Sometime in 1997 the ancient city of Banias passed its 2000th anniversary, yet there was no celebration. John Francis Wilson brings us the story of Banias, or ancient Caesarea Philippi, the city that sat at the source of the Jordan River in what are now known as the Golan Heights region. In doing so he brings to life a city whose history is a microcosm of that of the Middle East itself. Banias' story starts in Canaanite times. Under Herod Phillip( died AD 34)it became Caesarea Philippi and was a focal point for the cult of the god Pan throughout the Roman period. With the accession of the Christian Emperor Constantine its pagan heritage brought it into conflict with emerging Christianity. In the following centuries came Arab conquest, the Crusades, neglect and decay, rediscovery in the 19th century by European travellers and finally its destruction in the Six Days War after being occupied by Israeli forces. Wilson reminds us that cities without people are desolate: interspersed amongst the invasions and religious conflicts are the people whose lives touched the life of this city: Herod the Great and his sons, Jesus of Nazareth, the emperors Vespasian and Titus, Saladin and even Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain. John Francis Wilson has had complete access to the site, and has drawn upon a wealth of sources in order to provide the first comprehensive history of this remarkable city . Its story will make fascinating reading to historians, general readers and those interested in the archaeology and narrative of the Near East.

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

Jesus: His Story in Stone is a reflection on still-existing stone objects that Jesus would have known, seen, or even touched. Each of the seventy short chapters is accompanied by a photograph taken on location in Israel. Arranged chronologically, the one-page meditations compose a portrait of Christ as seen through the significant stones in His life, from the cave where He was born to the rock of Calvary. While packed with historical and archaeological detail, the book’s main thrust is devotional, leading the reader both spiritually and physically closer to Jesus.

"Friedland has done an excellent job of examining from all possible angles this difficult corpus of fragmentary statuary from Panias." -- Irene Bald Romano, University of Arizona, Bryn Mawr Classical Review (2013.03.41) This constitutes the first publication of a deposit of broken, marble statues, discovered in 1992 during excavations of the Roman Sanctuary of Pan at Caesarea Philippi (Banias, Israel). From 245 fragments, twenty-nine statues ranging from colossal to miniature and representing mainstream Graeco-Roman deities and mythological figures are reconstructed. Most date stylistically to the first through the late fourth centuries AD. A catalogue discusses each sculpture's subject, comparanda, workshop associations, and date; three interpretive chapters present the artistic and material origins of the sculptures; patterns of patronage, chronology of sculptural dedication, and display; and sculptural evidence for the sanctuary's pantheon.

Hitchcock's compendium of Bible names and their definitions demystifies the meanings of every Bible name from A to Z - thus, it is a superb reference manual for spiritual study. A good supplement to Biblical studies, Hitchcock's book lists the meanings behind the various names. This allows readers to discover the etymological origins of the most famous figures in the Bible, place these names in their proper context, and thus perform readings of the holy scripture from a more informed perspective. Many of the names pertain directly to the qualities of their holders. For example the name Behemoth from the Book of Job simply means 'monstrous', while the name 'Iscariot' (as in Judas Iscariot) means 'a man of murder; a hireling'. Other names are however more nuanced - the name 'Baal' means 'master, or lord', contrasting the demonic connotations applied by 17th century Gothic fiction.

Pastor and Bible teacher Randy McCracken offers an intimate look at lesser-known members of 1 and 2 Samuel's four main families--those of Samuel, Eli, Saul, and David. Examining characters unfamiliar to many Bible readers, he reveals important lessons for today.

Susan Garrett focuses on the theme of the temptation and testing of Jesus, as reflected in the Gospel of Mark, arguing that by his endurance Jesus opened up the path and provides the example for those who follow the "way of the Lord.

By weaving together the Bible's historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, host Ray Vander Laan reveals keen insights into the Scriptures' significance to modern believers. This set focuses on Jesus' teaching ministry showing that the key to impacting our culture is understanding how Jesus impacted His.

Ezekiel 38 and 39 is an amazing End-Time Prophecy about a massive Invasion of Israel from the Far North, led by Russia and supported by a number of Islamic nations, including Iran. This massive invasion will result in one of the greatest ever Divine Interventions, as God moves in Judgement. The result will be great and world-wide political, religious and spiritual changes. Learn how everything has just now come perfectly into place for these dramatic events to happen. In other words, they are now imminent (they could happen at any time)! It is essential that believers are ready, for when the God of the Bible eveals His Mighty Power to all nations in obvious fulfillment of Prophecy, we will have a wonderful opportunity to lead many to Christ.

This text is designed to introduce students of the Bible to the archaeology, geography, and history of many of the important sites of the Old and New Testament worlds. Many of these sites were centers for trade, religion, defense, culture, industry, and government. DeVries details the development of significant sites from villages and towns to cities, based on how the site could meet the essential needs of the people. The availability of water or arable land, proximity to trade routes, and easily defensible terrain were prime factors in determining a city's prominence. This study concentrates on the cities in Mesopotamia, Aram/Syria and Phoenicia, Anatolia, Egypt, and Palestine during the Old Testament period, and Palestine and the provinces of the Roman world during the New Testament period. Special attention is given to the geographical setting of the city, the history of its development, its relevance to the Bible, its distinguishing features, and any significant archaeological discoveries made at the site.