Topic

Biblical Numerology

Predictions that rest on assigning meaning to numbers or on counting years and days.

Biblical numerology assigns symbolic meaning to numbers or counts years and days between events. The entries here show the different forms the method takes.

c. 500 Hippolytus of Rome expects the end around the year 500 Hippolytus of Rome · Date passed In his Commentary on Daniel (about 204), Hippolytus reasoned that Christ was born 5,500 years after creation and that the world would last 6,000 years, placing the end about 500 years after Christ's birth.
c. 1600 Martin Luther and a limit of about 1600 Martin Luther · Record disputed Luther is often reported to have said the world would not last beyond about 1600. Exactly how he phrased this, and how firmly, is disputed.
1843–1844 William Miller and the return of Christ in 1843 to 1844 William Miller and the Millerites · Later reinterpreted William Miller concluded from Daniel 8:14 that Christ would return around 1843. He later refined the window to the Jewish year from March 21, 1843 to March 21, 1844.
October 22, 1844 Samuel Snow, the seventh-month message and October 22, 1844 Samuel S. Snow and the Millerites · Later reinterpreted After earlier dates passed, Millerite preacher Samuel Snow argued in August 1844 that Christ would return on the Jewish Day of Atonement, which he calculated as October 22, 1844.
1914 The Watch Tower Society and the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 Charles Taze Russell and the Watch Tower Society · Later reinterpreted From 1889, Watch Tower publications taught that Bible chronology showed the "Gentile Times" would end in 1914, and early writing expected major changes to follow, including the end of existing governments.
1925 Watch Tower expectations for 1925 Joseph F. Rutherford and the Watch Tower Society · Date passed Watch Tower publications of the early 1920s, including the pamphlet Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920), linked 1925 to the expected return of faithful figures of the Old Testament and the start of a new order.
1975 Watch Tower expectations for 1975 Watch Tower Society · Later revised A 1966 Watch Tower book calculated that 6,000 years of human history would end in 1975. The organization later said it had not made a firm prediction and that some members had read too much into the date.
September 11–13, 1988 Edgar Whisenant and 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988 Edgar C. Whisenant · Later revised Edgar Whisenant's booklet 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988 named Rosh Hashanah, September 11 to 13, 1988, as the date. Large numbers of copies were distributed, including to churches.
September 6, 1994 Harold Camping and September 1994 Harold Camping and Family Radio · Later revised In his book 1994? (1992), Harold Camping argued that Christ would return in September 1994. After the date passed he said he had made a calculation error and later named 2011.
May 21, 2011 Harold Camping and May 21, 2011 Harold Camping and Family Radio · Later revised Harold Camping and Family Radio taught that the Rapture and Judgment Day would occur on May 21, 2011, followed by the end of the world on October 21, 2011. A national billboard and media campaign promoted the date.