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The Chamberlain Key: Decoding Startling Messages from God, Hidden for Centuries in an Ancient Biblical Manuscript
There is more to the Bible than we ever imagined...messages from God--both hopeful and troubling--hidden for ages, now revealed by modern computer technology. The Chamberlain Keytells how Timothy Smith, an appraiser and conservator of artifacts and antiquities, discovered and decoded a complex message in an ancient Hebrew manuscript of the Bible--a message that applied startlingly and unmistakably tohim!The book relates the painstaking process Smith undertook to verify and authenticate this "contact"--a quest filled with adventure and mystery. But instead of using old maps to find buried treasure, this hunt uses the data calculation power of modern technology. The author's remarkable discovery shows how the Bible is even more amazing than we ever dreamed... layered with meaning and insight, a book like no other, prepared by a brilliant Creator who wants to explain his loving plans, as well as issue serious warnings that may apply to the generations alive today."
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Published April 4, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 5, 2017
I was not sure exactly what I expected, but I expected to be more riveted to the book than I was. I had to make myself keep reading. I found it a little dry and redundant.
I requested this book to read and review from Blogging for books and was not as enthused with it as I had hoped. I love finding codes, hearing about the thrilling moments of discovery and the emotion that it evokes.
To me, it was just too slow getting to the codes and there was no real excitement in the discovery. It was glossed over as a boring paragraph.
I do not like having to give it a low score, but to be fair, I did not like having to keep reading it when I found it so tiring.
I hope others find what they are looking for in this book, I did not.
I requested this book to read and review from Blogging for books and was not as enthused with it as I had hoped. I love finding codes, hearing about the thrilling moments of discovery and the emotion that it evokes.
To me, it was just too slow getting to the codes and there was no real excitement in the discovery. It was glossed over as a boring paragraph.
I do not like having to give it a low score, but to be fair, I did not like having to keep reading it when I found it so tiring.
I hope others find what they are looking for in this book, I did not.
April 6, 2017
In my lifetime I can remember several books which claim to have found secret codes or hidden messages in the underlying Hebrew text of the Bible. Some have been credible other have not. Into this intriguing subject Timothy P. Smith steps with the story of a personal quest to understand an improbable message found in the 30th chapter of the book of Genesis.
The story begins with a clandestine visit to his parent’s attic to inspect the forbidden treasures stored there in its dusty eaves. As Mr. Smith retells, one particular object caught his attention that night. That night he found a heavy iron star which in the flickering candle light sparked a passion for antiquities which set his life on path of exploration and discovery. Years later he would learn that the star his hands had held that night was one of 13 which had adored the nation’s capital in an earlier era. The irony of this does not escape the reader because as you will learn Mr. Smith’s book, The Chamberlain Key most likely would not have been written had it not been for just 13 Hebrew letters.
This is a book which is hard to dismiss. To be honest I’m skeptical, but I want to believe. I’ve never had a vivid dream or vision telling me to do something or go somewhere so that aspect of the story is the hardest for me to accept or believe. Not that it couldn’t be true, the Bible is full of such encounters and tells of more to come in the future.
- - - Alert - - - Although this is a nonfiction work, in many places it reads like a thrilling novel with a plot that builds to an amazing conclusion. As a nonfiction work which deals with a religious theme any thorough review should touch on the nature of the subject discussed. If you want to read this book without any such information please do not read any further. - - - -
The easiest part of this book for me to accept is the authors belief, nay his compelling proof, that there is an underlying design to the Biblical text that is divinely ordered. An order that is deeper and more complex than just the inspired words on the surface of the each page. An order which tells of YHWH’s redemptive love for mankind through the promised Messiah.
To me an important test of any book which deals with subjects of prophecy or hidden information in the Bible is the test found in Revelation 19:10. That test is whether the spirit of this information is a testimony of Yeshua (YHWH’s Salvation). I was pleased, actually thrilled to learn that the underlying thrust of this book is indeed evidence that shows the spirit of Revelation 19:10.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the inexplicable link between the author’s personal story and that found in Genesis 30. The story seems well, fantastic. In any ,in reading his story I could help but think of Jacobs 6 sons and a daughter and his love for Rachel. 6 and 7 has an important symbolic place in the Scripture and it is often related to the number 13. In consideration of the important role these numbers play in the author’s story I couldn’t help but think of other places in the Bible where these numbers are found and the symbolism associated with them. Who knows they might be additional lines of investigation upon which to apply the Chamberlain Key. Here are a few examples:
In Genesis 29 it describes Jacob’s love for Rachel and his willingness to serve 7 years for her. The Hebrew word used for love is the word ahabah and means love or to love. This is the first occurrence of the word in the Bible and its numerical value is 13.
To many Jewish people the Shema Yisrael are the most sacred words in the Bible. YHWH is One! In the Bible the Hebrew word for one is echad which has a numerical value of 13. YHWH, the proper name of the living God of the Bible has a numerical value of 26 (2x13). The Shema Yisrael, that YHWH is One, is equal to (3x13) or 39.
And for those who appreciate multilevel meaning encoded into Biblical text I would be remiss if I did not mentioned the lineage of Yeshua found in Matthew 1. Matthew created this lineage of Yeshua by leaving out 4 Old Testament kings thus making precisely 41 names. (13th prime) Further you can prove these omissions were intentional by the location where he left them out. Three of the names were left out between the 6th & 7th generation and one was left out between the 13th & 14th generation. This in effect then made Yeshua both the 13th & 14th generation in the 3rd generational grouping found in Matthew 1. As the Jewish reader would understand this then also makes a connection between the 7 sacred Biblical holydays and the 13 or 14 sacrifices that were required to be made on each of those days. Keep in mind those holydays were ordered based upon a lunar calendar which was internally regulated each month by 13 or 14 days of visible waxing light followed by 13 or 14 days of waning light.
At least to me, it is thrilling to realize that the catalyst for this story to be written, a story which is ultimately about Yeshua Mashiach, was because of 13 Hebrew letters and it is retold in the 14th chapter of this book. To really appreciate the thrilling nature of this irony you’ll have to read Mr. Smiths fascinating journey of discovery for yourself.
“Do not hide Elohim’s truth” Indeed!
- - - - - - - -
In closing, this is the most unusual book I’ve read this year. It was stimulating, challenging and left plenty of unanswered questions and some healthy skepticism but why shouldn’t it? As they say, life is indeed often stranger and more thrilling than fiction.
Thanks for taking the leap of faith Mr. Smith, risking the ridicule and criticism that is sure to come in order to honor the message found in those 13 letters in the 30th chapter of Genesis.
The story begins with a clandestine visit to his parent’s attic to inspect the forbidden treasures stored there in its dusty eaves. As Mr. Smith retells, one particular object caught his attention that night. That night he found a heavy iron star which in the flickering candle light sparked a passion for antiquities which set his life on path of exploration and discovery. Years later he would learn that the star his hands had held that night was one of 13 which had adored the nation’s capital in an earlier era. The irony of this does not escape the reader because as you will learn Mr. Smith’s book, The Chamberlain Key most likely would not have been written had it not been for just 13 Hebrew letters.
This is a book which is hard to dismiss. To be honest I’m skeptical, but I want to believe. I’ve never had a vivid dream or vision telling me to do something or go somewhere so that aspect of the story is the hardest for me to accept or believe. Not that it couldn’t be true, the Bible is full of such encounters and tells of more to come in the future.
- - - Alert - - - Although this is a nonfiction work, in many places it reads like a thrilling novel with a plot that builds to an amazing conclusion. As a nonfiction work which deals with a religious theme any thorough review should touch on the nature of the subject discussed. If you want to read this book without any such information please do not read any further. - - - -
The easiest part of this book for me to accept is the authors belief, nay his compelling proof, that there is an underlying design to the Biblical text that is divinely ordered. An order that is deeper and more complex than just the inspired words on the surface of the each page. An order which tells of YHWH’s redemptive love for mankind through the promised Messiah.
To me an important test of any book which deals with subjects of prophecy or hidden information in the Bible is the test found in Revelation 19:10. That test is whether the spirit of this information is a testimony of Yeshua (YHWH’s Salvation). I was pleased, actually thrilled to learn that the underlying thrust of this book is indeed evidence that shows the spirit of Revelation 19:10.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the inexplicable link between the author’s personal story and that found in Genesis 30. The story seems well, fantastic. In any ,in reading his story I could help but think of Jacobs 6 sons and a daughter and his love for Rachel. 6 and 7 has an important symbolic place in the Scripture and it is often related to the number 13. In consideration of the important role these numbers play in the author’s story I couldn’t help but think of other places in the Bible where these numbers are found and the symbolism associated with them. Who knows they might be additional lines of investigation upon which to apply the Chamberlain Key. Here are a few examples:
In Genesis 29 it describes Jacob’s love for Rachel and his willingness to serve 7 years for her. The Hebrew word used for love is the word ahabah and means love or to love. This is the first occurrence of the word in the Bible and its numerical value is 13.
To many Jewish people the Shema Yisrael are the most sacred words in the Bible. YHWH is One! In the Bible the Hebrew word for one is echad which has a numerical value of 13. YHWH, the proper name of the living God of the Bible has a numerical value of 26 (2x13). The Shema Yisrael, that YHWH is One, is equal to (3x13) or 39.
And for those who appreciate multilevel meaning encoded into Biblical text I would be remiss if I did not mentioned the lineage of Yeshua found in Matthew 1. Matthew created this lineage of Yeshua by leaving out 4 Old Testament kings thus making precisely 41 names. (13th prime) Further you can prove these omissions were intentional by the location where he left them out. Three of the names were left out between the 6th & 7th generation and one was left out between the 13th & 14th generation. This in effect then made Yeshua both the 13th & 14th generation in the 3rd generational grouping found in Matthew 1. As the Jewish reader would understand this then also makes a connection between the 7 sacred Biblical holydays and the 13 or 14 sacrifices that were required to be made on each of those days. Keep in mind those holydays were ordered based upon a lunar calendar which was internally regulated each month by 13 or 14 days of visible waxing light followed by 13 or 14 days of waning light.
At least to me, it is thrilling to realize that the catalyst for this story to be written, a story which is ultimately about Yeshua Mashiach, was because of 13 Hebrew letters and it is retold in the 14th chapter of this book. To really appreciate the thrilling nature of this irony you’ll have to read Mr. Smiths fascinating journey of discovery for yourself.
“Do not hide Elohim’s truth” Indeed!
- - - - - - - -
In closing, this is the most unusual book I’ve read this year. It was stimulating, challenging and left plenty of unanswered questions and some healthy skepticism but why shouldn’t it? As they say, life is indeed often stranger and more thrilling than fiction.
Thanks for taking the leap of faith Mr. Smith, risking the ridicule and criticism that is sure to come in order to honor the message found in those 13 letters in the 30th chapter of Genesis.
April 15, 2017
I learned of this book the day before its release through an interview by the author on a popular podcast. The show frequently features kooks and delusional trumpeters, who can be wildly entertaining, though generally unreliable, but Timothy Smith's interview was soberly intriguing, to the point that I had to get online and further research the topics he professed. His effort certainly wasn't the first claim I had heard of "hidden messages" within biblical scripture, but there was something about his reverence that was compelling. I bought his book online the very same day.
The overall brevity of the book and fluidity of the author's storytelling made for a quick read. The content may be touchy for devout believers and difficult to swallow, particularly when the author begins explaining his process for unraveling the ancient Hebrew text, which could turn off those uninitiated with translation or code breaking, but the book cannot be accurately reviewed based on its conclusions.
If analyzed purely upon its presentation of the author's journey, The Chamberlain Key is a fascinating depiction of one man's search for meaning in life, communicating sincerity and conviction for his faith as well as his destiny. It is a book full of hope and intrigue, whether you believe in the author's findings or not, and it contains a valuable message that calls others to build upon the author's research, which will undoubtedly draw definitive answers in time, either proving or refuting the author's claims.
The tale was riveting, and immediately after I finished, I went out of my way to find a similar computer program to that used by the author, so I could research the "hidden code" on my own. Not only did the author maintain my attention throughout his story, but the call for further investigation was undeniable, and by that measure, the book was an indisputable success.
April 9, 2017
I usually do not review non-fiction, but I am making an exception or The Chamberlain Key. It is an interesting book similar in nature to The Bible Codes. Mr. Smith has discovered his name and his wife's name side by side in the Torah. He claims that there is much information hidden in the original Hebrew scrolls. I am not able to read Hebrew, so I am not able to confirm or deny his findings. I enjoyed reading this book and can see that if people doubt the veracity of the Bible finding hidden messages could convince them. More proof that the Bible is a living document.
From Amazon:
Imagine you are a young, ambitious, successful appraiser of artifacts and antiquities—your services in demand by many of the most powerful individuals and branches of government in Washington, D. C. Your future could not seem brighter—except for a troubling dream...with the same mysterious message...on the same exact date...three years in a row...
A True Story...Better Than Fiction
Timothy P. Smith, heir to a renowned family business responsible for construction or renovation of some of America’s most cherished landmarks, struggled to understand the significance of his recurring dream...until he had another dream--one that identified a specific location where it seemed he might find answers to his questions. So Timothy drove to a remote spot in British Columbia. There the adventure--which later led to a startling discovery in the oldest Hebrew text of the Bible--began.
It took the convergence of the sacred text, one man’s life, and modern computer technology to reveal messages that may explain dramatic world events, as well as influence every person alive today.
Welcome to The Chamberlain Key.
“However one wishes to interpret the meaning and significance of the text, they may rest assured that the text on which Timothy Smith bases his interpretation has almost certainly been there for a very long time, since before the birth of Christ.”
—Eugene Ulrich, Ph.D.
Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Chief Editor, The Biblical Dead Sea Scrolls
“For more than fifteen years I managed to keep the lid on a discovery that will dramatically redirect biblical scholarship, Christian theology, and perhaps even the trajectory of history itself.” –Timothy P. Smith
What You Will Discover in The Chamberlain Key
• An encrypted code in Genesis, in the oldest known Hebrew text of the Old Testament, centuries before predicted the birth and resurrection of Jesus.
• Scientific evidence that this encrypted code was authored by the divine hand of God.
• Signs that there are more encrypted codes in this same Hebrew text that will lead to additional messages from God to humanity
• Hidden clues that may lead to the location of long-missing sacred artifacts, such as the Ark of the Covenant
• Insights on why Timothy P. Smith was chosen to uncover this encrypted code.
• A dire warning that God wants us to hear—and heed.
About the author:
TIMOTHY P. SMITH is a noted appraiser and conservator of artifacts and antiquities. He has discovered and recovered many priceless historical items, none of which has amazed and excited him as much as “the chamberlain key.” Timothy and his wife reside in Virginia.
BOB HOSTETLER is the award-winning author of more than thirty books, including American Idols and the historical novel Northkill. His books have sold over three million copies.
I was given this book by the author for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.
From Amazon:
Imagine you are a young, ambitious, successful appraiser of artifacts and antiquities—your services in demand by many of the most powerful individuals and branches of government in Washington, D. C. Your future could not seem brighter—except for a troubling dream...with the same mysterious message...on the same exact date...three years in a row...
A True Story...Better Than Fiction
Timothy P. Smith, heir to a renowned family business responsible for construction or renovation of some of America’s most cherished landmarks, struggled to understand the significance of his recurring dream...until he had another dream--one that identified a specific location where it seemed he might find answers to his questions. So Timothy drove to a remote spot in British Columbia. There the adventure--which later led to a startling discovery in the oldest Hebrew text of the Bible--began.
It took the convergence of the sacred text, one man’s life, and modern computer technology to reveal messages that may explain dramatic world events, as well as influence every person alive today.
Welcome to The Chamberlain Key.
“However one wishes to interpret the meaning and significance of the text, they may rest assured that the text on which Timothy Smith bases his interpretation has almost certainly been there for a very long time, since before the birth of Christ.”
—Eugene Ulrich, Ph.D.
Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Chief Editor, The Biblical Dead Sea Scrolls
“For more than fifteen years I managed to keep the lid on a discovery that will dramatically redirect biblical scholarship, Christian theology, and perhaps even the trajectory of history itself.” –Timothy P. Smith
What You Will Discover in The Chamberlain Key
• An encrypted code in Genesis, in the oldest known Hebrew text of the Old Testament, centuries before predicted the birth and resurrection of Jesus.
• Scientific evidence that this encrypted code was authored by the divine hand of God.
• Signs that there are more encrypted codes in this same Hebrew text that will lead to additional messages from God to humanity
• Hidden clues that may lead to the location of long-missing sacred artifacts, such as the Ark of the Covenant
• Insights on why Timothy P. Smith was chosen to uncover this encrypted code.
• A dire warning that God wants us to hear—and heed.
About the author:
TIMOTHY P. SMITH is a noted appraiser and conservator of artifacts and antiquities. He has discovered and recovered many priceless historical items, none of which has amazed and excited him as much as “the chamberlain key.” Timothy and his wife reside in Virginia.
BOB HOSTETLER is the award-winning author of more than thirty books, including American Idols and the historical novel Northkill. His books have sold over three million copies.
I was given this book by the author for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.
April 15, 2017
Intriguing, though provoking, and a bit unsettling. As one who has always been in search of the truth in the scripture, I found this book an eye opener for me, thanks to the author for bringing his findings to light.
April 4, 2017
Secret Codes Embedded in the Hebrew Old Testament
A persistent tradition says that coded messages are embedded in the Hebrew of the Old Testament. Timothy Smith was led to explore this tradition by a confluence of dreams and experiences in his life. What he found shocked him and led to a years long search to understand why he had found the codes and what it meant.
The book reads like an adventure story from Timothy’s dreams to his year in the Canadian wilderness, and finally, to finding his name and his wife’s in a section of Genesis that had special relevance to his family. The stories are intriguing and the messages he finds in the Old Testament after rearranging the columns in a particular are even more so.
I enjoyed the book. It was easy to follow Timothy’s adventures. His reactions to his findings are presented in more detail than how he found the codes. He does describe in several areas how he discovered the coded messages, but the description is not very technical; I suspect by design. It left me with an unsatisfied feeling of not knowing precisely how he came to find the messages, except for the first one that was his name. Although probably not appropriate for a general audience, I would be interested in reading a more technical description of how he discovered the codes.
I recommend this book if you enjoy puzzles and adventure stories. It is particularly intriguing that it appears ancient tradition has some basis in reality and that coded messages are contained in the Old Testament.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
A persistent tradition says that coded messages are embedded in the Hebrew of the Old Testament. Timothy Smith was led to explore this tradition by a confluence of dreams and experiences in his life. What he found shocked him and led to a years long search to understand why he had found the codes and what it meant.
The book reads like an adventure story from Timothy’s dreams to his year in the Canadian wilderness, and finally, to finding his name and his wife’s in a section of Genesis that had special relevance to his family. The stories are intriguing and the messages he finds in the Old Testament after rearranging the columns in a particular are even more so.
I enjoyed the book. It was easy to follow Timothy’s adventures. His reactions to his findings are presented in more detail than how he found the codes. He does describe in several areas how he discovered the coded messages, but the description is not very technical; I suspect by design. It left me with an unsatisfied feeling of not knowing precisely how he came to find the messages, except for the first one that was his name. Although probably not appropriate for a general audience, I would be interested in reading a more technical description of how he discovered the codes.
I recommend this book if you enjoy puzzles and adventure stories. It is particularly intriguing that it appears ancient tradition has some basis in reality and that coded messages are contained in the Old Testament.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
June 24, 2017
I have to say this book was a disappointment. I was hoping for The DaVinci Code but what I got was boring and confusing. I really enjoy books with religious themes, especially if they puzzle out ancient mysteries. This book never got off the ground for me. It spans many years in the author's life. He details what were revelations to him, but to me just seemed like coincidences. If I knew ancient Hebrew maybe this book would make more sense. The author came across as egotistical and worked to make his findings meet his theories.
I received a free copy from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2017
Smith had some puzzling dreams and an appearance (or vision) of Moses. He was led to look at the Hebrew text of Genesis. He had six sons and a daughter, as did Jacob and Leah so examined Genesis 30:20-23. He found his name in an equidistant letter sequence (ELS) as well as other significant information. That led him on a journey of pursuing the possibility of other significant equidistant letter words and phrases.
The book is more of a spiritual memoir than a scientific study. Smith writes, “My objective in attempting to decipher hidden information in the Old Testament was not to prove to anyone that the text was encrypted or to attempt to predict any future events but rather to unravel the mystery of my own spiritual experiences.” (185, 186) He has done a good job of recounting his own spiritual journey finding hidden words in the Hebrew text.
However, Smith also writes that his discovery “will dramatically redirect biblical scholarship, Christian theology, and perhaps even the trajectory of history itself.” (1) That is a huge claim and one, I think, that is very over blown.
Finding words in the Hebrew through equidistant letter searches is nothing new. The concept has been been known since the thirteenth century. Smith mentions a paper by Rips, Witztum and Rosenberg published in 1994 in which they claimed to have detected encoded information in the Hebrew text. The concept was popularized in The Bible Code by Michael Drosnin, published in 1997. Many articles critical of the claims were published after that time. Some even went so far as to apply the equidistant letter sequence technique to common literature. Hidden messages were found in Moby Dick and War and Peace. The conclusion was that anecdotal messages could be found everywhere in written works and seemed to be just a phenomenon of language and random chance.
Add that there are no vowels in Hebrew and that increases the subjectivity of the ELS phenomenon. Is it Tim, Tom, tame, time, tome? The identification of the word may be a result of the influence of the one searching.
I am surprised that this topic has arisen again. The concept seemed to be pretty much discounted back in the late 1990s. The publisher of this book, WaterBrook, even published a book in 1999 critical of equidistant letter sequencing called Who Wrote the Bible Code? by Randy Ingermanson. Ingermanson had written several critical articles on the subject. When he transferred his web site to new technology, he didn't transfer those articles because he considered it a “dead subject” and doubted “anyone much cares anymore.”
What is the significance of this book? It is a good account of one person and his spiritual experiences. Smith sees his ELS experience as confirmation of the existence of God. (79) Researchers who have found significant ESL words and phrases in common literature would not agree. Smith says he is going to investigate further. You can watch a book trailer, read an excerpt, and find future articles on his research at http://chamberlainkey.com/. Time will tell the significance of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The book is more of a spiritual memoir than a scientific study. Smith writes, “My objective in attempting to decipher hidden information in the Old Testament was not to prove to anyone that the text was encrypted or to attempt to predict any future events but rather to unravel the mystery of my own spiritual experiences.” (185, 186) He has done a good job of recounting his own spiritual journey finding hidden words in the Hebrew text.
However, Smith also writes that his discovery “will dramatically redirect biblical scholarship, Christian theology, and perhaps even the trajectory of history itself.” (1) That is a huge claim and one, I think, that is very over blown.
Finding words in the Hebrew through equidistant letter searches is nothing new. The concept has been been known since the thirteenth century. Smith mentions a paper by Rips, Witztum and Rosenberg published in 1994 in which they claimed to have detected encoded information in the Hebrew text. The concept was popularized in The Bible Code by Michael Drosnin, published in 1997. Many articles critical of the claims were published after that time. Some even went so far as to apply the equidistant letter sequence technique to common literature. Hidden messages were found in Moby Dick and War and Peace. The conclusion was that anecdotal messages could be found everywhere in written works and seemed to be just a phenomenon of language and random chance.
Add that there are no vowels in Hebrew and that increases the subjectivity of the ELS phenomenon. Is it Tim, Tom, tame, time, tome? The identification of the word may be a result of the influence of the one searching.
I am surprised that this topic has arisen again. The concept seemed to be pretty much discounted back in the late 1990s. The publisher of this book, WaterBrook, even published a book in 1999 critical of equidistant letter sequencing called Who Wrote the Bible Code? by Randy Ingermanson. Ingermanson had written several critical articles on the subject. When he transferred his web site to new technology, he didn't transfer those articles because he considered it a “dead subject” and doubted “anyone much cares anymore.”
What is the significance of this book? It is a good account of one person and his spiritual experiences. Smith sees his ELS experience as confirmation of the existence of God. (79) Researchers who have found significant ESL words and phrases in common literature would not agree. Smith says he is going to investigate further. You can watch a book trailer, read an excerpt, and find future articles on his research at http://chamberlainkey.com/. Time will tell the significance of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
May 31, 2017
This book caught my attention because it sounded a lot like fiction, but I wasn't sure what to expect.
I don't deny this book is intriguing. Actually, I had to re-read it several times because it was captivating and very impressive. My only problem is that sometimes it was way too unbelievable. I started reading with an open mind, and I really wanted to discover and learn more about the secret messages in the Bible. However, in some parts this book was more fictional than real.
The publisher announced that this book is going to be a film. I'm not sure if it'll be a documentary or a movie, but it'll be interest to watch.
I'm still not sure if I believe 100% what this book states, but I must admit it was a very good reading.
-I received a book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, which I did. However, this fact didn't influence my review-
I don't deny this book is intriguing. Actually, I had to re-read it several times because it was captivating and very impressive. My only problem is that sometimes it was way too unbelievable. I started reading with an open mind, and I really wanted to discover and learn more about the secret messages in the Bible. However, in some parts this book was more fictional than real.
The publisher announced that this book is going to be a film. I'm not sure if it'll be a documentary or a movie, but it'll be interest to watch.
I'm still not sure if I believe 100% what this book states, but I must admit it was a very good reading.
-I received a book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, which I did. However, this fact didn't influence my review-
April 10, 2017
Rec'd from GoodReads giveaway.....thanks.
Interesting and would recommend it to anyone curious about comparing it to the Bible Code books.
Interesting and would recommend it to anyone curious about comparing it to the Bible Code books.
February 1, 2017
Prove the existence of God with a biblical code? The subtitle of this book put me off right away. Not another secret code book! Enough of that sort of thing. I guess that makes me prejudiced against this book from the beginning. I suspect I will not be the only one, but I did read it. Nearly every word and I did skim though the glossary and the reading list.
Smith’s story is fiction worthy, but the reader is told up front that it is a true story of the journey Smith took exploring some unusual occurrences in his own life. With the help of Hostetler, a published author in his own right, Smith proceeds to tell his tale, albeit in a format that reads more like fiction. I would have preferred a more decidedly nonfiction approach.
Without loads of spoilers the book traces Smith’s dreams that link him to finding the strength of ancient forms of communication through symbols and other means. What he found he decided to use in his search of Hebrew language Scripture. He doesn’t omit objections that arise as he works through his story. Could it be mere coincidence? Or some clever old scribal tricks? Or if you rearrange columns enough can anybody find secret codes? Good questions considering some of the material the public has already been exposed to in previous code type books. Or is the author just some sort of person who is less than healthy emotionally? Those objections were not overlooked. That is a plus for the author.
After reading this book I can’t say I’m convinced of any secret codes in the texts, but it was interesting reading his search for explanations for his findings.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
Smith’s story is fiction worthy, but the reader is told up front that it is a true story of the journey Smith took exploring some unusual occurrences in his own life. With the help of Hostetler, a published author in his own right, Smith proceeds to tell his tale, albeit in a format that reads more like fiction. I would have preferred a more decidedly nonfiction approach.
Without loads of spoilers the book traces Smith’s dreams that link him to finding the strength of ancient forms of communication through symbols and other means. What he found he decided to use in his search of Hebrew language Scripture. He doesn’t omit objections that arise as he works through his story. Could it be mere coincidence? Or some clever old scribal tricks? Or if you rearrange columns enough can anybody find secret codes? Good questions considering some of the material the public has already been exposed to in previous code type books. Or is the author just some sort of person who is less than healthy emotionally? Those objections were not overlooked. That is a plus for the author.
After reading this book I can’t say I’m convinced of any secret codes in the texts, but it was interesting reading his search for explanations for his findings.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
January 4, 2018
Here is a bit of modern gnosticism, a non-Hebrew scholar finding hidden messages in the Old Testament that can relate to him alone. He does so by subjecting the Masoretic text to various mathematical contortions and then describing them as miraculous when he finds what he wants to find. I think he is probably trying to start a church or movement that will enrich him and serve some alt-right evangelical purposes.
July 22, 2020
A book for all to read
Whether you believe, doubt or deny God exists and especially if you are seeking to confirm any of them this book is a must. Perhaps you are wondering if there is an intelligence beyond ours that is out there. Timothy Smith provides a way for us to decide for ourselves.
Do not pass this well written and documented book by.
Whether you believe, doubt or deny God exists and especially if you are seeking to confirm any of them this book is a must. Perhaps you are wondering if there is an intelligence beyond ours that is out there. Timothy Smith provides a way for us to decide for ourselves.
Do not pass this well written and documented book by.
February 1, 2019
Wow!! I had no idea! I definitely feel like I was on an adventure with this book. The revelations about the Hebraic text were amazing. I am so looking forward to future revelations concerning this subject. I can't remember when the Christian world has had a more exciting discovery about what God has for us in His eternal book. Thank you so much, Timothy and Bob, for sharing with us!
April 14, 2020
A book everyone should read
Amazing and revealing book about the words in the Word of God . It makes sense that a book for all time would have more to reveal. I loved reading this book
Amazing and revealing book about the words in the Word of God . It makes sense that a book for all time would have more to reveal. I loved reading this book
March 7, 2017
I was personally confused by this whole book and honestly did not particularly care for it.
September 8, 2017
I loved the book. Very thought provoking. I hope he does a follow up.
March 9, 2017
Intriguing read that's for sure. I was invited by Waterbrook Multnomah to read the advanced copy in order to review and share my feelings surrounding this book. The title initially caught me a little off guard. I consider myself a deeply religious person, and have never felt the need to look for 'proof' of God's existence. Rather I rely on the faith I have developed over the years through the personal experiences of which have been numerous and varied. Do I feel like the world needs proof? Perhaps, for many this scholarly approach to figure out whether there is substance to the claim that God exists and whether scriptural texts like the Bible are true, is a necessary step.
Timothy Smith starts off by explaining his history, and why he is pursuing this path. He strikes me as one who feels a deep connection to nature, and with that he gets answers he seeks in that environment. This is not alien thinking to me. There is great power connecting with the natural world, and the peace and healing you experience out in the mountains, rivers, forests can have a overwhelming impact on your life. There's probably too much explanation here though, and I can understand how this can make the reading tedious and has the feeling of it being dragged out. At first my eyebrows raised with some of the experiences he shares. However, I am reminded that as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I am already familiar with the concept of Heavenly visitations. It's not a stretch for me to believe in the validity of his claim. I did however wonder where the connection was, although his experience of meeting Moses strikes as to familiar. I wonder what his personal religious background was, and regarding some of the retelling I wondered if he had actually experienced this himself or is he using other people's experiences to retell an interesting story. I usually rely in cases like this on the promptings I feel as I read. Is the Holy Spirit giving me a feeling of confirmation to the truth of the account. This is to how I rely on the revelation of truth. Timothy doesn't actually make an initial connection to this experience. I'm not confused, or an unbeliever, more skeptical to where the significance of this event was. For me, God doesn't send messengers to his people on earth without a purpose. What would His purpose be in this vision?
I'm not sure that there is any new evidence raised within these pages that hasn't been brought to light by other scholars. His connections with passages he feels have a revealing nature, could be purely coincidental. Or they could have validity. I am wondering why as the book progresses the author is still asking the question - 'what is this all about?' 'why me?' 'What does this mean?' etc. He jumps from thought to thought and its just not straightforward or easy to understand. I've read countless non fiction doctrinal and inspirational books on the nature of God or other religious subjects. This one was just strange in format and retelling. He does refer often to acclaimed legitimate sources - I wonder if that is to bring some credibility to his own findings?
Would I recommend this to anyone? Probably not. It didn't do anything for me other than confusing what the true nature of his journey is. I am a solid believer in that this could have been something he could choose to devote his life to. Often the experiences we are graced with from on High are highly personal and sacred and are not really meant to be shared with another. I am usually skeptical of those who use those experiences for monetary gain. How did he even fund all of these travels around the world, months on end in the wilderness or living in expensive real estate areas without working?
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah as a complimentary copy. This is my honest review.
Timothy Smith starts off by explaining his history, and why he is pursuing this path. He strikes me as one who feels a deep connection to nature, and with that he gets answers he seeks in that environment. This is not alien thinking to me. There is great power connecting with the natural world, and the peace and healing you experience out in the mountains, rivers, forests can have a overwhelming impact on your life. There's probably too much explanation here though, and I can understand how this can make the reading tedious and has the feeling of it being dragged out. At first my eyebrows raised with some of the experiences he shares. However, I am reminded that as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I am already familiar with the concept of Heavenly visitations. It's not a stretch for me to believe in the validity of his claim. I did however wonder where the connection was, although his experience of meeting Moses strikes as to familiar. I wonder what his personal religious background was, and regarding some of the retelling I wondered if he had actually experienced this himself or is he using other people's experiences to retell an interesting story. I usually rely in cases like this on the promptings I feel as I read. Is the Holy Spirit giving me a feeling of confirmation to the truth of the account. This is to how I rely on the revelation of truth. Timothy doesn't actually make an initial connection to this experience. I'm not confused, or an unbeliever, more skeptical to where the significance of this event was. For me, God doesn't send messengers to his people on earth without a purpose. What would His purpose be in this vision?
I'm not sure that there is any new evidence raised within these pages that hasn't been brought to light by other scholars. His connections with passages he feels have a revealing nature, could be purely coincidental. Or they could have validity. I am wondering why as the book progresses the author is still asking the question - 'what is this all about?' 'why me?' 'What does this mean?' etc. He jumps from thought to thought and its just not straightforward or easy to understand. I've read countless non fiction doctrinal and inspirational books on the nature of God or other religious subjects. This one was just strange in format and retelling. He does refer often to acclaimed legitimate sources - I wonder if that is to bring some credibility to his own findings?
Would I recommend this to anyone? Probably not. It didn't do anything for me other than confusing what the true nature of his journey is. I am a solid believer in that this could have been something he could choose to devote his life to. Often the experiences we are graced with from on High are highly personal and sacred and are not really meant to be shared with another. I am usually skeptical of those who use those experiences for monetary gain. How did he even fund all of these travels around the world, months on end in the wilderness or living in expensive real estate areas without working?
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah as a complimentary copy. This is my honest review.
February 21, 2017
The Chamberlain Key: Unlocking the God Code to Reveal Divine Messages Hidden in the Bible by Timothy P. Smith sounded super intriguing, so I decided to pick it up and read it. The description says:
"Imagine you are a young, ambitious, successful appraiser of artifacts and antiquities—your services in demand by many of the most powerful individuals and branches of government in Washington, D. C. Your future could not seem brighter—except for a troubling dream...with the same mysterious message...on the same exact date...three years in a row...
A True Story...Better Than Fiction
"Timothy P. Smith, heir to a renowned family business responsible for construction or renovation of some of America’s most cherished landmarks, struggled to understand the significance of his recurring dream...until he had another dream--one that identified a specific location where it seemed he might find answers to his questions. So Timothy drove to a remote spot in British Columbia. There the adventure--which later led to a startling discovery in the oldest Hebrew text of the Bible--began.
It took the convergence of the sacred text, one man’s life, and modern computer technology to reveal messages that may explain dramatic world events, as well as influence every person alive today.
Welcome to The Chamberlain Key.
“However one wishes to interpret the meaning and significance of the text, they may rest assured that the text on which Timothy Smith bases his interpretation has almost certainly been there for a very long time, since before the birth of Christ.”
—Eugene Ulrich, Ph.D.
Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Chief Editor, The Biblical Dead Sea Scrolls
“For more than fifteen years I managed to keep the lid on a discovery that will dramatically redirect biblical scholarship, Christian theology, and perhaps even the trajectory of history itself.” –Timothy P. Smith
What You Will Discover in The Chamberlain Key
• An encrypted code in Genesis, in the oldest known Hebrew text of the Old Testament, centuries before predicted the birth and resurrection of Jesus.
• Scientific evidence that this encrypted code was authored by the divine hand of God.
• Signs that there are more encrypted codes in this same Hebrew text that will lead to additional messages from God to humanity
• Hidden clues that may lead to the location of long-missing sacred artifacts, such as the Ark of the Covenant
• Insights on why Timothy P. Smith was chosen to uncover this encrypted code.
• A dire warning that God wants us to hear—and heed."
I mean, I couldn't pass up a story like this - it seems too good to be true. I started this book with an open mind, but a huge grain of salt. I'm always suspicious of anyone claiming to have extra knowledge, exclusive words from God, or a secret code or formula. At first, this book was just so incredible and intriguing I just couldn't put it down and read it in two sittings. However, after finishing it and reflecting on it a bit I'm just not sure what to think about it. On one hand, if everything is just as Timothy describes, on the face of it, it's incredible. However, I have a great deal of trouble believing that his name, his wife's name, all of his children's names, AND all of their birth dates are found in the Bible in a particular chapter of Genesis, especially because he refuses to divulge his wife and children's full names and birth dates in the book and only provides the portion that includes his name and birth date. The way he gets this information is also extremely confusing - skipping x number of letters (the number of letters skipped vary), then shifting everything into different orders and grids. Honestly, I feel like you might be able to get any word or words out of the Bible using these methods.
Also, many stories are rushed over and left me wanting more information - for example, his story about moving to the Canadian wilderness with his pregnant wife, two small children, and another couple they were friends with. Who were this couple? Why did they agree to go to the Canadian wilderness in the dead of winter with them with nowhere to live? What kind of man takes his pregnant wife and two small children into the Canadian wilderness with a tent and no idea of where you might stay? Who lets their wife give birth in a cabin in the wilderness, out of the country, in the howling winter with no way to get help if anything goes wrong with her or the baby? This may not have been the case, but this is how it was portrayed in the brief explanation in the book. Also, what happened with this wife (now ex wife)? Why did they get a divorce? What does she think about Timothy's discoveries? Timothy also mentioned his second wife forcing him to go to counseling. Why? I was left with a tinge of a feeling that he could potentially be mentally ill, a narcissist, or both.
I want to believe every one of Timothy's words. They're certainly intriguing and could be earth shattering if true. However, I have so many more questions that weren't answered in this book. I think if Timothy expects us to believe all of his claims, he needs to be more open about everything - his life, everything he claims to have found, etc. At the end he provides a tantalizing claim that he's found something too potentially groundbreaking to share. Why write the book at all if you aren't ready to provide all of the facts you claim to have found? It just leaves me, like I said, with more questions than answers. Pick up a copy of the book and read it for yourself to see what you think. It is definitely an extremely interesting read. I'm reserving my final judgment until I see how everything plays out once the book is published.
I received an advance copy of this book from Blogging For Books in order to provide an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2017
The subtitle to this book, “Unlocking the God code…,” might have put me off, as I’m seriously uninspired by Gregg Braden’s the God Code. But the author seemed similarly unconvinced about the earlier book—calling it “misleading and silly”—so I decided to give the Chamberlain Key a try.
Reading like a cross between a memoir, spiritual journal, and persuasive argument, the Chamberlain Key starts from the author’s curious dreams and visions, follows with an intriguingly dangerous trip to camp with wife, children and friends in a frozen nowhere in search of… an unknown something; then continues into analysis of letters in the original Hebrew Bible. A forward by Eugene Ulrich confirms that the author used a viable source, but says nothing about his conclusions.
Through hidden, untold tools the author purports to reveal hidden, untold truths in the Bible, starting with his own first name—ten characters long in Hebrew (if you call him Timotheus). By curious coincidence this is decoded from the same passage in Genesis that mentions Jacob’s six sons and one daughter by Leah… and the author, fourth of six sons and one daughter, has six sons and one daughter—proof perhaps that coincidences happen, or that the Bible has a code prepared especially for him.
The code continues, with various changes of location, separation, translation (including Japanese) and illustration. Soon the images on the page look like a child’s wordsearch puzzle, and the nearness of so many words (suitably reinterpreted) is like that “Oh, that’s almost a word too” moment. The author blends Judeo-Christian faith with Native American methods of recording story to conclude that every letter position matters in the Hebrew Bible, and a secret message has been waiting for him to find it.
Frequent mentions of “the only” name/date etc “encrypted by equidistance” in a particular style and situation might inspire “a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry” but they lack mathematical/statistical substance. Mention of Nazis and 911 bear that all-too-common imprint of present day exceptionalism and end-times dreaming. The author clearly believes what he tells, but it reads like a tale of gradual separation from reality, exciting for those who accept the author’s conclusions, but frustrating, I would think to those same readers who disagreed with the Bible Code.
Disclosure: Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
Reading like a cross between a memoir, spiritual journal, and persuasive argument, the Chamberlain Key starts from the author’s curious dreams and visions, follows with an intriguingly dangerous trip to camp with wife, children and friends in a frozen nowhere in search of… an unknown something; then continues into analysis of letters in the original Hebrew Bible. A forward by Eugene Ulrich confirms that the author used a viable source, but says nothing about his conclusions.
Through hidden, untold tools the author purports to reveal hidden, untold truths in the Bible, starting with his own first name—ten characters long in Hebrew (if you call him Timotheus). By curious coincidence this is decoded from the same passage in Genesis that mentions Jacob’s six sons and one daughter by Leah… and the author, fourth of six sons and one daughter, has six sons and one daughter—proof perhaps that coincidences happen, or that the Bible has a code prepared especially for him.
The code continues, with various changes of location, separation, translation (including Japanese) and illustration. Soon the images on the page look like a child’s wordsearch puzzle, and the nearness of so many words (suitably reinterpreted) is like that “Oh, that’s almost a word too” moment. The author blends Judeo-Christian faith with Native American methods of recording story to conclude that every letter position matters in the Hebrew Bible, and a secret message has been waiting for him to find it.
Frequent mentions of “the only” name/date etc “encrypted by equidistance” in a particular style and situation might inspire “a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry” but they lack mathematical/statistical substance. Mention of Nazis and 911 bear that all-too-common imprint of present day exceptionalism and end-times dreaming. The author clearly believes what he tells, but it reads like a tale of gradual separation from reality, exciting for those who accept the author’s conclusions, but frustrating, I would think to those same readers who disagreed with the Bible Code.
Disclosure: Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2017
This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. My thanks go to Blogging for Books, Waterbrook & Multnomah and Timothy P. Smith for the opportunity
This kind of confused me. Whilst I think the writer has a fairly easy and open style, this is more autobiographical in some senses than anything else. It's obvious that Smith's faith greatly influences not just this book but his life in general. Whilst that's an admirable thing, I'm not remotely religious myself and found it hard to relate with someone who quite clearly sees the world the way Smith does.
The actual "Chamberlain Key" doesn't come in until some way through and my interest waned fairly quickly, meaning when I did reach the crucial revelation (for want of a better word) I was already disengaged.
This kind of confused me. Whilst I think the writer has a fairly easy and open style, this is more autobiographical in some senses than anything else. It's obvious that Smith's faith greatly influences not just this book but his life in general. Whilst that's an admirable thing, I'm not remotely religious myself and found it hard to relate with someone who quite clearly sees the world the way Smith does.
The actual "Chamberlain Key" doesn't come in until some way through and my interest waned fairly quickly, meaning when I did reach the crucial revelation (for want of a better word) I was already disengaged.
May 31, 2017
I have to say I was not really sure what to think when I first began the book. I found it very similar to other “bible code” books. I think it is a very interesting concept but I wonder since it has not been used as a prediction method, only as a confirming method if some don’t reach a bit too far to make the connections. That being said, I gave it three stars because I enjoyed learning about the process and I like Timothy Smith’s personal story of faith.
I was given this book by Penguin Random House for my honest opinion.Blessings N Bloggings is where you can find all of my latest reviews.
I was given this book by Penguin Random House for my honest opinion.Blessings N Bloggings is where you can find all of my latest reviews.
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June 3, 2019The Chamberlain Key is one man’s journey to work through the encrypted messages in the Bible’s Book of Genesis and back it up with scientific evidence. Timothy P. Smith isn’t a theologian, but a dream that he had one night led him on the quest. He also found that there are other encrypted codes in Genesis with messages from God. This book is a compelling ride for all to appreciate.
Thanks to Blogging For Books for a review copy of this book.
Thanks to Blogging For Books for a review copy of this book.
July 31, 2017
Couldn't bring myself to finish this book. Didn't hold my attention and was very hard to read, understand and remember. The author talks about studying Bible text and how if he counts certain number of letters apart, he can find his name and his wife's name and many other personal things.
November 1, 2017
An interesting story about how a man was lead to find hidden messages in the Bible. His finding of the phrase "mirror Nazi organization" reminded me of an article I had recently read titled "Awake!" on the website thelost10tribes.com.
November 13, 2023
Outstanding analyses of the Bible Code
Great book. Worth reading at lenght , meditating on the content that is displayed.
Looking forward the checking the author’s progress in deepening his perusals and findings.
Great book. Worth reading at lenght , meditating on the content that is displayed.
Looking forward the checking the author’s progress in deepening his perusals and findings.
June 15, 2017
Crom laughs at you from his mountain!
October 31, 2019
Not what I was hoping for.
Wanted a book containing more detailed information on the Torah codes not an overview of someone’s personal search for meaning. Not recommended.
Wanted a book containing more detailed information on the Torah codes not an overview of someone’s personal search for meaning. Not recommended.
March 15, 2019
Trying to keep an open mind
The theology of the author appears to be evangelical Christian. Thus, the sensationalism which could result in cultism is removed. However, one must except a priori the spiritual experience of the author, the computer program of the author's brother, knowledge of Biblical Hebrew of the author, and the valid connection of the author's analysis and findings to the Madonna El Rocio appearance/symbolism in order to believe the conclusions as valid. Thus, leaps in reasoning as one follows the arguments by the author has me in doubt. Yet, the apparent intigrity of the author keeps me open minded.
The theology of the author appears to be evangelical Christian. Thus, the sensationalism which could result in cultism is removed. However, one must except a priori the spiritual experience of the author, the computer program of the author's brother, knowledge of Biblical Hebrew of the author, and the valid connection of the author's analysis and findings to the Madonna El Rocio appearance/symbolism in order to believe the conclusions as valid. Thus, leaps in reasoning as one follows the arguments by the author has me in doubt. Yet, the apparent intigrity of the author keeps me open minded.
May 3, 2017
That’s something similar to The Davinci Code, full of mystery and religious objects…Though I didn’t watch The Davinci Code, just the promo.
Timothy Smith discovers something important, some sort of codes through the Hebrew Scriptures, which uncovered the hidden truth through out the Word. He talks about the parallel in the Bible and his life…
I still don’t know what to make up from this book… It’s a religious and has a huge chunk of the story about author’s journey on the Biblical relics and decoded messages. Mysterious, intriguing, yet misunderstood.
The cover is fabulous. The blue gives a mystery to the book… The truth is, I was expecting some sort of fiction novel…
Timothy Smith discovers something important, some sort of codes through the Hebrew Scriptures, which uncovered the hidden truth through out the Word. He talks about the parallel in the Bible and his life…
I still don’t know what to make up from this book… It’s a religious and has a huge chunk of the story about author’s journey on the Biblical relics and decoded messages. Mysterious, intriguing, yet misunderstood.
The cover is fabulous. The blue gives a mystery to the book… The truth is, I was expecting some sort of fiction novel…
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews