I Corinthians 11 is one of those really weird passages of Scripture that I would say 90% of Christians just kind of try to ignore. 

It’s probably the most out-of-place chapter in the entire New Testament. It feels very counter-cultural, extremely outdated, and not super relevant to anything in modern church practice. 

It’s a section that even the most conservative, Biblically faithful modern churches like to pretend isn’t there.

I’m talking about the chapter where Paul talks about head coverings.

He tells us in 

I Corinthians 11:5

every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head

What are you talking about, Paul? Where is this coming from? Is this just a cultural thing, or is it a literal command for all believers anywhere, anytime?

And what’s even more strange is Paul’s reason for this statement, which he gives in

Verse 10

That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

Oh, ok then. Because of the angels. Great. Totally makes sense now. 

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, PAUL?

Turns out, he’s talking about the Watchers. Those dudes we’ve been reading about this year in our book of Enoch study. Why is Paul referring to them in this section about head coverings, though?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. 

Turn to I Corinthians 11, and let’s get weird. 

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

3:05 - Revisiting this Odd Chapter

9:05 - Don’t Blur the Lines

18:10 - Ancient Pop Culture References

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

We have covered Psalm 82 on the podcast before. It’s the chapter where God holds His Divine Council to account. These are a group of higher-up spiritual beings.  He has placed these principalities in charge of certain sectors of the world, yet they haven’t influenced humanity rightly. 

So for those of us who like studying the weird stuff in the Bible, Psalm 82 is familiar territory. 

And yet, it has this one really puzzling line in verse 7. God tells this group of disloyal beings “…like men you shall die…”

Now, what in the world could that mean? I know how a human can die. But how can eternal beings die? Wouldn’t a spiritual being be immortal?

The answer to that question is…complicated. It’s not a simple yes-or-no answer. The Scriptural journey this question takes us on is going to surprise you as you realize what the Bible actually says about angelic mortality.

I know it surprised me. And I find it to be weird, so I’d like to explore why the Bible has to say about it. 

Turn to Psalm 82, and let’s get weird.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

3:20 - The Watchers of Psalm 82

4:45 - The Watchers of Enoch 15

9:55 - The Physics of Spiritual Immortality

16:15 - Angelic Mortality

20:35 - Sustained by God

22:45 - Next Time

24:05 - Closing Thoughts

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

If you thought the Book of Enoch’s account of the Watchers who descended to earth was kinda spooky- or if you thought the stories of their bloodthirsty cannibalistic giant children were scary- or if you thought the description of their gloomy dark underworld prison sounded terrifying- just wait until what comes next. 

Because Enoch is about to see something that shocks him more than zombie fallen angels, more than death cult nephilim, and more than the dungeons of hell. 

Enoch…is going to see God. 

And God ends up being more overwhelming than anything else Enoch has seen so far. 

Now maybe you’re saying- wait a minute, Luke. Enoch couldn’t have seen God.

In exodus 33:20, God tells Moses

…you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.

So why do you expect me to believe that Enoch saw God and survived to tell us about it?

Well, that’s a good question. But Abraham saw God. Daniel saw God. Jacob saw God. Ezekiel saw God. Isaiah saw God. And they all lived to tell the tale. So how can that Exodus verse be true if several Bible figures themselves have seen God?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. And yeah, we’ll also look at what Enoch wrote down as well when He met God face-to-face.

Turn to Ezekiel 1, and let’s get weird.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - Beholding the Glory

5:15 - When Ezekiel Saw God

9:08 - When Isaiah and Job Saw God

12:25 - When Enoch Saw God

24:35 - Next Time

26:45 - Closing Thoughts

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

I know in these episodes I often talk about wacky spiritual things going on in the unseen realm. Angels and demons and spiritual legal rights and all that kinda stuff. And, of course, the Bible is our best source of information about all that.

Today, I want to talk about how we study our Bible. I hope you read your bible. I hope you pay attention to what you’re reading as you’re reading it. And if you’re listening to a podcast like this, I’m sure you are a Bible reader. 

So for today’s episode, my challenge to myself is: how can I make your Bible study time just a little bit richer in the 20 or 30 minutes of this episode?

And you know what? We’ll also learn a bit today about our own role in the story God is telling with history.

How about a weird Scripture to kick us off, though?

I Peter 3:18-20

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 

Now when did Jesus go and proclaim to the spirits in prison? Well this is during the time that Jesus’s body was dead for three days. Peter tells us what Jesus was doing during that time: he was visiting the Watchers- these fallen Sons of God that we’ve been reading about in the Book of Enoch- and makes proclamation to them. But what exactly did Jesus proclaim? The Bible doesn’t tell us directly, but the Book of Enoch might help us find that answer.

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible… and in the Book of Enoch.

But first, turn to Romans 5, and let’s get weird.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - What is Typology?

11:30 - Jesus, the Second Enoch

17:15 - The Bible’s use of Extrabiblical Sources

21:30 - Next Time

23:30 - Closing Thoughts

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Jesus tells us to love our enemies. To do good for those who hate you. To pray for those who persecute you. 

Now, He said all this before they invented the Walmart parking lot, but I think it probably still applies for today.

However, when it comes to evil spirits, the Bible has a different game plan: we give them no quarter. When it comes to the devil, we don’t take any half measures. Zero tolerance.

They don’t get a redemption arc in the Bible’s story, and we aren’t supposed to even let them try.

So why the difference? 

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. And not only that, the book of Enoch is going to show us God’s disposition toward evil spirits as well. 

If you want to dig into that with me today, turn to Ephesians 6, and let’s get weird.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - Enoch 13 & the Appeal of the Watchers

11:05 - Demons are Unrepentant

16:45 - How to Treat Evil Spirits

18:50 - Be Merciless with Evil Spirits

24:40 - Next Time

26:00 - Closing Thoughts

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Thor has his hammer. Indiana Jones has his whip. Robin Hood has his bow. Iron Man has…laser hands. I don’t really know what you call them.

Anyway- in Matthew 16, Jesus gave us an incredible weapon that we can use to fight our enemies as well. He said

Matthew 16:19

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

And wouldn’t you know, Christians like to argue about what exactly these words mean. Is this about spiritual warfare? Is this about church discipline?

In the words of Iron Man himself: “is it too much to ask for both?"

Thankfully, this answer is not a mystery. When we look at the biblical vocabulary around fighting off demons and fallen angels in the Bible, it actually becomes pretty simple. 

Notice: I called today’s episode “What Happens When You Bind a Spirit,” and I didn’t put a question mark on the end of it. I’m not asking a question today. I’m going to show you what happens when you bind a spirit. 

And once I’m done, you’ll be praying prayers of binding and loosing more than ever. 

Because this concept is not supposed to be weird for Christians to do. Some Christians think that praying prayers like this is kinda out-there. But it’s actually supposed to be pretty normal. 

So if you want to learn more, turn with me to Luke 13, and let’s get normal.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:17 - Recapping Binding and Loosing

6:21 - How to Detain Your Dragon

12:06 - Enoch 13, Chains of the Watchers

19:16 - Testimonies of Binding Spirits

24:26 - Closing Thoughts

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Enoch is one of the most mysterious people in the Bible. He appears in Genesis 5 for about 10 seconds, at which point we’re told that he basically disappeared. He was there one minute, gone the next. Like my wife when the pastor tells us to turn and greet the person next to us. Just “poof,” gone. 

And I’ve spoken about this on the podcast before. Not my wife being an introvert, but about Enoch’s sudden evacuation from this planet. 

Genesis 5:24

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

He was not? Right. He was not. He was, and then he wasn’t. Poof. 

I have often called this the first rapture in the Bible. And that word comes with a lot of theological baggage. By even bringing up the idea, I have probably already upset some people today. It bothers some Christians because most associate that word with the concept of the rapture of the church. 

We’ll talk about that today, because what I’d like to do is de-stigmatize this touchy subject. If you don’t like the concept of a rapture of the church, or if you reject something that’s often called the pre-tribulation rapture, I’m not even gonna try to convince you to believe it today. 

This is not an issue in which I’d break fellowship with other Christians over. I’m not trying to be divisive today; I’m trying to be the opposite. I’d like to show, especially for those who reject quote-unquote “rapture theology” that the concept of the rapture is actually pretty common in Scripture.

The reason this is coming up today is because we’re in a study of the Book of Enoch, and we’re going to find out that the first rapture we read about in Scripture was perhaps not the first rapture that ever took place. 

But we’ll get to that later. First, the Bible stuff, because a lot of people find the doctrine of the rapture to be weird, and I’d like us to explore everywhere we can find it in the Bible. 

Turn to II Kings 2, and let’s get weird.

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - The Raptures of the Bible

5:55 - Harpazo

11:00 - Other Raptures in the Bible

15:05 - Enoch 12 and the First Rapture

19:40 - Next Time

21:50 - Mailbag- the Watchers and the Sons of God

27:40 - Closing Thoughts 

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

One of the great honors and treasures of my life is that I actually got to speak with Dr. Michael Heiser in 2015, and I’m going to share that conversation with you today.

Not only did I speak with him- this was also the first time I’d ever even heard of the guy. He was not really a big name yet. His epic work The Unseen Realm released that year; that was the book that put him on the map. 

And at that time, I hosted a radio program at that time where I interviewed Christian authors, and an advanced copy for Michael Heiser’s book Supernatural came across my desk, and I thought it looked interesting, so I requested a conversation, and that’s how I “met” Michael Heiser, and my life has never been the same since. 

I’ve actually read every book he’s written, up until he sadly passed away from cancer in 2023. This week, I’m finishing The Unseen Realm for the third or fourth time- which now has an updated and expanded edition, by the way. 

And thank goodness I kept a record of my old interviews because I was actually able to go back and find this brief discussion I was able to have with him. So I’m going to share that with you today. Next week, we’ll get back into our book of Enoch series. I’m just taking a brief break from that here in April to share last week’s and now this week’s special interview. 

So a couple notes before we begin. Back in those days, I used a radio name. For real. So when I come on here in a minute, I won’t say my name is Luke Taylor. I’ll introduce myself as Clark Matthews. But it is for-real me. I just had a secret identity back then. And I still think Clark is a way cooler name than Luke, but I don’t use it anymore. 

Two- this is really embarrassing but I actually mispronounce Dr. Heiser’s name all through the interview. I cringe so hard when I hear this now, I have no idea why he didn’t correct me; maybe he didn’t catch it. I do remember he was very kind off-air both before and after the interview. I obviously didn’t realize at the time the incredible person I was speaking with, but I remember him being very patient and humble. I had opportunities to interview some big-name people over the years, and sometimes they could actually be kinda pushy or rude behind the scenes. But Dr. Heiser was a genuinely nice guy. I miss him, but I’m super thankful to God that I got to actually speak with him while he was on this earth.

As you listen to this, I think you’ll hear how he influenced me. I probably barely even knew what a podcast was in 2015, but in this interview, you’ll probably recognize the seeds of my own thought process about the Bible, which led to a podcast like this even existing. 

So with that introduction, let’s get weird with Clark Matthews and Dr. Michael Heiser…

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/
You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

Some of the music included in this interview is provided by Blue Tree Audio.
Background Music: www.bluetreeaudio.com

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Brian Godawa- author of the new release Daniel: Exile in Babylon- comes back to the podcast today to discuss geopolitical spiritual warfare and the infighting within the Divine Council. Brian has a vision of how the spiritual realm operates and brings it to life in his Chronicles of the Watchers series. 

Check out all the books he’s written at his website: www.godawa.com

You can WATCH this interview here: https://youtu.be/M388kMAG2aU

Questions I ask in this interview:

- Tell us about the Chronicles of the Watchers

- Those these books are “fictional,” what are some ways your readers will learn about true history?

- Why do the Watchers battle not just God, but each other?

- How does Satan factor into these conflicts between the Watchers?

- What happens to a Watcher on the Divine Council if he turns against God? Is he kicked out?

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Well, next week is April 15, which means your taxes are coming due. So if you woke up today and said, “Man, it sure would be great if God consumed the whole world in a fiery destruction that wiped away all life and memory of mankind and the IRS from the earth…” then I have some good news. That’s actually in the works. 

Now, it probably won’t be next week, but it is gonna happen. And how do I know? Because Peter told me about it. 

II Peter 3:10 says

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

And for the record, the Book of Enoch tells us similar things. It was written about the future Second Coming of Christ. Enoch’s book tells us things about the Second Coming long before even Christ’s first coming. It even tells us how the mountains will melt like wax before the Lord at His return. We’re gonna look at some of that today.

But wait a minute- didn’t God promise to never destroy the world again after the flood?

In Genesis 8:21 and 22, God says

“I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

So wait- is God actually gonna destroy the world someday- or am I gonna have to just keep paying taxes forever and ever? 

We’re going to answer that question today. And it won’t take long, actually. But after that, I want to explore a few questions that you all, the listeners, have been sending in lately about the Book of Enoch. Because today is going to finish up chapter 10, as well as 11, and this will actually finish up a section of the book, which makes it a good time to address some of your burning questions, like:

• were there female giants?
• Is there any good reason to think that the Book of Enoch was actually written and somehow preserved through the flood?
• And why does windshield wiper fluid have to look so delicious?

That last one is actually one of my own questions, and I don’t have an answer. It’s just something that’s been bothering me this week because I had to refill the windshield wiper fluid on my vehicle and… is it just me or does anyone else wonder what flavor that is. (I’ve had a little bit too much coffee this morning so there’s a lot of thoughts going through my head right now.)

So why does God say He’s not going to destroy the world again after Noah gets off the Ark, yet II Peter 3 tells us He’s going to do exactly that? 

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the bible. 

Turn with me to Genesis 8 and let’s get weird. 

Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:

https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/

Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com

0:00 - Introduction

3:35 - Genesis 8 & Enoch 10-11

8:45 - Read the Fine Print

15:15 - Mailbag- Why Trust Enoch?

26:05 - Mailbag- Jesus’ Privacy

27:10 - Mailbag- Female Giants?

28:35 - Closing Thoughts

Visit the Weird Stuff store!

https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.com

You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.

If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]

Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!