SKEPTICS OFTEN claim that the Hebrew Bible must have been copied from older Mesopotamian texts. Frankly, this is lazy thinking by people looking for excuses not to deal with God. 

Our Iron and Myth crew joins us to discuss the relationship between the Bible and Mesopotamian religion: Doug Van Dorn (www.douglasvandorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods and Brian Godawa (www.Godawa.com), best-selling author of Chronicles of the Nephilim, Chronicles of the Watchers, the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and a forthcoming novel based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea. Sadly, Dr. Judd Burton (www.BurtonBeyond.net) was unable to join us this month. 

We discuss the parallels between creation stories from different cultures, including Mesopotamian and Mesoamerican myths, and the implications of these similarities for understanding the Bible. We dig into the nature of myth and history, the importance of context in biblical interpretation, and the need for a nuanced approach to understanding ancient texts. 

There is an intricate relationship between myth and history, particularly in the context of biblical narratives. It’s important to understand ancient texts through the lens of genre and cultural context, and at the end of the day the Bible's authority does not negate the value of other literature. 

AND THEN a whole new one begins. 

This has been the most bizarre presidential campaign since the Civil War. Thankfully, the campaign ends this week with Election Day Tuesday, and—we hope—a winner declared shortly thereafter. 

Then comes a different kind of crazy as we prepare for whoever is inaugurated January 21, 2025. Whatever happens, however, remember that God is still on His throne, none of this takes Him by surprise, and our mission as Christians has not changed.

IT WAS a common practice in the ancient world. Sadly, it’s still practiced today—and closer to us than we’d think.

Joining us for our annual Halloween episode, a tradition since 2010, is Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net). We delve into the disturbing reality of human sacrifice in the modern world, exploring its historical roots, spiritual significance, and the ongoing practices that continue to occur around the world. Judd explains the connections between bloodlust, vampirism, and ritual magic, as well as the dark underbelly of human trafficking and modern slavery.

We also discuss the implications of human sacrifice in ancient cultures, the legacy of figures like Vlad Dracula, and the ongoing relevance of these themes in modern society. The dialogue delves into the linguistic roots of vampirism, the significance of archaeological sites like Gobekli Tepe, and the dark legacy of biblical narratives such as Cain and Abel.

This is an issue that is only properly understood through a biblical lens. These ancient practices and beliefs still influence the modern world.

If you’ve missed our previous Halloween episodes with Dr. Judd Burton, here they are:

Vampires, Werewolves, and the Nephilim (2010)

Flesh and Blood (2014)

Halloween and the Van Helsing Way (2015)

Halloween, Vampires, and Blood (2016)

Paneas, the Watchers, and the Ghosts of Giants (2017)

Terrors and Tropes (2018)

From Watchers to Witches (2019)

Gobekli Tepe and the Watchers (2020)

Supernatural Contraband (2021)

Fairy Tales and Halloween (2022)

Creepy Dolls (2023)

OLYMPIANS, Titans, and demigod heroes in the Bible? Yes, and the Jews of Jesus’ day knew it.

Joining us to discuss what most of us call “mythology” is our Iron and Myth crew: Doug Van Dorn (www.douglasvandorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods, Dr. Judd Burton (www.BurtonBeyond.net), director of The Institute of Biblical Anthropology and author of Interview with the Giant and The Nephilim Chronicles, and Brian Godawa (www.Godawa.com), best-selling author of Chronicles of the Nephilim, Chronicles of the Watchers, the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and a forthcoming novel relevant to this month’s discussion based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea.

We discuss the intricate relationship between Greek mythology and biblical narratives, particularly focusing on the influence of Greco-Roman religion on Jewish thought, and the significance of the Abomination of Desolation (Dan. 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; Matt. 24:15).

We also explore the role of demigods and the Rephaim in ancient beliefs, the reality of ancient deities, and how the New Testament engages with Greek mythology. Doug highlights subversive storytelling in the Book of Acts, undermining Greek stories about the gods Zeus and Hermes. And we discuss the influence of ancient oracles on early Christianity; specifically, how the spread of the gospel silenced the oracles of Apollo, which provoked the most intense persecution of Christians in the history of the Roman Empire.

Finally, we discuss the significance of the Septuagint and how it provides insights into biblical texts that may have been lost in translation, emphasizing the supernatural elements present in the Bible.

JESUS is not the lord of the Abyss. 

That would seem obvious, but there is a teaching out there on YouTube claiming to show that Jesus is the Mesopotamian god Enki, whose temple was the E-abzu—“House of the Abyss.” 

Not only is there no textual evidence connecting Enki to Jesus, the evidence plainly suggests otherwise. Mesopotamian texts describe Enki sending forth the apkallu, which scholars have identified as the rebellious Watchers of the Book of 1 Enoch, to bring the gifts of civilization to humanity. The apkallu, like the Watchers, the sons of God from Genesis 6, the Titans of Greece and Rome, and the “former gods” of the Hittites and Hurrians, were banished to the abyss. 

In short, Jesus, who explicitly identified himself as the Father, Yahweh (John 8:58, 10:30, 14:9), put a stop to a building project that archaeological evidence suggests was an attempt to to build an “abode of the gods” directly above the abzu—the abyss. 

We also touch again on why Yahweh is not Enlil, who some identify as Satan: Enlil was also as Dagon (Amorites, Philistines), El (Canaanites), and Milcom/Molech (Ammonites), was condemned by Yahweh under all of those names. For a deep dive, see my book The Second Coming of Saturn (which you can read at my website).  

IF YOU’RE watching or listening to this program, you probably already know that. But a dangerous teaching is spreading through social media that claims Yahweh is not the Father, but the evil one. 

We address the claims of this teaching, which derives from the apparent contradiction between the behavior of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. It’s understandable; without a divine council worldview, God can appear violent, capricious, even bloodthirsty. 

Building on that false characterization, this new doctrine—which is actually one the early church had to contend with for about 300 years beginning in the middle of the 2nd century AD—separates Jesus from Yahweh, making Him a secondary deity, an evil entity who deceived the patriarchs and prophets from Abraham to Malachi. 

However, Jesus identified Yahweh as his Father by calling the Temple, the temple of Yahweh, “my Father’s house” (John 2:16); and then identified himself as the Father. Yahweh (John 8:58, 10:30, 14:9). The Jews who heard Jesus make these claims understood his meaning; they twice picked up rocks to stone him for blasphemy. 

The notion that Yahweh is not the Father, but Jesus’ evil brother Satan, is a deception that only draws in those who haven’t read the Bible in depth or reject the parts of it they don’t like. The danger is that it presents a false justification to vilify Jews, who, in this false belief system, have been worshiping Satan since the time of the patriarchs. 

WE AMERICANS have no idea of what it’s like to live under constant threat of missile attack, but that’s a fact of life for Israelis.

Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, senior reporter for Israel365News.com, joins us via video from his home in Katzrin on the Golan Heights to discuss the current situation in Israel, the impact of recent conflicts, and the political dynamics at play. 

Adam shares his insights on the future of Israel and its allies, emphasizing the prophetic significance of the events unfolding in the region, and describes the impact of being forced to live within 30 seconds of a bomb shelter.

We also discuss the ritual of the red heifer described in Numbers chapter 19 and how it’s been misunderstood by Christians. Yes, the red heifers are at Shiloh and they are of age, but there are other critical requirements that must be met before the ritual purification of the Temple Mount can be accomplished.

Our new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible!

WE LIVE in prophetic times. The restoration of Israel in 1948 is evidence of that—but there are some who refuse to accept modern Israel as the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Hebrew prophets. 

Ali Siadatan (ThinkAgainProductions.com) explores the prophetic significance of current events, particularly in relation to Israel and its role in biblical prophecy. We discuss the pushback from some evangelical Christians regarding Israel's legitimacy, the spiritual warfare surrounding Israel, and the historical context of its restoration. Our conversation also delves into the Jewish perspective on Jesus, the nature of spiritual blindness, and the implications of the New Covenant for Israel's future.  

Ultimately, we discuss the importance of Jerusalem in prophecy and the role of Gentiles in God's plan, concluding with a call to protect Israel as a central part of God's narrative.

WHAT’S THE DEAL with Mount Hermon? Why has it been sacred to pagan religions for more than 4,000 years? 

Joining us to discuss the “mountain of gods” (Ps. 68:15) is our Iron and Myth crew: Doug Van Dorn (www.douglasvandorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods, and Dr. Judd Burton (www.BurtonBeyond.net), director of The Institute of Biblical Anthropology and author of Interview with the Giant and The Nephilim Chronicles. Sadly, Brian Godawa (www.Godawa.com), best-selling author of Chronicles of the Nephilim, Chronicles of the Watchers, and the theological thriller Cruel Logic, was unable to join us this month. 

We discuss the significance of Mount Hermon and its connections to ancient myths and symbolism. We also explore the esoteric ideas of David Flynn and the concept of the Great Year, a 25,920-year cycle that relates to the movement of the Earth's axis, and its possible connection to the Serpent Mound of Bashan and Gilgal Refaim, megalithic sites in the heart of ancient Bashan. 

Our discussion also touches on the astronomical procession, the significance of the number 33, and the geographical legacy associated with Mount Hermon. The conversation highlights the biblical prophecies related to Mount Hermon and the ultimate destruction of chaos—Leviathan. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the sacred geography and symbolism surrounding Mount Hermon in interpreting biblical texts. 

WHO BUILT the mysterious megalithic sites that defy what we think we know about our prehistoric ancestors—and why should we care? 

Derek Olson (StargateVoyager.com) has made a life’s work of investigating megalithic sites around the world like Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Egypt, questioning how these massive stones were moved and shaped with primitive tools. 

Olson highlights the recent discovery at Stonehenge, where a giant stone was found to have been transported from northern Scotland, not Wales as previously believed. He also delves into the presence of elongated skulls found at many of these sites, suggesting a hidden history and advanced ancient civilizations. 

The bottom line is this: As followers of the One who spoke all things into existence, we shouldn’t be afraid to investigate the purpose of these structures and speculate on the possibility of ancient technology and lost knowledge.

Follow Derek Olson at:

• YouTube: @Stargate_Voyager

• X: @Derek_Olson