Personally, I've been involved in searching the Hebrew Torah and Tanach for hidden Bible codes at equidistant letter spacing (ELS) for some time and achieved some incredible results. That experience has led me to conclude that there may be reliable codes in the original Greek language of the New Testament. Preliminary searches have been promising. The following programs have recently become available which make this avenue of research very easy.

Psalms 139:16 Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and IN THY BOOK THEY WERE ALL WRITTEN, THE DAYS THAT WERE ORDAINED FOR ME, WHEN AS YET THERE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM.

May 26, 2002 NEWS. The new version 1.22 of the #1 ranked codes program, CodeFinder: Millennium Edition, was released and is shipping as of today. Version 1.22 adds a wonderful new function set called matrix filter, that automatically evaluates and determines the optimal matrix from search results, either closest terms or smallest matrix. On the leading edge of Bible codes software development, the new version also allows term length up to 256 characters each (for long sentences as terms); it gives expanded advanced Search Parameters capability; has an updated Tutorial in PDF; and expanded HELP (an electronic manual) which explains the new capabilities. The new CD of version 1.22 also has the latest version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for installation, and fully capable trial versions of Music From The Torah (experimental music codes) and RS-FTP (a great new ftp program).

WARNING: NO ONE HAS YET PROVEN THAT ANY RELIABLE CODES EXIST IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. ONLY THOUGHTFUL RESEARCH WILL PROVE OR DISPROVE THE PREMISE. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS WILL AID THAT PROCESS OF RESEARCH.

In the following software comparisons article, I will discuss all the features of the various programs in an unbiased manner. While all the discussed programs will search for codes in the Hebrew Torah or Tanach, the intent of this article is to compare their ability to look for hidden codes in the Greek textus receptus New Testament, therefore, no discussion is made of Hebrew search capabilities. For a discussion of Hebrew ELS codes search programs, jump to my companion article comparing those programs. Comparison of Hebrew Codes Software Programs

All the programs are for a PC with Windows. No Macintosh program is available.

Programs Tested: (not ranked here, ranking of programs is at the end of the article)

A. Jarczyk's Bible Codes, by Herbert Jarczyk, version 1.5, Windows 95-98-NT4.
B. Bible Decoder, by CodeBreakers, version 2.0, Windows 95-98-NT4.
C. CodeFinder: Millennium Edition, by Research Systems, new version 1.22, Win 95-98-ME-2000-NT4-XP.

Test parameters for ELS codes searches:

1. What does it search? e.g. Greek textus receptus, Torah, Tanach, English Bible, or any text in any language?
2. How fast does it search? timed speed test.
3. Does it search for single terms only or multiple terms in a search, & how many?
4. Will the program automatically determine a close proximity matrix for multiple search terms?
5. What are maximum program ELS ranges? For example, -30k to 30k, -100k to 100k, etc.
6. Printing of codes matrix?
7. Display of scriptures or text used in a window?
8. Overall ease of use?
9. Is the program complete with necessary fonts and scripture texts?
10. Subjective reviewer affection for program? What I like :-)

Item 1. What does it search?
Jarczyk's Bible Codes program comes with the Greek textus receptus New Testament of the Bible, the Hebrew Torah & Tanach, and the Hebrew version of War & Peace. It will search all equally well.

Bible Decoder (formerly known as Multilingual Bible Decoder) comes with the Hebrew Torah & Tanach, and Webster's English Bible Pentateuch (Torah or first 5 books in English) for codes practice in English. This program comes with an ELS Import Text function for simple conversions of any text in English, Hebrew, and Greek for preparation to use in codes searches. I've used this program with Greek texts and it takes less than five minutes to import the text and begin to look for codes in the Greek New Testament. Uses of this function might include a Mormon who wants to search for codes in the Book of Mormon. On their website, they have links to many places on the web where a person can download Bibles of all types in all languages.

CodeFinder comes with the Greek textus receptus, Hebrew Torah, entire Hebrew Tanach, and English KJV Old & New Testaments already set up for immediate hidden codes searches. It searches very well in Greek, English, and Hebrew. The program also comes with Genesis, an electronically randomized Torah, and War & Peace shortened to the length of Genesis in Hebrew; and Moby Dick in English.

2. How fast does it search?
In order to give you an apples-to-apples comparison, all 3 programs will search for a 6 letter name in the Greek textus receptus New Testament. The search will be from 1-10,000 ELS, forward and reverse occurrences. The expected number of random statistical occurrences is 43. The computer used is a AMD K6-2 475 Mhz with 128mb of ram memory and running Windows ME. My 475 Mhz computer is almost exactly 4 times faster than a Pentium 133 Mhz. I have a brand new AMD XP2000+ running Windows XP and that computer is almost exactly 8 times faster than the 475 mhz computer. Use this knowledge to estimate the search speed on your computer.

Second Speed Test: I've run a new speed test to show a more typical codes search. This test uses a 4 letter name with the entire Greek textus receptus NT searched for an ELS range of 1 to 10,000, forward and reverse occurrences. The statistical calculation for random expected number of occurrences is 4996.2, many times that of the above search. Only Bible Decoder and CodeFinder are tested.

3. Does it search for single terms only, or multiple terms at once?
All 3 programs will search for multiple terms at once, and therefore, all 3 programs are superior in this function. Bible Decoder will search for a great many search terms at once. CodeFinder will search for up to 500 search terms at once. Jarczyk's Bible Codes will search for up to 7 terms at once.

4. Will the program automatically determine a close proximity matrix for multiple search terms?
You might ask, "what value does this function add to codes research?" Think of this function as a database query. The database is the text you are searching. If you are able to look for multiple terms at once and have the program find a matrix which contains all the terms, you've quickly found what may be a reliable hidden code. You're then able to look further in that local area of the text for additional terms. In my experience, using this function shaves tens or hundreds of hours of research time off the whole process. Let me cite an example, I was looking in the Torah for the correct matrix for Thomas Edison, the famous inventor. By typing in Edison, Thomas, lightbulb, phonograph, inventor, etc., I found the correct matrix area in a couple of minutes. This is one function I cannot live without!!

CodeFinder is best at finding a close proximity matrix, and Bible Decoder does it satisfactorily, with the difference that with CodeFinder you have much more control over everything and can proceed to add aditional terms while holding things constant, while Jarczyk's Bible Codes does not determine a close proximity matrix.

CodeFinder applies different colors to each term in your search term list found in the matrix display, and places an oval or box around each letter. CodeFinder also has built in added functionality in that the "finds list" is a tree of results. You can display all terms found, or go down the tree and display all terms in the matrix or pairs of terms. You can also lock or unlock the matrix for display by numbers of rows and columns in the matrix. CodeFinder is superior in this category because of the additional functionality for display and small area search capability. The program has a built-in unique function called a skip viewer, which brings up a window that displays the next 1000 characters from a user specified point at the ELS, so that the user can visually look for additional terms. Also, a unique function called a rubber band, so that if a person recognizes another term visually in the displayed matrix, you can click on a letter and run a mouse-directed line down vertically or diagonally and the letters and start point are automatically entered for additional search and display.

CodeFinder has small area search capabilities by letter number for beginning and ending point of the search area or by book-chapter-verse, while retaining export and import of search results. It also added a statistical calculation for expected number of occurrences of each search term as they are entered for search. A new capability is the calculation of a statistical R-value, a Rotenberg number that indicates whether a term is likely in the matrix by chance or design. In the new version 1.21, it calculates R-values for both the matrix and text searched. It has the ability for the user to toggle off/on individual search term finds in the matrix view, allowing optimal matrix preparation for graphics or print uses. A new function allows global turn-on and turn-off of terms in the matrix, when there are many matches. CodeFinder has a Greek-English dictionary, a Hebrew-English dictionary, and a Dictionary Manager for creating new dictionaries, and allows use of multiple dictionaries. The program has the capability to manually control row-splitting, dividing the center term ELS by 2-11 for optimal display and rematches terms when row-splitting. A new function incorporates automatic row-splitting in a "find the best matrix" function. A new function in the just released version 1.22 is matrix filter, which automatically filters results to find the smallest or closest matrix. Also, it has bilingual display toggling of the Search Terms List and Search Results windows. Many people new to Greek (or Hebrew) create a lengthy list of search terms and then forget what the words mean. Now, if you use the program dictionary to enter search terms (or manually enter the English equivalent in the Search Parameters window), you can right click in the Search Terms window and the terms change from Greek (or Hebrew) to English. A new breakthrough is the cursor tooltip; click on a marked letter in the matrix and the cursor tooltip window opens showing the term in English, the term ELS, and R-value. You can "Export/Import the Search List" and "Export/Import Search Results," which adds the capability to save and re-use a lengthy search terms list, or save an entire search and pick up at the same spot another day. It has some unique power-user tools that save many hours; like automatic display of number of matched terms to each main term find; and Search Parameters to set in a custom ELS range for each term. Search Parameters allows you to retain the results of an initial search, and conduct subsequent searches only on the newly added or modified terms. After each subsequent search, all finds are re-matched for automatic matrix determination. CodeFinder has date conversion from Gregorian to Jewish calendar, number conversion to Hebrew letters, and for owners of Jerusalem Dictionary/Super Milon, you can directly paste translations directly without typing. After your matrix is complete, select Report to generate a matrix report with all terms in Greek, in English, the term ELS, the text R-value, the matrix R-value, and beginning and ending of the term by book-chapter-verse; plus a matrix summary report with all relevant information.

Bible Decoder does a good job of finding a close proximity matrix. The user can choose the color for each term in the search list, which aids visual recognition. New magnifying glass function zooms in on the matrix, to more easily read letters. Searches in the English OT text can now be made case-sensitive.

Jarczyk's Bible Codes doesn't determine a close proximity matrix, but it does an alternate method well. It assigns a different color for each term and then displays every occurrence of every term. The user can then double-click through from the finds list to the matrix and visually look for terms in close proximity. The way I've used it is to pick a main term then click through each ocurrence of that term and display the matrix, then visually look for any of the other terms nearby. Since each term in your search list has a different colored box around the letters, it's fairly easy to come to a conclusion. However, I much prefer using the CodeFinder and Bible Decoder method of automatic matrix determination. They just save a lot of time in the research process. Version 1.4 adds entire Tanach.

5. What are the maximum program ELS search ranges?
All 3 programs are superior in this functionality. Jarczyk's Bible Codes searches to an ELS of 99,999; CodeFinder searches to an ELS of one less than the text length; and Bible Decoder has no limits.

6. Printing of codes matrix?
Bible Decoder allows printing of the displayed matrix and exporting the finds list to Wordpad where it can be saved or printed. You can also export the search terms list and name them, and then import that search list at a later date, a very good feature. CodeFinder allows printing of the displayed matrix. You can also export the search results and name them, and then import those search results at a later date, an outstanding feature. You can also export the finds list to Wordpad. Jarczyk's Bible Codes has printing of the matrix in the new version 1.5. In all cases, a user could "print screen" the displayed matrix which saves it to a temporary file, then open Windows Paint or other paint program and paste it in. Then print it as a graphic or save as a graphic file. It's better to have printing capability than use the old DOS print screen function. However, I use "print screen" a lot to create large matrix gifs, by merging many print screens in Paint Shop Pro (eliminating use of paper).

CodeFinder: Millennium Edition now allows you to crop a large matrix within the program with one click. Then you can save the matrix as a bitmapped graphics file (.bmp) which can be easily enhanced in any graphics program. No longer do you have to merge screen saves to create a large graphic, you can do it in CodeFinder in a few seconds. Also, save or print the new complete matrix Report.

7. Display of scriptures or text used in a window?
CodeFinder displays a window when a letter is double-clicked in the displayed matrix, showing the book-chapter-verse info where the letter is contained. It also shows the verse in both Greek and English when a Greek text is searched, in Hebrew and English when the Torah or Tanach is searched, or in English when the KJV New Testament is searched.

Bible Decoder displays a dual scriptures window for Torah searches only and for concordance searches. Double-click on a letter in the matrix and a window opens displaying the book-chapter-verse info and the verse in Hebrew and English. New function pop-up text window displays the original text for ANY imported text.

Jarczyk's Bible Codes does not have a scriptures display.

8. Overall ease of use?
All 3 programs are easy to use, are very straightforward, and have good HELP sections. CodeFinder has a built-in onscreen Greek keyboard for the Greek text, an onscreen Hebrew keyboard for the Hebrew text, and use of the computer keyboard for all languages. Bible Decoder has a Hebrew keyboard for mousing in Hebrew, but no Greek keyboard. They both have extensive HELP showing the Hebrew and Greek alphabets and character maps showing relationships to the English letters on your computer keyboard. Jarczyk's Bible Codes has both a Greek and a Hebrew onscreen keyboard for mousing in letters. Jarczyk's Bible Codes also has user selectable program instructions in English, German, or French for people of those native languages.

CodeFinder now has a Greek-English dictionary, where you start typing an English word and it displays a column of English words. You can browse through and highlight the English word you want and the Greek equivalent word(s) are displayed. Double-click on the Greek word you want and it's entered in the search list without typing. CodeFinder also has a Hebrew-English dictionary for use when searching a Hebrew text. Dictionary Manager allows you to create a custom dictionary, add words, or import a complete dictionary. This is a very fast dictionary that makes the program easy to use for those just starting out in Greek.

Bible Decoder has a Hebrew-English dictionary that works very well, but has no Greek-English dictionary.

9. Is the program complete with necessary fonts and scripture texts?
CodeFinder comes with the Greek textus receptus; Hebrew Torah and Tanach, Genesis, randomized Torah control text, and War & Peace; and English KJV Old & New Testament and Moby Dick for immediate code searches along with all the necessary fonts. Jarczyk's Bible Codes comes with the Hebrew Torah & Tanach, Greek textus receptus, and War & Peace in Hebrew for immediate codes searches along with all necessary fonts. Bible Decoder comes with the Hebrew Torah & Tanach, and Webster's English Pentateuch for immediate search. However, since you can import texts of Greek, Hebrew, and English very quickly and easily, you can quickly have many texts in Bible Decoder for codes research.

10. What is the subjective reviewer affection for each program?
I like the blazing fast speed and great functionality of the CodeFinder: Millennium Edition program. It comes complete with verified true texts in the Greek textus receptus New Testament, Torah, and Tanach and is ready for immediate searches after installation. CodeFinder is the number 1 ranked Hebrew Bible code program, and most functions work for Greek searches too. CodeFinder: Millennium Edition is my top choice by a huge margin over all other codes programs and is the number 1 codes program in the world (in the Hebrew codes).

Bible Decoder is one of the faster codes program for the PC, and will allow the user to quickly prepare any text in any language for codes research.

Warning: I've found that no two Greek fonts are alike, meaning there is no standard like there is for English, Hebrew, etc. What this means is that users of Bible Decoder could import and prepare a Greek text and have letters transposed, giving erroneous codes searches, and not be aware of their error. The errors primarily affect chi, xi, psi, theta, and sigma final letter.

Users of Bible Decoder should check an imported and prepared Greek text, by comparing the prepared text against a known good electronic or printed text. Bible Decoder creates 3 files when it converts a text for codes search use. These files are in the imports sub-folder. You should open the .org file in a word processor and compare this against the printed or known good electronic version of the text. All you have to do is compare about half of the first chapter of Matthew to see whether all letters are present and that there are no letter transpositions for the five letters noted above. If you don't do this, you could end up getting completely erroneous results. If you find that letters are transposed, delete the prepared text and import it again, just switch the letters in the character map. This warning is only for Greek texts and arises because of no standard for Greek fonts. You can save yourself some headaches in preparing Greek texts, by using the same Greek font in Bible Decoder that was used in the source Greek text.

Jarczyk's Bible Codes is much slower. If you want a software that has the program interface selectable in English, German or French, then this is the program for you.

 

Overall Ranking Of Programs (as of June 9, 2002)

1. CodeFinder, $67.95 on CD, Windows 95-98-ME-2000-NT4-XP.
2. Bible Decoder, $59.95 online, $69.95 on CD, Windows 95-98-NT4.
3. Jarczyk's Bible Codes, freeware program, Windows 95-98-NT4.

CodeFinder: Millennium Edition (new version 1.22 on May 26, 2002)
New version now available only on CD-ROM at $67.95 plus $4.00 s&h. Order the CD securely through the website at: http://www.starnet.com.au/research/codes/codefind.html or the mirror site at: http://www.research-systems.com/codes/codefind.html. Use secure credit card orders online. Fax orders go to +61 3 9228 1966. Mail orders to: Research Systems; 15/1540 Main Road, Research; Victoria 3905 Australia. E-mail to: research@starnet.com.au

CodeFinder NORTH AMERICAN ORDERS now available through Codes in the Bible at $67.95 plus $4.00 shipping with 2-3 day delivery using Priority Mail. Shipping new version 1.22. You can order securely with 128-bit order encryption at http://AD2004.com using VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. They can ship to North or South America, or Europe in 3-5 days using Global Priority mail (same $71.95 price with shipping). Order through the mail using checks, money orders, or credit cards to: Codes in the Bible, 1221 Buttonwood Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525 USA. (text order form for mail orders). BTW, the website has lots of graphics screenshots of CodeFinder showing how the program looks and operates. Codes in the Bible has a number of Greek Bible code matrixes on the website for your review. E-mail to: codes@ad2004.com

Bible Decoder (version 2.0, 10/01/99)
A powerful codes program for only $59.95 online, or $69.95 on CD or floppies plus $10.00 shipping, and $10.00 to upgrade, by CodeBreakers. http://www.bibledecoder.com/ Available on floppy disks and soon on CD-ROM.

You can purchase the program securely online at the above website. Telephone orders at: +972-4-8246543 or +972-4-8346756. FAX orders to: +972-4-8242930. Mail orders go to: GraphoNET Ltd.; 67 Disraeli Street; PO Box 7234; Haifa 31071 Israel. E-MAIL to: info@bibledecoder.com

Jarczyk's Bible Codes (new version 1.5.002, 5/03/99)
BICO is completely free program brought to you by Herbert in Bavaria. Get it at: http://www.herbert-meinen.de/

Most users will want a Greek dictionary for use in researching the Greek textus receptus for possible codes. I own and use the NTC New College Greek and English Dictionary. The paper cover version is about $21.95 and is the same size as the more expensive hardcover edition ($29.95). The Pocket Oxford Greek Dictionary with paper covers at $15.95, is also excellent (avoid the paperback Oxford Greek dictionary because the type is small and it only has about 2/3 the content of the Pocket edition). Both the NTC New College and Pocket Oxford dictionaries have Greek-English and English-Greek sections. These two are superior to all other Greek dictionaries I've seen and have modern words. Greek lexicons in ancient Koine Greek are useful, but have none of the modern terms. You should be able to buy the two recommended dictionaries at amazon.com, barnesnoble.com, or books.com for about 30% off the above list prices.