If you’ve just joined us for the first time on our journey through Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host by Michael Heiser’s and Lexham Press, we’d encourage you to first visit Part 1 of 3 for a summary description and Part 2 of 3 for an overview of the book’s contents.
The key to Dr. Heiser’s work is right in the title. If you’re interested in what the Scripture says, and not so much in what pop culture says, this book will shine a refreshing light onto a fascinating topic. As with Dr. Heiser’s other non-fiction work, “Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host” takes the reader through the “what I’ve always heard or thought” about a biblical subject, and presents to the reader what the Bible actually says. If that matters to you, this is about as good as you’ll find. –Amazon Reviewer
And before I continue, I should note that Angels by Michael Heiser is on sale at Logos Bible Software: http://bitly.com/AngelsLogos.
This third post of the series will be a little bit different than we normally do here at Brave Daily.
As I have shared with friends about this book, I have heard the same question a number of times. Here is what I am asked, “Is Angels Biblical?” or “What traditions does Dr. Michael Heiser lean on?” Asked another way, “Where is he coming from, and what is his agenda?” So, as best as I can, I’m going to let him speak for himself here. I’ve done the work of surveying a handful of respected resources and I do not find Heiser far off from what Scripture shares with us about heavenly hosts. I’m going to share portions of Heiser’s book, Angels, so that you can see how he treats Scripture himself.
Old Testament Terminology for the Heavenly Host
Many scholars have pointed out that there is a discernable hierarchy within the divine council. All council members, including Yahweh, are heavenly spirit beings. However, a careful comparison of the council terminology sketched here with texts from ancient Canaan, particularly Ugarit, and the terms “sons of God” and “angel”, allow us one to discern three tiers within the council.
Second Temple Angelology: Angels as Men
… Josephus has angels performing other acts of embodiment, such as fighting (Ant. 1.332–33) and wielding a sword (Ant. 7.327a), while remaining campable of ascending unaided to heaven (Ant. 5.284; 7.327b).
New Testament Angelology: Nature, Abilities, Status
After his resurrection and subsequent ascension, Christ became “as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (Heb 1:4), with “angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” (1 Pet 3:22). Despite having this exceptional nature, angels do not know everything; they are not omniscient. They do not know at what time Jesus will return (Matt 24:36; Mark 13:32) and didn’t know precisely how God’s salvation plan would work out (1 Pet 1:10-12).
My hope in sharing very small portions of his 144-page book is to say that Dr. Heiser is laying out the facts, directly from the countless hours of research attributed to this work. He doesn’t paint fairy-tales of hovering beings, but rather he addresses Biblical as well as extra-Biblical resources to teach his readers exactly what has been shared about heavenly hosts.
Angels by Michael Heiser is on sale at Logos Bible Software and Amazon.com.
Angels by Michael Heiser: Read Our Entire Blog Tour
Part 1 of 3: A Description of Angels by Dr. Michael Heiser
Before getting into the details, get a look at the new release.
Part 2 of 3: A Summary of Angels by Dr. Michael Heiser
Save yourself reading the entire book, we summarized it here.
Part 3 of 3: A Closer Look at Angels by Dr. Michael Heiser
Considering clicking purchase? Review a few direct quotes.
