Y2K Bug
By Penny Warren, B.A., M.A., D.D.
(C) 1998 PLIM REPORT Vol. 7 No. 6
Feel free to copy and circulate this article for non-commercial purposes provided the Web site and author are mentioned.
See Related Articles: REVELATION & END TIME PROPHECIES
After the main stream TV media lulled their audiences to sleep with one year's worth of Monica Lewinsky hype, CBS, ABC, NBC, and CNN, are slowly bringing the Y2K computer problems that will effect us in the year 2000 A.D. before the public.
Newsweek magazine ran a cover story on June 2, 1997, entitled, "The Day the World Shuts Down: Can We Fix the Year 2000 Computer Bug Before Its Too Late?" In early 1998 President Clinton appointed John Koskinen to head up the Federal Government's Y2K council comprised of one representative from each of the executive departments and other Federal agencies to ensure Y2K compliance in America. On November 29, 1998, "60 Minutes" aired a 15-minute story that showed Y2K bugs affecting the banking, utility, and communication industries, and the reactions of people familiar with the predicament.
For at least the last five years, alternative media late night radio talk shows hosts, such as Art Bell, Jeff Rense, and others, such as Gary North, through the Internet, have been the main sources for Y2K news. They have provided information for a public to make intelligent decisions about their family's welfare.
The government and the media, however, have failed in getting the message out to the masses. Now with less than a year remaining before Jan. 1, 2000, to reach Y2K compliance, the mass media has gradually began their coverage of the most important story to begin the 3rd millennium.
The range of reactions to the Y2K bug from computer programmers, the ones who can actually fix the problem, span a wide spectrum. Some computer programmers are diligently trying to race against the clock to fix the problems that would affect the major mission systems of their companies and government agencies. Others are running to the hills with water, guns, and a 2-5 year food supply.
In either case, whenever the term Y2K arises, several questions are usually addressed. What is Y2K? How long will it last? And how can we prepare for it. This article will answer briefly these questions in hopes that the reader will at least consider the possible wide reaching effects of the problem. In the 1999 PLIM Retreat in White Cloud, Michigan, Dr. Andre Eggelletion, a PLIM Florida student, will give a more in depth analysis of this issue. We will also explain the spiritual reality of computers that need reprogramming and the timeline that the Y2K event denotes.
What is Y2K?
Y2K stands for the year 2000 A.D. and is used to describe an array of computer problems arising from the computer not being able to tell if the year is 2000 A.D. or 1900 A.D. The reason that many computers will be confused is because when computer programmers designed the storage space for dates to save space, they chose to use two digits to refer to the year rather than 4.
Instead of storing 1960 in the computer, they chose 60. "(The era in which this code was written was described by one programming veteran as "the Wild West." Programmers did whatever was required to get a product up and working; no one even thought about standards.)" from The Year 2000: Social Chaos or Social Transformation? By John L. Petersen, Margaret Wheatley, Myron Kellner-Rogers (http://www.year2000.com/archive/social.html). Now that we are approaching a year ending in "00," the computer may think the year is 1900 rather than 2000.
Is there a solution to the Y2K bug?
The only way to solve the problem is to reprogram all computers so that they are "year 2000 compliant." This means that all computers (90% is not good enough) have to agree on the day and year when January 1, 2000 rolls around.
If all the computers in the WORLD are not "year 2000 compliant," there is no way to guarantee that systems crucial to our modern society wont fail. Because of the tremendous amount of time and cost involved in checking a program, Third World Nations dont have enough resources to hire or train the needed programmers for this crisis. The reprogramming aspect of making computers Y2K compliant has great spiritual significance, which we will discuss later.
Do we have enough time?
The dilemma is that there are too many programs to fix in too short a time. An average program may consist of about 100,000 lines of data. The programmer has to read all 100,000 lines to find the Y2K errors. In short, we have run out of time. Now the question is not IF our systems will fail, but for HOW long?
Because computers control the ATM machines, telephones, electricity, water to our homes, airplanes, trains, buses, etc., all these devices must be checked and reprogrammed.
How long will Y2K problems last?
No one knows for certain how long the problems will last because of the randomness of the failures. However, Edward and Jennifer Yourdon in their book Time Bomb 2000 give possible scenarios that cover alternatives as brief as a winter storm or hurricane to the ten year crash of 1929.
Their book provides possible scenarios for 2-3 days, a month, a year, and a decade. "We personally believe that a majority of the Year-2000 problems will be of the minor variety & that render such critical systems as banking, telecommunications, and utilities inoperable for a few days. We also believe that a significant minority of the Year-2000 problems--perhaps as great as 25-30%--will be of the "moderate" variety, causing failures that will take a month a solve; invoicing and billing systems. & Unfortunately, we also think that a small percentage --perhaps in the range of 5-10% of the Year-2000 problems could be of the 'serious' variety, i.e., requiring a year to repair. & A hurricane usually lasts for only a day, but the hurricane recovery can easily take a year if the damage is extensive; we believe the same situation will occur with a small percentage of the Year-2000 software bugs." Before we conclude this article with the actions you can take to prepare for the problem, let us discuss the significance of the reprogramming needed for each computer.
What does reprogramming computers signify?
Now the Y2K error and the reprogramming of every computer in the world to rectify this Y2K error correspond with the two covenants, the Old and New, that Yahweh Elohim gave Israel. The computers with two digits for the date symbolize the Old Covenant. The computers with four digits for the date represent the New Covenant.
First, let us define the word "program." According to Webster's New World Dictionary, a program is a set of instructions or a plan.
Now the Y2K program error corresponds to the Old Covenant and Israel's error of believing that the works of the laws were salvation. These works of the law consisted of offering animal sacrifices and blood for sins, keeping Sabbaths and observing feasts days (Heb. 10:1-9; Col. 2:14-17). In reality, these things testified of the works that Yahshua the Messiah would perform in His earthly ministry.
Yahweh gave Israel a law at Mt. Sinai that told them how to worship Him after their deliverance from Egypt. This law governed every aspect of an Israelites' life for about 2500 years. Then the Messiah ushered in a new law after His death, burial, resurrection, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This event divided time from the Post Diluvian Age to the Present kingdom age where the law is written in a man's heart and mind, not on tables of stone as Jeremiah had prophesied (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:10).
Now Israel's hearts and minds had to be reprogrammed to worship the Creator in Spirit and Truth. This is the New Covenant that Yahweh Elohim prophesied to Israel that He would write in their hearts and minds. The Messiah's apostles preaching the Gospel to Israel reprogrammed their minds. Under the New Covenant grace now saved Israel through faith and not works of the law (Eph. 2:8-9). The Holy Spirit rewriting the Law in their minds corresponds to all the computers in the world being reprogrammed.
This is a brief outline of how the Y2k error and the reprogramming correlate with the purpose of Elohim. Space will not allow a more detailed explanation.
Does the year 2000 A.D. compare with 33 A.D.?
The year 2000 A.D. will be a crucial time in our modern world. As Pentecost divided the Post Diluvian Age from the Present Age of Grace, 2000 A.D. will divide the time when computers worked with relative ease to the time when their accuracy and reliability can not be guaranteed. Most of the first world, America, Japan, and Europe, has become totally dependent on computers to run our systems. After 2000 A.D., the mildest scenario may include random failures in all systems; the worst scenario may be a total collapse of computer systems throwing our economy back into the state of a third world.
Is there anything we can do to prepare?
We should take the same precautions as we would take in other natural disasters. For example, if one lived in a hurricane area, such as Florida or the Caribbean, one would make sure one has water, a first aid kit, a flashlight, batteries and other food supplies.
Experts say the first priority should be getting information. If you are unfamiliar with treating minor injuries, disposing of solid and liquid waste, purifying and storing water, etc., go to the bookstore and purchase some back-to-basic books.
Other recommendations are:
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Stockpile blankets, candles, batteries, and, gas if you may be without heat or electricity, |
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If your banking systems may not work, accumulate a month's living expenses in cash and put it in a safe place outside your bank. Also ensure that you have a hard copy of your current bank statement, credit card companies, stock brokerage firm and other similar financial institutions. |
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If you are not able to purchase food, store a supply of food (powdered milk, canned tuna or freeze-dried fruits, nuts). |
Conclusion
The bottom line is that we should not be overwhelmed or paralyzed by the immensity of the problem, but have faith that Yahweh will supplement the limited items we can accumulate while life is still rather normal with the additional items we will need when our supplies diminish. There are some measures that we can all take, but because we don't know how long the problem will last, our preparations are always going to be limited. This is when our faith in Yahweh will be exercised. Y2K will be another of life's exercises in relying on the power latent within us, and not a man.
For additional information see the following references.
Hyatt, Micahel S., The Millennium Bug, How to Survive the Coming Chaos, ã 1998 Regnery Publishing
Yourdon, Edward and Jennifer, Time Bomb 2000, What the Year 2000 Computer Crisis Means to You!, ã 1998 Prentice Hall
Internet:
Gary North 's Y2K Links and Forum, http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/search_.cfm
Jeff Rense Y2K Resource Center, http://www.sightings.com/y2kresource/y2k1r.html
Tony Brown's Y2K Solution, http://www.tonybrown.com/y2ktool.htm