Supernatural
September 13, 2020 • Chris Reighley
Supernatural:
What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters
by Dr. Michael S. Heiser
Uncover the Supernatural in the Bible
Introduction: Do You Really Believe What the Bible Says?
Let’s start with a deceptively simple question: Do you really believe what the Bible says?
Not just the parts we’re used to—like the virgin birth, the resurrection, or Jesus walking on water. Most Christians affirm these central truths without hesitation. But what about the parts that don’t often make it into Sunday school or small group discussions? What about the passages that sound… weird?
In Supernatural, Dr. Michael Heiser challenges us to take the Bible seriously—not just theologically or devotionally, but contextually. He calls us to trust what the Bible says about the unseen realm just as much as we trust what it says about salvation, grace, and love.
This chapter sets the tone for the journey ahead. It presses on our modern discomfort with the supernatural by highlighting passages that describe divine councils, imprisoned angels, heavenly wars, and chariots of fire. Heiser’s point is clear: If we ignore these parts of Scripture, we miss the story God is actually telling.
Heiser does not ask us to believe blindly. Instead, he urges us to interpret the Bible in its ancient context, not our modern framework. When we do, the Bible comes alive—not as a sanitized, systematic theology textbook, but as a divine epic involving both heaven and earth, the visible and the invisible, the seen and the unseen.
If you’re ready to let Scripture speak for itself, and if you’re willing to follow where it leads—even into uncomfortable territory—then you’re ready for this journey. And it begins here, with a single, honest question: Do you really believe what the Bible says?
Chapter Outline: Believing the Bible
I. Fundamental Questions
- What do we mean by context?
- Why bother with ancient contexts?
- What harm is done by ignoring the original cultural context?
- What benefits do we gain by honoring it?
- Is comparing the Bible to ancient worldviews a “liberal” approach?
- Literary and editorial contexts
- Recognizing genre, technique, arrangement, and intent.
II. Illustrative Examples: Strange and Overlooked Texts
These passages are often dismissed because they conflict with modern Western sensibilities—but they are crucial for seeing the full supernatural picture:
- Numbers 5:11–31 – The ordeal of bitter water.
- Genesis Flood & Comparative Myths – Similarities and theological distinctives.
- Daniel 7 vs. Baal Cycle – Use of ancient imagery for Yahweh’s supremacy.
- Ezekiel 1 – A bizarre and powerful vision of God’s throne.
III. The Supernatural Realm in Scripture
- Divine Council (1 Kings 22:19–23) – God deliberates with spiritual beings.
- Imprisoned Angels (Jude 1:6; 1 Peter 3:18–22) – Spirits confined until judgment.
- Judging Angels (1 Corinthians 6:3) – A glimpse into the believer’s future role.
- Heaven-on-Earth Vision (Matthew 6:10) – The Lord’s Prayer as theological blueprint.
- Spiritual Warfare Realized (2 Kings 6:8–23) – Elisha’s servant sees God’s unseen army.
IV. Why This Makes Us Uncomfortable
- “It sounds pagan.”
- “It opens Scripture up to criticism.”
- “It feels like giving too much ground to liberal scholars.”
- But these tensions are born from modern discomfort, not biblical denial.
V. Thinking Clearly About the Bible
- What is the Bible?
- An ancient, Spirit-supervised anthology written through human authors in real cultural settings.
- How does God’s providence work in Scripture’s creation?
- Through authors’ personalities, vocabularies, genres, and contexts.
VI. The Payoff for Thinking Well
- Let the Bible be what it is—not what critics pretend it is.
- We don’t have to force the Bible to align with modern categories.
- Embracing its divine-human authorship sets us free from defending flawed theories of transmission.
- Ancient Near Eastern parallels are expected, not threatening.
VII. Big Picture Takeaways
- You were made to be part of God’s family.
- God’s original plan included both heavenly beings and humans working together.
- One day, believers will replace rebellious divine beings in God’s cosmic administration.
- We have a mission—to grow God’s family and live as His children, now and forever.
Key Verse to Memorize
“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” —2 Kings 6:16 (Elisha to his servant)
This study was taught by Chris Reighley to the Sunday Night Bible Study at Rolling Hills Community Church in Lago Vista, Texas in 2020