Thoughts on "Supernatural" by Michael S Heiser Chapters 13-16

Chapter 13 - The Great Reversal

Until I read this book, I never gave a whole lot of thought about the story of the tower of  Babel. I never made the connection between what happened there - the scattering of the nations and confusion of the language making multiple languages - to Pentecost where the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the believers and they could all hear and understand each other's languages. One split the nations up (and the part I was never aware of: placed them under the authority of lesser gods) and one reunites God's people forming His nation of believers. 

Chapter 14 - Not of This World

 I wonder why the book of Enoch isn't included in the biblical cannon when so many members of the early church were so familiar with it, and it was part of their collective understanding of how the spiritual world worked.  I haven't read Enoch, but maybe I should, so I can better understand the early church members' thought processes. I put it on my Christmas wishlist. 

Chapter 15 - Partakers of the Divine Nature

I guess, despite a multitude of errors in doctrine, the Mormons have it right when they say we will become gods - albeit lesser gods and not with our own planets. (I think their religion only gives planets to men anyway.) 

This is touching up on the big question I have: if we are to rule with Jesus, who are we ruling over, and why is ruling necessary if everyone is doing what they should? Those who rebelled against God are locked up. What do we do with Revelation Chapter 20? We rule with Jesus 1000 years, then the devil is released to deceive the nations once again, only to be permanently exiled to the lake of fire? 

The line that stood out to me the most in this chapter is "As Christians, we've probably heard many times that we need to be like Jesus. We certainly do. But when we hear that we tend to process it only in terms of being good, or maybe "less bad." We turn what's actually a nearly inconceivable idea - that we will someday be as Jesus is - into a performance obligation. . . . It turns grace into duty."

Chapter 16 - Ruling Over Angels

This chapter touches on my question, but doesn't really answer it to my satisfaction. There are passages that say we will be at a higher rank than angels, and that we will rule over the nations, but haven't the nations been sorted into believers and nonbelievers and the nonbelievers sent packing with Satan? Are the nonbelievers still alive at Jesus' second coming still here? Are they the ones we rule? Then after 1000 years, Satan is allowed to deceive them again? This is so confusing. I understand that everyone has free will, but if sin isn't in the picture anymore, it seems no one will choose to do sinful things. 

I guess this will all make sense someday after Jesus comes back. 

I loved the C.S Lewis quote: "Whatever you do, He will make good of it. But not the good He has prepared for you if you had obeyed Him." I guess this means we can miss blessings intended for us if we are disobedient, but God will also help us mend our mistakes and missteps, and bring about good outcomes. We will still have to face consequences of our poor choices, however. 

 

Passages read: Acts 2, Genesis 10, Revelation 20, Romans 15, Job 28 (accident), and Job 38.

I believe there are no real "accidents" when reading the Bible, so for some reason God wanted me to read Job 28. It had a lot of imagery about precious metals and gems we find deep underground where "birds of prey" can't see, but these things aren't even close in value to wisdom. It's very poetic, but the main point is the value of wisdom. Perhaps the "birds of prey" and other predators mentioned refer to those who wish to destroy us, or those who are blind to God's treasures, especially wisdom? Those with scales over their eyes, deceived by Satan? 

There is a lot of mention of man's work to get these valuable gems and metals: refining, smelting, taking from the earth:

Man's hand assaults the flinty rock 

and lays bare the roots of the mountains. . . .  

But where can wisdom be found? 

Where does understanding dwell?

Man cannot comprehend its worth;

it cannot be found in the land of the living. 

Job 28 9, 12-13.

Wisdom is a gift given by God, not something mankind can gain under its own power.