Could anyone recommend a top book for a virtual beginner, which not only lists and details openings, but also clearly explains the theory behind each move. Is there a bible I'm not aware of? (same for endgame while your at it)

The only book I know of that really explains the theory behind the chess openings is Reuben Fine's "Ideas Behind the Chess Openings." The bible for chess endings used to be Reuben Fine's as well, "Basic Chess Endings." But that book was riddled with errors due to the haste with which it was compiled (Fine was desperate for money at the time), and it has since been superseded by other more recent books. (I like the one by the two German masters, Mueller & ?, "Fundamental Chess Endings"? [somebody help me out here]). For a book that is not so comprehensive but very useful, I like "Practical Chess Endings" by Irving Chernev. Its title is a lie since a lot of the book is devoted to composed endgame studies, but it covers a lot of basics and solving its studies, which are in varying degrees of difficulty and are slanted towards normally arising situations, is an excellent way of quickly improving endgame skill.

Reuben Fine was an American world championship contender of the late thirties and forties. World War II put a big hole in his ambitions, as it did for our other American great of the time, Sammy Reshevsky. After the war Fine had to choose between chess and making a living, and settled down as a very respected psychoanalyst. He wrote on the psychology of chess and continued to contribute to chess literature.  

a book that really helped me was BOBBY FICSHER TEACHES CHESS it goes over everything its definitely my bible, but it is ritten weird start it like a regular book then when your done flip it over and go through it again but upside-down. 

I don't have it but Understanding the Chess Openings sounds like what you need. Also 51 Chess openings for Beginners(although a review I saw was unfavorable).Happy hunting.