Do You Not Know That We Will Judge Angels? - Michael Heiser

The concept of Eden in the Bible is often misunderstood as being the entire world, but it is in fact a specific, defined geographical location—a divine abode where God originally placed humanity. Eden is described with imagery familiar to an ancient Near Eastern audience: a lush garden with water and mountains, representing a sacred, remote space where gods dwell apart from ordinary humans. God created Eden as a home not just for himself, but for a divine family and a human family, intending for humans to represent him on earth and to extend the life and order of Eden throughout the world. This explains why humans were commanded to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue the earth—to spread Eden’s blessings beyond its limited boundaries. The plural language used in Genesis 1 ("Let us create humankind in our image") reflects God addressing a divine council, his cosmic family of "sons of God," indicating a collaborative and communal divine governance, not merely a hint of the Christian Trinity. Humans, created in God's image, are representatives—agents acting on God's behalf in the created order. Furthermore, the nature of biblical inspiration and Scripture’s interpretation requires understanding scripture within the cultural, historical, and linguistic context it was produced in, rather than imposing later theological frameworks or modern expectations. Inspiration is best understood not as mechanical dictation (where the human authors lose control) but as providential guidance throughout their lives, preparing the right individuals to write for specific audiences and purposes. This view respects the humanity of biblical writers and accounts for variations in gospel accounts and wording, avoiding rigid, "X-Files"-style assumptions that lead to scepticism. Additionally, the biblical divine council imagery reveals a layered heavenly hierarchy with God at the summit, surrounded by divine beings who serve as his inner circle, akin to a royal family or court. Paul’s statements in the New Testament, such as in 1 Corinthians 6 about believers judging angels, reflect the ultimate inclusion of humans into this divine council family through salvation and glorification, fulfilling God’s original plan of partnership and authority on earth. This framework helps clarify the roles of divine beings, humans, and Jesus, tying ancient biblical themes to New Testament fulfilment. #1corinthians #paul #judge #angels #michaelheiser #bible #jesus #gospel #hallelujah #god #1corinthians6