I'm a big fan of Dr. Heiser, or 'Mike' as he liked to introduce himself. I was privileged to spend a couple weeks with him and his wife Drenna (and Derek and Sharon Gilbert from SkyWatch TV) in Israel in 2018. One of the high points was visiting 'the gates of hell' at Caesarea Philipi with him.
Since you're a fan I'll share a memory. Returning to Jerusalem from En Gedi (on the Dead Sea) the bus stopped at dusk for 30 minutes at a roadside Bedouin rest stop area a few miles East of the city. One of the local Arabs offered camel rides to us tourists, and I remember Mike and Drenna climbing up onto this large, smelly camel and riding it around the parking lot. I wish I'd taken a photo.
I think I've read all his books, including three novels.
While he was a true scholar, the thing I really liked about him was his openness to follow the truth wherever it led. Through him I discovered 'the heavenly council' and many other truths hidden in plain sight in the Bible. God bless his memory.
The topic of 'angels' is one of my favorites. I think it's another concept that's much misunderstood. For example, I dare anyone to try to get ChatGPT to compose an image of an angel without wings. I'm convinced that 'what angels are' is another truth that's hidden in plain sight in the Bible.
Another Mike fan! Yay! What a great memory you cherish, Tom, from that awesome trip to Israel.
I don’t remember exactly how God led me to the Naked Bible Podcast, but it was in early 2022. As a “crusty Christian”, Mike showing us how to read God’s word and not be afraid of the difficult passages (“if it’s weird, it’s important”) reinvigorated my love for deeper Bible study, cemented in me God’s unchanging love for His image bearers, and reignited a passion for the lost.
I could say more, but we need to get ready for church. I’m also a member of the DCW group on Facebook (as Jenise Cook). Are you there?
Fantastic! The group can be a "time suck", meaning I could spend way too much time reading all of the posts and the replies. I have to set a timer, Lol!
I shared this experience with a new believer friend just this week…years ago my 1st grader son put his hand through a glass door window while I was at lunch with a friend. His grandma was there but he also told me there was a man there in a red baseball jacket sitting in our living room with his arm resting on my son’s box of baseball cards smiling at him… and he went on “ like the man who looked like an angel sitting on the bathroom radiator that was smiling at me one day when I was combing my hair before school” My son’s hand was deeply cut into nerves and blood vessels narrowly missing his wrist. No cell phones back then but there were angels.
I was envious and asked God to see my angel, and woke in the middle of night sometime later and saw an angel standing guard at the foot of my bed.
Yes, two men. They walk up to us out of nowhere. We had to pull off the freeway and into a deserted area where there was no activity. A “sketchy” area. The pay phone booth was disabled, and it was before cellphones. My option was to slowly drive my car, with the flat tire, toward a hotel a couple of miles away. I was about to get in the car and do that when they walked up.
Wow, talk a leap of faith, two guys coming out of nowhere in a sketchy area would really put one on edge, but you only felt peace, awesome. Where did they go after?
They disappeared. I looked down into my wallet to give them a $20. Only 30 seconds. They were gone. And I could see up and down all of the streets and sidewalks. My mom witnessed it all as well.
Now, to really blow you away, just this past Sunday afternoon, home from church and lunch, husband and I experienced an angel’s help with a lost, but precious item. Watched as a precious earring disappeared in the kitchen sink. Searched for it, then sadly guessed it went down the drain. Husband witnessed it all and helped me search. After we checked the floor, we stood up and…there it was, carefully placed on the counter. Husband’s often cynical but he immediately knew what I knew. An Angel had put it there in an obvious position…so we’d know God decided to do something special.
God cares about the little things, and sometimes He surprises us.
I never expect Him to do these special things.
But, whenever He does, I tear up because I see His “Daddy-ness” in those moments. That the Ancient of Days is also my Abba who cherishes me.
Dear Jenise, your words about God's "Daddy-ness" are absolutely precious. Your words are encouraging others to also seek God, to press in so that they too can come to experience God as "Daddy". Daddy God truly is so caring, loving and near to His little ones; us. Thank you for the reminder. I loved reading your testimonies 💕
Wow, wonderful! It is amazing how subtle He is. I will be online at night and come across something that puts a Biblical question in my mind, but the very next night at Bible study that topic comes up while my pastor is telling a story or something and I get an answer, blows my mind. He is an incredible Father.
"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:32 NASB
"In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." Luke 15:10 NLT
"For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go." Psalm 91:11 NLT
"Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands." 103:20 NLT
"The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2 ESV
"Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah." Psalm 150:6 ASV
Interesting. Angels have been coming up a lot around here lately. I, too, have an angel story (maybe two), which I'll probably share on my own Substack sometime. The late Michael Heiser's work on "the unseen world" is excellent; I haven't read that book yet, though. If you're doing a deep dive, you might also want to check out the Bible Project's resources on "spiritual beings." My husband just took our church's adult Sunday school class through the series and it made a great counterpoint to the series on Daniel that I just finished preaching.
I'd love to read your angel(s) stories. I do plan to read Heiser's "Unseen Realm" when I finish my study on Revelation. I'll take a look at BP's series on spiritual beings. Thanks for mentioning them.
I just finished a study on Daniel (and published a series of posts on it), how wonderful you guided your congregation through what can be a difficult book to understand, and that your husband used BP's resources with the class.
They all are very fortunate to have you two!
I was wondering why I hadn't seen your posts, lately. Well, silly me, I wasn't subscribed (thought I had).
I'm a big fan of Dr. Heiser, or 'Mike' as he liked to introduce himself. I was privileged to spend a couple weeks with him and his wife Drenna (and Derek and Sharon Gilbert from SkyWatch TV) in Israel in 2018. One of the high points was visiting 'the gates of hell' at Caesarea Philipi with him.
Since you're a fan I'll share a memory. Returning to Jerusalem from En Gedi (on the Dead Sea) the bus stopped at dusk for 30 minutes at a roadside Bedouin rest stop area a few miles East of the city. One of the local Arabs offered camel rides to us tourists, and I remember Mike and Drenna climbing up onto this large, smelly camel and riding it around the parking lot. I wish I'd taken a photo.
I think I've read all his books, including three novels.
While he was a true scholar, the thing I really liked about him was his openness to follow the truth wherever it led. Through him I discovered 'the heavenly council' and many other truths hidden in plain sight in the Bible. God bless his memory.
The topic of 'angels' is one of my favorites. I think it's another concept that's much misunderstood. For example, I dare anyone to try to get ChatGPT to compose an image of an angel without wings. I'm convinced that 'what angels are' is another truth that's hidden in plain sight in the Bible.
Another Mike fan! Yay! What a great memory you cherish, Tom, from that awesome trip to Israel.
I don’t remember exactly how God led me to the Naked Bible Podcast, but it was in early 2022. As a “crusty Christian”, Mike showing us how to read God’s word and not be afraid of the difficult passages (“if it’s weird, it’s important”) reinvigorated my love for deeper Bible study, cemented in me God’s unchanging love for His image bearers, and reignited a passion for the lost.
I could say more, but we need to get ready for church. I’m also a member of the DCW group on Facebook (as Jenise Cook). Are you there?
I didn’t know about the Divine Council Worldview FB Group. I just requested to join.
Do you know about the Divine Council Worldview podcast? Started this year, and the co-hosts are Mike Chu and Ronn Johnson.
Fantastic! The group can be a "time suck", meaning I could spend way too much time reading all of the posts and the replies. I have to set a timer, Lol!
It's now over 17,000 members worldwide.
I shared this experience with a new believer friend just this week…years ago my 1st grader son put his hand through a glass door window while I was at lunch with a friend. His grandma was there but he also told me there was a man there in a red baseball jacket sitting in our living room with his arm resting on my son’s box of baseball cards smiling at him… and he went on “ like the man who looked like an angel sitting on the bathroom radiator that was smiling at me one day when I was combing my hair before school” My son’s hand was deeply cut into nerves and blood vessels narrowly missing his wrist. No cell phones back then but there were angels.
I was envious and asked God to see my angel, and woke in the middle of night sometime later and saw an angel standing guard at the foot of my bed.
Love your story! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Next Sunday, I’ll share a more recent angel story. My husband was a witness.
Hello Night Owl, I was just wondering about your angel story, did they take human form? Where did they come from?
Yes, two men. They walk up to us out of nowhere. We had to pull off the freeway and into a deserted area where there was no activity. A “sketchy” area. The pay phone booth was disabled, and it was before cellphones. My option was to slowly drive my car, with the flat tire, toward a hotel a couple of miles away. I was about to get in the car and do that when they walked up.
I felt peace the entire time they were there.
Wow, talk a leap of faith, two guys coming out of nowhere in a sketchy area would really put one on edge, but you only felt peace, awesome. Where did they go after?
They disappeared. I looked down into my wallet to give them a $20. Only 30 seconds. They were gone. And I could see up and down all of the streets and sidewalks. My mom witnessed it all as well.
Now, to really blow you away, just this past Sunday afternoon, home from church and lunch, husband and I experienced an angel’s help with a lost, but precious item. Watched as a precious earring disappeared in the kitchen sink. Searched for it, then sadly guessed it went down the drain. Husband witnessed it all and helped me search. After we checked the floor, we stood up and…there it was, carefully placed on the counter. Husband’s often cynical but he immediately knew what I knew. An Angel had put it there in an obvious position…so we’d know God decided to do something special.
God cares about the little things, and sometimes He surprises us.
I never expect Him to do these special things.
But, whenever He does, I tear up because I see His “Daddy-ness” in those moments. That the Ancient of Days is also my Abba who cherishes me.
Dear Jenise, your words about God's "Daddy-ness" are absolutely precious. Your words are encouraging others to also seek God, to press in so that they too can come to experience God as "Daddy". Daddy God truly is so caring, loving and near to His little ones; us. Thank you for the reminder. I loved reading your testimonies 💕
Hi, Emmalene!
We’re still giddy over the lost earring event. 🥰✝️🙌🏻 Love your words about our Abba. ☺️
Wow, wonderful! It is amazing how subtle He is. I will be online at night and come across something that puts a Biblical question in my mind, but the very next night at Bible study that topic comes up while my pastor is telling a story or something and I get an answer, blows my mind. He is an incredible Father.
GOD bless you all!
"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:32 NASB
"In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." Luke 15:10 NLT
"For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go." Psalm 91:11 NLT
"Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands." 103:20 NLT
"The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2 ESV
"Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah." Psalm 150:6 ASV
JEHOVAH JIREH, the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ey0FHqnrMk&t=1309s
"Jehovah Jireh
My provider
His grace is sufficient
For me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh
My provider
His grace is sufficient
For me
My God shall supply all my needs
According to His riches in glory
He will give His angels
Charge over me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me
Jehovah Jireh
My provider
His grace is sufficient
For me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh
My provider
His grace is sufficient
For me
My God shall supply all my needs
According to His riches in glory
He will give His angels
Charge over me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me
My God shall supply all my needs
According to His riches in glory
He will give His angels
Charge over me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me
My God shall supply all my needs
According to His riches in glory
He will give His angels
Charge over me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me
Jehovah Jireh cares for me."
Great Bible verses you shared with us, James, thank you!
Especially Ezekiel 18:32
What great reminders
Interesting. Angels have been coming up a lot around here lately. I, too, have an angel story (maybe two), which I'll probably share on my own Substack sometime. The late Michael Heiser's work on "the unseen world" is excellent; I haven't read that book yet, though. If you're doing a deep dive, you might also want to check out the Bible Project's resources on "spiritual beings." My husband just took our church's adult Sunday school class through the series and it made a great counterpoint to the series on Daniel that I just finished preaching.
Hey, Jenn!
I'd love to read your angel(s) stories. I do plan to read Heiser's "Unseen Realm" when I finish my study on Revelation. I'll take a look at BP's series on spiritual beings. Thanks for mentioning them.
I just finished a study on Daniel (and published a series of posts on it), how wonderful you guided your congregation through what can be a difficult book to understand, and that your husband used BP's resources with the class.
They all are very fortunate to have you two!
I was wondering why I hadn't seen your posts, lately. Well, silly me, I wasn't subscribed (thought I had).
Fixed that, Lol!
Oh what? I thought you were subscribed, too! How weird. Thanks for (re)subscribing, I guess!
I remembered that you were posting on Daniel. The timing of all this seems significant, right?
Yes!