Mathematics and our world have an interesting relationship, and because of it, it makes bible prophecy astounding. Nevertheless, for some reason, we can use math to do all sorts of things. We design a roller coaster on paper, give the plans to engineers who then build it – and it works! Why? Why does mathematics, which is mental, relate to our physical world so universally and precisely? Philosophers and mathematicians have wondered about it over the centuries without coming up with a real answer. But, I suspect that since mathematics occurs in the mind, as does logic, it relates to actuality because there is a connection between God‘s ultimate mind and our real world. Math and logic reflect the mind of God. Therefore, God has designed our universe so that math works.

Before we get to biblical prophecy, I want to discuss math for a bit. Now, you might want to skip this article if you aren’t mathematically inclined. But, hopefully, I’ve explained things in simple enough terms. So, I have a question.

Mathematical truth, error, and Bible prophecy

If something is not mathematically true, should you believe it? Take, for example, the idea that 2+2 = 4. We know that this is true. We also know that 2+2 = 5 is not true. Therefore, we ought not to believe it.

2 + 2 = 4,  Δ Δ + Δ Δ = Δ Δ Δ Δ        TRUE.    Accept it.
2 + 2 = 5,  Δ Δ + Δ Δ = Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ     FALSE.  Reject it.

That which is false (mathematically and logically) should be rejected, and that which is true ought to be accepted. Therefore we could make the case that there is a moral obligation to believe mathematical truth. After all, all truth comes from God, and therefore all truth has a moral value.

I bring this up because we can look at Bible prophecy and do some mathematical analysis. We can look at the odds of certain events happening. The greater the odds against something happening by chance, the more the implication is that it is not an accident. I’m going to expand on this, but before I do, I’ll need to teach you (if you don’t already know) about exponential notation. Don’t worry. It’s not difficult.

Exponential Notation

Exponential notation is simple. It’s a way of using math to explain things. For example, 3×3 = 9. This is written as 3² = 9.   Also, 3×3×3 = 27. This is written as 3³ = 27.  So the basic principle is simple.  We have a number “x” and an exponent “y,” which looks like this, x^y.  So, for example, 10⁴ would be 10×10×10×10, which equals 10,000. Notice that if we have 10⁴, it is a one followed by four zeros.  10⁷ would be a one followed by seven zeros, or 10,000,000. Likewise, 10²¹ would be one with 21 zeros behind it, or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Now, check this out. If we took a piece of paper that was 1/500 of an inch thick (which is .002″) and tore it in half, we would have two pieces. If we tore both of those in half, we would have four pieces. If we tore those four pieces in half, we would have eight. Then, if we tore those in half, we would have 16 pieces. So it would go as follows that it doubles every time we tear the stack of papers in half: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, etc.

if we tore that single piece of paper in half this way 50 times, how tall would the stack be?  The formula would be written like this .002 x 2⁵⁰.   The result would be in inches.  2⁵⁰ is 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2, or 1,125,899,906,842,624. The thickness of the paper is 1/500th of an inch thick which is .002 inches. The result would be a total of 2,251,799,813,685 inches, which is 187,649,984,473 feet, which is 35,539,769 miles!

Wow!

Now, just so you know, that is 39% of the way from the Earth to the Sun.

Universal Probability Bound

The Christian apologist and mathematician William Demski, has come up with what he calls the Universal Probability Bound.  It is an estimate of the total number of possible events in the entire universe if the universe were 18 billion years old. Now, I certainly do not affirm that the universe is billions of years old (nor, I assume, does Dembski), but just for the sake of argument, let’s work with it since that what the secularists would affirm. It goes like this.  When I first learned of it, the calculations were thus. The total estimated number of atoms in the entire universe is 10⁸⁰.  The number of seconds in an 18 billion-year-old universe would be 10¹⁸.  The fastest rate an atom can change its state = 1 x 10⁴⁰ times per second. Therefore, the maximum number of possible events in a universe that is 18 Billion years old (10¹⁸ seconds) where every atom (10⁸⁰ atoms) is changing its state at the maximum rate (10⁴⁰) times per second is 10¹³⁸. We get this by multiplying them together: 10¹⁸ x 10⁸⁰ x 10⁴⁰ = 10¹³⁸.  That is a 1 with 138 zeros behind it or 1, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.

Here is an updated estimation of the Universal Probability Bound taken from tbiomed.biomedcentral.com.  This is important because it supports the idea that mathematics, when examined properly, supports the idea that Bible prophecy cannot be possible by mere chance.  Let’s take a look at another analysis of the Universal Probability Bound.

1. “The number of seconds that have elapsed since the Big Bang (10¹⁷) assumes a cosmic age of around 14 billions years. 60 sec/min × 60 min/hr × 24 hrs/day × 365 days per year × 14 billion years = 4.4 × 10¹⁷ seconds since the Big Bang.
2. The number of possible quantum events/transitions per second is derived from the amount of time it takes for light to traverse the minimum unit of distance. The minimum unit of distance (a quantum of space) is Planck length (10^-33 centimeters). The minimum amount of time required for light to traverse the Plank length is Plank time (10^-43 seconds) [[6–8], pg 215-217]. Thus a maximum of 10⁴³ quantum transitions can take place per second. Since 10¹⁷ seconds have elapsed since the Big Bang, the number of possible quantum transitions since the Big Bang would be 10⁴³ × 10¹⁷ = 10⁶⁰.
3. Sir Arthur Eddington’s estimate of the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in the observable cosmos (10⁸⁰) [22] has been widely respected throughout the scientific literature for decades now.”
      https://tbiomed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-4682-6-27 

Wow again!

Remember, this number represents an estimate of the total number of possible events in the entire universe if the universe were 18 billion years old and every atom in the entire universe was changing its state at the maximum possible rate. That is a humungous number!

Now let’s take a look at the odds of Jesus fulfilling prophecies?  It’ll be very interesting.

Prophecy:  Jesus, 8 prophecies

The following information is taken from http://sciencespeaks.dstoner.net/Christ_of_Prophecy.html.

1. Born in Bethlehem, (Micah 5:2) = 2.8 x 10⁵
   1. Based on the estimate
2. Messenger sent ahead of him, (Mal. 3:1) = 1 x 10³
3. Will enter Jerusalem riding on a colt, (Zech. 9:9) = 1 x 10²
4. Will be betrayed by a friend, (Zech. 13:6) = 1 x 10³
5. Will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, (Zech. 11:12) = 1 x 10³
6. 30 pieces of silver used to buy potter’s field, (Zech. 11:13), = 1 x 10⁵
7. Oppressed and afflicted, did not defend himself, (Isa. 53:7) = 1 x 10³
8. Would be crucified (Psalm 22:16), = 1 x 10⁴
9.         That is a total of 2.8 x 10²⁸

So, in the context of Bible prophecy, the estimated odds of Jesus fulfilling just eight of the prophecies about Him is equivalent to 2.8 x 10, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.  That’s an incredibly huge number. To give an idea of how vast it is, think about the Lottery.

“…the odds of winning either the Powerball or Mega Millions are roughly 1 in 292.2 million and 1 in 302.5 million, respectively.” https://www.thebalance.com/what-are-the-odds-of-winning-the-lottery-3306232

Just so you know, 302.5 million is 302,500,000.  Isn’t it obvious that the odds of Jesus fulfilling by chance are ridiculously low, so low that you believe it was by accident wouldn’t make any sense?

Bible Prophecy:  Jesus, 48 prophecies at 10¹⁵⁷

Check out some more information about the mathematical odds of Jesus fulfilling even more Bible prophecy.

“In order to extend this consideration beyond all bounds of human comprehension, let us consider forty-eight prophecies, similar in their human chance of fulfillment to the eight which we originally considered, using a much more conservative number, 1 in 10²¹. Applying the same principle of probability used so far, we find the chance that any one man fulfilled all forty-eight prophecies to be 1 in 10¹⁵⁷.” http://sciencespeaks.dstoner.net/Christ_of_Prophecy.html 

Remember the conservative estimate of the Universal Probability Bound is 10¹³⁸  instead of 10¹⁴⁹

• 1 x 10¹³⁸  is the theoretical maximum number of events in the universe if every atom in the universe were to change its state at 10⁴⁰ times per second for 18 billion years.
• The odds of Jesus fulfilling 48 prophecies is 10¹⁵⁷.
• If we subtract 10¹³⁸ from 10¹⁵⁷we get 10¹⁹.
• Just to give you an idea of how big that number is, 10¹⁹ seconds is 317 Billion years, and 10¹⁹ inches is 158 Trillion miles.

Obviously, to say that Jesus fulfilled the Bible prophecies by chance is ludicrous.

11 More in Bible Prophecy

There are many more prophecies in the Bible. Please consider the following, which are also taken from sciencespeaks.distoner.net. Just so you know, these are conservative estimates.

1. Tyre, destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26:3-5, 7, 12, 14, 16) = 1 in 7.5 x 10⁷
2. Samaria will be as a heap of the field (Micah 1:6) = 1 in 4 x 10⁴
3. Gaza and Ashkelon, their desolation foretold (Zeph. 2:4-6), =  1 in 1.2 x 10⁴
4. Jericho will be rebuilt by the eldest son, (Joshua 6:26),  = 1 in 2 x 10⁵
5. The Golden Gate, The gate was shut, Jesus is next to pass through it (Ezek. 44:1-3) = 1 in 10³
6. Zion Plowed, Zion shall be plowed as a field, (Micah 3:12), =  1 in 10²
7. Jerusalem Enlarged, Nine items prophesied (Jer. 31:38-40),  = 1 in 8 x 10¹⁰
8. Palestine, 7 predictions, shall be wasted, land desolate, etc. (Ezek. 36:33-35) = 1 in 2 x 10⁵
9. Moab and Ammon will be taken by men from the east, but the people will return (Ezek. 25:3-4,9-10; Jer. 48:47; 49:6) = 1 in 10³
10. Edom shall be conquered, left desolate, and not reinhabited (Jer. 49:16-18) = 1 in 10⁴
11. Babylon shall be destroyed, never reinhabited, occupied by beasts (Isa. 13:19-21) =  1 in 5 x 10⁹
12. The probability of these eleven prophecies coming true is now found by multiplying all of these probabilities together, and the result is 1 in 5.76 x 10⁵⁹

if we were to take the 11 prophecies listed above (5.76 x 10⁵⁹) and multiply them times the value of the 48 prophecies listed above that x (1 x 10¹⁵⁷), we would get 5.76 x 10²¹⁶.  Just so you get an idea of how huge this number is, 5.76 x 10²¹⁶ seconds is 1.825²⁰⁹ years.  5.76 x 10²¹⁶ inches is 9.09²¹¹ miles.  It would take light 1.54 x 10¹⁹⁹ years to cross 9.09²¹¹ miles.

Conclusion

God certainly knows what he’s doing when he gives us mathematics to work with. When we apply the mathematical odds of bible prophecy, we can clearly see an intelligent design behind the scriptural revelation. Therefore, we ought to believe the truth that the math is telling us that the prophecies in the Bible are not accidental. They are not random. We ought to believe them because of the mathematical necessity and because God has revealed them in the Bible.