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In this Q&A episode of the Naked Bible Podcast, Dr. Michael Heiser tackles a wide range of theological questions submitted by listeners. From the justice of divine election to the nature of the resurrection body, this episode offers a serious yet accessible deep dive into questions many believers wrestle with.
The conversation begins with the challenge of whether God will save people who are not elect, moving into a discussion of the intermediate state and what it means to have a spiritual body after resurrection. Heiser also discusses Satan’s knowledge of his fate, Jesus as the monogenēs Son of God, and the theological place (or absence) of dinosaurs and extinction events in the Bible.
The episode closes with two long-standing listener curiosities: Did Jesus descend into hell? and How did Goliath descend from the Nephilim if they were wiped out in the flood? Heiser applies his expertise in Second Temple theology, the divine council worldview, and ancient Near Eastern context to provide nuanced and biblical answers.
This Q&A session is ideal for anyone looking to wrestle with complex theological issues while staying anchored in Scripture.
TIMESTAMPS & QUESTIONS
⏱ Approximate timestamps are based on transcript pacing and topic shifts.
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[01:50] – "Will God save people who are not elect?"
A theological question on predestination and divine mercy. Dr. Heiser addresses Calvinism, election, and whether God will judge based on opportunity. -
[10:30] – "What happens to our spirit after death before the resurrection?"
Includes discussion of the intermediate state, disembodiment, and continuity of personhood. -
[14:45] – "How does a disembodied spirit recognize itself or others?"
A follow-up to the prior question focused on metaphysical consciousness without a body. -
[18:10] – "What will the resurrection body be like?"
Discusses the ‘spiritual body’ in 1 Corinthians 15, glorification, and continuity. -
[23:25] – "Does Satan believe he can win?"
Explores Satan’s mindset, delusion, and knowledge of Scripture. -
[27:40] – "How is Jesus the ‘only’ Son of God if the sons of God already existed?"
Discusses monogenēs, uniqueness vs. chronology, and divine sonship. -
[34:30] – "How do you explain dinosaurs and extinction in light of the Bible?"
Brief mention of gaps in Genesis, young vs. old Earth, and fossil record. -
[39:05] – "What do you think about pre-Adamic creation?"
Engages gap theory, tohu and bohu, and functional vs. material creation. -
[45:10] – "Did Jesus descend into hell?"
Touches on 1 Peter 3, 2 Peter 2, and ancient views on Sheol and Tartarus. -
[50:35] – "How could Goliath be a descendant of the Nephilim after the flood?"
Re-phased question from earlier episodes—connects to Anakim, Rephaim, and giant clans.
I was just about to ask you about translations! I was on phone today with a guy from our Bible study who loves your material. I was unaware until today that he is on the board of a missions ministry to India and has been to India several times. I asked if he thought Psalm 82 would help in that ministry. He asked what I meant. I said, “Since Augustine we’ve been rolling into foreign countries and telling them that their gods are bogus, ditch the idols and worship Jesus. Do you think acknowledging that their gods are real but hostile toward humans and that Jesus is the ultimate god slayer would have an impact on the missions effectiveness in a country that has 5,000+ deities?”
He said, “Oh ya!!!! It would be dangerous but highly effective!!! That country is nuts. There are idols within arms reach at all times. Demon possession is a part of everyday life. You walk down the street, see a demon possessed guy, people don’t even stop. It’s just part of everyday life. Buddhism, Hinduism, even freemasonry all have their origins in India. To infiltrate that place with [Heiser’s] material would help reverse all that. There’s 130 million Christians in India but you never hear about them because A) there are a billion Indians and B) those Christians have given up everything to follow Christ. They are considered untouchables. We go to underground churches over there 4-6,000 people strong. Think about that for a second. And they all know each other very well and they will call each other out if someone isn’t acting like a Christian should act. It’s the most rewarding, bizarre experience you’ll ever have.”
I’d need a year to study up on Hinduism but I would personally bring a stack of Supernaturals over there. That alone would be worth the trip.
There’s actually been a small effort to do this for Hindus by a friend at allaboutgod.com. He’s very in tune with divine council stuff and sees the evangelistic value. We hope to do more, and I hope to participate directly in such thing. We are in the process of producing translations of Supernatural in various languages (to give away — this is a Miqlat project). I’d need to find a translator for the 1-2 biggest language groups in India and (of course) a translator for those. Other translations are already about to begin.
我对你博客的爱，你永远不会明白！