Investigating the meanings and uses of "spiritus" in a variety of early modern disciplines and fields - natural philosophy, theology, music, literature and the visual arts - this book revisits the ambivalent history of a central ancient concept in a period of crisis and change.

An A-Z encyclopedia of the unseen and the unknown world of psychics, channeling, mediums, mystics, near death experiences, prophets, shadow people, death bed visions, astral projection and more. The Encyclopedia of the Unseen World includes concepts as well as descriptions of the spiritual world that have been extrapolated from a number of sources including: Ancient and Channeled Writings, Cultural Beliefs, Mediums, Mystics, Near Death Experiences, Psychics, Prophets and Visionaries, Scriptures and more.

The truth about demons is far stranger—and even more fascinating—than what's commonly believed. Are demons real? Are they red creatures with goatees holding pitchforks and sitting on people's shoulders while whispering bad things? Did a third of the angels really rebel with Satan? Are demons and "principalities and powers" just terms for the same entities, or are they different members of the kingdom of darkness? Is the world a chaotic mess because of what happened in Eden, or is there more to the story of evil? What people believed about evil spiritual forces in ancient biblical times is often very different than what people have been led to believe about them today. And this ancient worldview is missing from most attempts to treat the topic. In Demons, Michael Heiser debunks popular presuppositions about the very real powers of darkness. Rather than traditions, stories, speculations, or myths, Demons is grounded in what ancient people of both the Old and New Testament eras believed about evil spiritual forces and in what the Bible actually says. You'll come away with a sound, biblical understanding of demons, supernatural rebellion, evil spirits, and spiritual warfare.

"Unseen Worlds offers a totally new Pastoral approach. Bernhard Udelhoven presents both a framework how pastoral care can rescue those who are afflicted by spirits, witchcraft and demons, and he presents numerous case studies and practical examples. These cases are often matters of death or life. Experience teaches that the possession by demons always is closely connected with and related to problems on an interpersonal level. Consequently, the core point of Udelhoven's approach is to thoroughly study and heal the frictions in these relationships. For me as a professional counsellor Udelhoven's path to healing coincides very often with methods developed in modern schools of psychology. The importance of his findings and proposals should not be underestimated. This book is a must for every pastoral agent." Dr Toni Görtz, MISSIO By building on cultural and relational experiences of life, UNSEEN WORLDS provides a new entry into the deliverance ministry. It goes beyond quick fixes and also beyond the timeworn divide of the superstitious versus the real. Religious beliefs in spiritual evil affect World Christianity in fundamental ways. This is true also in African settings, where the unseen world comes with a maze of pastoral problems for Christian communities and their pastors, which this book takes up: A person-centered approach for helping people who are or who feel attacked by spiritual forces (Catholic and ecumenical ministry in multi-cultural settings). Case studies from Zambia demonstrate how a pastor can help with simple but meaningful steps even in very complex cultural situations. Readers ready to be challenged by relational experiences of life and African notions of selfhood will find an easy entry into the theme of this book that goes beyond the timeworn divide of the "real" versus the "superstitious". The book has been developed in dialogue with theologians, historians, psychologists, anthropologists, traditional healers, pastoral teams with extensive experience in the ministry of deliverance, and - most of all - with affected families, the subject group of the book. Its person-centred method is applicable beyond Africa to multi-cultural settings, where different ideas about the occult stay side by side. Gap filled by the book: The reader will find concrete pastoral steps towards a deliverance ministry that work with African insights into the mysteries of life, not against them. The authentic case studies show the complexities of the deliverance ministry, which are rarely noticed in the available "prayer manuals" in which demons are but prayed away. How will the book be read? The book covers seven topical themes: The first draws out the successes and failures of mainstream, inculturation and charismatic approaches of combating evil spiritual forces in Africa on the example of Christian Zambia. The second outlines the principles of the person-centred approach, with its demands of listening and empathy, and introduces the notions of "inner worlds" and "outer worlds" through which the healer/pastor can clarify different levels of truths and the scope for public action. The next three themes deal with helping people who are or see themselves as victims of spirits, witchcraft, and Satanism. Another theme concerns helping people who stand accused as witches, looking at possible interventions from the time that rumours are expressed up to the time that suspicions turn into witch-hunting. The last part introduces biblical and theological concerns that give a place to people's own experiences with the unseen world.

Dr. Michael S. Heiser presents fifteen years of research on what the Bible really says about the unseen world of the supernatural, unfiltered by tradition or by theological presuppositions. Who were the sons of God? Who were the Nephilim? Where do angels fit into the supernatural hierarchy? What relation does Jesus bear to the rest of the supernatural world? Heiser tackles these questions and many more as he shines a light on the ancient context of Scripture. After reading this book, you may never read your Bible the same way again. In Supernatural, Heiser takes the core message from his recent best-seller, The Unseen Realm, and presents it for the person in the pew. He offers the same approach to reading and understanding Scripture, but without all the extra footnotes and supporting information needed for the scholarly treatment. “We can’t believe what we don’t understand. In Supernatural, Michael Heiser helps us to do both. It may open your eyes to the scripture in a new way.” —John Ortberg, author of If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat

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 reading this book, you may never read your Bible the same way again. Endorsements "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 read it and discover a new realm for reflection about what Scripture teaches." --Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement "'How was it possible that I had never seen that before?' Dr. Heiser's survey of the complex reality of the supernatural world as the Scriptures portray it covers a subject that is strangely sidestepped. No one is going to agree with everything in his book, but the subject deserves careful study, and so does this book." --John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament, School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary "This is a 'big' book in the best sense of the term. It is big in its scope and in its depth of analysis. Michael Heiser is a scholar who knows Scripture intimately in its ancient cultural context. All--scholars, clergy, and laypeople--who read this profound and accessible book will grow in their understanding of both the Old and New Testaments, particularly as their eyes are opened to the Bible's 'unseen world.'" --Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College

Denying Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, is the greatest mistake the entire world has made in the past and present and will continue to make in the future. Without Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in one's life, how can a person live coexisting with spirit beings known as demons, wicked spirit persons who have inhabited the earth the entire time mankind has been on earth? Yet the world lives as though we don't coexist with spirit beings, and to reject or deny the only person whom these spirit beings obey is like living without a cause. People, the world in general, it's imperative to acknowledge that demon spirits have invaded human bodies. Demonic forces, whom we can't see nor control, are in control of multitudes of human lives, which have persons in spiritual warfare with invisible demons as enemies in mankind and fighting a battle within themselves and against others like themselves. These demons, which are also named evil spirits, are in human bodies as demon control spirits, sometimes called devils as they became dominant spirit forces. Demons have been assigned to us in the body of humankind to harm, kill, and destroy lives by any means. Demons have been assigned to our children to possess as their own to harm, steal, or destroy lives and family livelihood. The power of Jesus Christ's name provides protection for all mankind in the spirit realm, believers as well as nonbelievers.

Have You Unknowingly Invited Demonic Enemies into Your Life? Many Christians are being tormented by unseen demonic powers called “familiar spirits” that operate inconspicuously within the fabric of people’s thoughts, emotions, and mindsets—working so secretly that they usually remain undetected. These demonic spirits can be attached to specific individuals, families, or bloodlines. Familiar spirits hinder believers’ lives in numerous ways, diminishing their spiritual vision and seeking to prevent them from fulfilling their destinies. They may block people’s ability to overcome negative patterns, attain lasting success, and even marry and conceive children. Without realizing it, we can invite such unseen enemies into our lives. We may have left open a door to their influence due to personal trauma, unforgiveness, bitterness, or false thinking. Then, we become trapped in a type of spiritual debt. We are restricted from being fully free in Christ so that we constantly live with frustration, worry, anger, or a feeling of hopelessness. Overcoming Familiar Spirits by pastor and teacher Dr. Kynan Bridges powerfully exposes Satan’s demonic agenda so you can be set free. You will learn to detect the presence of familiar spirits, such as the spirits of sabotage, calamity, rejection, jealousy, fear, infirmity, oppression, premature death, prevention, perversion, and more. You will gain a fresh revelation of who you are in Christ and your authority as a believer and be equipped with the tools to enjoy lasting freedom. Through his books, preaching, and counseling, Dr. Bridges has shown thousands of believers how to address hindrances in their lives. Discover how to eradicate unseen familiar spirits and be released from spiritual bondage and debt!

All too often problems of biblical hermeneutics are too closely linked to technical biblical study rather than to the day-by-day issues confronting the church. Here, however, eight international scholars from seven countries show how such studies can have vital relevance to today's immediate problems and needs. The writers focus on the biblical doctrine of the church itself and how the church carries out its mission in various cultures. Originally presented as lectures at Tyndale House in Cambridge, England, these essays have been revised in light of the discussion and criticism that followed. They include careful biblical analyses of the nature of the church, its opponents, and of such modern concerns as social justice and liberation theology. The result is a stimulating reassessment of the role that Scripture plays in bringing Christ to persons within their cultural contexts.