Bøger af James Allen Moseley

The history of Israel - from Solomon to Assyria's annihilation of the Northern Kingdom - and the histories of the neighboring civilizations that helped shape Israel's course -Egypt, Syria, Philistia, Assyria, Babylon, and others - are seldom taught and little understood. Some of the Bible's best-loved and most dramatic stories are nestled in this period - including the ministries of Elijah, Elisha, Obadiah, Jonah, and Nahum - but they are told in 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and the books of prophecy, making it difficult to follow the story. This book pulls everything together in a single, smooth narrative - and it simplifies and explains some of the most otherwise confusing parts of Scripture. The Bible, with its usual inerrancy, gives all the necessary clues, in plain ink, to work out every detail flawlessly, and, with proper understanding, the whole account of this epoch emerges with perfect clarity. If you want to know the true, full story of the Kings of Israel and Judah, this book is for you. If you are a believer, it will enhance your devotions by helping you know the Biblical narrative more intimately. If you are a skeptic, its logic will challenge your doubts. Here you will discover facets of this era - surprising things in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - but that many have overlooked. Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

Did you know that the Bible contains data, like a mathematical word problem, that allows us to calculate the exact depth of Noah's Flood? To calculate the precise hour when Jesus died on the Cross? To know exactly how old Daniel was when he survived the lions' den? The Bible's wealth of such information is beyond what most people would ever suspect.Astonishingly, the authors of the sixty-six books of the Bible always get their dates right. Many modern Bible scholars and pastors, however, do not, and errors in chronology often lead to a misunderstanding of Biblical truths. You understand much more of why things in the Bible happened if you understand when they happened.The perfection of Biblical chronology is a strong testimony to the Bible's inerrancy. It is one persuasive proof that the Bible is divine, not merely human, in origin. In our digital age, two news outlets cannot report a single story that happened this morning without errors and contradictions. The authors of the Bible, writing without the aid of spreadsheets, voice recorders, astronomy software, and atomic clocks, were able to tell the entire story of the Bible, from Eden to the Apostle Paul, with perfect synchronicity. Say what you like about the Bible, but first understand what the Bible actually says about itself. This book proves that the Bible is far more consistent than what often passes for science.One of the errors of historians and skeptics is to measure the Bible against ancient secular histories and archeological finds. But those resources are inconsistent and speculative. The Jewish historian Josephus, for example, gives three different lengths for the reign of the Emperor Tiberius - and he was a near contemporary, born in the year Tiberius died. Since the Bible is an ancient document with a complete and coherent record of the events it reports, it is much more logical to measure all other books and evidence from antiquity against the Bible. Why would you use a ruler with missing segments to measure a ruler that is whole?I have been working on Bible chronology since I began teaching theology to adults in 2009. I have examined every date that I have found in the Bible and put all those dates together in a giant spreadsheet so that I could compare the dates against each other, against dates from secular histories, and against our Gregorian calendar, the Hebrew calendar, and, sometimes, the Roman, Seleucid, and Babylonian calendars. It has been painstaking work, and the spreadsheet, if printed, would cover more than 7,000 pages.After writing my eighteen books on theology, I enrolled in Liberty University as a candidate for a master's degree in theology. My reason for doing this was to test all the assertions in my books against the formal teaching of professional academia. So far, I have found no evidence to undermine my theses, including my Bible chronologies. (My grade point average is 4.0, which I state not to brag, but because it would be unimpressive if I told you I was a master's degree candidate but was flunking!)If one particle of data in the Bible were in error, logically we could doubt much of the rest. One loose thread could unravel the whole sweater. Remarkably, the chronologies that the Bible preserves and presents are perfect - absolutely without error, and this book proves it.

Did you know that the Books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Esther occur chronologically in the middle of the Book of Ezra? This volume puts the Books of Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, Nehemiah, and Malachi into a flowing, chronological narrative. It makes the history of Israel after the Babylonian exile clear - and relates the events and prophecies of that period to the history of the time between the Old and New Testament and into the Christian Era. The 427 years from Malachi to the opening of the New Testament were scarcely a hyphen between two epochs. They were centuries jam-packed with world-shattering events that swirled around the Jews, like two Persian invasions of Greece, the conquests of Alexander the Great, the titanic battles between the Greek successor Kingdoms of Syria and Egypt, the struggle of the Jewish Maccabees against the Greeks, the treaty between the Jews and Rome, and Rome's ultimate conquest of Judah. And all these events were foretold in uncanny detail by the prophets - so that the Jews could survive these trials until the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.If you want to know the true, full story of Israel from Babylon to Jesus, this book is for you. If you are a believer, it will enhance your devotions by helping you know the Biblical narrative more intimately. If you are a skeptic, its proof of the Bible's historical accuracy will challenge your doubts. Here you will discover facets of this era - surprising things in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - that many have overlooked.Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

Birbal is surely one of the best-loved figures in the folklore of India. For generations the Birbal stories have delighted children and grown-ups alike, from one end of India to the other. Jalaludin Mohammed Akbar Padshah Ghazi, Emperor of India, ruled from 1560 to 1605. Akbar was great in an age of great rulers: Elizabeth I of England, Henry IV of France, Philip II of Spain, Suleiman the Magnificent of Turkey, and Shah Abbas the Great of Persia.Akbar was chivalrous and just to all, but he could be violent and overmastering, if needed. His magnetic personality won the love and affection of his people and the respect and admiration of his enemies. Akbar was superb at riding, polo and swordsmanship, and he was a crack shot with a musket. He was courageous, often fighting personally in the heat of battle. He was a brilliant general, a master of speed, surprise, and minute details. His lightening conquests of India, from the Hindu Kush to Bengal, were feats of military genius.Akbar worked hard at the trade of king, sleeping only three hours a night. Although he could neither read nor write (he was probably dyslexic), he had legions of scholars who read to him. His son, Prince Sultan Salim, later the Emperor Jahangir, wrote that no one could have guessed that Akbar was illiterate. He loved religion, philosophy, music, architecture, poetry, history and painting. He forged an Empire that enjoyed long-lasting peace and high cultural refinement.The Empire of the Mughals was vast and fabulously rich. Akbar's lower taxes and rising conquests created prosperity for the people and floods of treasure for the Crown. European visitors estimated that just one province of Akbar's Empire, Bengal, was wealthier than France and England combined. Birbal was born to a poor Brahmin family of Tikawanpur on the banks of the River Jumna. He rose to the exalted level of minister (or "Wazir") at Akbar's court by virtue of his razor-like wit. He was a good poet, writing under the pen-name of "Brahma," and a collection of his verse is preserved today in the Bharatpur Museum. Birbal's duties at court were administrative and military, but his close friendship with the Emperor was sealed by Akbar's love of wisdom and subtle humor. In Birbal the young King found a true sympathizer and companion. When, in an attempt to unify his Hindu and Muslim subjects, Akbar founded a new religion of universal tolerance, the Din-I-Ilahi, or "Divine Faith," there was only one Hindu among the handful of his followers, and that was Birbal. Many courtiers were jealous of Birbal's star-like rise to fortune and power, and, according to popular accounts, they were endlessly plotting his downfall.The character of Akbar in these stories is rather fanciful, and, historically, Birbal is scarcely heard of. Village storytellers probably invented many of these tales over the ages, simply attributing them to Birbal and Akbar because their characters seemed to fit. Akbar's court was mobile, a tradition handed down from his nomadic ancestors, the Mongols of Central Asia. (Mughal is Urdu for Mongol.) The Emperor ruled sometimes from the fortress of Agra, sometimes from the noble city of Lahore. In the period of these tales, 1571 to 1585, Akbar held court in the shimmering pleasure city which he had built for himself - Fatehpur Sikri.

Does the Genesis account of Creation fit with science? Does the doctrine of Original Sin make sense? Is the Flood of Noah a derivative myth? Is the tale of Sodom a fable? Did you know that God made seven promises to Abraham, two to Isaac, and five to Jacob? Did Isaac agree to allow Abraham to sacrifice him? Was Isaac really near death when he blessed Jacob? Did God hate Esau? Did God condone Jacob's deceits and polygamy? Did Jacob practice "magic genetics?" Why did God really kill Onan? Why did Judah become the leader of the twelve patriarchs when Jacob's oldest son was Reuben? Does the story of Joseph in Egypt fit extra-biblical history? If you want to know the true, full story of Genesis, from Eden to Egypt, this book is for you. If you are a believer, it will enhance your devotions by helping you know the Biblical narrative of Origins more intimately. If you are a skeptic, its logic will challenge your doubts. Here you will discover facets of Genesis - surprising things in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - but that many have overlooked. Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

The history of Judah alone - from the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria until Judah's fall to Nebuchadnezzar - and the histories of the civilizations that helped shape Israel's course - Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon - are seldom taught and little understood. Some of the most dramatic stories are nestled in this era - the ministries of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Zephaniah and Habakkuk - but they are told across many Biblical books, making it difficult to follow the story. This book pulls everything together in a single, smooth narrative - and it simplifies and explains some of the most confusing parts of Scripture. The Bible, with its usual inerrancy, gives all the necessary clues, in plain ink, to work out every detail of Israel's history flawlessly, and, with proper understanding, the whole account of this epoch emerges with perfect clarity. If you want to know the true, full story of the Kings of Judah, this book is for you. If you are a believer, it will enhance your devotions by helping you know the Biblical narrative more intimately. If you are a skeptic, its logic will challenge your doubts. Here you will discover facets of this era - surprising things in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - but that many have overlooked. Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (www.thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

If you want to know the true, full story of Jesus, what he did, when he did it, and why he did it, in one, seamless narrative, this book is for you. If you are a believer, it will enhance your devotions by helping you know Jesus more intimately. If you are a skeptic, it will logically challenge your doubts. Even if you know the Bible well, this book will show you aspects of Jesus' personality, mission, friends and enemies that will come as a surprise. You will see things that were always there in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - but you will see them as you never saw them before. The product of more than 8,000 hours of primary research and teaching to adult Bible study classes at Grace Church of Glendora, California, this book shows how the four gospels harmonize in perfect, non-contradictory detail. It explores the relationships and motives of Jesus, of his Disciples, and of his family. You will feel the political, cultural, and theological currents swirling around Judea in Jesus' day. You'll learn why everyone logically believed the Messiah had to appear exactly when Jesus did. You'll learn why the majority of people Jesus encountered believed immediately that he was the Messiah, and why the masses greeted him with euphoria while the Jewish leaders and the Herods received him with dread. You'll learn how the Bethlehem Star was a true celestial event; how Mary managed her relationship with Joseph and her family after her divine pregnancy; how Jesus escaped death many times until he was ready to die; why Pilate argued so exhaustively against killing Jesus; how both Peter and Judas denied Jesus, but one was saved and the other lost; and how Jesus turned the Passover into the astonishing new rituals of the Last Supper and the Cross and changed the world forever. Far from appearing in an insignificant geographical backwater - the Messiah came in a time and place which was then the hinge of politics and history. He wove together the threads of Old Testament prophecy to reveal the vivid tapestry that is the living Gospel of Christ. There have been many kings throughout history who wanted to be God. But only once in history has God wanted to be a man. Come follow the daily life of Christ and come closer to him who died that we might live. Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

Birbal is surely one of the best-loved figures in the folklore of India. For generations, the Birbal stories have delighted children and grown-ups alike, from one end of India to the other. Jalaludin Mohammed Akbar Padshah Ghazi, Emperor of India, ruled from 1560 to 1605. Akbar was great in an age of great rulers: Elizabeth I of England, Henry IV of France, Philip II of Spain, Suleiman the Magnificent of Turkey, and Shah Abbas the Great of Persia. Akbar was chivalrous and just to all, but he could be violent and overmastering, if needed. His magnetic personality won the love and affection of his people and the respect and admiration of his enemies. Akbar was superb at riding, polo, and swordsmanship, and he was a crack shot with a musket. He was courageous, often fighting personally in the heat of battle. He was a brilliant general, a master of speed, surprise, and minute details. His lightening conquests of India, from the Hindu Kush to Bengal, were feats of military genius. Akbar worked hard at the trade of king, sleeping only three hours a night. Although he could neither read nor write (he was probably dyslexic), he had legions of scholars who read to him. His son, Prince Sultan Salim, later the Emperor Jahangir, wrote that no one could have guessed that Akbar was illiterate. He loved religion, philosophy, music, architecture, poetry, history, and painting. He forged an Empire that enjoyed long-lasting peace and high cultural refinement. The Empire of the Mughals was vast and fabulously rich. Akbar's lower taxes and rising conquests created prosperity for the people and floods of treasure for the Crown. European visitors estimated that just one province of Akbar's Empire, Bengal, was wealthier than France and England combined. Birbal was born to a poor Brahmin family of Tikawanpur on the banks of the River Jumna. He rose to the exalted level of minister (or "Wazir") at Akbar's court by virtue of his razor-like wit. He was a good poet, writing under the pen-name of "Brahma," and a collection of his verse is preserved today in the Bharatpur Museum. Birbal's duties at court were administrative and military, but his close friendship with the Emperor was sealed by Akbar's love of wisdom and subtle humor. In Birbal the young King found a true sympathizer and companion. When, in an attempt to unify his Hindu and Muslim subjects, Akbar founded a new religion of universal tolerance, the Din-I-Ilahi, or "Divine Faith," there was only one Hindu among the handful of his followers, and that was Birbal. Many courtiers were jealous of Birbal's star-like rise to fortune and power, and, according to popular accounts, they were endlessly plotting his downfall. The character of Akbar in these stories is rather fanciful, and, historically, Birbal is scarcely heard of. Village storytellers probably invented many of these tales over the ages, simply attributing them to Birbal and Akbar because their characters seemed to fit. Akbar's court was mobile, a tradition handed down from his nomadic ancestors, the Mongols of Central Asia. (Mughal is Urdu for Mongol.) The Emperor ruled sometimes from the fortress of Agra, sometimes from the noble city of Lahore. In the period of these tales, 1571 to 1585, Akbar held court in the shimmering pleasure city which he had built for himself - Fatehpur Sikri.

This collection of delightful anecdotes is just what every weary doctor, medical student, and patient needs to see the lighter side of the healing art. Here's a sample: A nephew of the famous Rothschild (equally rich) once got a fish bone stuck in his throat. Terrified and unable to breathe, he managed to rasp out: "Call a doctor!" A physician happened to live quite nearby, and he ran to the rescue, neatly extracting the fish bone. Rothschild gave a profound sigh of relief and declared to the doctor, "You have saved my life. Ask anything you desire..." Smiling, the doctor said, "Let's settle it this way: give me just one-tenth of what you were prepared to pay at the moment you felt you were dying."

The great Apostle Peter told us we should always be prepared to make a defense to everyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us - and to do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). This book will help you fulfill that mission.In teaching the Bible to adults for over a decade, these are the questions, problems and puzzles that most frequently bob up and trouble believers. They are also among the most common queries that skeptics fling at the faithful.The best way to learn is to teach, and I learned all the answers these essays contain in that way. The Bible is a book of marvelous complexity and simplicity at the same time. It is perfect - it contains no contradiction or error, and these essays give many proofs of why the common misconception that the Bible is a myth is itself a myth.Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

The Song of Solomon, Ruth, and Job are three of the most misunderstood books in the Bible. They deal with life's most poignant questions: why marriages fail, why marriages succeed, and why bad things happen to good people. We often feel we are the victims of random acts of evil, perpetrated by a vengeful Satan and permitted by an indifferent God. These three books teach, on the contrary, that God has designed rules in life not to restrict or punish us, but to make us happy. When we color outside the lines, we suffer.The Song of Solomon is not, as often taught, and allegory of Christ's love for the church. It is an admonition that happiness in marriage is only possible within the boundaries set by God in Eden: one man and one woman. Solomon's whole life, and his behavior in the Song, is a tragic example of departure from God's design.The Book of Ruth shows the power of unceasing kindness. Mercy and kindness originate with God. When humans reflect these qualities, they enter a cycle of virtue, in which God works all things together for good.The much-misunderstood Book of Job in fact teaches the opposite of this - that putting ourselves in the hands of a merciful God is what redeems us from tribulation and brings hope, security, and peace.A key misperception of Job is that he was righteous and yet God placed him in Satan's hands. Accurate reading of the text shows us that Job thought he was righteous, but God never said he was. As long as Job relied on hypocritical moral posturing to save himself, he, not God, placed himself in Satan's hands. But as soon he humbled himself, stopped his "holier than thou" pose, and prayed to God, he experienced a rush of God's mercy and love.What is prayer for? Does it change God's mind when we appeal to Him? No. God does not change. Prayer changes us. It aligns us with God's will, and when we are so aligned, things go well for us. When we are out of alignment, they go ill. Proper prayer says, "Not my will, but yours be done." This was Job's lesson - and the lesson we can learn from Job.

Have you ever wondered if the sun really stood still for Joshua? If the Conquest of Canaan was an example of God condoning genocide? If the walls of Jericho really fell as the Bible describes? Did you know that the Book of Judges is not in chronological order - that Israel's worst descent into violent immorality happened immediately after the death of Joshua? Did you know that Eli and Samuel were contemporaries of Samson? That Samuel, by tradition, wrote the Book of Judges and most of 1 Samuel? If you want to know the true, full story of the Conquest of Canaan, the era of the Judges, and the transition of Israel from a theocracy, ruled by Prophets and Judges, to a monarchy, this book is for you. If you are a believer, it will enhance your devotions by helping you know the Biblical narrative more intimately. If you are a skeptic, its logic will challenge your doubts. Here you will discover facets of the Conquest and the Judges' Era - surprising things in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - but that many have overlooked.Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

The stories of Saul, David, and Solomon are inextricably entwined, but they are scattered in the Bible between the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and 1 and 2 Kings. This book tells you the full, true story of Israel's Greatest Kings in a single, uninterrupted narrative. Samuel, the righteous Judge and Prophet, anoints Saul, a Benjamite, the tallest of his countrymen, as Israel's first King. As Saul disobeys God and declines into madness, defeat, and suicide, David, the shepherd from Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah, arises to kill the giant Goliath and become the King's son-in-law and rebel leader on the run. Finally, David becomes King of Judah and then King of Israel, and the House of Saul loses its royal standing. David is a man after God's own heart, but his deliberate sins - adultery and murder - result in bloodshed and civil war. His son, Solomon, secures the throne over the heads of his older brothers, and receives unparalleled wisdom, wealth, and power from God. He builds the First Temple, but then falls into apostasy. The story of these men covers the transition of Israel from a theocracy, ruled by Judges accountable directly to God, to a monarchy, with all the failings of men. If you are a believer, this book will enhance your devotions by helping you know the Biblical narrative more intimately. If you are a skeptic, its logic will challenge your doubts. Here you will discover facets of this era - surprising things in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - but that many have overlooked. Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (www.thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

Have you ever found yourself enjoying the dramatic stories of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy only to feel the narrative screech to a halt when it collides with long sections of the Law? This book solves that problem. Here you will read the uninterrupted story of Israel, witnessing its descent into Egypt, its slavery, the Plagues, the first Passover, the Exodus, the escape from Pharaoh, the parting of the Red Sea, God's giving the Law on Mount Sinai, the manna, the quail, and the fiery serpents of the Wilderness Years, the opposition of enemy nations, and the Second Generation's preparation to conquer the Promised Land. Following this dramatic narrative, the entire Law of God is organized topically at the end of the book, allowing you to feel the full impact, rationale, and burden of the divine legal code condensed into one space. If you want to know the true, full story of Israel's Exodus from Egypt, this book is for you. If you are a believer, it will enhance your devotions by helping you know the Biblical narrative of the Pentateuch more intimately. If you are a skeptic, its logic will challenge your doubts. Here you will discover facets of the Exodus - surprising things in plain sight - in the ink on the pages of Scripture - but that many have overlooked. Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (www.thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

Birbal is surely one of the best-loved figures in the folklore of India. For generations, the Birbal stories have delighted children and grown-ups alike, from one end of India to the other. Jalaludin Mohammed Akbar Padshah Ghazi, Emperor of India, ruled from 1560 to 1605. Akbar was great in an age of great rulers: Elizabeth I of England, Henry IV of France, Philip II of Spain, Suleiman the Magnificent of Turkey, and Shah Abbas the Great of Persia. Akbar was chivalrous and just to all, but he could be violent and overmastering, if needed. His magnetic personality won the love and affection of his people and the respect and admiration of his enemies. Akbar was superb at riding, polo, and swordsmanship, and he was a crack shot with a musket. He was courageous, often fighting personally in the heat of battle. He was a brilliant general, a master of speed, surprise, and minute details. His lightening conquests of India, from the Hindu Kush to Bengal, were feats of military genius. Akbar worked hard at the trade of king, sleeping only three hours a night. Although he could neither read nor write (he was probably dyslexic), he had legions of scholars who read to him. His son, Prince Sultan Salim, later the Emperor Jahangir, wrote that no one could have guessed that Akbar was illiterate. He loved religion, philosophy, music, architecture, poetry, history, and painting. He forged an Empire that enjoyed long-lasting peace and high cultural refinement. The Empire of the Mughals was vast and fabulously rich. Akbar's lower taxes and rising conquests created prosperity for the people and floods of treasure for the Crown. European visitors estimated that just one province of Akbar's Empire, Bengal, was wealthier than France and England combined. Birbal was born to a poor Brahmin family of Tikawanpur on the banks of the River Jumna. He rose to the exalted level of minister (or "Wazir") at Akbar's court by virtue of his razor-like wit. He was a good poet, writing under the pen-name of "Brahma," and a collection of his verse is preserved today in the Bharatpur Museum. Birbal's duties at court were administrative and military, but his close friendship with the Emperor was sealed by Akbar's love of wisdom and subtle humor. In Birbal the young King found a true sympathizer and companion. When, in an attempt to unify his Hindu and Muslim subjects, Akbar founded a new religion of universal tolerance, the Din-I-Ilahi, or "Divine Faith," there was only one Hindu among the handful of his followers, and that was Birbal. Many courtiers were jealous of Birbal's star-like rise to fortune and power, and, according to popular accounts, they were endlessly plotting his downfall. The character of Akbar in these stories is rather fanciful, and, historically, Birbal is scarcely heard of. Village storytellers probably invented many of these tales over the ages, simply attributing them to Birbal and Akbar because their characters seemed to fit. Akbar's court was mobile, a tradition handed down from his nomadic ancestors, the Mongols of Central Asia. (Mughal is Urdu for Mongol.) The Emperor ruled sometimes from the fortress of Agra, sometimes from the noble city of Lahore. In the period of these tales, 1571 to 1585, Akbar held court in the shimmering pleasure city which he had built for himself - Fatehpur Sikri.

The debate for and against Calvinism is perhaps the most passionately divisive in Christianity, followed, perhaps, only by the debate about End Times.It should be evident to all well-meaning and reasonable Christians that you can be a Calvinist or not and still be a good Christian and go to heaven. But that isn't always the case.There are many friendly Calvinists, but some very prominent ones think that if you are not a Calvinist, it is because you are proud, arrogant, pagan, humanistic, and brainwashed. If you think that's too extreme, read on. Unfortunately, such statements sometimes have the effect of driving seekers away from Christ.The truth is, there are Biblical arguments for and against Calvinism, and some of the most famous theologians in the past and present adhere to either side of the debate. This book is designed to help you grapple with the verses that Calvinists claim support their view. I pass my own judgment on the verses, but by parsing them and considering them prayerfully yourself, you can come to your own conclusion, and whichever side you take, I believe you can hold to it under the mantle of God's grace.Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.

Daniel is clearly the Old Testament companion to the New Testament Book of Revelation. There are many similarities in the visions of the two books. Any exegesis of Daniel quickly arouses controversy between the proponents of various eschatological views. A great deal of what Daniel prophesied found fulfillment in the ancient history of the Middle East. Many readers of the Bible have no idea about those events. They may only barely have heard of Alexander the Great, Darius III, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and Judas Maccabeus, and so it is nearly impossible for them to understand Daniel Chapters 8 and 10 through 12. They might just barely have heard of the Roman emperors Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius and Nero, but they probably do not know much, if anything, about Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian and Titus, and so the astonishing accuracy of Daniel 7, and its perfect fit with Revelation 13, escapes them. The fact that Daniel's prophecies found fulfillment in near-term historical events need not exclude that they may have far-future applications, too. Bible prophecy has other precedents showing that past and future prophetic fulfillments can simultaneously be true. So it may be with some, many, or all of Daniel's prophecies. The student of Scripture must take the responsibility to know what Daniel said, what happened from the time Daniel wrote until today, fit historical events with the details of his prophecies, and decide which elements of Daniel's prophecies await future fulfillment and which have already been fulfilled. To skip any part of this process - for example, to ignore historical events that fit tightly with Daniel's prophecy simply from a futurist bias, or to ignore futuristic possibilities in Daniel's prophecies simply from a preterist bias - would be negligent. The devoted student of Scripture should read the Bible for all it's worth, taking into account all valid information, and then arrive at the best interpretation under the guidance of his own mind and of the Holy Spirit. As Edmund Burke wrote, "Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it." Jim Moseley has taught and written 17 books on Biblical theology since 2008, focusing on apologetics, science, history, archaeology, and comparative religions and doctrines. He is President of a non-profit organization (thebiblehistoryguy.com), whose mission is finding faith through facts. He is working on a Master's Degree in Divinity at Liberty University.