Why You Misunderstand Biblical Cosmology And Why It's A Big Deal – Michael Heiser | Part 1

00:00 – Discussion on Elohim and why it isn't polytheism. 01:22 – Speaker's introduction and background on his research. 02:35 – Overview of the book The Unseen Realm and the seminar's plan. 04:10 – The decision to stop "protecting people from their Bible." 06:00 – Key themes: Divine Council, Cosmic Mountain, and Rebellions. 06:48 – Analysis of Psalm 82:1 and the use of "Elohim." 08:00 – God’s bureaucracy and the spiritual world's hierarchy. 12:30 – God's judgment of the gods in Psalm 82. 16:25 – Breakdown of Psalm 89 and the "Assembly of the Holy Ones." 19:00 – Biblical case study: 1 Kings 22 and the lying spirit. 23:35 – Defining "Elohim" based on its diverse usage in the Hebrew Bible. 27:50 – The Medium at Endor and the disembodied human dead. 31:30 – Summary: Yahweh’s uniqueness among the Elohim. 35:00 – Reinterpreting "None besides me" statements. Part 2: https://youtu.be/nxLEDmP_GPQ The Unseen Realm: https://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Realm-Recovering-Supernatural-Worldview/dp/1683592719/ref=bmx_dp_d_sccl_1_4/131-2102390-3258532?pd_rd_w=tc0M0&content-id=amzn1.sym.80d4c51c-5e2d-4cf4-a6f8-fde9512cf6a4&pf_rd_p=80d4c51c-5e2d-4cf4-a6f8-fde9512cf6a4&pf_rd_r=HRW0ZY868FRS0R7NZKWS&pd_rd_wg=dZW0H&pd_rd_r=69247a98-575e-48f9-838e-b6ff42c48a13&pd_rd_i=1683592719&psc=1 In this classic Michael Heiser lecture, he engages a live audience on why most misunderstand Biblical Cosmology at its core. He outlines the session: rapidly covering Divine Council, cosmic geography, mountains, and rebellions via slides while previewing content beyond typical church teaching that might "rattle cages" but equips believers truthfully. Committing to stop "protecting people from their Bible" after years of undergrad teaching, Heiser dives into Psalm 82 as the linchpin, highlighting its dual elohim usage—singular for Yahweh (via grammar like the participle nitsab) presiding uniquely in the "Divine Council" (adat el in Hebrew), and plural for subordinate "gods" (be-tok elohim, "sons of the Most High," bene elyon) whom He judges corruptly wicked, destined to "die like men." He critiques English translations (NASB's "rulers," obscuring supernatural plurality) for translator nervousness over polytheism fears, despite literal renderings like KJV/ESV preserving "gods." Dismissing evangelical dodges—elohim as human elders (ruled out by heavenly contexts like Psalm 89's skies/shamayim or 1 Kings 22's throne-room council of spirit-beings debating Ahab's doom)—Heiser shares his grad-school epiphany, rejecting both "rulers" and idolatrous misreads amid circular scholarly polytheism critiques (his dissertation topic at liberal UW-Madison). Via Daniel 4 (Watchers' decree echoing Most High's), Daniel 7 (thrones/court judging beasts), and NT echoes, he portrays Yahweh's bureaucracy: unnecessary yet participatory, affirming monotheism amid real spiritual plurality. Elohim's semantic range—beyond Yahweh to council gods, nations' deities/demons (shedim, per Deut 32:17 quoted by Paul in 1 Cor 10), disembodied dead (Endor's "elohim" rising for Samuel), even angels—signals not unique attributes (omniscience etc., Yahweh-exclusive) but "disembodied spirit-realm beings" inhabiting cosmic geography. This Israelite worldview (not Calvinist/evangelical filters) avoids polytheism: Yahweh's unmatched creator-sovereignty trumps all, as "god of gods" literally means; reflexive "none besides me" denials (e.g., Deut 32:12's solo leading) challenge nonexistent rivals, not the council's reality. Heiser urges lexical drudgery (his nakedbible.com Elohim concordance) to reclaim the supernatural Bible unfiltered. #Bible #Jesus #God #Faith #Christ #Church #Prayer #Grace #Truth All rights to this material belong to their respective owners. Direct links to the original videos will always be provided when possible. This video is presented in combined format for ease of viewing and educational purposes. Channel Disclaimer: This channel is not operated by or affiliated with Dr Michael Heiser or his official platforms. Comments here do not reach Michael's team. I'm just a fan who saw a need to share his ideas in bite-sized form and make them more accessible for lay audiences here on YouTube, which I believe aligns with Dr Heiser's mission and honours his legacy. If you feel called to give back, please support the Michael S. Heiser Foundation. By joining the DRMSH Community, you are supporting the Michael S. Heiser Foundation. Your participation makes a real difference! Thank you so much, and let's keep Mike's legacy going! Join DRMSH Community here: https://community.drmsh.com/ I encourage you to visit: Dr Michael Heiser's site: http://drmsh.com/ Naked Bible Podcast: https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/