Douglas Van Dorn - The Unseen Realm: A Question & Answer Companion

The Unseen Realm: A Question & Answer Companion

Douglas Van Dorn

The Unseen Realm: A Question & Answer Companion

Copyright 2015 Douglas Van Dorn

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are the authors translation.

Scripture quotations marked ( NKJV ) are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Digital ISBN 9781577996927

Lexham Editorial Team: Spencer Jones

Cover Design: Christine Gerhart

Contents

The target audience for Dr. Michael Heisers recent book The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible was primarily the academic readerpastors and professionals in other fields accustomed to digesting closely researched material. While The Unseen Realm is nevertheless quite readable, this primer meets the need for a more accessible abridgement of The Unseen Realms core content.

This question and answer companion introduces and summarizes major content elements of Dr. Heisers book in ten sections by means of a question-answer format. However, the primer does not follow the chapter sequence of The Unseen Realm , nor does it touch on everything discussed.

Its time to read the Bible for what it is: a grand, unified story that involves the intersection of the unseen realm with human history not only in the distant past, but also with us today. Recently the Bible has too often been presented to congregations as something much less: a self-help manual for successful living, a motivational trade book, a guide for relationships, a handy source of character sketches, etc. This primer seeks to correct these errant approaches.

To that end, the primer is arranged in the following sections:

Part begins with God. We must start here, to ground ourselves, for he is the Beginning and the End, the Creator, and the Savior. So we ask questions like who is he? What has he done? What is his nature? How does he reveal himself?

Part addresses the gods of the nations, rivals to Yahweh, and the God of Israel. Do these gods really exist? If so, what are they? How does God compare to gods? What distinguishes him from them? Why are none of them comparable to him?

Part focuses on one phrase: sons of God. Who are they? How do they relate to other heavenly beings? What is the Son of Gods (that is, Jesus) relationship to other sons of God? How does this biblical phrase relate to other biblical terminology, such as angels, watchers, cherubim, and more?

Part and is therefore part of how the Bible depicts the bureaucratic operation of Gods heavenly host and how that divine council impacts us on earth.

Part deals with the earth and its relationship to the divine realm. It discusses Adam and Eves creation, their fall into sin, and the divine being that tempted Eve. This section also asks about the image of God (What is it? What function and purpose did God create Adam to carry out?), along with the results of the fall.

Part . This passage describes a transgression of the boundary between heaven and earth and its consequences in later biblical history, particularly the conquest of Canaan under Moses and Joshua. This section concentrates on the biblical giants, the Nephilim, along with their descendants, the giant clans of Canaan.

Part focuses on the human rebellion against God after the floodthe Tower of Babel. This event frames the rest of biblical history in both Testaments. The section focuses on the cosmic-geographical worldview resulting from Gods judgmentdisinheriting the nations and allotting them to lesser gods.

Part proceeds to examine how this cosmic conflict relates to the promise given to Eve in the garden of Eden, that one of her offspringthe promised seedwould eventually undo the failure in Eden.

Part explores the fulfillment of the promised seed in Jesus Christhow his coming, his work at the cross, his resurrection, and his ascension to the right hand of God dealt a powerful blow to Satan, the lesser gods, and demons.

Part concludes the primer with an examination of the gospel, the good news of Gods plan of salvation and the demise of the powers of darkness and their rule.

My hope is that this primer will lead all who read it and use it in ministry to a deeper understanding of the supernatural worldview of the Bible and a greater love for the Triune God who has won the war through his Son, Jesus Christ.

May the Lord of Lords and God of gods, with whom no power on heaven or earth can compare, be pleased to use this tool for the furtherance of his glory alone, and may he be pleased through it to help you worship him alone as the true God, especially as he has revealed himself to us through the Son and through the Holy Spirit, sent to lead us into all truth.

Soli Deo Gloria (to God alone be the glory),

-Douglas Van Dorn

Scripture citations are from the English Standard Version ( ESV ) unless otherwise noted. In many cases, only the most relevant portion of a verse is quoted, but the reader should feel free to look up the biblical passages to get the fullest context. The Scripture passages cited are not necessarily those used in The Unseen Realm to establish or discuss any specific point.

Select footnotes clarify a point or direct the readers to resources for further study.