The God Culture
SOURCE LIST

Ophir Sourcebook

Transparency in Research:

At The God Culture, we believe in transparency. Unlike many, we have openly shared our research from the beginning, even in our YouTube videos. To provide complete clarity, we have published a comprehensive 300-page Sourcebook that details the sources used in our publications, The Search for King Solomon's Treasure and Ophir Philippines Coffee Table Book.

We encourage readers to consult the Sourcebook alongside our main texts for a thorough understanding of our research foundation. In total, The God Culture has published over 1,000 pages of in-depth research on this topic.

Regarding Online Attacks:

Please note that defamatory and harassing attack blogs employing propaganda do not represent the extensive collection of credible data that underpins The God Culture's research. All our published books include comprehensive bibliographies for verification. One claiming we do not even read these sources, and did not even try to prove, when we quote and explain them in a massive number of pages, is clearly not one representing the truth. The fact they have to explain why one should not read the position, already tells one much about their intentions, as they have no adherence to the truth. That is the behavior of weak-minded individuals.
Solomon's Treasure Sourcebook
Download Free Sourcebook Now! Read the 5 AI Peer Reviews in Consensus 

PARTIAL SOURCE LIST

This page provides a selection of the diverse sources supporting our research, which demonstrates the Philippines as the historical Ophir and the location of the Garden of Eden. A comprehensive bibliography is included in the back of each of our published books.

Explore Our Complete Sourcebook:

For a more in-depth understanding of our research, download our comprehensive 300-page SOURCEBOOK. This resource includes:

  • Detailed pages from many of the sources listed below and more.

  • Direct links to online resources where available.

  • Full academic credits for all sources.

A Note on the Integrity of Our Research:

We are aware of disinformation efforts that attempt to discredit The God Culture's work. Our commitment to rigorous research is clearly evident in our publications. For example, our first book, The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, features a 16-page bibliography with screenshots of actual sources used. This allows readers to verify our findings page by page, and a comprehensive index is also provided.

Accusations that we do not engage with our sources are demonstrably false and often originate from individuals engaged in online harassment and libel. Our detailed bibliographies, supported by visual evidence and verifiable links, stand as proof of our thorough research process. Such baseless claims are not representative of a genuine pursuit of truth.

Despite these attempts to undermine our work, The God Culture has published extensively on this topic, including four international books and over 100 videos, all built upon a foundation of meticulous research, as evidenced by our publications and the accompanying Sourcebook.

Historic, Academic, and Major Media Sources (English Translations where applicable):

Ancient Texts & Historical Accounts:

  • The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

  • The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus (Washington Irving)

  • The Travels of Marco Polo

  • Antonio Pigafetta’s Journal (Lord Stanley of Alderley translation)

  • Pomponius Mela, Chorographia

  • Flavius Josephus (various works)

  • The surueye of the vvorld... Dionysius Periegetes

  • The Voyages and Adventures of Fernando Mendez Pinto, The Portuguese (Henry Cogan translation)

  • Pliny the Elder, Historia Naturalis

  • Historia de las islas e indios de Bisayas (Francisco Ignacio Alcina, 1668)

  • The Discoveries of the World, from Their First Originall Unto the Yeere of our Lord 1555 (António Galvão, Richard Hakluyt translation, 1601)

  • Origen de los indios de el Nuevo Mundo e Indias Occidentales. (Gregorio García, 1607)

  • Historia do descobrimento e conqvista da India pelos Portvgveses (Fernão Lopes de Castanheda, 1883 edition)

  • The Suma Oriental of Tomé Pires (Armando Cortesão translation, 1944)

  • Purchas his Pilgrimage (Samuel Purchas, 1626)

  • Magellan’s Voyage Around the World (J.A. Robertson translation, based on Antonio Pigafetta)

  • Boxer Codex (c. 1590)

  • Revelation of the Magi (early text)

Academic Publications & Institutions:

  • The Cambridge Ancient History

  • Smithsonian Institution

  • Yale University

  • The Israel Museum

  • The Louvre Museum

  • British Museum

  • The Philippine Islands (Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson)

  • Europe and the Far East (Sir Robert K. Douglas, Cambridge University Press, 1904)

  • The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology

  • The International Journal of Nautical ArchaeologyThe Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs

  • History of the Philippine Islands (Antonio de Morga, 1609, various translations)

  • ArcheoSciences Journal

  • The Carpenter ReportThe Field Museum, Chicago

  • Philippine Sociological Review

  • Evolution of Island Mammals

  • The Journal of History (Ronquillo)

  • The Philippine Progress (Dr. Austin Craig)

  • One World Archaeology (Routledge)

  • National Museum of IranArchives de la Maison Archeologie & Ethnologie

  • The Journal For Early Modern Cultural Studies

  • The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls (Geza Vermes)

  • Man and Culture in Oceania (Ronquillo)

  • Early Mapping of Southeast Asia (Peter C. Suarez)

  • NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

  • The Stanford Report

  • University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology (R.F. Barton)

  • Eskaya of Bohol: Traces of Hebrew Influence Paving the Way For Easy Christianization of Bohol (Jess Tirol, 1990)

  • Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta

  • The Age of Solomon

  • University of Cape Town

  • South Africa Archeological Society

  • Encyclopaedia Britannica

  • History of the Phoenician Civilization (George Rawlinson)

  • Institute of Historical Research

  • The Ilocos Sur Archaeology Project

  • Hawai’i Pacific University

  • Oceanic Institute

  • Asian Society

  • Science Magazine

  • World Atlas

  • A History of the Philippines (Dr. David P. Barrows)

  • Asian Studies Journal

  • The Philippines in the 6th to 16th centuries (Emma H. Blair)

  • Ginto: History Wrought in Gold (Ramon N. Villegas)

  • Arts of Asia Magazine (Lazlo Legeza)

  • Archaeological Studies Program, University of the Philippines Diliman

  • Chau Ju-Kua: his work on the Chinese and Arab trade in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries (Friedrich Hirth and W.W. Rockhill translation)

  • The Austronesians: Historical and Comparative Perspectives (Peter Bellwood, James J. Fox, Darrell Tryon)Department of Anthropology, The Australian National University

  • The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites

  • Hindawi African Science JournalArchaeopress

  • The Columbia Encyclopedia

  • The American Desk Encyclopedia

  • Oxford University PressWorld Encyclopedia

  • Science in the Philippines.

  • A review by James J. Walsh, Ih.D., M.D.

  • Christopher Columbus and the participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese discoveries (Meyer Kayserling, M. Gross translation)

  • The Jews and the Expansion of Europe to the West, 1450 to 1800 (Paolo Bernardini and Norman Fiering)

  • Collecion General de Documentos Relativos a las Islas Filipinas (1522)

  • Philippine Progress Prior to 1898 (Dr. Austin Craig and Conrado Benitez)

  • The Suma Oriental of Tomé Pires (Armando Cortesão translation, 1944)

  • University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology (R.F. Barton)

  • Eskaya of Bohol: Traces of Hebrew Influence Paving the Way For Easy Christianization of Bohol (Jess Tirol, 1990)

  • Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta

  • The Age of Solomon

  • University of Cape Town

  • South Africa Archeological Society

  • History of the Phoenician Civilization (George Rawlinson)

  • Institute of Historical Research

  • The Ilocos Sur Archaeology Project

  • Hawai’i Pacific University

  • Oceanic Institute

  • The Pilgrim’s Muse (Rev. Joseph Thomas, 1816)

  • Ancient History Encyclopedia

  • Collins English Dictionary

  • American Historical Association

  • Concise Oxford English Dictionary

  • The Concise Dictionary of World Place Names

  • South African National Biodiversity Institute

Major Media Outlets:

  • National Geographic

  • Forbes Magazine

  • The New York Times

  • Wall Street Journal

  • United Nations Publications

  • Money Magazine

  • CNN

  • BBC

  • World Bank Publications

  • Philippine Daily Inquirer

  • The Philippine Star

  • Manila Standard

  • Esquire Magazine

  • Philippines

  • GMA News

  • Sun Star Philippines

  • The Guardian Newspaper

  • ABS-CBN News

  • Business World

Philippine Government & Related Agencies:

  • Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines)

  • Philippines Department of Agriculture

  • Philippines Department of Energy

  • Philippine Bureau of Customs

  • Philippine Statistics Authority

  • Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines

  • Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

  • Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives

  • Philippines Bureau of Export Trade

  • Primer on the Philippine Minerals Industry (Carlo A. Torres)

  • Philippine News Agency

Environmental & Scientific Organizations:

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

  • NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

  • The Haribon Foundation

  • Project Noah

Individuals & Other Notable Sources:

  • William Henry Scott (various historical works)

  • The Hilti Foundation

  • Underwater Archaeologist Franck Goddio

  • Moussons (Social Science Research Journal)

  • The Boxer Codex (Lazlo Legeza commentary)

  • Encyclopedic Dictionary of Archaeology

  • Chau Ju-Kua (annotated translations)

  • Philippine Supreme Court Justice Antonio T. Carpio (various writings on Philippine history and maritime law)

  • Professor Adrian Horridge (research on ancient navigation)

  • William Larousse (linguistic studies)

  • Godofredo U. Stuart Jr., M.D. (medical and historical perspectives)

  • Rabi-Kohan Shalomim Y. HaLevi, Ph. D, D. Div., O.R. Thrpst. S.A.C.

  • Dr Alan P Newman (historical research)

  • Antonio J. Montalvan II, Ph.D., Mindanao Anthropologist and Ethnohistorian

  • Chaim Ben Torah (Hebrew studies)

  • Jewish Virtual Library

  • Ancient Hebrew Research Center (Jeff A. Benner)

  • Dr. Steven D. Fraade (religious studies)

  • Dr. Charles F. Stanley (theological perspectives)

Some of the Hebrew Definitions from:

  • Pealim Hebrew Lexicon

  • Abarim Publications

  • Strong’s Concordance

  • Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon

  • Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

  • Thayer’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

  • Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English LexiconEaston’s Bible Dictionary

  • International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

  • Smith’s Bible Dictionary

  • Hitchcock’s Dictionary of Bible Names

  • King James Bible Dictionary

  • ATS Bible Dictionary

  • Contextualising the Teaching of Biblical Hebrew (Stephen H. Levinsohn, Ph.D)

  • McMaster Journal of Theology and MinistryLinguistics (Cotterell and Turner)

  • Balashon - Hebrew Language Detective

  • The Johns Hopkins University Press (George A. Shipley, The Vocabulary of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic)

  • Encyclopedia Judaica

  • Ancient Hebrew Research Center (Benner)

Some of the Historic Extra-Biblical Books:

  • Book of Jubilees

  • First Book of Enoch

  • Book of Tobit

  • 2 Esdras (4 Ezra)

  • Cave of Treasures

  • The Life of Adam and Eve

  • Second Book of Adam and Eve
Some of the Historic Maps Used in Our Research:

Credible Historic Maps: Understanding Ancient Cartography

Interpreting ancient maps requires a focused approach, prioritizing fixed geographical markers and understanding historical context. For instance, the term "India" in ancient times held a broader meaning than modern-day India, much like our historical use of "the Orient."

Consider the identification of the Ganges River. While Josephus mistakenly equated it with the Pison River from Eden, influencing later interpretations, the actual Ganges in India is clearly distinguishable on many historical maps. These maps often accurately depict modern India, Sri Lanka, and the Indus River in their relative positions, sometimes even on the same map where a relocated "Ganges/Pison" is shown trending eastward. The notion that the Pison River flowed towards the Philippines led some to misplace the Ganges, but this geographical adjustment does not alter the true location of ancient India. Any scholar who overlooks this fundamental cartographic distinction lacks a proper understanding of historical mapping.

A persistent paradigm, often rooted in colonial bias and propaganda, falsely asserts that pre-colonial maps are indecipherable and lack credibility. This viewpoint attempts to erase 6,000 years of cartographic history, positioning colonial-era maps as the sole origin of reliable geographical representation. This assertion is demonstrably untrue and not based on sound historical analysis.

Our book, Garden of Eden Revealed: The Book of Maps, undertakes a 6,000-year journey through historical cartography, presenting evidence that identifies the Philippines as the Land of Gold and the true location of the Garden of Eden. Claims that this cannot be proven reflect a "willful ignorance," as forewarned in 2 Peter 3. This ingrained colonial bias is increasingly being challenged and overturned through rigorous research.

Map Sources:

The conclusions presented in our research are drawn from the careful analysis of a wide range of credible historic maps. While a comprehensive list would be extensive, our analysis incorporates maps from various periods and sources, including (but not limited to):

  • Classical and Medieval Period Maps: These maps, often based on Ptolemaic geography and later adaptations, provide insights into early geographical understanding.

  • Renaissance and Early Modern Cartography: This era saw significant advancements in mapmaking, with detailed regional and global maps produced by European and other cartographers.

  • Indigenous and Non-Western Maps (where available): Recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives, our research considers cartographic representations from various cultures where they offer relevant geographical information.

  • Navigational Charts and Portolan Maps: These practical maps used for seafaring often provide accurate coastal details and place names relevant to historical understanding.

  • Digitized Collections of Major Libraries and Archives: Our research draws upon the vast digitized collections of institutions worldwide, making historical maps more accessible for study.

Note: Specific map citations and further details regarding the maps used can be found within Garden of Eden Revealed: The Book of Maps.
Read Low Resolution Map eBook Free Read Original Position Free
Garden of Eden Revealed MAP INDEX
Garden of Eden Revealed: The Book of Maps