Bible truth, God and the universe

Let us consider the universe to be everything in time and space as we know it. Science has to do with the universe of space and time as we know it.

The first question is "Is there a Creator God?". Is there a God who has created everything in time and space as we know it?

If one does not believe that there is a Creator God, then the following will not make sense. One should then investigate how the existence of (coded) information proves (with probability approaching certainty) requires the existence of a Creator God. (for a later discussion)

Assume that one recognizes that there is a Creator God. What then might be the next obvious question?

Is God inside the universe?

If so, then who created God? Attributing life to space aliens does not move the problem outside of space and time.

So, the next question to ask someone who believes in a Creator God is whether their God is inside of space and time or outside of space and time.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. [kjv]

ταδε λεγει κυριος ο υψιστος ο εν υψηλοις κατοικων τον αιωνα αγιος εν αγιοις ονομα αυτω κυριος υψιστος εν αγιοις αναπαυομενος και ολιγοψυχοις διδους μακροθυμιαν και διδους ζωην τοις συντετριμμενοις την καρδιαν [lxx]

Is God outside the universe? To see this, one must think outside the box. Can the universe disappear? What might transcend the universe (and science)?

Isaiah 57:15

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KJV: For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Hebrew: כי כה אמר רם ונשא שכן עד וקדוש שמו מרום וקדוש אשכון ואת דכא ושפל רוח להחיות רוח שפלים ולהחיות לב נדכאים׃

Greek: ταδε λεγει κυριος ο υψιστος ο εν υψηλοις κατοικων τον αιωνα αγιος εν αγιοις ονομα αυτω κυριος υψιστος εν αγιοις αναπαυομενος και ολιγοψυχοις διδους μακροθυμιαν και διδους ζωην τοις συντετριμμενοις την καρδιαν

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [kjv]

ηξει δε ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν η οι ουρανοι ροιζηδον παρελευσονται στοιχεια δε καυσουμενα λυθησεται και γη και τα εν αυτη εργα ευρεθησεται [gnt]

Science is part of the universe.

Information (as in coded information) transcends the universe.

2 Peter 3:10

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KJV: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Greek: ηξει δε η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι εν η οι ουρανοι ροιζηδον παρελευσονται στοιχεια δε καυσουμενα λυθησονται λυθησεται και γη και τα εν αυτη εργακατακαησεται ευρεθησεται

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. [kjv]

ο ουρανος και η γη παρελευσεται οι δε λογοι μου ου μη παρελθωσιν [gnt]

Are there potential issues in the Bible that appear to be science, but can be resolved using information that transcends science?

Let us look mention one example.

Matthew 24:35

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KJV: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Greek: ο ουρανος και η γη παρελευσονται παρελευσεται οι δε λογοι μου ου μη παρελθωσιν

Latin: caelum et terra transibunt verba vero mea non praeteribunt

Russian: небо и земля прейдут, но слова Мои не прейдут.

Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: [kjv]

13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. [kjv]

The "mustard seed" :

is not the "smallest" of all "seeds".
is not the "greatest" of all "herbs".
grows into a bush, not a tree.

The "birds" do not (usually) nest in small bushes. Are the "birds" good? What is a "mustard seed"? What does a "tree" represent?

The KJV (King James Version) translates as "least" the Greek word that means "smallest". There is another Greek word for "least".

More: Matthew 13:31-32 KP3 Parable of the mustard seed

How can one show that the Bible is true? That it reflects reality? And in a logical way?
The following commonly cited reasons are important but not logically valid.

inerrancy (assumed), infallibility (assumed)
preserved manuscripts
eye witness testimony
changed lives
if not liar or lunatic then Lord (C. S. Lewis, used later by Josh McDowell on college campuses)

These all leave something lacking.

The authentication problem is determining if someone or something is what that someone or something claims to be.

A simple authentication method is a password - what you know. An ID card is what you have. A fingerprint is what you are.

Authentication methods from modern computer science, information, and security techniques can be used to authenticate the Bible as true (in reality) with probability approaching 1.0.

Those methods are the same methods referenced by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus, John, Peter, Paul, etc.

In part, prophecy says what will happen. Verified prophecy can be used to authenticate that the Bible is what it claims to be - a message to us from the Creator God.

Isaiah describes God writing history before it happens.

Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, [kjv]

και μνησθητε τα προτερα απο του αιωνος οτι εγω ειμι ο θεος και ουκ εστιν ετι πλην εμου [lxx]

46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, … [kjv]

αναγγελλων προτερον τα εσχατα πριν αυτα γενεσθαι και αμα συνετελεσθη και ειπα πασα μου η βουλη στησεται και παντα οσα βεβουλευμαι ποιησω [lxx]

telling beforehand the latter events before they come to pass, and they are accomplished together: and I said, all my counsel shall stand, and I will do all things that I have planned: [bs3]

Isaiah in writing about 800 B.C. Daniel is given of history (and prophecy) to write about some 250 years later, about 550 B.C.

Isaiah 46:9

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KJV: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Hebrew: זכרו ראשנות מעולם כי אנכי אל ואין עוד אלהים ואפס כמוני׃

Greek: και μνησθητε τα προτερα απο του αιωνος οτι εγω ειμι ο θεος και ουκ εστιν ετι πλην εμου

Isaiah 46:10

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KJV: Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Hebrew: מגיד מראשית אחרית ומקדם אשר לא נעשו אמר עצתי תקום וכל חפצי אעשה׃

Greek: αναγγελλων προτερον τα εσχατα πριν αυτα γενεσθαι και αμα συνετελεσθη και ειπα πασα μου η βουλη στησεται και παντα οσα βεβουλευμαι ποιησω

Brenton: telling beforehand the latter events before they come to pass, and they are accomplished together: and I said, all my counsel shall stand, and I will do all things that I have planned:

Would someone be an "idiot" not to study and know about prophecy in the Bible? Is one an "idiot" not to believe such prophecy?

Perhaps it would just be "user error" on the part of the reader.

In the technology field, end-users will often do things you never thought possible. This can be a source of frustration for IT (Information Technology) support workers. The most common error by the user is sometimes called an "id-ten-t" error by people in the field.

You might find the setting # user=Id-Ten-T in a config file. The term "id-ten-t" is short for "id10t" and can be written as "ID10T". This lets other technicians know the source of the problem.

More: Not thinking about an idiot being a layperson

After the resurrection, on the road to Emaeus in Luke 24, Jesus could have showed his hands as an eye witness testimony. Instead, Jesus says the following.

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [kjv]

και αυτος ειπεν προς αυτους ω ανοητοι και βραδεις τη καρδια του πιστευειν επι πασιν οις ελαλησαν οι προφηται [gnt]

Is Jesus saying that to not know and believe all that the prophets have said makes one an "idiot"? The ancient Greek word used here in the GNT (Greek New Testament) is "ἀνόητος" ≈ "foolish, stupid, idiot" and means, literally "not thinking".

More: Not thinking about an idiot being a layperson

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? [kjv]

ουχι ταυτα εδει παθειν τον χριστον και εισελθειν εις την δοξαν αυτου [gnt]

The crucifixion was not a tragedy but an accomplishment as in a fulfillment.

Luke 24:26

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KJV: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Greek: ουχι ταυτα εδει παθειν τον χριστον και εισελθειν εις την δοξαν αυτου

How long could you talk about the prophecies of Jesus in the OT (Old Testament) that happened in the NT (New Testament)?

Could you walk 5 miles talking about those prophecies?

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. [kjv]

και αρξαμενος απο μωυσεως και απο παντων των προφητων διερμηνευσεν αυτοις εν πασαις ταις γραφαις τα περι εαυτου [gnt]

Did Moses write about Jesus? Apparently so.

Luke 24:27

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KJV: And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Greek: και αρξαμενος απο μωσεως μωυσεως και απο παντων των προφητων διηρμηνευεν διερμηνευσεν αυτοις εν πασαις ταις γραφαις τα περι εαυτου

Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. [kjv]

λημψεσθε δε δεσμην υσσωπου και βαψαντες απο του αιματος του παρα την θυραν καθιξετε της φλιας και επ αμφοτερων των σταθμων απο του αιματος ο εστιν παρα την θυραν υμεις δε ουκ εξελευσεσθε εκαστος την θυραν του οικου αυτου εως πρωι [lxx]

… tinguite sanguine … [v]

The Hebrew instructions for "splashing the blood" for "Passover" have the effect of creating an optical illusion of the "cross". The Greek for "dip" in the LXX (Septuagint) is the same word as for "baptize".
The Latin word "tingo" ≈ "wet, moisten, dip, dye" and is the source of the English word "tincture", "tinge" and "intinction" as a means of communion by "dipping" the bread in the wine.

The blood is to be splashed, as in "strike", on the "lintel" and the two "side posts". [Moses and the rock]

More: Kanizsa triangle: seeing what is not there

More: Exodus 12: Passover

Numbers 2:4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. [kjv]

The book of Numbers is named for the detailed census appearing in Numbers 2. The details can be boring but are part of an "algorithm" provided by God for their camp in the desert.
If the Israelites in the desert had followed the "algorithm" provided by God as how to precisely camp, their camp would have been laid out in the shape of a cross from the point of view of the "rising sun" in the morning.

Notice the top-down nature of the reporting with the summary totals first and then the details.

More: Numbers 2:1-34 Algorithms and the camp of Israel

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [kjv]

Paul has this to say about prophecy: Jesus died and rose "according to the scriptures".

1 Corinthians 15:3

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KJV: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Greek: παρεδωκα γαρ υμιν εν πρωτοις ο και παρελαβον οτι χριστος απεθανεν υπερ των αμαρτιων ημων κατα τας γραφας

2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [kjv]

ου γαρ σεσοφισμενοις μυθοις εξακολουθησαντες εγνωρισαμεν υμιν την του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου δυναμιν και παρουσιαν αλλ εποπται γενηθεντες της εκεινου μεγαλειοτητος [gnt]

Peter was an eye witness to what happened.

How important is being an eye witness?

People forget.
People lie.
People make up stories.

2 Peter 1:16

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KJV: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Greek: ου γαρ σεσοφισμενοις μυθοις εξακολουθησαντες εγνωρισαμεν υμιν την του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου δυναμιν και παρουσιαν αλλ εποπται γενηθεντες της εκεινου μεγαλειοτητος

Latin: non enim doctas fabulas secuti notam fecimus vobis Domini nostri Iesu Christi virtutem et praesentiam sed speculatores facti illius magnitudinis

Wycliffe: For we not suynge vnwise talis, han maad knowun to you the vertu and the biforknowyng of oure Lord Jhesu Crist; but we weren maad biholderis of his greetnesse.

Geneva: For we followed not deceiuable fables when we opened vnto you the power, and comming of our Lord Iesus Christ, but with our eyes we saw his maiestie:

A few verses later, Peter says that something is better than eye witness testimony.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [kjv]

The Latin word "lucifer" ≈ "day star" as in the morning star Venus. One must be careful of "carrying light" to the world as the Latin word is "Lucifer" which became a word for "Satan".

The distinction of "day star" between "Jesus" and "Lucifer" should be made clear.

2 Peter 1:19

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KJV: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Greek: και εχομεν βεβαιοτερον τον προφητικον λογον ω καλως ποιειτε προσεχοντες ως λυχνω φαινοντι εν αυχμηρω τοπω εως ου ημερα διαυγαση και φωσφορος ανατειλη εν ταις καρδιαις υμων

Latin: et habemus firmiorem propheticum sermonem cui bene facitis adtendentes quasi lucernae lucenti in caliginoso loco donec dies inlucescat et lucifer oriatur in cordibus vestris

Wycliffe: And we han a saddere word of prophecie, to which ye yyuynge tent don wel, as to a lanterne that yyueth liyt in a derk place, til the dai bigynne to yyue liyt, and the dai sterre sprenge in youre hertis.

Geneva: We haue also a most sure worde of the Prophets, to the which ye doe well that yee take heede, as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place, vntill the day dawne, and the day starre arise in your hearts.

Luther: Wir haben ein festes prophetisches Wort, und ihr tut wohl, daß ihr darauf achtet als auf ein Licht, das da scheinet in einem dunkeln Ort, bis der Tag anbreche, und der Morgenstern aufgehe in euren Herzen.

Some prophecies are, in Hebrew terms, a "remez" of something deeper. The general security term is "steganography".

The Hebrew word "רמז" (remez) ≈ "remez". There are many places in the Old Testament that have hint of what can be considered a "remez".

From the Hebrew, a "remez" is a hint of some deeper meaning.

A "remez" is a form of what in the security field is called "steganography". That is, a message concealed such that it does not, at first glance, appear that there is a hidden message there.

GNT example: parables

More: Steganography: hidden messages

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Saint Augustine (Early Christian father) :

The New Testament is in the Old Testament "concealed".
The Old Testament is in the New Testament "revealed".

One can find hints of this "after the fact", but such truths are not plain or obvious "before the fact".

Do you see it? Do you need to see to believe? Or can you believe and then see?

More: Steganography: hidden messages

More: Augustine of Hippo