Our 20th Q & A episode is now live.
In Episode 154 of the Naked Bible Podcast, Dr. Michael Heiser takes on an eclectic and theologically rich batch of listener questions. Kicking off with a question about why a bronze serpent healed snake-bitten Israelites in Numbers 21, Heiser unpacks how the event was rooted in faith-filled obedience, not magic.
The episode then delves deep into the scholarly debate about when the book of Daniel was written, weighing arguments on Aramaic grammar, Greek loanwords, canonical placement, and apocalyptic genre conventions.
Heiser tackles the mysterious Zechariah 5 vision of winged women, showing they are not angels and instead symbolize the return of wickedness to Babylon. From there, the conversation turns to Jude 9 and the body of Moses—why it was buried in a location associated with Sheol and the Rephaim, and what ancient geography reveals about this cosmic contest between Michael and Satan.
Listeners also get insight on genealogical gaps in Genesis, why the idea that evil can’t dwell in God’s presence is problematic, and whether Jesus healing a mute/deaf man in Mark 7 relates to the Egyptian "mouth-opening" ritual (it doesn’t).
Other topics include angelic terminology in 1 Timothy 3:16, and the kinds of questions Dr. Heiser wishes people would ask about his work in the fringe, paranormal, and ancient astronaut spaces. A must-listen for fans of biblical theology, ancient context, and serious but accessible Q&A.
Listener Questions with Timestamps
| Timestamp | Question Summary | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 05:00 | Why does looking at the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 heal people? | Molly |
| 10:00 | What are the scholarly arguments for dating Daniel early or late? | Molly |
| 35:00 | What’s going on in Zechariah 5 with the winged women — are these female angels? | Colin |
| 40:00 | Why would God hide Moses’ body — is it to prevent DNA use today? (Jude 9) | Tammy & Nathan |
| 1:00:00 | Do gaps in genealogies affect things like Jude calling Enoch the 7th from Adam? Did people really live that long? | Derrick in Kansas |
| 1:05:00 | Can evil dwell in God's presence? How do fallen divine beings appear before Him? | Lindsay |
| 1:10:00 | Does Jesus healing the deaf/mute man in Mark 7 parallel the Egyptian “mouth-opening” ritual? | Lindsay |
| 1:15:00 | In 1 Timothy 3:16, are the “angels” who saw Jesus the imprisoned ones He preached to? | Matthew (UK) |
| 1:20:00 | What questions does Mike wish people would ask him — about theology or personal goals? | Cory |
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