Methodology
Methodology: how entries are researched
How a prediction gets into the timeline, how it is described, and what the labels mean.
What qualifies for an entry
An entry needs a named person or group, a date or narrow window, and at least one published source that records the claim. Internet rumors without a traceable author are not treated as historically significant on their own. Where a claim went viral without a clear originator, the entry says so.
Research steps
- Find the primary source if one exists: the book, broadcast, pamphlet or newspaper.
- Find at least one secondary source from a historian or reliable reporter.
- Record publication details so a reader can find the source.
- State the date, and mark its precision (exact, month, year, range or approximate).
- Record the reasoning and the Scripture the author used, in the author's terms.
- Record what happened, and what the author or movement said afterward.
- Mark anything uncertain as uncertain.
Kinds of statement
Every section of an entry is labeled so categories are not blurred.
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Historical record | "Historical sources document..." Something that can be checked against sources. |
| Prediction | "X predicted..." What the author claimed. |
| Interpretation | "Some Christians interpret..." A reading of Scripture or events, by the author or by later groups. |
| Speculation | A claim with no documented support. Used sparingly and always labeled. |
| Hypothetical | "What if..." Reflection exercises. Never a claim about the future. |
Historical status
The status describes the quality of the documentation, never the truth of a prophecy.
- Well documented: the prediction and date appear in primary or reliable secondary sources.
- Record disputed: historians disagree about what was claimed, by whom, or how widely it was believed.
- Date approximate: the claim is documented, the exact date is not.
- Details unknown: too little is documented to say more.
Each entry also carries an editorial certainty (high, medium or low) that reflects how strong the sourcing is. Status is always shown as text and a shape, not by color alone.
Outcome labels
Outcomes use neutral wording: "Prediction date passed", "No documented event matching the prediction occurred", "Prediction was later revised", "Prediction was reinterpreted" and "Historical record is disputed". The site does not mock believers or characterize their motives.
Editorial review
Each entry shows whether it has been checked line by line against its sources. Entries marked "pending" are provisional: they have been written from published literature but not yet fully verified. That flag is removed only after review.
Scripture
Scripture excerpts use the King James Version, which is in the public domain. Where an author used a different translation, the reference is given and the reader is pointed to the original text. The site does not reproduce copyrighted translations.
Corrections
Corrections are welcome and are made visibly: significant changes update the "updated" date on the entry. Send a correction.