The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible

Heiser, Michael S.

Sep 2015 · Lexham Press

About this ebook

In The Unseen Realm, Dr. Michael Heiser examines the ancient context of Scripture, explaining how its supernatural worldview can help us grow in our understanding of God. He illuminates intriguing and amazing passages of the Bible that have been hiding in plain sight. You'll find yourself engaged in an enthusiastic pursuit of the truth, resulting in a new appreciation for God's Word.

Why wasn't Eve surprised when the serpent spoke to her?

How did descendants of the Nephilim survive the flood?

Why did Jacob fuse Yahweh and his Angel together in his prayer?

Who are the assembly of divine beings that God presides over?

In what way do those beings participate in God's decisions?

Why do Peter and Jude promote belief in imprisoned spirits?

Why does Paul describe evil spirits in terms of geographical rulership?

Who are the "glorious ones" that even angels dare not rebuke?

After reading this book, you may never read your Bible the same way again.

Endorsements

"There is a world referred to in the Scripture that is quite unseen, but also quite present and active. Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm seeks to unmask this world. Heiser shows how important it is to understand this world and appreciate how its contribution helps to make sense of Scripture. The book is clear and well done, treating many ideas and themes that often go unseen themselves. With this book, such themes will no longer be neglected, so read it and discover a new realm for reflection about what Scripture teaches."

--Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement

"'How was it possible that I had never seen that before?' Dr. Heiser's survey of the complex reality of the supernatural world as the Scriptures portray it covers a subject that is strangely sidestepped. No one is going to agree with everything in his book, but the subject deserves careful study, and so does this book."

--John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament, School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary

"This is a 'big' book in the best sense of the term. It is big in its scope and in its depth of analysis. Michael Heiser is a scholar who knows Scripture intimately in its ancient cultural context. All--scholars, clergy, and laypeople--who read this profound and accessible book will grow in their understanding of both the Old and New Testaments, particularly as their eyes are opened to the Bible's 'unseen world.'"

--Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College

Ratings and reviews

This author is obviously anointed, and this eBook inspired, of the Holy Ghost of Christ Jesus. This eBook clearly explains most every spiritual, Scriptural concept twice; once for the theologian within an concise, academic vernacular, and then again for the layman within a amiable, contemporary slang. This astute author presents both a basic interpretation of Biblical Scripture, an interpretation that appears to have been obscured by Western academia for various, questionable motives for near two millennia, and also provides the historical, literary sources by which this interpretation was inspired within clear terms. The simple question presented by this author is thus; is the majority of Biblical Scripture found within surviving texts a figurative, metamorphic narrative, or is the Holy Bible a blatant, literal historical record; a record that presents an understanding of a metaphysical reality far beyond the capability of contemporary Empirical Science? This eBook changed me.

Very deep book about the powers in heaven, very well researched and written, take your time reading it. It helps if you read the authors many papers and listen to his podcast.

Great theology and synthesis on MANY difficult passages for many to understand. This book sticks a finger in the gaping hole of modern theology that makes it impossible to understand much of the Bible. Without an ancient worldview to help guide us we will always systematize a modern view of God onto His word.

About the author

Michael Heiser is a scholar in the fields of biblical studies and the ancient Near East, and he is a Scholar-in-Residence at Faithlife, the makers of Logos Bible Software. Michael has an MA in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania, and he has an MA in Hebrew Studies and a PhD in Hebrew Bible and Semitic Languages from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has published widely in scholarly journals and popular periodicals such as Bible Study Magazine, and he teaches ancient languages online at MEMRA. Learn more about Dr. Heiser and his writings at drmsh.com.