Wise Counsel

Episode Summary:When Jesus declared, "I and the Father are one," the religious authorities immediately picked up stones to accuse him of blasphemy. But how does Jesus' unexpected quotation of Psalm 82:6 ("I said, you are gods") in John 10:34 serve as a defense of His deity rather than a retreat into ordinary mortality?

In this episode, we unpack the conventional "mortal view" that reduces the text to human judges and explore the explosive alternative: the ancient Divine Council context. Discover how Jesus wasn't arguing that "we are all just ordinary mortals," but was instead reminding His opponents of non-human divine sons—ultimately staking His claim not just as a divine son, but as the unique Lord of the Council.

Dive past the surface-level milk and get into the textual meat of John 10, the supernatural worldview of the Bible, and how Jesus boldly defended His ontological oneness with the Father.

Why does the supernatural worldview of the Bible create such strong resistance among some Evangelical Christians? Is the Divine Council, the Sons of God, and God’s relationship to the seventy nations truly inconsistent with His character, sovereignty, and holiness? Or are these objections rooted in theological assumptions that deserve closer examination?

In this episode of Wise Counsel, we respond directly to listener concerns about our exploration of the Bible’s supernatural worldview. We address the objection that the Divine Council contradicts the nature of God, examine the criticism that we rely too heavily on biblical scholarship, and consider whether Christians should simply read Scripture at face value through our modern English translations.

We also explore the relationship between biblical literalism, literary genre, symbolism, and authorial intent. Using our recent discussion of Revelation and the New Jerusalem’s relationship to the sun as a case study, we consider why interpreting Scripture faithfully sometimes requires recognizing apocalyptic imagery, prophetic language, and ancient literary conventions.

Throughout the discussion, we distinguish responsible biblical scholarship from theological speculation, demonstrate the importance of historical and cultural context, and examine the biblical evidence rather than appealing to scholarly authority alone. Drawing from the Old Testament, the New Testament, ancient Near Eastern backgrounds, and Second Temple Jewish literature, we address these objections with theological depth and pastoral sensitivity.

Our goal is not to dismiss traditional interpretations or to win an argument. It is to help listeners reconsider their assumptions, understand the biblical text more fully, and recognize that recovering Scripture’s supernatural worldview does not undermine biblical Christianity—it may actually illuminate the larger story of God’s sovereignty, redemption, and purposes for the nations.

Join us for a thoughtful, Scripture-centered conversation about the challenges of biblical interpretation, the authority of God’s Word, and the importance of allowing Scripture to shape our theology rather than forcing the text into our preexisting expectations.

What is the Divine Council, and why have so many pastors, Bible teachers, and congregants never heard of it? For many Evangelical Christians, the supernatural worldview of the Bible can sound unfamiliar, unsettling, or even like a departure from orthodox monotheism. When the Divine Council or the biblical “gods” are mentioned, concerns about polytheism, idolatry, and the nature of God often arise. After all, doesn’t Scripture repeatedly declare that the gods of the nations are nothing more than powerless idols?

In this episode of Wise Counsel, we take a comprehensive, Scripture-centered journey through the Divine Council and heavenly assembly, tracing its appearances throughout the entire Bible—from the most explicit passages to the more subtle and frequently overlooked examples. We examine the biblical language, historical context, and theological implications of these passages, addressing common misunderstandings and demonstrating how the existence of other spiritual beings does not compromise the uniqueness, sovereignty, or supremacy of Yahweh.

We will also distinguish between the biblical portrayal of genuine spiritual beings and the empty idols of human manufacture, exploring what Scripture actually means when it speaks of the “gods” of the nations.

Finally, we address the most important question: Does understanding the Divine Council matter? How does this supernatural framework shape our reading of Scripture, illuminate the Bible’s overarching metanarrative, and deepen our understanding of redemption, spiritual conflict, and the kingdom of God? Should this subject be taught in our churches and Bible studies, or is the evidence too uncertain to warrant broader consideration?

Join us as we explore the biblical evidence, confront common objections, and consider whether recovering the Bible’s supernatural worldview can lead to a richer, more faithful understanding of God’s Word.

How well does Gilley’s critique of Michael Heiser’s work stand up to careful biblical and theological examination? In this episode of Wise Counsel, we take a closer look at Gilley’s objections to Heiser’s interpretation of the supernatural worldview of the Bible, including the Sons of God, the Divine Council, and the unseen spiritual realm.

Rather than dismissing the critique or defending Heiser uncritically, we evaluate the arguments on their merits. Are Gilley’s concerns grounded in the biblical text, sound theological reasoning, and a proper understanding of the ancient Near Eastern context? Does Heiser’s scholarship accurately illuminate Scripture, or does it introduce interpretive challenges that deserve closer scrutiny?

Join us for a thoughtful, Scripture-centered analysis that distinguishes legitimate theological concerns from misunderstandings, examines the strengths and weaknesses of both perspectives, and considers what these debates mean for Evangelical biblical interpretation.

The goal is not simply to defend a scholar, but to pursue a more faithful understanding of the biblical text.

Is the supernatural interpretation of the Sons of God and the Divine Council truly the consensus view among Old Testament biblical scholars? If so, why does this perspective remain less widely accepted among Evangelical Christians? What, if anything, have the Southern Baptist Convention and its leaders said about this issue?

In this episode of Wise Counsel, we explore the divide between academic Old Testament scholarship and popular Evangelical interpretation. We examine the historical and theological reasons behind differing perspectives, consider the role of the SBC and its leadership, and wrestle with an important question: How should the Church respond when scholarly consensus challenges long-held assumptions?

Should we engage these difficult biblical texts more deeply, teach them more faithfully, and reconsider our interpretive traditions—or are these subjects best left unexplored?

Join us for a thoughtful, Scripture-centered discussion about biblical scholarship, theological conviction, and the responsibility of the Church to pursue truth wherever the text leads.

This episode examines Jacob’s mysterious nocturnal struggle at the River Jabbok in Genesis 32, where he wrestles with a physical man revealed to be an embodied deity—the Angel of the Lord (elohim). By analyzing the passage alongside Hosea 12 and the linguistic roots of the name Israel, the discussion shows how this tangible confrontation served as a living object lesson of Jacob's lifelong spiritual striving. The episode connects Jacob's transformation and name change to the broader biblical theme of divine identity, illustrating how believers are called to shed their old selves and undergo a spiritual renewal into the image of God.

What if everything we think we know about reading the Book of Revelation is built on modern assumptions rather than ancient reality? For generations, popular approaches have treated John’s apocalypse like a cryptographic code waiting to be cracked by the evening news or modern geopolitical maps. But how did the original audience—marginalized first-century believers in Asia Minor—actually hear and understand these visions?

In this episode, we explore how to put down the newspaper and recover the authentic reading lens of a first-century Jew. We dive into how the Book of Revelation is profoundly saturated with the Hebrew Bible (specifically the Septuagint) and the wider world of Second Temple Jewish literature. Rather than predicting twenty-first-century technology, John pulls words, phrases, and literary prototypes from prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah to weave a masterclass in biblical theology and cosmic justice.

• Dismantling "Newspaper Exegesis": Why forcing modern Western headlines and twenty-first-century technology onto first-century apocalyptic literature misses the authorial intent entirely.

• The Old Testament in the Blender: How John masterfully utilizes literary prototypes, thematic developments, analogical uses (like the new Exodus), and universalized covenant promises without ever needing word-for-word formulas.

• Apocalyptic Genre & The Cosmic Courtroom: Understanding the vital differences between classic prophecy and apocalyptic literature, and how Revelation functions as a divine covenant lawsuit (rîb) examining God’s house first before judging the nations.

• The Second Temple Matrix: Why reading Revelation in concert with intertestamental literature—such as 1 Enoch and the Dead Sea Scrolls—unlocks the stock elements, symbols, and premodern cosmology shared by early Christians.

• Revelation 1:1–7 – High Christology, the Cloud-Rider, and fusion of Daniel 7 and Zechariah 12

• Revelation 2–3 – Covenant lawsuits, witness terminology (martys), and testing true worship against syncretism

• Revelation 4–5 – The heavenly Divine Council scene and the unsealing of the scroll

Enjoying the study? Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and leave a 5-star review! Share this episode with anyone looking to ditch modern pop-culture timelines and dive into the true historical and literary context of the Apocalypse.

What will the physical reality of the New Jerusalem and the New Earth actually look like? Will we need a physical sun, moon, or starlight, or is something far greater taking place in the biblical text?

In this episode, we explore the breathtaking climax of the book of Revelation (Chapters 21–22) and its deep roots in Old Testament prophecy. Rather than looking for a literal, modern architectural blueprint or getting bogged down in pop-culture timelines, we examine how John uses ancient imagery—drawing heavily from Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah—to describe the ultimate restoration of Eden.

We break down why John states that the New Jerusalem has no need of a sun or moon. Discover how the physical containers of the old cosmos—like the architectural temple and astral bodies—are shed like a cocoon as God's unmediated, glorious presence (the Shekinah glory) and the Lamb become the eternal light of a global Eden.

• The Shedding of the Old Cosmos: Why the old heavens and earth pass away, and how the physical temple and astral lights are superseded by the direct glory of God.

• The Glory as the Luminary: How passages in Isaiah, Habakkuk, and Revelation converge to show that God's presence and the Lamb serve as the true "lamp" of the New Jerusalem.

• The Global Eden Realized: How the New Jerusalem is not an abstract, floating cloud-heaven, but a literal, restored garden-earth where glorified humanity fulfills its original Edenic commission.

• Decoding Apocalyptic Optics: Moving past hyper-literalism and modern western assumptions to understand how first-century Jewish-led apocalyptic literature uses Old Testament patterns to paint the ultimate picture of cosmic restoration.

• Revelation 21:22–27 – The City has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God gives it light

• Revelation 22:1–5 – The River of Life, the Tree of Life, and the eternal reign of God's people

• Isaiah 60:1–3, 19–20 – The foundational Old Testament prophecies of eschatological light and glory

• Ezekiel 43:5–7 – The return of the divine glory to fill the cosmic sanctuary

Enjoying the study? Be sure to Like, Subscribe, and leave a 5-star review! Share this episode with anyone looking to dive deeper into biblical theology, ancient context, and the real promise of the New Earth.

In This Episode, We Cover:Key Scripture References:

Throughout Scripture, fire is one of the most prominent metaphors used to describe the holiness, presence, and transformative work of God. While human or destructive fire consumes and destroys what it touches, divine fire possesses a unique dual quality: it purifies, refines, and illuminates without destroying the underlying creation or the redeemed believer.

This paradox—fire that burns without annihilating—serves as a central picture of God's covenantal presence, sanctification, and divine protection across both Testaments.

This episode tackles the common fringe theory that Ezekiel 1 describes an ancient alien spacecraft or UFO encounter. By analyzing the passage through ancient Near Eastern iconography, sacred temple furnishings, and Babylonian astrological symbols—such as the four cardinal points of the zodiac—it reveals how Ezekiel's vision actually portrays a mobile divine throne chariot. The discussion highlights how this dramatic heavenly throne vision served as a message of cosmic sovereignty to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, reassuring them that Yahweh, not Marduk, remains in control of history and all creation.