Codes in the Bible
QUESTION: Are there hidden codes in the Bible?ANSWER:At first glance, the question "Are there hidden codes in the Bible?" is both innocuous and enticing. It seems harmless enough to explore, and the idea piques our curiosity. There have been authors who claim to have found Bible codes that have been hidden for thousands of years. They claim to have inside information on world events like presidential elections, assassinations, etc. These Bible Codes have no validity. However, there are other codes in the Bible which are to be followed.
The Bible definitely offers us a legal code, a sexual/marriage conduct code, and a code for relating to those in authority over us, among others. But these codes are far from hidden.
Symbolism is prevalent throughout the Bible, especially in The Revelation of Jesus Christ. But do they represent hidden messages? Not to those who believe in Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus spoke of a mystery, or secret, in Mark 4:10-12. He told His disciples that they would know the secret, while those "outside" would not. Was He speaking of a Bible Code, a secret message shared only with members of an "inside" organization? Yes! And no.
The Word of God is a mystery only to those who refuse to believe it. And believing the Gospel message -- that Jesus Christ is God come in human flesh, that He lived as our example and died to set us free from the penalty of sin, and that He rose again to reign from Heaven with God the Father, and that He will come again to establish His kingdom on the earth -- believing that message is 100% a personal choice. Everyone is completely free to believe it -- or to reject it. To those who believe, God gives the Holy Spirit, and He is the one who helps us understand the mysteries and symbols of God's Word, along with its clearly expressed truth. So yes -- only Christians can comprehend God's mysteries. But no...it is not a secret organization. Anyone can become a Christian! In fact, God desires that all would be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-5).
A thorough reading of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) supports this premise. Jesus Christ (God the Son) wanted to make known to His disciples (and to all believers) all there was and is concerning God the Father and God the Son. Come with me to Jesus' last night with His disciples before His "trial" and crucifixion. In John 14, we find Him telling them:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (vs 6).
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans [alone]; I will come to you" (vs 16-18).
"These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helped, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (vs 25-26).
"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. and you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning" (John 15:26-27).
"But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I do depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world [Satan] is judged (John 16:5-11).
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you" (vs. 12-15).
Are there hidden codes in the Bible? Perhaps the better question to ask is, why does it matter? Isn't it more critical to decide what to do with the clear, revealed message of the Bible?
Satan wants nothing more than for Christian and non-Christian alike to miss God's message in Proverbs 3:5-6:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not unto your own understanding;
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."
When we allow ourselves to be caught up in trivial pursuits with no ultimate point, we miss God's purpose for our lives and play right into the hand of God's enemy. Why?
