The Unseen Realm: Part 1

In this episode of Ryan and Brian’s Bible Bistro, the hosts dive into The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser, focusing on Old Testament themes. Heiser’s “Deuteronomy 32 worldview” explores a divine council of spiritual beings (Elohim) surrounding God, distinct from polytheism. Key passages like Psalm 82:1, Genesis 6:1-4, and Deuteronomy 32:8 highlight rebellions (Fall, Nephilim, Tower of Babel) and cosmic geography, where Israel’s land is uniquely tied to Yahweh. Naaman’s request for Israelite soil (2 Kings 5) underscores this. Heiser’s framework, rooted in ancient context, clarifies “weird” texts but requires caution due to speculative elements. Part 2 will cover New Testament applications.

Overview of The Unseen Realm

• Core Thesis: Heiser proposes a “Deuteronomy 32 worldview,” emphasizing a divine council of spiritual beings (Elohim) that God interacts with, distinct from polytheism.
• Heiser’s Background: His interest sparked as a PhD student when reading Psalm 82:1, which mentions God judging “among the gods” (Elohim, a plural Hebrew term).
• Writing Style: Heiser leans into “weird” or overlooked passages (e.g., Genesis 6:1-4), offering fresh interpretations grounded in biblical languages and ancient Near Eastern context.
• Audience Appeal: Engages readers unfamiliar with scholarly study through accessible writing, YouTube presence, and podcasts.

Key Old Testament Concepts Discussed

1. The Divine Council (Psalm 82:1)

• Text: “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the gods” (Elohim).
• Explanation: Elohim can mean God or spiritual beings, depending on context. Heiser argues this passage depicts God surrounded by a council of spiritual beings (not gods in a polytheistic sense).
• Key Idea: God is unique, but other spiritual beings exist, serving advisory roles, not as equals. Heiser emphasizes, “There is no Elohim like Yahweh.”

1. Deuteronomy 32 Worldview (Deuteronomy 32:8)

• Text: “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance… he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of God” (Dead Sea Scrolls/Septuagint reading).
• Context: Refers to the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), where God divided nations and assigned spiritual beings (“sons of God”) to oversee them.
• Implications: These beings rebelled, leading to judgment (Psalm 82). This explains why nations worshipped other gods, tied to spiritual rebellion.
• Textual Note: The Masoretic Text reads “sons of Israel,” but earlier texts (Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint) support “sons of God,” a more difficult but likely original reading.

1. Three Rebellions in Genesis

• Fall (Genesis 3): The serpent, a rebellious spiritual being, deceives humanity, opposing God’s plan for humans to rule the earth.
• Sons of God and Nephilim (Genesis 6:1-4): Spiritual beings (“sons of God”) intermarry with human women, producing Nephilim (giants), leading to increased wickedness and the flood.
• Tower of Babel (Genesis 11): Humanity rebels by building a ziggurat to reach the heavens, defying God’s command to spread out. God divides nations and assigns spiritual beings (Deuteronomy 32:8).

1. Cosmic Geography

• Concept: The land of Israel is uniquely tied to Yahweh’s presence, distinct from other nations under rebellious spiritual beings.
• Example: Naaman’s Story (2 Kings 5:14-17):
• Naaman, a Syrian general, is healed of leprosy by dipping in the Jordan River and requests Israelite soil to worship Yahweh.
• Heiser interprets this as Naaman believing Israel’s land is spiritually significant for worshipping the true God.
• Mindset: Ancient readers saw the spiritual and physical realms as interconnected, unlike modern insulated views.

1. Spiritual Beings and Nations

• Daniel 10:12-14: A spiritual being is delayed by the “prince of Persia” (a rebellious spiritual being), requiring Michael’s intervention.
• Job 1:6: The “sons of God” (not “angels” in Hebrew) present themselves before God, with Satan (the adversary) among them.
• Terminology Note: Heiser critiques translating “sons of God” as “angels” (malak = messenger), as it obscures their distinct roles.

1. Stars as Spiritual Beings (Job 38:4-7)

• Text: Morning stars and “angels” (sons of God) rejoice as God creates the earth.
• Interpretation: Stars symbolize spiritual beings, present as witnesses to creation, not active participants.
• Cultural Context: Ancient Israelites viewed stars as spiritual entities, a perspective Heiser encourages modern readers to adopt.

1. Angel of Yahweh and Two Powers

• Concept: The “angel of the Lord” (e.g., in Abraham’s story) may represent God physically, distinct from Yahweh yet interacting with Him.
• Two Powers Theology: Heiser suggests this was an accepted Jewish idea until post-New Testament, when it was rejected due to Christian Trinitarianism.
• Implication: Lays groundwork for New Testament Trinitarian concepts without reading the Trinity back into the Old Testament.

Additional Notes

• Mountains in Heiser’s Framework:
• Mountains (e.g., Bashan) are significant as places to meet God or as strongholds of spiritual evil (tied to Ugaritic texts).
• The “heights of the north” symbolize enemy origins, both physically (Assyria, Babylon) and spiritually.
• Use of 1 Enoch: Heiser gives credibility to 1 Enoch’s angelology, seeing it as aligning with his divine council framework (to be explored further in Part 2).
• Ugaritic Texts: Heiser uses Canaanite religious texts to illuminate Old Testament contexts, particularly spiritual beings and divine councils.

Discussion Points

• Explanatory Power: Heiser’s framework clarifies “weird” passages (e.g., Genesis 6, Naaman’s dirt) by rooting them in ancient worldviews.
• Speculative Elements: Some interpretations (e.g., assigning spiritual beings to nations) are speculative, requiring caution when building further arguments.
• Orthodoxy: Heiser’s views are considered orthodox by Old Testament scholars, not denying core doctrines like God’s uniqueness or Jesus’ deity.
• Critique: Some scholars note Heiser’s confidence in speculative ideas, suggesting a more contingent approach to certain claims.

Resources and Links

• Book: Purchase The Unseen Realm via the podcast’s bookstore at thebiblebeeshow.com (supports the show with a small Amazon commission).
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• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe and leave a review
• Next Episode: Part 2 will explore Heiser’s New Testament applications, including spiritual beings, stars, and Trinitarian implications.

Stay curious, keep exploring, and join us at the Bible Bistro next week!