This may be controversial in terms of the illustration I’ll use, but I find the illustration has explanatory power. I think our real problem isn’t how darkness has adapted, but how believers have changed (i.e., their thinking). I’ll try and explain. I just posted this over on the Faithlife Group for Lexham Press. It’s off-the-cuff in many respects since it’s forum material, but it seemed worth posting here as well.
I was asked a few weeks ago in Arkansas how the material of the Unseen Realm helps us with our mission as Christians. I’ve been asked that many times. I told the lady who asked about this that I didn’t see ANY institution being the answer to the world’s problems — not government, not the institutional church, nor institutional Christian ministries. The answer is CHRISTIANS. If we honestly had a vision for who we are, by God’s providential design (imager-members of God’s family-council, participating with him and his unseen imagers in advancing the kingdom (releasing the lost from the lies their spiritual overlords have told them — human and non-human), the world we change. It’s winning hearts and minds through sacrifice — like the apostles did. It’s really BELIEVING that this world isn’t our home and then acting like it. It’s taking risks and letting providence guide us, believing that what we do is part of an intelligent plan that we cannot see, but that God is rolling out — person to person.
My controversial illustration was ISIS. Every member of ISIS is single-minded. They are the Borg, for Star Trek fans. Their first thought every day is advancing their agenda. Their last thought every night is what they’ll do tomorrow to advance their agenda. Their vision of what they want the world to be never goes away, never changes, is always the center. Any individual interest is secondary.
How many Christians really think and live like that when it comes to the kingdom of God? Not enough.
THAT mindset, motivated by the love of Christ, belief in the reality of our hereafter destiny, and confidence that God will use any service of ours to further his end, is, in my view, how spiritual warfare ought to get done, and how it was done in the first century or so. The vision was CONSUMING. Our vision of the kingdom (at least in the West it seems) is peripheral. We don’t see the vision, and so we can’t believe in it, and so we lack power — we fail to assert the power that is already there over darkness, to convince people by our words and actions and sacrificial sharing of our resources and time that the lord of the dead (Satan) is powerless over those in Christ (so let’s act like this life isn’t our real life), that the gospel can heal the self-destructive things we do (something “accelerated” by the Watchers / fallen sons of God in Jewish and earliest church theology), and that the authority of the gods of the nations, put in place by Yahweh as a punishment at Babel has been revoked — and the nations (Gentiles) are now being called back (commanded to return) to the family of God through the seed (Christ) of Yahweh’s inheritance – Israel (cf. Deut 32:8-9; Gen 12:1-3; Paul in Acts 17, and the range of passages where Paul — for some reason! — links the resurrection to the defeat of those fallen gods). Believers in the first century BELIEVED these things, and those things changed the way we live. We don’t believe we have cosmic role to play because we don’t believe in the cosmic arena in which the game is being played. We have lots of sincere Christians who are, basically, believing skeptics. And that affects how they think about their own lives, which in turn affects their vision.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. It’s about vision and abandonment to that vision. Doing what you do every day, no matter how small, to move the mission toward its goal, one person at a time, and believing God incorporates such obedience into his end game. 13 men had that in the first century, and they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). We have the same truth and the same Spirit, but we lack the person-to-person, day-to-day obsession with being salt and light in the way that ISIS wants what it wants (and I for one believe they aren’t acting alone — they are part of what is ultimately a spiritual war).
Mike, one objection I have heard recently to this idea above “(something “accelerated” by the Watchers / fallen sons of God in Jewish and earliest church theology)” that I was hoping you could address and perhaps you have elsewhere. This objection goes like this, the amount of varying schools of thought among the Jews (2nd temple and beyond) were so varied that to say the Jews theology was such, this means they don’t really understand the Jews. As the old saying goes that two Jews have three opinions on one subject (something like that).
Could you comment on how prevalent the Watcher/ fallen sons of God motif was among the religious Jews of 2nd Temple time and up to the 2nd Century? Was it a popular view or a minority view? Thank you.
No one is claiming there was “one” Judaism. In each period one can only properly speak of “Judaisms” (like Christianity of today — seemingly endless variety there). But note “each period” — there IS a chronology to this. The Judaism of “the rabbis” is later (medieval) than the second temple period. Sometimes rabbinic Judaism declared parts of their own earlier theology heresy (like the Two Powers).
What I do is read and quote the 2nd temple literature. You don’t see Jewish “anti-Enochianism” until much later, so I would content that taking rabbinic disagreement as superior to 2nd temple ideas is poor method. What the rabbis are thinking is in many cases NOT what their ancestors thought. I’m interested in primary sources, not what a group centuries later than those sources thinks.
Very interesting response. Is the thinking of second temple Jews (or Judaisms) the same as their ancestors thought as well? Meaning, you have this sort of Enochian theology of evil, but would that have been the orthodox theology during the time of David, Samuel, Judges or even Moses?
So a better question would be, IS there an evolution of theology that has occurred from the time of Moses till Paul? Im not talking about polytheism to monotheism. Im talking about the specific one you see during second temple time.
Good words Mike. Hits home in my life about things I need to change to be a better and more effective witness in my sphere of influence. Praying your sphere gets even bigger!
Semi related note – I’ve heard you say on podcasts and elsewhere that Satan is lord of the dead. I’m not sure I quite understand what makes him this? How/why does he hold that office? Is it because he got Adam and Even to sin and therefore lose immortality? So because he got them to lose their immortality and sin he has that over them…i.e. he in effect made humans mortal so he is their lord?
Great to see your passion regarding these things Mike. Ultimately I believe it has a lot to do with fear. These present powers of this present age get very hostile toward any whom would dare to invade their arena of operation.
What I see is that if we leave them alone they kind of don’t bother us to much, but when we make a stand for the Lord, things start to get very interesting, its like they all of a sudden come out of the woodwork, things get very hostile for any whom would dare climb that hill.
But this is exactly what the Lord taught, its what Paul taught. If it was going to be an easy exercise then there would be a whole lot of people doing it.
This is for the brave, its for those whom this world no longer is their center of gravity.
For us to come to any authority in this fight, then we must come to be heavenly minded people like the Apostles and early church. They were out, they seen the glory of the risen one, this world no longer had its hook in them.
Sadly we live in an age of conformability to this world, we want to get along with things, don’t rock the boat or you get called radicals.
This is the language of the overcomer, its to whom ever will.
To be able to fight in this war is to be a pioneer and stranger. Its not our home we are just passing through, when we make it ours then the battle ends.
Joe
Dear Mike,
I’m not sure if you got my lengthy email (sorry! haha), but I will re-post a last point I made in the email as pertaining to this topic (if you did receive my email, I hope you recognize this last paragraph):
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Finally, and I think this is quite important (if we don’t address any of the above), how can your scholarly work (and general ANE and 2nd Temple scholarship) be more readily available for Pastors to use at the pulpit? I attend a reformed church that has started to “shun” me during bible study, or fellowship, because I will share joyfully what I consider great answers for (initially) hard to understand passages like 1 Peter 3:18-22. I have also noticed that there seems to be an increase in knee-jerk reaction by Christians in the reformed camp (or generally any Christian who doesn’t involve themselves in high scholarship), and I am instantly regarded as some sort of esoteric gnostic! If I say that Satan is a “divine” being, they immediately react to my use of the word “divine”, or even the fact that I say there are many “gods” in the council of Yahweh. My church has introduced (since 2014) a new engagement after every sermon, where for 10 minutes, the congregation can ask the Pastor some questions on the sermon presented. There was once a sermon on Psalm 110, and questions on the identity of Melchizedek were asked, but no answer was given. I am talking about legitimate Pastors in Australia, that have gone through seminary training, and they find it difficult to give answers?
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So, in a nutshell, there’s a recording of your lecture on Gnosticism, back in (I think) 2004, moderated by Guy. In it you were asked by an audience member about what has happened with 21st century Christianity (and the question was contrasted with the incredible brain-power of the Church Fathers). After your response about the anti-intellectualizing that sprung up within the Church since Darwinism, I can’t help but acknowledge that there has been a further reduction in knowledgeable Christians since your 2004 talk. It’s become more “topical” rather than exegetical. Like you said, Churches ought to establish theologians on staff, rather than have mere diploma Pastors run the show.
Again, I am not neglecting God’s providential work in any Christian’s life (or the Church at large), whether he/she has the ability to help in extensive research (whether theological or scientific), in regards to helping the world with its problems. But I think early Christianity and its rich history of all things science and philosophy (that benefited society), has now become a stagnant pond.
I asked a prayer warrior I know what she thought of your post. Her response:
“I agree. BUT. The prosperity gospel is taking charge these days in a direct response to every perceived threat, to control or dominate the nation/world, to save it…ie Christianize it.
His sentiment is right. But those who take up the cause, are not always sacrificing. Or loving. Or powerful in that sense. They are entering politics and stacking the deck, as much as they can, frightening people that force is their way. By laws rather than beheadings.
People say our battle is with the unseen, but then fight as though it’s not there, but against flesh and blood.
Many have said what he’s just said. The documentary, JESUS CAMP, was based on just that. But scary. Hardly coming close to the upper room in Acts.
There is power. And there is force. These two need to be kept seperate. But sadly, rarely are. In both religion or politics.”
Agreed. What she said seems to be describing the New Apostolic Reformation (pretty public, but still widely unknown outside Pentecostalism) or “the Family” (see Jeff Sharlett’s book with that title — he’s a leftist, but the book is well-documented and therefore disturbing).
Mike – I think you are hitting things head on with what you say above and there are a small number I know of personally who are living in the vision of that coming Kingdom by the power of the Cross. You know one of them – Joel Richardson. There are some documentaries he’s put out with some other friends of mine and his: Frontier Alliance International (FAI). I would encourage you to look them up on the web/you tube – “Better Friends than Mountains” “Sheep among wolves”. You may not necessarily agree with their “theology” but they are practicing what they preach, which could come at the cost of their lives, with a very strong conscious awareness of the principalities and powers and the battle.
I’ve enjoyed your work for years – keep it up.
Greg Parker
I’ll have a look. Joel is a good guy — he doesn’t take himself too seriously and isn’t out to build his own fiefdom.
This is a great article Mike. I have grown increment by increment with Holy Spirit through awesome teachers like you Chuck Missler etc. who have gotten me to critically think about the text and have sound exegesis. This perspective of identity in not what we are but who we are has been a paradigm shift in my walk. To be imagers of God (who we where created originally to be and still are) has opened up (along with divine counsel) a much better understanding of the text and my walk. Thanks Mike for the hard work and sharing that work with the body. Keep feeding me Mike , you are my mentor ,and teacher of late.
THANK YOU for posting that! This quite literally gave me the chills. For weeks, maybe even months now, I have been looking for the words to use, the proper articulation, racking my brain as the result of a question that I have been asked over and over and over again from my closest Christian friends in my own small group: WHY DOES THAT EVEN MATTER? WHY DO THE DETAILS EVEN MATTER TODAY? HOW DOES THAT HELP US WIN PEOPLE TO CHRIST?
Those questions aggravated me – a lot. I knew it mattered greatly but I couldn’t quite get the words together to explain why. Isn’t it amazing how God works through people! The details matter because they were DESIGNED to matter, and you just articulated why! AWESOME!
And, Mike, I’ll also add – what you do matters – greatly – to many people. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for that. Like I just told someone over at the Facebook group, I get digitally abused every day, so this is appreciated.
It just comes with the turf.
Good point Mike makes me think of how I can share this information at my church. Do you have anymore resources on Spiritual Warfare from the Early Christian view? For I want to learn more about it, live it in my own life, and show others how to live in it too. God Bless You, Dr. Mike
Arron Swan
Good point Mike makes me think of how I can share this information at my church. Do you have anymore resources on Spiritual Warfare from the Early Christian view? For I want to learn more about it, live it in my own life, and show others how to live in it too. God Bless You, Dr. Mike
Arron Swan
Not a whole lot, though the baptismal formulas are interesting, to say the least.
So we shouldn’t have concern over what job we have? Why work so hard to get a PhD? I am not being snarky. I am trying for grad school and wondering about this for me. If I could be just as useful to God in any job that doesn’t require grad school, then why try to do get such a degree?
We are all providentially directed. This was my path. But I view anyone else’s path just as worthwhile if they allow it to be the means of service for the kingdom. There were several times when I was tempted to quit. Working FT through 15 years of graduate school is anything but easy. I just knew this is what I was supposed to do. There were indications all along the way despite the difficulty. Some folks only get that clarity later or after the fact. It doesn’t matter. What matters is what you’re doing for the Lord where you are.
Not controversial with me, lots of evil people have been more dedicated than God’s people at trying to achieve goals at times. This is good stuff and I look forward to the next book showing up in the mail soon.
Your illustration is along the same lines as the parable Jesus gives in Luke 16:1-9, The Shrewd Manager. People often struggle with the fact that Jesus commends an unrighteous person, and even recommends that the “Sons of Light” learn something from him. Luke 16:8 is the salient verse, “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.”
If God’s people acted on what they are supposed to believe about the present and future with the same shrewdness (wisdom, prudence) and self interest that the unrighteous do, then we would do far more damage to the crumbling empire of the Kosmokrators. Yes, there are innumerable ways in which we should not be like the unrighteous. But, if we were humble, we could pause, meditate, and learn something even from the Borg and ISIS (or perhaps better, we learn it from the Spirit of God through them as a parable). That seems to be some of the point that Dr. Heiser is making.
It might be good to follow up with how we should not be like the Borg or ISIS.
Thank you! Have has my head in Matthew 6 and asking a God to give me more clarity – this does it! Not that your thoughts are new but that they mesh together giving perspective.
You’re welcome!
I agree. I’ve felt for years – a few decades – that modern Christianity is presented as true based on somewhat fallacious reasoning or assumptions due to “missing parts” that misrepresent God, His great plan & desires, and the war in both realms – ours and the immediately connected/interlaced spiritual world. We are taught and want to believe that “I am on the rag” is the complete and whole truth when actually it is “I am on the ragged edge” – a very different meaning.
We, the global Body of Christ, are missing the point of it all – that can only grasped by apprehending the BIG PICTURE. The various denominations and understandings – and all of Christianity’s critics (they really get things completely wrong!) – throughout the last 2,000 years are like each group focussing on just one image in the famous Chagall mosaic in downtown Chicago and not recognizing the fuller understanding and experience of the complete mosaic: http://www.bluffton.edu/homepages/facstaff/sullivanm/chagall/chagall.html
The misdirection of our own doing & that of evil is causing many aspects of corporate and individual Christian life and expression to function like a car in bad need of a tune-up. Frequently rough running, wasting energy, even polluting. So thank you (and those who support or help you) for sharing your synthesis, research, wisdom, and heart for Jesus, the Church, and the Truth as presented in correct context.
It was a great day at an “Unseen Realm” event at Heber Springs, Arkansas, with Dr. Mike Heiser.
One message that truly resonated with me: Yahweh’s message to the nations…”Come Home, You are no longer under the dominion of these other elohim/watchers/gods.”
Additionally, I’ve got to say, “Death to the gods.”
I don’t get to share the Gospel very much. Most in my remote northern ME region are already Christian in some way, shape, or form. However, they are more interested in arguing among themselves regarding denominational doctrine.
My family and I have gone through a HUGE belief transformation within the last 5 years. First through reading material at Stand To Reason (str.org) and then, thankfully, finding Dr. Heiser’s material. Because of this, I’m now on a mission to re-establish the truth of scripture through its proper ancient context. However, I have limited opportunities to do this; mostly through social media like homeschool forums and Facebook. I’m constantly recommending Dr. Heiser’s work. Some have been very intrigued; others consider me a heretic. My biggest mission is to educate my daughter on the proper understanding of scripture. This is where Dr. Heiser’s work is so important for us. We read his books, articles, and listen to his podcasts for our Bible class.
My daughter is only in 8th grade, but already has a better understanding of the true meaning of scripture than her peers and, in most cases, her pastors and youth leaders. During summer camps, the counselors get together and include our daughter for theological discussions. This allows her to share Dr. Heiser’s work with others. Our youth pastor is now reading Dr. Heiser’s books. We will continue to explore the true context and meaning of scripture through her graduation. (Please, Dr. Heiser, keep writing!)
Once she graduates, I will no longer have a student to teach, but I still feel our greatest need for this material is for our youth, especially as they prepare for college. Most of our kids renounce Christianity once they get into college. They are bombarded with conflicting stories and theories – especially using alternate ancient texts to supposedly “demonstrate” that the biblical writers have stolen myths from other ancient civilizations, despite this notion having been debunked. I know, because this is exactly what happened to our eldest daughter. Her liberal college professors, after finding out she was a Christen, actively sought out to convert her. They won.
Our kids need to be familiar with non-canonical ancient literature and how it interacts with the Bible in order to be prepared to defend scripture and reaffirm it. Being familiar with this literature and understanding it’s place within the fabric of scripture will empower our kids rather than being shell-shocked by seemingly unknown revelations. Keeping that material hidden away does nothing but strengthen the argument of the Atheist waiting for the unsuspecting, naive Christian.
I used to feel apologetics was the way to get our kids ready for defending the faith, but that’s just a small part and subordinate to this. I feel a burning need to educate our kids in the proper ancient context of scripture. The problem is I have no idea how to go about this. I don’t know ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. I can develop curricula (that’s what I do now for our homeschool), but who would want it? Most Christians’ heads around here would explode if they read the truth. If they were receptive, many would believe their kids were too young for the material because we have become a “coddled” society. How in the world do you go about educating kids when the parents are unwilling to expose their kids to so-called “heretical” material? How do you change their minds?
Barring a plague or EMP attack ( may God forbid it), I don’t think everyday Christians will make much more headway in the USA until they gain the confidence or ability to address the following items which are most attacked in internet forums when people find out that I am a Christian:
1.The righteous reason God bumped off everyone and creature except the boaters in the Ark.
2. The righteous reason God had the mass slayings in Canaan under Joshua, etc.
3. Why the Bible had slavery.
4. The myths and anti-science of Evolution
And at this point I don’t think it needs to be that difficult to address it.
I feel what is needed is little publications like Chick tracts that deal with each of these topics which greatly agitate modern American unbelievers. They straight out tell me online that they hate my God because of these very few issues.
If I am witnessing to someone about Christ and they bring up the issue of slavery in the Bible, I would like to hand them a tract on it approved of by Dr. Heiser.
If I am witnessing to someone about Christ and they bring up the issue of God snuffing out everyone but Noah and the Ark survivors, I would like to hand them a tract on it approved of by Dr. Heiser.
And so on and so forth, down the list of barriers that are now common with the unbelieving Americans.
If Dr. Heiser has the keys and answers to unlocking the word of God to we ignorant Americans (and it appears he does) it would be great to put these ideas in a simple format like tracts for us to witness with! Our hearts are in this already but we need simple intellectual tools developed by those more skilled with them.
May God continue to bless Dr. Heiser and may he find a simple way for us to use his knowledge clearly blessed by God.
And I mean simple. I need to carry it in my pocket and I need to be able to hand it out. Or leave it in a public restroom for bathroom reading.
:o)
I’m sorry, but this is very unrealistic. The contemporary social and political environment, with its cultural Marxism and leveling technologies, has made Christianity almost impossible. Unless you accept that Christianity is now in the early 21st century also linked with a reactionary political project, there is no hope. We will wake up one day and find Christianity as practiced to be a relic of a dead civilization, something like Zoroastrianism.
Dr. Heiser. The authority of the gods of the nations have been revoked. To what extent? Just in regards to believers? If these gods no longer have authority over the nations, even unbelievers, where did they go?