When an archaeologist-scientist wires two ancient crystal stones (the Urim and Thummim) to a computer system, a chat page suddenly downloads onto his screen and God begins talking with him on line.

This is the first exhaustive study of the Urim and Thummim since 1824, and in this book Van Dam sets out to rectify that lack of attention. He investigates all of the biblical data concerning this enigmatic oracular means of high-priestly revelation and its connection, in the historical books of the Old Testament, with the common phrase "to enquire of Yahweh/God." After surveying the history of interpretation and the treatment of the terms in the various versions and translations, Van Dam examines the implications of similar oracular devices and priestly dress within the larger cultural context of the ancient Near East. He places the Urim and Thummim within the context of divine revelation and human inquiry and the corollary probibition of divination in ancient Israel. He concludes that the breastpiece functioned as a pouch to hold the Urim and Thummim, which therefore clearly were tangible objects. Van Dam traces the use of this oracular instrument through the early monarchy under David--from the time of Joshua through the early monarchy under David--and its apparent disappearance by the time of the "classical" prophets, where a shift to primarily verbal oracles occurs. Concurrent with his study of the history of the oracle, Van Dam interacts with current discussion on the nature and process of God's revelation to humankind.

Questions run the breadth of the Mormon experience, including doctrinal questions as well as questions about the LDS lifestyle.

The Urim and Thummim were the prescribed method of divination used in the Old Testament of the Bible, which the Tribes of Israel used to consult the LORD. The objective of this book is to provide a functional means of using the Urim and Thummim in conjunction with the Breastplate of Judgment to assist in the decision making process.The Judeo-Christian believer will find this method of divination superior to others, because it encourages the inquirer to use the Bible to develop solutions for life's problems. Like all forms of divination, it can be done for meditative or recreational purposes, or as a way of exercising the mind and improving in one's problem solving abilities. This book is structured to allow immediate use of the Breastplate of Judgment. After using the Urim and Thummim to select a Tribe of Israel, you can immediately turn to the corresponding chapter and begin analyzing the information to assist in the decision making process. Each chapter begins with a table that lists the blessings the tribe received from its mother, father, and Moses. General attributes are separated into positive (Urim) and negative (Thummim) qualities. Each of the sections in the table is then elaborated on further, followed by relevant information taken from the Pseudepigrapha Apocrypha. This book is structured to serve as a reference guide for utilizing the Breastplate of Judgment, but it can also be read from cover to cover to gain insight into the Twelve Tribes of Israel or to explore other concepts related to Judeo-Christian divination. To demonstrate that contemplative divination functions by using intuition and deductive reasoning in unison to evaluate abstract information against a set of criteria, the Astrological connections commonly associated with Palmistry were replaced with characteristics from members of the family of Israel. This demonstrates the interchangeability of set criteria, and reinforces the fact that the information derived by divination is the result of a person's mental efforts. Divination is a process that relies more on the art of interpretation, than it does on the random selection of concepts. The Urim and Thummim were the only prescribed method of divination authorized in the Bible, and the High Priest used them to obtain guidance from God. The 'Urim and Thummim Divination Kit' is the only functional system for using the Urim and Thummim in conjunction with the Breastplate of Judgment in existence today. This book is truly unique. Not only does it provide the only functional method of using the Breastplate of Judgment with the Urim and Thummim, but it also presents Judeo-Christian based systems of Palmistry, Dream Interpretation, and Tarot Card Reading. It presents these systems as a means of spiritual growth, and relates them to other mystical Judeo-Christian philosophies such as Alchemy and the Kabbalah.

The most comprehensive and up-to-date Bible dictionary available. With a fresh new look and updated photographs, this new and enhanced edition is a wealth of bible study information for any level of study. It includes more than 7,000 entries, plus more than 500 full-color photographs, maps, and pronunciation guides. Features include: Cross-references to all major translations More than 7,000 up-to-date entries More than 500 full-color photographs and maps Enlarged type size for easier reading Visual Survey of the Bible from The Open Bible

This is a book about God. Not just any god, but the god that created Adam and Eve; the god of Abraham, the god of the Jews; the god of the Christians; and the god of Islam---without a doubt, the most influential figure in the history of human civilization. But what do we really know about him? Who is he? Where did he come from? What does he look like? What sort of character does he have? What, if anything, does he eat? Does he have a family? In what ways can he be said to even exist at all? Alexander Waugh has been asking questions like these for as long as he can remember. Now, having drawn from an enormous range of sources, from the sacred books of the Torah, the Christian New Testament, and the Islamic Qur'an, from the Greek Apocrypha and the ancient texts of Nag Hammadi to the Dead Sea Scrolls, he has sought out the answers. Using material gleaned from the diverse writings of saints, rabbis, historians, prophets, atheists, poets, and mystics, he has molded his findings into a singular, striking biographical portrait of God. Erudite, perceptive, and entertaining, God reveals many startling and unexpected characteristics of the divine being. From the simple stories of Genesis and Job, explored from God's own viewpoint, to the prophecies of Muhammad and Sybil and the intricate philosophies of Newton and Nietzsche, Alexander Waugh has left no stone unturned in his compulsive mission to create a fascinating and complex portrait of God, as humans have claimed to understand him.

Christ in his Sanctuary is the first book of a series called "Ellen G. White books on Salvation". This volume examine the foundation of the sanctuary and the doctrine of the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. Excellent compilation and now in a BIG PRINT EDITION (A4) (15pt). **Complete text, No inclusive language.

This volume--the work of a lifetime--brings together all the Joseph Smith Translation manuscript in a remarkable and useful way. Now, for the first time, readers can take a careful look at the complete text, along with photos of several actual manuscript pages. The book contains a typographic transcription of all the original manuscripts, unedited and preserved exactly as dictated by the Prophet Joseph and recorded by his scribes. In addition, this volume features essays on the background, doctrinal contributions, and editorial procedures involved in the Joseph Smith Translation, as well as the history of the manuscripts since Joseph Smith's day.