Show Notes
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
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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!
More from Weird Stuff in the Bible
Interview today with Will Blesch, author of the 2026 book In the Shadow of Goliath. Will digs deep into history and archaeology, unlocking ancient mysteries by approaching these topics from a biblical framework. He joins me on a video call from where he lives in Israel in this episode. Learn more about his book and his library of work at his website: https://www.williamblesch.com/in-the-shadow-of-goliath/ —— 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.... Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.com Visit the Weird Stuff store! https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-sp... 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 the podcast is called Weird Stuff in the Bible, but today, I want to start with something that’s weird in our world: ziggurats. A ziggurat is a pyramid-like structure. It starts with a massive base, and every level going up gets a little bit smaller. They often have steps up the sides so you can climb to the top. You’ve probably seen pictures before of ziggurats in ancient Babylon, Mesopotamia, from the Aztecs, from the Mayans—there’s even one in Collinsville, Illinois. And here’s what’s so weird about it: this structure is replicated in all kinds of societies all around the world. Different nations, different languages, different cultures—and yet we keep seeing ziggurats repeated across the planet. My question is: why? Well, where do all ancient nations, languages and cultures come from? According to the Bible, they all got started at this event called the Tower of Babel. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the Tower of Babel was a ziggurat. I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Genesis 11, and let’s get weird.
Listen here, or watch the interview right here: https://youtu.be/PpolOnhpvvs The interview today is with Derrick Warfel, author of UFOS AND GOD, as well as the creator of a new documentary by the same name. Learn more about the book here: https://ufosandgodbook.com And the documentary here: https://www.ufosandgod.com Derrick Warfel was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton, a Master of Theology from Dallas, and an MFA from USC. After eight years on staff with CRU, Derrick spent the next four decades in the film industry, creating and teaching media from a biblical worldview. This interview is part of celebrating the third year anniversary of this podcast! Look for another interview or two to drop this month.
Last fall I did an episode asking “What was the big deal about a tower that reaches to heaven?” And that episode ended up setting records. At the time, it was probably my most popular episode ever, and it held that position for many months. If I were smart, I probably would have followed it up with 10 more episodes right then about the Tower of Babel. There was clearly a lot of interest in this subject to know what exactly was going on there. And yet, for me, that was one of my not-so-favorite episodes. Why? Because I really asked more questions than I provided answers. I was questioning why the builders at Babel thought they could somehow make it to heaven by building a tower all the way up there. Were they really that stupid- or was there something more spiritual going on with this tower? And most puzzling to me of all: what was it about this structure that caused God to say in Genesis 11:6
I made this podcast to answer all those questions your Sunday School teacher hoped you’d never ask. But today, I remember being a Sunday School teacher myself, and I remember teaching Revelation chapter 20, and here’s the question I was afraid of being asked. Revelation 20:14 says