The God Culture: The Silence of Ginés de Mafra

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has a blog post titled "The Silence of Mafra- Magellan's Inner Circle and the Missing Lequios." The article purports to be about the testimony of Ginés de Mafra regarding Magellan's voyage around the world. Tim makes some very interesting comments about this document which require a closer look. 

https://thegodculturephilippines.com/the-silence-of-mafra--magellan-s-inner-circle-and-the-missing-lequios/

Yes, you're seeing it correctly—this is the entire Ginés de Mafra document: just two pages. Yet, a certain blogger attempted to equate this brief manuscript to Antonio Pigafetta’s detailed and official account, which spans 149 pages or more and was written for the King of Spain himself. That’s like comparing Elon Musk’s minimalist tiny house to the Empire State Building. One could attempt such a comparison, but it would only highlight a severe lack of discernment—or worse, a willful intent to mislead. When someone stoops to these levels, it reflects not scholarship, but desperation. Defamation thrives in the absence of logic. This short document, while valuable, is clearly not a navigational or ethnographic account in the league of Pigafetta’s. Let’s call it what it is: a footnote, not a chronicle.

First to note is that Tim claims Mafra's testimony is ONLY TWO PAGES and merely a footnote. But then he says Mafra's testimony is "rich in navigational detail and survival experience."

📅 Timing and Positioning Matter

By the time strategic decisions regarding Lequios, Ophir, or Cattigara were being executed or obscured, Mafra was either uninformed or not present for those inner-circle discussions. His testimony, rich in navigational detail and survival experience, does not reflect the planning stage of the voyage, where terms like Lequios and Ophir were actively used.

How can these two pages, which Tim dismisses as a footnote, be "rich in navigational detail and survival experience?" Two pages is so brief as to be nothing. Could anybody write a detailed testimony about the first voyage around the world in two pages? 

Next, Tim says Mafra has been misused by people weaponing his omissions.

🔹 The Colonial Misuse of Mafra

Modern critics, like those behind the "100 Lies" blog, weaponize Mafra’s omissions as if silence equals denial. This is bad historical method. Silence in a non-strategic witness confirms lack of access, not absence of truth.

It is I who am behind the "100 Lies The God Culture Teaches About the Philippines" video and blog series and I have never used the testimony of Ginés de Mafra. ChatGPT brought him up when I asked for a list of primary sources of Magellan's voyage but there were no citations. I have also never compared Mafra to Pigafetta. Tim is inventing a claim I never made and then “refuting” it to create the illusion of intellectual triumph. That is a called a straw man argument. This tactic, which Tim regularly employs, is deceptive and unworthy of serious scholarship.

Finally, Tim concludes thusly.

🔬 Conclusion

Ginés de Mafra’s silence on Lequios, Cipangu, or Ophir does not refute their role in Magellan’s plan. It strengthens the argument that Magellan's true objective was only known to a trusted few. The Smoking Quill here is not what Mafra says—but what he was never told.

This is how you hide a land of gold.

Tim talks a lot about Mafra's silence which must mean he is familiar with the contents of the book. After all, he has said to even suggest he is not familiar with his sources is to not be truthful. Yet, while Tim claims Mafra's testimony is a scant two pages it is actually 29 pages long!

https://archive.org/details/AX072/page/n5/mode/2up

The translation of the title is:

"Description of the kingdoms, coasts, ports, and islands from the Cape of Good Hope to the Lequios 

BY

FERNANDO DE MAGALLANES 

Portuguese pilot who saw and navigated all of it,

A book that deals with the discovery and beginning of the strait called Magellan's Strait 

BY

GINÉS DE MAFRA

who was present at all of it and saw it with his own eyes  

Description of part of Japan. (Anonymous.) 

Published by agreement of the Board of Directors of the Royal Geographical Society, by its perpetual librarian ANTONIO BLAZQUEZ Y DELGADO AGUILERA."

Mafra's testimony begins on page 183 and ends on page 212. 

This contradiction fatally undermines Tim's arguments about the text. Tim says Mafra's testimony is only 2 pages, presumes to tell his audience what is not in the book, and then it turns out the book is actually 29 pages long. He obviously doesn't know what he is talking about and has never read Ginés de Mafra's testimony. Nothing he says about this document, from the page count to the content, is credible in the slightest. 

It's not clear why Tim is focusing on Ginés de Mafra. There is a wealth of eyewitness testimony to Magellan's voyage which he continues to ignore. That includes volume 4 of the Colección de los viages y descubrimientos. One historian has this to say about that collection.

The Magellan historiographer must commence his research with Navarrete in whose Colección, especially the fourth volume, primary source material is contained in abundance. Hundreds of documents concerning discoveries by Spaniards in both the Atlantic and Pacific make this work absolutely indispensable, the very basis of modern historical writing on the discovery period.

https://read.dukeupress.edu/hahr/article/51/2/313/152610/Magellan-Historiography

Attacking and dismissing the testimony of Ginés de Mafra is not only a red herring, it's more evidence of poor scholarship on Tim's part. Ironically, the only thing being hidden here is the truth behind a veil of misinformation and rhetorical sleight of hand.

The God Culture: Fr. Gaspar de Cruz and Fr. Martin de Rada on the Lequios Islands

Here are two accounts from the 16th century regarding the Lequios Islands which Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has overlooked. These two accounts are found in South China in the Sixteenth Century by Charles Boxer. 

This volume is available to peruse on Google Books. 

The first mention of the Lequios Islands is from Fr. Gaspar de Cruz.

And as to what he says about the Eastern Scythia ending in a point, it seems to me that both he and those from whom he took this are mistaken; and that this mistake arose from seeing it thus depicted in a world-map, which was for lack of true information. Because the point which they show as containing the country and people of the Liquos is not continued with the mainland, but it is an island which standeth in the sea of China, little more or less than thirty leagues from China itself. In this island live this people, which is a well-disposed people, more to the white than brown.

It is a cleanly and well attired people; they dress their hair like women, and tie it up on the side of their head, fastened with a silver bodkin. Their land is fresh and fertile, with many and good waters; and it is a people that sail very seldom although they are in the midst of the sea. They use weapons and wear very good short swords. They were in times past subject to the Chinas, with whom they had much communication, and therefore are they very like the Chinas.

Now this island lying in the China Sea, as we have said, the coast of China runneth winding from the province of Cantão and from its coast to the coast of the province of Namquim, whither the Portugals have sailed, the coast making never a point as the maps do make, the which may be seen well delineated in the seacards of the Portugals, and in the maps which they do make.

pg. 68

A footnote on this section says:

Liu-chiu (Ryūkyū) islands and their inhabitants. The forms Lequeos, Liquios, etc., occur in old Portuguese and Spanish texts.

Fr. Gaspar de Cruz says the Lequios Islands are 30 leagues east of China. That contradicts the distance of 175 leagues which is to be found in a single Spanish version of Barbosa's book. That proves whoever wrote 175 leagues, be it Barbosa or someone else, was wrong. That is understandable seeing as the book was written before the Portuguese knew of the Lequios Islands by firsthand rather than secondhand knowledge. It underscores that the textual variant of "175 leagues to the east," which is found in no other edition of Barbosa's book, is not reliable. Yet Tim calls this textual variant "the final blow" to prove the Lequios Islands are the Philippines. 

The second mention of the Lequios Islands is from Fr. Martin de Rada.

Besides these islands which lie near to the coast, there are a very large number of [other] great and populous islands; these I will describe as they are depicted in their draughts. Beginning at the extremity of the province of Canton, which we said lies in latitude 20°, from thence nearly forty leagues to seaward, they say lies the great and populous island of Cauchi which is tributary to China. Over against the province of Hocquien [Fukien] and beyond Tacao which we saw, as is related in our narrative, lies towards the north-east of it the island of Zuansin, and from thence towards the northeast, Lusin. To the east of this lies Siaugy, and from here towards the north-west lies the Lesser Leuquiu, the which lies to the east of Hocchiu [Foochow]. Then towards the north, lies the Greater Leuquiu. These islands are called Los Lequios in our maps. More towards the north is Humal, over against Chetcan. From thence to the northwards lies Gitpon, which peoples and nations which border on the land of Taybin, and therefore we near the strait at the entrance of the gulf of Santon [Shantung] is Tanhay we call the Japones, and further north than the Japones lies Tauçian. And and at the furthest extremity of Taybin is Halecan.

pg. 265

A footnote on this section says:

As on most Ming Chinese maps, the Lesser Liu-chiu are here identified with Western Formosa, and the Greater Liu-chiu with the modern island group of that name, better known nowadays as the Ryūkyū.

Fr. Martin de Rada describes "a very large number of [other] great and populous islands" near China. He then says the Lequios Islands are east of Foochow which is Fuzhou. It looks like this:

That's not the Philippines by any measure. 

These are two more 16th century primary sources describing the Lequios Islands which contradict Timothy Jay Schwab's thesis that the Philippines are the Lequios Islands. Tim's reliance on a single anomalous reading of 175 leagues from one Spanish version of Barbosa without examining the broader historical context or corroborating eyewitness testimony is not only methodologically weak, it is outright misleading. Likewise, his reliance on imprecise 16th century maps, as if they reveal a conspiracy to hide the real location of the Lequios Islands, is also disingenuously misleading as it ignores the broader historical context as recorded in 16th century texts. That Tim overlooks historically critical sources like these, or worse, dismisses them as being ambiguous in the original and flawed in translation, further discredits his claims and his ability as a researcher.

The God Culture: Calling on His Name Book Review

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture hates Jesus Christ. He hates Jesus Christ so much that he has devoted a whole chapter in his new study guide for high schoolers and college students about why he hates Him.  Let's take a look at this blasphemy.

Calling on His Name

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will:

Understand why the Messiah’s true Name must include the Father’s Name (John 5:43).

Learn that Yahusha (יהושע) literally means “Yahu is Salvation.”

Recognize that “Jesus” is a later Greek-Latin construct lacking the Hebrew meaning.

See scriptural proof that salvation is tied to the Name of the Father.

Realize prophetic fulfillment requires the form “Yahu-sha.”

Begin transitioning prayer, worship, and identity back to the true Name.

Key Scriptures

Passage Hebraic Truth

John 5:43 “I am come in My Father’s Name.” → Messiah must bear Yahu (יהו)

within His Name.

Acts 4:12 “There is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we

must be saved.”

Joel 2:32 / “Whoever calls on the Name of YHWH (יהוה) shall be saved.”

Romans 10:13

Matthew 1:21 “He shall save His people…” → Hebrew context: YAH saves.

Philippians “A Name above every Name” — rooted in the Father’s Name.

2:9-11

Hebrew Form יהושע (Yahusha) “Yahu is Salvation.”

SECTION 1 – The Prophecy: Messiah Must Come in the Father’s Name

• “I am come in My Father’s Name.” — John 5:43

• If He came in the Father’s Name, it must appear within His own.

Components of the Name:

• Yahu (והי) = the Father’s short form.

• Yasha (ישע) = “to save / deliver.”

Combined → Yahu + sha = Yahusha (יהושע) = “Yahu is Salvation.”

This fulfills both linguistic and prophetic precision.

SECTION 2 – The Hebrew Proof: Yahusha (יהושע)

Form Meaning Usage / Notes

יהושע (Yahusha) “Yahu is Salvation” Original Hebrew form = Joshua

ישוע (Yeshua) Shortened post-exilic, Pharisaic corruption Drops “Yahu” entirely

Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Greek transliteration of Yahusha Requires “-s” ending

Iesus / Jesus Latinized → Anglicized Lacks Hebrew meaning

Scriptural Proof — Acts 7:45

“Our fathers brought in with Jesus (Ἰησοῦς) into the possession of the Gentiles…”

It refers to Joshua son of Nun—the Hebrew Yahusha.

Therefore: Ἰησοῦς = Joshua = Yahusha.

There is no scriptural equation linking “Yeshua” to Jesus.

• Conclusion:

Jesus = Joshua = Yahusha (יהושע) — “Yahu is Salvation.”

“Yeshua” = a later supposed abbreviation (same syllables) that erased the Name.

SECTION 3 – Why “Jesus” Lacks the Hebraic Meaning

Greek limitations caused critical losses:

Hebrew Sound Greek Replacement Result

“Y” “I” (“EY” Sound still) Yah → I- (which is never “J”)

“H” dropped loss of breath sound

“Sh” (ש) “S” phonetic change

Masculine ending “-s” required becomes Iesous

Result:

• “Jesus” no longer connects to YHWH or the Hebrew concept of salvation.

• Restoring Yahusha revives both prophetic integrity and meaning.

SECTION 4 – Scripture Demands the Full Name

Prophecy Fulfillment in Yahusha

Joel 2:32 — “Call on the Name of YHWH to be saved.” Yahusha = “Yahu saves.”

Matthew 1:21 — “He shall save His people.” His very Name = salvation.

Acts 4:12 — “No other Name under heaven.” Must include Yahu.

Philippians 2:10 — “At the Name every knee shall bow.” A Name above all Names

= YHWH present.

Only Yahusha fulfills prophecy both linguistically and theologically.

SECTION 5 – Apostolic Witness

• Prophets’ names preserve Yahu (Eliyahu, YeshaYahu, MattithYahu).

• Hallelu-YAH remains untouched in Revelation.

• It would be inconsistent for the Messiah alone not to bear the Father’s Name.

There is no equation of Yeshua as Jesus in any scripture — only Joshua, whose Hebrew

form is Yahusha.

pgs. 37-39

There is so much wrong here. First of all the New Testament was written in Greek, not Hebrew. The name of our Saviour in Greek is IESUOS.

The name of Jesus in Greek is Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous).

It's pronounced roughly as "Ee-ay-soos."

• Grammar: It is a masculine noun.

• Etymology: The Greek name Ἰησοῦς is a transliteration of the Hebrew-Aramaic name Yeshua (ישוע), which is a shortened form of Yehoshua (יהושע), meaning "The Lord is salvation" or "Yahweh saves."

What Tim is ultimately saying is the Greek New Testament is corrupt and unreliable. This is a direct attack against the inerrancy and inspiration of the scriptures. It highlights the fact that Tim is not a linguist.

5:06 We are not linguists nor do we care to be but you will find no linguist is necessary in this case because come along with us and we'll interpret this together.

https://thegodculturephilippines.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-god-culture-100-lies-about_28.html

Second all Jesus identified Himself with YHWH!

Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

The I AM THAT I AM is the same tetragrammaton in Exodus 6:3 translated Jehovah.

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Jesus is Jehovah, YHWH, which Tim claims is properly translated as Yahuha. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of YHWH and the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. To ignore that is to not understand the meaning of YHWH. It's not about pronunciation, it's about the revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ who is the only mediator between God and men. 

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

In Isaiah 6 we read:

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

LORD is YHWH.  Isaiah saw YHWH.  John says this was Jesus.

John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

The Biblical testimony is crystal clear. Jesus is YHWH. Tim completely ignores that testimony. In fact, he completely messes this up by declaring YHWH is the name of the Father only. 

In prayer, in research, in worship, we began to see a pattern emerge: the Name of the Father—יהוה (YHWH)—was present in Scripture thousands of times, then hidden under titles. The Name of the Son—יהושע (Yahusha)—was replaced by transliterations stripped of prophetic meaning. Our identity as a people called by His Name was blurred.

Calling on His Name, pg. 5

It cannot be overstated that YHWH is not the name of the Father. It's the name of the triune God and Jesus identifies Himself with that name. This is heretical Christology rooted in Hebrew Roots and the sacred Name movement. But Tim does not stop here. He carries his doctrine into worship.

+ Discussion Questions

What does it mean that Yahusha came in the Father’s Name?

Does it matter if “Jesus” carries no Hebrew meaning?

Which form — Yahusha or Jesus — aligns with Scripture’s prophecies?

How does this affect how we pray, worship, and declare salvation?

+ Prayer Focus

“Yahuah, if Your Son carried Your Name, help me honor that Name fully.

Give me courage to return to what Your Word clearly shows.”

+ Memory & Practice Challenge

• Speak aloud: “Yahusha ha’Mashiach = Yahu is Salvation, the Anointed One.”

• End prayers: “…in the Name of Yahusha.”

• Say “Hallelu-YAH” with full understanding and conviction.

+ Next Week (Week 7 — Final)

The Restoration: Calling on His Name in Spirit and Truth — How Revival Begins with

Returning to YHWH.

(Concludes with a worship-night style celebration of the restored Name and identity.)

The implication here is that the name of Jesus offers no salvation. We have to utter the correct and now restored names Tim has made up, Yahusha and Yahuah. That is the message of this study guide. That is the message of Tim's new group Foundations Rising. 

There is not much more to say. Tim hates the name above all names, Jesus Christ. He prefers his own made-up Hebrew names of Yahuah and Yahusha. He is on record agreeing that the name of Jesus is evil.

Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series - Part 13: End Times Prophecy of the Ophir Philippines

@rosecalero7369 Jesus is evil. Christ is evil. Messiah is not Jesus. It’s the God of Catholic Church and Christianity. Ophir is a Hebrew country.

@TheGodCulture Yah Bless.

Timothy does not merely prefer a different pronunciation. He declares the name Jesus, the name given by the angel (Matt 1:21), preached by apostles (Acts 4:12), confessed by martyrs, and exalted above every name (Phil 2:9–11), to be meaningless, corrupted, and insufficient for salvation. That is not a minor linguistic debate. That is a direct attack on the revealed name of God incarnate. This book makes it perfectly clear that Timothy Jay Schwab who is the God Culture hates the name of Jesus Christ. 

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: Lie #43: A Spanish Document Says The Philippines is Ophir

Welcome back to 100 lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Tim's claim that an old Spanish document maps the way to Ophir and ends in the Philippines. As we shall see that is simply not true in the slightest. 

Tim makes this claim in his videos.

NEW!!! Lost Isles of Gold LIVE Series. Part 3: Where Is Tarshish? Philippines? Not Spain or Britain!

22:43 In, uh, about 1519 or so even before Magellan landed in the Philippines the Spanish created a map in a Spanish government Document number 98 and it actually maps it all the way through. We have this in our source book. You can read it. We actually give it to you in Spanish and we show you how to read it in Spanish. So, you can read the original and you can see that they're leading you specifically to the Philippines as Ophir and Tarshish on a map. Wow! GMA mapped it in that interview that we showed in one of the last segments, uh, and this is their mapping so we're using that and you can see that Ophir and Tarshish, the end of this whole route is the Philippines. This isn't a mystery this has always been the case.

Tim claims GMA mapped out this route as if they are affirming his fake history but that is not the case. 

Lalaking nakahukay ng ginto noon at naging milyonaryo, kumusta na ngayon? | Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho

They are simply illustrating a speech given by Representative Dan Fernandez. But with the GMA seal Tim can strut and pretend that a news organization has legitimized his lies about the Philippines. 

He also makes the same claim about Document 98 in his book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure.

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg 161

In fact, the Spanish even record directions from Spain East to Ophir or Lequios which it specifically equates affirming Magellan’s notes, and Tarshish. In Coleccion General De Documentos..., Doc. 98, detailed directions are provided over many pages from Spain, passing Africa, then India and Sri Lanka, to Burma, to Sumatra, to Moluccas, to China, then finally to Tarsis and then, Lequios and Ofir or Ophir, Philippines. [152, see Sourcebook for detail.]

Tim's comments on Document 98 in his Sourcebook are interesting. 

The Search for King Solomon's Sourcebook, pg  151

NOTE: This whole chapter progresses from Spain to Lequios and Ofir. Not a perfect translation but one can easily understand this is identifying the Philippines. It is not Japan which 149 clarifies. Taiwan is not a group of isles. This is the Philippines especially since Pigafetta and others found the Lequios in Luzon Philippines. 

Tim's claim that this document gives directions to the Philippines rests on his misidentification of the Lequios Islands with the Philippines. I have explored that issue in depth elsewhere. You can read about it here. 

His reference to 149 is to his source which is number 149. This source is another document from volume 5 of the Coleccion General De Documentos discussing the importance of document 98. Here is what it says in full.  

The Search For King Solomon's Treasure Sourcebook, pg. 150

Of undeniable importance is document number 98, entitled “Geographical description from the Cape of Good Hope to China,” and whose original heading reads as follows: “These are the places and ports and main islands that there are from the Cape of Good Hope to the Leyquios, which is what has so far been discovered the most and of which there is the most news in Portugal.” It is unsigned and undated, but there is no doubt, from what can be deduced from some sentences in the text, that this notable work was due to someone who, knowing what the Portuguese had until then written and reported verbally about their expeditions in that part of the world that belonged to them, managed to condense this sum of geographical knowledge into a few sheets. The collector has assigned it the date “1520-1528,” we believe based on the place that this precious manuscript occupies in the file of which it is a part; but in our opinion it must have been written before 1522. It describes with some detail the Asian coast from the part washed by the waters of the Red Sea to the beginning of the Chinese coast; it gives information on all the kingdoms that were more or less known at that time, as well as the islands of Ceylon, both Java, Moluccas, Celebes, Banda and others, up to Gilolo; from here it turns to the mainland of Asia, not without alluding to Borneo, and concludes with a vague allusion to Japan, or Lequios, as it was called then. There is not the slightest concrete allusion to the Philippine Archipelago, although the author mentions groups of islands situated at a short distance from it. This persuades us that the work we are dealing with was written before the year 1522, when the ship Victoria arrived in Spain after having sailed around the world. In that same year, the Portuguese captured the ship Trinidad in the Moluccas, which, like the Victoria, was part of Magellan's fleet. The Portuguese seized the logbooks and all the documents carried by the crew of the Trinidad, and it is reasonable to assume that the following year, 1523, such precious manuscripts were already in Portugal. For these reasons, we repeat, we believe that this remarkable Description must have been written before 1522.

http://bdh-rd.bne.es/viewer.vm?id=0000175741&page=1622

The compilers of these documents says that document 98 could not have been written before 1522 because there is no mention of the Philippines and the document is about Portuguese discoveries. Now, it is a fact of history that Portugal did not discover the Philippines. Why would they mention those islands? They wouldn't! 

Tim comments on this denial thusly:

NOTE: In other words, don't pay attention to conclusions of authors or historians who draw from antiquated information as this identifies. That is so 1520 when we are now beyond 1521’s find by Magellan. Why is this document from the Spanish so adamant about this being the thinking before 1522? Because Magellan found the Lequios again documented by Pigafetta and others following as Luzon Island Philippines is fully confirmed not Japan nor Taiwan who are proven false. To think otherwise, is simply a false paradigm of willing ignorance. Of largest note, that out thinking ignored the Philippines which you can find in British writings especially even today. We find it in Nowell, Suarez and other authors whom we even quote as well which is why we do as this Spanish document suggests, we ignore their antiquated paradigm of bias in conclusions which they clearly have and this document condemned in this writing as well in characterizing it as stuck in an old paradigm. The Lequios are not a scholarly mystery as you will find many who cite one quote after another and maps but all before Magellan and then actually use those in drawing a conclusion ignoring Magellan, Pigafetta and many others and ignoring the Philippines. Why is it that the Philippines must be ignored? Well, in reading this entire book, that reason is obvious. It is the only option as Ophir as there is no other and we are not supposed to know this. 

Tim simply brushes it off saying it's a false paradigm and hinting that the true location of Ophir as being the Philippines is being covered up. That is nonsense. 

Document 98 is not a list of Spanish discoveries. Once again, the subtitle of this document is:

http://bdh-rd.bne.es/viewer.vm?id=0000175741&page=921

These are the places and ports and the main islands that exist from the Cape of Good Hope to the Leyquios, which is what has been discovered the most so far and what is most known in Portugal.

Portugal did not discover the Philippines. The Spanish were the first Europeans to set eyes on the archipelago. It would not make sense for the Philippines to be included in a list of Portuguese discoveries until after 1522 which is when documents from the captured Trinidad would have made their way back to Portugal.  Tim simply ignores documented history for his own fabricated lies. 

No one in the history of the world has ever claimed the Lequios Islands were the Philippines until Tim came along. There is no map that shows this identification. The Lequios Islands are in between Taiwan and Japan and today are known as the Ryukyu Islands. A true mapping of the directions in Document 98 looks like this:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Mercator_1569_world_map_composite.jpg

This is a 1569 Mercator Map. The Lequios Islands are clearly separate from the Philippines. The claim that Document 98 leads to the Philippines false. It is simply one more lie taught about the Philippines by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

The God Culture: AI "Music" is Actually A Vessel of Light Through the Holy Spirit

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture is now also Foundations Echo Collective. On November 19th, 2025 he released his first full length album under this name titled "The Awakening, vol. 1."

Let's take a look at Tim's new mission statement for this project.

Foundations Echo Collective is a global worship collective and creative studio dedicated to restoring authentic, Scripture-rooted worship to a new generation. We write, produce, and release original music that bridges ancient faith and modern sound, carrying the heartbeat of revival from the Philippines to the nations. Our mission is simple but world-changing: to call believers everywhere back to the foundations of truth—worshiping the Creator in spirit and in truth, living lives of holiness, and awakening purpose through the power of song.

Born out of The God Culture research and teaching platform, Foundations Echo Collective began as a small worship initiative designed to give voice to the global awakening rising from the Isles of the East. What started with a few original songs quickly became a movement of faith, unity, and restoration. Today, with curated AI assistance, we compose across genres—from epic cinematic themes orchestral anthems, and rap worship to modern congregational worship, acoustic devotionals, and island-inspired praise. Each song is crafted to draw listeners back to the heart of Yahuah and the example of Yahusha—reminding the world that worship is not entertainment; it is covenant. Our intent is to begin receiving submissions from the public as well soon...  

https://foundationsrising.org/about-us/

Here we see that Foundations Echo Collective is indeed The God Culture under another name. We also see that while Tim claims he is restoring authentic worship he is actually using AI to compose these songs. 

The sound of Foundations Music is diverse yet unmistakable. It blends the depth of Hebrew roots with the passion of Filipino soul and the excellence of modern production. Listeners will hear ancient sounds and native rhythms fused with pop, rap, orchestral, and contemporary worship elements—creating a sound that feels both timeless and new. Whether through the soaring anthem “I Will Rise – Anthem of the Philippines”, the meditative “Alleluia (My Yahuah)”, the restored and modernized hymn “A Mighty Fortress (Yahuah Reigns)", or the cinematic journey “Isles of Ophir,” our songs invite worshipers to experience Scripture as living reality. 

Foundations Music functions as an independent, faith-based creative studio powered by prayer, collaboration, and technology. Using tools such as Songer AI, Runway, and Klangio, we accelerate songwriting and production while maintaining human authenticity and spiritual discernment. This allows us to release new, high-quality worship content monthly without dependency on major labels or touring schedules. Instead of chasing fame, we pursue impact—empowering local churches to lead their own worship renewal. 

Unlike many contemporary worship labels, Foundations Music is not driven by celebrity or market trends. We return worship to its original purity—where lyrics are theologically precise, melodies are inspired, and every song glorifies the Creator rather than the artist. We believe that excellence and authenticity belong together. Our production values rival mainstream standards, yet our focus remains entirely spiritual. 

Human authenticity and AI DO NOT go together. Worship is inherently human. There is absolutely nothing spiritual about computers mimicking humans singing and playing instruments. It's not even like MIDI or click tracks or using loops created by a DJ. Programed AI music is100% devoid of soul and spirit and any authenticity. It's literally an algorithm created by inputs. It is "worship music" ghost written by a neural network and branded as revival. 

Imagine if I asked my guitar:

Hey, Martin! Write me a song in the key of G that's all about loving God.

That wouldn't be my song. 

Here is how Tim justifies his use of AI in creating music. 

❓ Isn’t using AI or digital voices in worship somehow wrong?

Not at all. Worship isn’t bound by instruments or code.

The same Spirit that moved through David’s harp moves through today’s tools because of the creator behind it.

Wherever Yahuah’s Name is lifted, His presence flows—yes, even through the wires.

Because... "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear".            – 1 John 4:18

Perfect love doesn’t fear new tools — it redeems them.

Where the Ruah Ha’Hodesh leads, even technology becomes a vessel of light. Just as a car can be intended for bad, the same can be used in ministry.  

https://foundationsrising.org

Technology can become a vessel of light through the Holy Spirit? Now Tim sounds like a technocratic transhumanist, the very same people he has condemned for creating AI and foisting it upon the public.

Who Were The Nephilim? Answers In Jubilees: Part 14 

23:39 15:3 And Elohim looked upon the earth, and behold it was corrupt, the whole earth save Noah and his family, and all flesh had corrupted its orders. Got that? All flesh. In other words all kinds on the surface of the Earth, notice not marine life which is why it did not have to be wiped out. The whole Earth had corrupted, what? It's orders, it's kinds, hybrids. And what are we being told today by the technocracy who is dumb enough to think it a good idea to advance Artificial Intelligence to the point that we will have to upgrade so they say to keep up. What they are really saying and doing is espousing the very doctrine of the Nephilim, demons, that mankind must corrupt it's orders. This is one of the largest issues of our day because this will bring the same response that it did before the Flood, the world will have to be replenished. It is the ultimate disaster for Creation requiring this time, a replenishing with his eternal fire. 

Tim writes: 

We also revive forgotten hymns and public-domain treasures, adding fresh arrangements and choruses that restore their power for modern congregations. Songs like “A Mighty Fortress (Yahuah Reigns)”and “Praise You in the Dance” transform traditional compositions into vibrant new worship experiences while maintaining doctrinal accuracy and historical integrity.

I wonder which of those songs is the forgotten hymn and which is the public-domain treasure. "A Mighty Fortress" is by no means a forgotten hymn and is sung in churches regularly. I've sung it myself in Church. "Praise you in the Dance" is a Casting Crowns song which is still copyrighted which means for Tim to transform it he will likely need their permission just like Weird Al gets permission before he transforms songs. "A Mighty Fortress" is the third track on his first album. The song credit section is very interesting. 

There is no credit to Martin Luther who wrote the lyrics! Tim has "transformed" this hymn by adding the words Yahuah and Yahusha and by adding a section about not profaning the name of Yahuah. This, of course, is all done in service to restoring the so-called names of the Father and Son respectively. That certainly transforms the message of Martin Luther who was an Orthodox Trinitarian. Tim is on record denying the Holy Spirit is God, claiming he is likely a creature, and insisting that the Trinity is a made-up doctrine of men. You can read about the name of YHWH here and the Holy Spirit being a creature here. 

So, why is Tim using Luther's most famous hymn? No doubt because Tim believes himself to be a modern day Luther restoring lost ancient truths. He's not. He's a heretic introducing novel doctrines and with this soulless AI "music" he is introducing strange fire into worship.

I am not going to review every song on this album. You can listen to it on Spotify. It's soulless garbage that sounds like every other Dove Award winning CCM song, all of which are awful. My most hated? The one with the lyrics "will I dance for you Jesus." That song is so devoid of correct theology I can only imagine why it won the Dove Award for Song of the Year. Have these people never read Isaiah 6? Listen at your own peril. I will note that there is a strange lyric in track one, I Give It To You (Pop Worship Edition).

I think on these things as I rest in your support

Why wouldn't Tim write, if he did write the lyrics at least, "as I rest in your arms" or, more strongly, "as I rest in your grace?" Of course Tim does not believe in perseverance of the saints. He teaches one can lose their salvation so either one of those three lyrics are useless to Tim's doctrine that we ultimately save ourselves by keeping the law, or as he says, "The law is what redeems us."

Oddly enough Tim is inviting real musicians to contribute songs to his project. 

We invite every listener, musician, and worshiper to be part of this story. Whether you serve on a worship team, lead a church, or simply love music that carries the presence of Yahuah, Foundations Music exists for you. Download the songs. Share them. Sing them. Record them. If you are a songwriter, submit your songs to be included in our offerings. We will vet each song and add those appropriate. Let the Isles rise and the nations rejoice.

If a songwriter submits a song how will it be included? Will Tim process it through AI? Will the songwriter receive a credit? If Tim is going to use AI why even bother asking lowly humans to submit anything when he has a machine that is more human than human? Furthermore one has to wonder how much of Tim's upcoming book "Restore The Name: The Covenant Voice Returns" was written by a machine? In the end, the use of AI to promote his godless, Christless, heretical theology is a perfect fit for Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture and now Foundations Echo Collective. 

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: Lie #42: Mt. Kanlaon is a Greek and Hebrew Word

Welcome back to 100 lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns Timothy Jay Schwab's claim there are Greek place names in the Philippines. According to Tim Tarshish, the son of Javan who founded Greece, sailed with Ophir to the Philippines, stayed here, and named a few landmarks in the Greek language. As we shall see that is a totally bogus claim and another lie.

 

In his videos Tim says:

Solomon's Gold Series - Part 7: Track of the Hebrew to the Philippines. Ophir, Sheba, Tarshish

46:46 And here's another for posterity sake Mount Kanalaon in Negros Occidental is Greek for at least God's people. There we go again. We do not place Negros in Tarshish but perhaps it is. Therefore it is our hypothesis that Luzon and surrounding aisles are Ophir, Cebu, Bohol, and surrounding aisles are Sheba and Tarshish is Mindanao Samar and in between. And the area of Tarshish includes the areas of Tarshish's Maritime brother Kittum, Elisha and Dedan, Dodan, Dodanim whichever name you wish to use. Remember there are over 7,000 islands in the Philippine archipelago thus plenty of room for all of these names and many, many more.

Tim reiterates this claim in his book The Search for King Solomon's Treasure.

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 93

Tim has three sources for this claim. 

The Search for King Solomon's Treasure, pg. 192

The first is from Pealim.com.

https://www.pealim.com/dict/1913-liknot/

But this is a Hebrew word and Tim is pretty clear Kanlaon is Greek compound word. Why he is bringing Hebrew into he mix? Because he is reaching, is inconsistent, and has no idea what he is talking about. 

Why is he citing from a modern Hebrew dictionary rather than a biblical dictionary like Strong's? It appears the word in Strong's is H7066.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7069/kjv/wlc/0-1/

As you can see Strong's H7066 is two syllables, kaw-naw, not kan. The Hebrew does not fit when trying to find the etymology of Kanlaon. Tim also makes no attempt to find a Hebrew word for "laon." Why would a word have a Hebrew prefix and a Greek suffix? It wouldn't.

For the Greek Tim has two sources. The first is Strong's G2579.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2579/kjv/tr/0-1/

His second source is a paper by Benjamin Baxter.

https://mcmasterdivinity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MJTM_12.1_BaxterFallacies.pdf

Funny that the paper is titled "Hebrew and Greek Word Study Fallacies."  The fact is the word "laon" is Strong's G2992 which is actually "laos." It means people but is translated differently depending on the context. 

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2992/kjv/tr/0-1/

Here you can see there are two versions of "laon" with differing accents on the third letter meaning they are pronounced differently. 

According to Tim's video Mt. Kanlaon means "At least God's people." However in his book the search for King Solomon's Treasure Mt. Kanlaon means "Bought people of God." The first interpretation makes sense because Tim is using two Greek words. The second interpretation makes zero sense because Tim is using a Hebrew Prefix with a Greek suffix. He is literally making stuff up.

Of course the etymology of Mt. Kanlaon is well known and it has nothing to do with Greek or Hebrew. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanlaon

The name "Kanlaon" means "[place] of Laon", a pre-colonial Visayan goddess of creation, agriculture, and justice. The name Laon itself means "the ancient one", from Visayan laon meaning "ancient" or "old."

In pre-colonial animist anito beliefs of the various Visayan peoples, Kanlaon was regarded as the domain of a powerful female spirit named Laon (meaning "the ancient one") who was also regarded as the supreme creator deity of most Visayan groups. She is present in the pre-colonial beliefs of the Aklanon, Capiznon, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Karay-a, Suludnon, and Waray people, among others.

She was first recorded as "Lalahon" or "Lahon" by the conquistador Miguel de Loarca in Relación de las Yslas Filipinas (1582). De Loarca records that Lalahon was an agricultural deity invoked by the natives for good harvests. When she was displeased, she would send locusts to spoil the crops. De Loarca specifically mentions that she dwells in the Kanlaon volcano.

The Spanish recorded this fact first over 400 years ago in 1582.

The Philippine Islands 1483-1803, vol. 5, pg. 135

The god Lalahon. It is said that the divinity Lalahon dwells in a volcano in Negros island, whence she hurls fire. The volcano is about five leagues from the town of Arevalo. They invoke Lalahon for their harvest; when she does not choose to grant them good harvests she sends the locusts to destroy and consume the crops. This Lalahon is a woman.

The fact is Mt. Kanlaon is the name of a goddess who lives in the volcano. The teaching that Mt. Kanlaon is a Greek and a Hebrew compound word is one more lie being taught about the Philippines by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture.