The Unseen Realm

By: Dr. Michael S. Heiser

Narrated by: Gordon Greenhill

Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

In The Unseen Realm, Dr. Michael Heiser examines the ancient context of scripture, explaining how its supernatural worldview can help us grow in our understanding of God. He illuminates intriguing and amazing passages of the Bible that have been hiding in plain sight. You'll find yourself engaged in an enthusiastic pursuit of the truth, resulting in a new appreciation for God's word.

• Why wasn't Eve surprised when the serpent spoke to her?
• How did descendants of the Nephilim survive the flood?
• Why did Jacob fuse Yahweh and his angel together in his prayer?
• Who are the assembly of divine beings that God presides over?
• In what way do those beings participate in God's decisions?
• Why do Peter and Jude promote belief in imprisoned spirits?
• Why does Paul describe evil spirits in terms of geographical rulership?
• Who are the glorious ones that even angels dare not rebuke?

After listening to this book, you may never read your Bible the same way again.

There is a world referred to in the scripture that is quite unseen, but also quite present and active. Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm seeks to unmask this world. Heiser shows how important it is to understand this world and appreciate how its contribution helps to make sense of scripture. The book is clear and well done, treating many ideas and themes that often go unseen themselves. With this book, such themes will no longer be neglected, so listen to it and discover a new realm for reflection about what scripture teaches.

©2015 Michael S. Heiser (P)2015 Michael S. Heiser

Simply a must-read for all Christians

I've listened to this book 4 times. There is so much to learn here, I'm tempted to listen again! It's that important, it's that good. I highly recommend you read/listen to this book. Open my eyes Lord is my prayer as a result of the information I've gleaned here. Michael Heiser did an outstanding job of organizing and presenting ancient understanding so as to bring to light the,now, seemingly obvious meanings of those difficult texts we all wrestle with as honest God-fearing children of God.

38 of 38 people found this review helpful

A Five Star Trifecta

This is a must have for any level student of the bible seeking clarity, deeper understanding, and thoughtful insight into some of the more enigmatic, controversial, and often gleamed over principles, ideas, and scripture found in the texts.

Dr Heiser does a superb job of breaking down and articulating some of the more complex ideas and topics helping us mere mortals to gain practical insight with relation to topics like the spiritual realm, looking at the bible from the premodern perspective, the overarching agenda of The Most High, Endtime events, and salvation to name a few.

If you love your bible and seeking a deeper understanding of it, then you must get this book and devour it with an open and reasoning heart.

The narration was good and provided the right voice.

I loved this book and highly recommend it.

19 of 19 people found this review helpful

Fantastic revelation of complex biblical details

If you could sum up The Unseen Realm in three words, what would they be?

comprehensive, amazing, researched

What did you like best about this story?

Thorough research by Dr. Heiser. The uncovering of the connected details in the Bible and God's plan as shown in this book are astounding. I would never have had the opportunity to see beyond my current layman's understanding of God's plan if it were not for this book. I have an increased love for God and a much clearer understanding for why the world is in such chaos. Thank you Dr. Heiser for this masterful work! I generally don't take the time to write reviews, but this was such a profound and complete piece of work I was compelled to share my thoughts, albeit brief. Lastly, if you struggle with God as an angry God who also loves his people, or you struggle with why there is so much pain and suffering in this world, this book will enlighten you immensely on the condition we are all in.

What about Gordon Greenhill’s performance did you like?

Clear, concise, properly effectuated.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. Mind blown!

34 of 35 people found this review helpful

Life changing.

I love to listen to audiobooks while I am working, and this one is life changing! It will change, in a positive way, how you read the Bible. However, I recommend buying BOTH the audible version as well as a hard copy to refer to, otherwise you will be hitting the back button a lot in order to catch the details. This is not meant to discourage people from buying the audio version at all--you won't regret it. It's just that this is a book that needs to be studied further, with yellow highlights, and notations made in the margins. Great book.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Best analysis of difficult passages in the Bible.

I've studied the Bible for over 20 years and read many analysis on explanations of difficult passages in the Bible; this book is the best. Will have to listen to it several more times to digest the material.

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

intrigued

I'm just a regular person I was introduced to Supernatural finished it and immediately started on this one, although it was a more technical read it was very enlightening and intriguing. I intend to reread the Bible with a new pair of lens.

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Read your bible from a whole new perspective

This book is incredible! It opens up a whole new perspective of the entire bible. Teaching you how to understand the context of the old Hebrew ways. It's amazing and I can't wait to "re-read" the bible with more understanding of what's really going on!

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

The Unseen

What made the experience of listening to The Unseen Realm the most enjoyable?

Confirming what I suspected and articulating it with clarity.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book makes me research the Word of GOD the more.

Any additional comments?

THE Best Book I've read in years. I am more than thankful for ALL of the diligent research that went into this masterpiece. Makes the heart rejoice, filled with appreciation to know that I am NOT crazy to think the way I do. Hallelujah! THANK YOU. p.s. Excellent narrator too! :-)

26 of 27 people found this review helpful

But the paper book.

The book is great, but the Audible format isn't the best for this kind of book. Dr. Heiser includes a bunch of footnotes and citations, sometimes rather length ones, on every page. A reader can stop to look at then, out pass them but, but an audible learner MUST listen to the footnotes and citations. These long departures from the narrative make the actual text of the book hard to follow because you never know when a thought or argument is going to be interrupted in the middle of development with a complex discussion about ancient languages I couldn't possibly follow without six to eight years of education. I really wish I had the option to skip them! I have a paper copy of the book if I need the reference, the audio version should just read the text, or at least give me an opt out.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Read and Reread!

I love this book-- it is a major paradigm shift in my thinking, and some of the author's presentations are too much to take in in the first read. But it is well worth the effort to go back and reread concepts (and even entire chapters) to solidify the images he so colorfully exhibits. It is hard for me to believe that Mr. Heiser does not have a volume of works published-- he is gifted with words and has a knack for understated humor.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

The Unseen [and sometimes seen] Realm

The Unseen Realm gives a clear account of how the Bible not only documents humanities history of interaction with our Creator, but also of our interaction with the unseen (and sometimes seen) realm of other spiritual entities. Get ready for a paradigm shift. For many, this book will answer some fundamental questions that have bugged many a thinking believer for far too long.

Michael S Heiser continues to dig up gems from parts of Scripture that the vast majority of scholars and commentators avoid exploring for a myriad of reasons. No area of investigation is off limits in Dr. Heiser's relentless pursuits of discovering and explaining the messages originally intended by the writers of Biblical Scripture.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A real loose end fixer

For the Christian who is firmly rooted in a materialistic 'greek' world view, this is a game changer.
For the Christian who has no trouble with the straight forward view of Genesis 6 this will be a welcome raft of additional knowledge.
For both, it is a tour de force in sorting out those nagging often ignored oddities in the Word of God. Enjoy and prepare for many ah ha moments.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

great

I have the book on logos as well and will need to reread it. the book comes over well on audable but it is so information dense I think the written book is also essential to follow up the argument mike puts forward..it is fascinating and has made me think so thsnks Mike :)

Excellent, very informative and enjoyable.

I'm looking forward to a second time around because going through this book was packed with so much information. If I don't go the second time around I will miss out on some very valuable eye openers that can't help to satisfy one's curiosity as you move through the book. Excellence in its construction too as it's pieced together beautifully!!!

Must read for all interested in theology

Michael Heiser brings such a fresh breath of air into Old (and New)Testament theology.

A must read and plenty of food for thought...

Michael Heiser may well turn your current Biblical theology up side down in this comprehensive and thought provoking book. Despite much of this material being new to me I found it logical, well argued and readily understandable if you are prepared to be open minded and do your due diligence in accessing the copious academic references provided.

I believe any Christian who wants a better and deeper understanding of the entire Bible but especially the OT should pick up this book. I have read the book and listened to the narration via audible and can recommend both.

Thank you Dr Heiser for bringing academic research and learning and putting in reach of the ordinary church goer. Very much appreciated by this reader.

Wow! Wow! Amazing.

Absolutely fantastic!, every Christian should read this or at least listen to it as I’ve done. It has clarified every aspect of my belief and reaffirmed it. We waste so much time and effort as believers arguing about all sorts of nonsense instead of understanding why God created us in the first place and what our purpose is.

Thank you, thank you for shearing with us who are likely to never learn Hebrew and Greek. This is truly inspired work that has connected the dots for me and cleared things up, what can I say but Glory to the LORD God our saviour for He is able, God bless.

Eye-opening and Brilliant!

This is the kind of book that you need to chew on as you go through it but if you're willing to do the mental work it's very rewarding!

I was particularly impressed with the handling of tables which on the face it could have been a real pain to listen through but it was delivered in an well thought out and engaging way.

I've learned that I need to be willing to accept what the Bible is saying in the context it was said not in my modern day context.

I can never look at God's word the same again!