In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the modern science of probability to just eight prophecies regarding the birth of Jesus Christ. He says, "The chance that any man might have ... fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 17th. That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000." (In case you are wondering, that is exactly one hundred quadrillion!)
Stoner then suggests that if "we take 10 to the 17th silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state 2 feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly... Blindfold a man and tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up (that one marked silver dollar.) What chance would he have of getting the right one?"
Stoner concludes, "Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing those eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man ... providing they wrote them in their own wisdom." Wow! Talk about incredible! Better yet, talk about miraculous!
In Galatians 4:4-7, the Bible says, 4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
This “fullness of time” culminated at that point in history when Jesus Christ was born. Today, we call that Christmas. And that single event represents the greatest miracle ever, not only of all time, but of all eternity. For in that moment, the eternal God of creation chose to clothe Himself in human flesh and to step into His creation and become a part of it.
And according to John 3:16, He did this for one reason: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Thank God for the miracle of Christmas! Thank Him above all for what that miracle means to you and me!
NOTE: Dr. Stoner’s book is out of print today; but can still be purchased through Amazon.com or similar web sites. However, it is a bit scarce and therefore expensive. For those interested in knowing more, a very detailed breakdown of Dr. Stoner’s work can be found in an article titled Applying the Science of Probability to the Scriptures: Do Statistics Prove the Bible's Supernatural Origin? by Dr. David R. Reagan, which can be found at http://lamblion.com/articles/articles_bible6.php.
Stoner then suggests that if "we take 10 to the 17th silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state 2 feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly... Blindfold a man and tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up (that one marked silver dollar.) What chance would he have of getting the right one?"
Stoner concludes, "Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing those eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man ... providing they wrote them in their own wisdom." Wow! Talk about incredible! Better yet, talk about miraculous!
In Galatians 4:4-7, the Bible says, 4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
This “fullness of time” culminated at that point in history when Jesus Christ was born. Today, we call that Christmas. And that single event represents the greatest miracle ever, not only of all time, but of all eternity. For in that moment, the eternal God of creation chose to clothe Himself in human flesh and to step into His creation and become a part of it.
And according to John 3:16, He did this for one reason: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Thank God for the miracle of Christmas! Thank Him above all for what that miracle means to you and me!
NOTE: Dr. Stoner’s book is out of print today; but can still be purchased through Amazon.com or similar web sites. However, it is a bit scarce and therefore expensive. For those interested in knowing more, a very detailed breakdown of Dr. Stoner’s work can be found in an article titled Applying the Science of Probability to the Scriptures: Do Statistics Prove the Bible's Supernatural Origin? by Dr. David R. Reagan, which can be found at http://lamblion.com/articles/articles_bible6.php.