Does God Rule Over A Council of Lesser Gods? – Michael Heiser | Part 2

00:00 – Introduction: The spiritual world as a non-spatial place. 01:08 – Definitions: Why we define "God" by specific attributes. 02:43 – Elohim: The biblical use of the term for other beings. 04:49 – The Medium at Endor: Samuel as an "Elohim" from the realm of the dead. 08:35 – Yahweh vs. Polytheism: Misconceptions and unique attributes. 11:19 – Biblical Worldview: Key differences from henotheism. 13:46 – Human Language: Limitations in describing the spiritual realm. 17:30 – The Godhead: The "two powers" concept in ancient texts. 20:02 – Psalm 89: Refuting the "human judges" interpretation of Elohim. Part 1: https://youtu.be/D1SXNibBH2Y Part 3: https://youtu.be/EBmqgamqMiU In this Part 2 of a new series hosted by Dr. Michael Heiser, he continues unpacking the Divine Council worldview by explaining why the idea that God presides over a council of other “gods” (Elohim) feels so troubling to many Christians: it clashes with the way modern, Western believers instinctively link the word “God” with a fixed set of divine attributes like eternality, omnipotence, and sovereignty, assuming that any being called “God” must be ontologically equal to Yahweh. Heiser argues that biblical writers did not think this way at all, showing that the Hebrew word Elohim is used flexibly to describe a whole range of supernatural beings—members of the Divine Council, gods of the nations, demons (shadim), even the disembodied dead like Samuel in 1 Samuel 28—all of whom are called Elohim but are never regarded as on the same level as the one true God. He then uses Psalm 89 to demonstrate that the “council of the holy ones” and the “sons of God” in the skies are not Jewish elders or human judges, since the language clearly locates this assembly in the heavenly realm, underscoring that the El‑root term simply denotes membership in the disembodied spiritual world, not equality with Yahweh. By clarifying that monotheism in the Hebrew Bible is not about a single word (Elohim) but about the unique, uncreated status of Yahweh, who alone is described as creator, eternal, and sovereign, Heiser dismantles both the idea that Psalm 82 must be reduced to “just men” and the critical claim that Israel evolved from polytheism or henotheism, showing instead that the biblical writers fully acknowledged a vast array of Elohim in the spirit world while still affirming that none of them are Yahweh. #michaelheiser #bible #Jesus #God #Faith #Christ #Church #Prayer 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/