The Portent (The Façade Saga)

This book was worth the wait!!! Also, I see Dr. Heiser's new nonfiction will be out in early 2015! While you're waiting for his new non-fiction, check out I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible on Amazon. Also, you can support a valuable ministry and get great resources at the same time by checking out these CD/DVD sets: 1.) Exploring Ancient Truths in the Context of their Biblical Foundations "A Biblical look at God's divine counsel and how His heavenly system of governance impacts mankind, especially God's children." 2.) From Chaos to Restoration Heiser "An enlightening and thorough overview of the conflict between the realms of darkness and light from before creation to the end of time." To find the above two items, simply copy and paste their titles into Google. This novel, like its predecessor The Facade, I read through the first time in one sitting. I've finished my first read through of both The Portent, and the handbook, and it certainly won't be the last. I can't wait to spend more time on the clue(s) too! I probably won't get it, but it's always fun to keep thinking and trying! Both novels are page-turning thrillers, as exciting and engaging as Lost or Fringe and chock full of accurate, well researched information and well thought out theology. I'll sum up by saying: Grab anything and everything you can find by Dr. Heiser. The Facade, The Portent, I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible, Exploring Ancient Truths in the Context of their Biblical Foundations, and From Chaos to Restoration. I've been through it all and absolutely loved them. I can't recommend this novel, and all of Dr. Heiser's work, highly enough. Thanks for making yourself and your work available to the lay person. So to summarize: Once again, Heiser is the best. I strongly recommend reading/watching/listening to literally everything Dr. Heiser has done. This is the program I would follow, the first three are on Amazon, and #4 and #5 you can find to purchase with Google. 1.) The Facade 2.) The Portent 3.) I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible 4.) Exploring Ancient Truths in the Context of their Biblical Foundations 5.) From Chaos to Restoration Heiser Now, go to YouTube and Vimeo, type in "Michael Heiser," and literally watch everything. Short update: I asked Dr. Heiser by email what he thought of the above order of material I've listed, and this was the response for those who are interested. "The honest answer is to wait for the non-fiction books, which will appear in Feb-March 2015...In their absence, it's best to read through the content on my divine council site (starting with the first item listed)...After that you could hit I Dare You...I'm not sure about items 4 and 5 on your list since I didn't create the discs...The fiction introduces small nuggets of divine council theology and its implications, piggy-backed onto supernatural / paranormal fiction. They could be read any time."

This book is frustratingly amazing. It’s like watching the Matrix or Inception for the very first time. There were lots of cool stuff going on with things you probably had never seen before, but it may have took a couple of concentrated viewings to grasp everything going on, both blatant and nuanced. This is the experience with the Portent (more so than even the Facade). Some areas were very easy to get through, such as the scenes with the Colonel, which read effortlessly without having to give much thought into what was occurring on the page. Other areas require focus and concentration to just begin to take hold of what’s going on. The book states a number of items like source information are real. It’s in those details that require a bit of a “study” approach when reading through said portions. It requires an astute mind to keep track of the data points and how they interplay with the story line. This book is not a breezy skim through type of read. Read it once for the enjoyment of discovering what it is all about. Read it again to notate all the details given through the conversation scenes. Go study those notes and research the information. Then read it again with those notes and research findings to really get a hold of what all the sub-plots pertain. At that point you “might” be able to really appreciate what you have before you, a book that requires your attention to detail, that challenges you on numerous fronts, that educates you on things you never knew even existed. When you finish it, put it on the shelf next to all your non-fiction books. You will refer to it again when news pieces hit on covered topics found within the pages, if they haven’t already. Dr.Heiser has cleverly put together a dissertation disguised as a work of fiction that accomplishes many objectives, such as being entertaining, educational, informative, startling, and a bit prophetic. To challenge the reader with such information and conclusions can be a bit discomforting for some. For others, they will be left pleasantly exhausted and wanting more. Knowing the type of person he is, a life-long educator and scholar, he’d have it no other way. Good thing (or maybe it’s a bad thing) for those exhausted, there will be another volume coming, and they won’t have to wait a decade for it.

Dr. Heiser seems to have found his narrative footing in this second book, The Portent. The first book, The Facade, while enjoyable and thought-provoking, lacked the smoothness that Heiser demonstrates in his sophomore fiction endeavor. If, as a believer, you've had problems reconciling bizarre passages in your Bible with orthodox interpretations - interpretations that seem to fare badly against the apparent historical weight for Ancient Astronaut theorists - this book should, with an entertaining storyline, address many questions that you might have asked without getting satisfying answers. While this work is imaginative, Dr. Heiser has nonetheless presented an impressive amalgam of historically factual fringe knowledge that should also appeal to people who question the origins of the "source code" both for rapid technological advances, as well as for sometimes unexplainable human behavior (I now find myself looking at people for neck tattoos). The momentum of the story also builds much better in this book than the previous. The few plot holes will be forgivable if the third book's storyline has improved as much as the second book did compared to the first.

A fun read and great sequel to the original. The author unfortunately has passed and I don’t know what if anything of the remainder of the story is left to tell.

I first became acquainted with Mike Heiser about nine years ago through listening to a radio talk show on which he was the guest. I was intrigued not only by what he said, but by the coherence of his reasoning and his ability to back up his assertions with valid, respected sources. I made a mental note to find out more about him and to see if he had anything in print that I could read to learn even more on the topics of the Nephilim and fallen angels and how they fit into the Biblical narrative. That search led me to a place where I encountered his first novel, "The Facade", and I lost no time in ordering it. When it arrived, I read it in just a couple of days. That led to a brief e-mail exchange; my subscribing to access his online scholarly articles; and becoming more familiar with the non-fictional foundation upon which the fictional storyline of "The Facade" was erected. In the intervening years, I've regularly visited Mike's website, and even took in his first online basic Biblical Hebrew class. So, like many, I've waited in eager anticipation for the sequel, and I can tell you it doesn't disappoint. Yes, sometimes the character development is a little weak, but the basic story is well-crafted, and the linkages to current, real-world developments in Technology and trends - ALL of which are well-documented (available separately as a $4.99 downloadable handbook from "readtheportent.com") - will leave you simultaneously amazed, concerned, and eager to learn even more. There's seemingly no end of books in the marketplace purporting to tell the "real story" about the fallen angels and their hideous offspring, the Nephilim. Most of them segue into sensational end-time prophecies with little/no Biblical (or logical!) basis; few offer real insight. Mike's are among those few that do - and in spades! If you haven't yet read "The Facade", you need to purchase and read that book first so you can understand the beginning of the story; who the characters are; and get the basic main points of the underlying Biblical connections. Then, after you've read/digested that book, read "The Portent". Finally, after that, if you're still interested, spring for the aforementioned handbook, and spend some time reading/researching the background details that so enrich "The Portent". I assure you that it will be time well spent. As the apostle Paul pointed out in his epistle to the saints in Ephesus, our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against SPIRITUAL wickedness in high places. After you've finished reading these two books, you'll have a much better understanding of what he meant; just how asleep and oblivious we are to the notion of "intelligent evil"; and why it's vitally important for us to shake off the distractions and stupor that have led us into this spiritual malaise, and have made us an appetizing target for the Adversary!

I hardly know where to start? I just completed the Portent and I have so many questions. Wow! This one leaves me with the feeling of total surprise and dismay. I am stunned and somewhat saddened. For more than one reason. I love Dr. Michael Heiser and I always will. He saved my life quite literally. But that’s a story for another time. This story, his second book in the Facade Saga, leaves me dumbfounded. I am angry at the loss of this great man of God, a scholar, teacher, storyteller, friend and brother in Christ. I never met Mike in person but he is a friend in deed! I dare not say what I want to say, because of my anger. However, YAWAY will have the last word and it will stand! Great writer! Great man! Great book!

I had to read this book after having read "The Facade" many years ago. I was not disappointed. When I tried to put the book down, I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next.. so I would start reading again as soon as I could. This book ties together many subjects I have interest in (theology, prophecy, the push for global government, possible coming alien deception, ect...). There were also characters who were at were struggling with different aspects of their faith and their understanding of scripture. I am not a scholar like one of the main characters (Brian), but I also found that I could personally relate to Brian. And on top of that, there were detailed discussions on subjects possibly related to the coming deception (mind control, MKULTRA, Project Monarch, Nazi UFO technology, Operation paperclip, operation high jump, ect...). That makes this book not just a work of fiction, but also an important reference work. Dr. Heiser always has a way of challenging the way I view subjects. I often have a shift in perspective after reading his views on them. I loved how he handled the subject of whether or not the Nephilim will be part of the end times. Dr. Heiser was able to mix in detailed discussion on all these subjects, along with a love story and lots of action! I was also amazed at the breadth of research that went into this book. It was interesting to come across a character who was an "economic hit man" and to see the comment that our political parties are just window dressing. Dr. Heiser is aware of the fact that our political process is just an illusion and that there are financial and corporate interests that are directing it for their gain at the expense of people worldwide. This has been going on for decades and most American's are not aware of it. Dr. Heiser also has a way of getting my blood boiling :). There were a few areas of the theological discussions in the book where I would take issue. I view this as a positive thing, because it challenges me to think through why I believe what I believe. The only one I will mention is the discussion concerning the 4th kingdom in Daniel 2. I think a careful reading of the text of the vision makes it clear that this vision will not be completely fulfilled until all of the kingdoms are removed from the earth to the point that no trace of them was found (Dan 2:35). I do not believe a strong case can be made that this was fully fulfilled at the 1st coming of Jesus. Also, Jesus did day the kingdom of heaven was at hand, however, this does not tell the full story that the gospels tell. After certain events occurred in the gospels, there is a shift in the teachings of Jesus concerning the kingdom. He began to speak about it as something that was far off in the future. He sought to correct their thinking in passages like Luke 19:11-27 and Acts 1:4-11. I love Dr. Heiser's out of the box thinking and I appreciate his scholarship. We must never rely on only one scholar, because most scholars spend much of their time arguing with each other :). No one scholar has it all figured out! As the one of the main characters in the book always emphasizes, it is very important that we learn to stay focused on the "text". Jesus warned that great deception is coming and we need to be prepared by knowing what the text says. It is also good to think through the discussion in the book concerning the "elect" and "eternal security". This book with be an important reference for me in the future. To make it even more useful as a reference work, I also purchased the handbook at http://readtheportent.com/. Now, if I could only figure out that riddle... I hope to meet Dr. Heiser some day.. we live in the same town and I have never met him!

Michael Heiser is brilliant, he is so connected to God and he seems fearless in his writing..I was very happy to see Dan Godowa was a friend he trusted. Booth of them are friends I trust. I enjoy the fiction filled wit his glory, honor and strength.The stories take away some of my favorite people,,but I know they are waiting for the next story as I am..I am am a reader that is arming her self to do the job My Lord sent me hear to Dr I.You books help me so much more effective. I so want to be that person the demons Really are uncomfortable with knowing AM reading my friends books Michael and Brian.Look out folks she's been feed and she is crazy with Jesus stuff.sorry for all the typos..,butt you got. What what. I am saying.I B on fire

Only got into Heiser's theological writings recently, and was interested to see what sort of novel he would write. Listened to the first in the series (The Facade) on audible and loved it. Got the Portent, and couldn't put it down. Read like a Crichton novel in pace and style. Heavy in ideas, but also producing characters you can empathise with. He was working on a 3rd novel when he died, and it looks like his estate has found an author to write it up from his notes. Will definitely be buying that when it comes out!

I've been blown away by The Facade! Vol. 2 doesn't offer as many unexpected and mindblowing twists as Vol. 1, especially if you follow Dr. Heisers non-fictional work about the Watchers. But The Portent is still amazing!

Novel by a great scholar. Interesting thoughts.p woven into the storyline. In line with his non fiction work. Easy read.

This is a really good novel based on actual scripture. Dr. Heiser knew his stuff and to weave it into this novel is very clever, very nice reading

For some reason this book includes a lot of theology author was specialized into and that is all that is being discussed.- Essentially its an attempt at proselytizing, author brags about in interviews on YouTube. Unfortunatelly its not as well presented. Story quality really dropped compared to volume 1 in my opinion. RIP author.