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 weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.com

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 weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.com

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 weirdstuffinthebible@gmail.com

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!