A Supernatural view

New book, well not really new, I've had it on my shelf since it was published ten years ago(!). I excerpted from the shorter version way back then. I also started this one about that time, but when I came to his questionable assertions about a certain mountain, I set it aside until I had time to research it. Guess what? That time never came. So, I decided to read the rest of it anyway. For the next couple of weeks, I'll pull some quotations from it.

Let's start out by saying that I agree with his basic premise and have since being an undergraduate and being exposed to the reality of the heavenly council. Where we differ is in how cleanly and smoothly that idea is carried out in the Bible. He sees a very straightforward, literalistic interpretation throughout. I tend to see things a good bit messier.

That being said, I think the book is definitely valuable and should be read by the typical nonsupernatural-type Christian. I used to do a two-day guest lecture at the YWAM base in the Twin Cities about this stuff. The two-third world students caught it immediately. The Western world students were a bit more skeptical for the first hour or two. But when I sent them out for their lunchbreak with the assignment to find an example in the Bible, they came back amazed. It was everywhere. Exactly.

OK, enough background. Here's the first excerpt:

My goal is simple. When you open your Bible, I want you to be able to see it like ancient Israelites or first-century Jews saw it, to perceive and consider it as they would have. I want their supernatural worldview in your head.

You might find that experience uncomfortable in places. But it would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context.—Michael Heiser, The Unseen Realm, 13 (emphasis original)

footnote: Mike Heiser died last year of pancreatic cancer, which is a sad loss. Even though I disagreed with much he said, he was an asset to the Christian community.