as events in themselves, certain such dates are (for the time being) included, lest they perchance be shown relevant by the greater timeline analysis allowed by faster computerized methods such as this. Caution is urged.
where can I find faithful Bible teaching and study ?
With faithful Bible teaching a scarce oasis for thirsty believers in these days of tribulation, it is fitting to list here links to several faithful ministries:
Family Radio, a world-reaching radio ministry: www.familyradio.com
Written Bible studies of Harold Camping (President of Family Radio)
E-Bible Fellowship, from a gathering of believers giving weekly Bible messages, available online: ebiblefellowship.com
Bible Ministries Int'l, a non-profit teaching ministry distributing free Bibles: bmius.org
Faithful tracts:
May 21, 2011: Judgment Day / Oct 21, 2011: The End of the World (eBibleFellowship)
Judgment Day (Family Radio)
No Man Knows the Day or the Hour? (Family Radio)
I hope God Will Save Me (Family Radio)
Did God Die For You? (eBibleFellowship)
The End of the Church Age...and After (a book by H. Camping of Family Radio)
can I report problems or offer suggestions ?
Suggestions are welcome-- emails might specify among categories like:
Dates--missing or mistaken; Calculation errors; Appearance; Layout; Convenience; Things to add.
Also: I can't get it to work; How do I use it; Calendar confusion; Misc; etc....
developer@biblecalculator.com
who or what is behind this site ?
The
Bible-calculator and this site are the work of individuals. It is entirely free to
all users. John O'Leary has a BA in computer science from the University of Iowa,
which included a heavy emphasis in math. His wife Barb assisted with usability
testing and project aesthetics.
They live in Iowa near farmland and listen to Family
Radio over local translator K209BQ (95.1 FM). They have visited the fellowships in
Alameda and Philadelphia (eBibleFellowship), where you may have met them. May God
bless us all with His mercy and may our faith endure to the coming end.
Luke 18:8(b) Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?