NO MYTHICAL LAND has captured the imagination of poets, dreamers, and adventurers like Atlantis. But why should Christians care?

Doug Van Dorn (www.douglasvandorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; and Brian Godawa (www.Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and a two new novels based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea, join us for our monthly Iron and Myth round table to discuss the legendary island nation and its continuing influence on human thought. (Dr. Judd Burton had technical issues logging on and wasn’t able to join us as planned.) 

Our conversation delves into the enduring fascination with Atlantis, exploring its origins in Plato's writings and its implications for understanding ancient civilizations. We especially look at the connections between Atlantis and biblical narratives, the cultural influence of the myth, and the various geographical theories surrounding its location.

We also examine the impact of Atlantis on modern occult teachings and the human desire for lost knowledge, ultimately questioning the significance of Atlantis in contemporary thought.

THE GATES OF HELL is a real place. Jesus took his disciples on a 14-hour hike to declare his divinity there, which suggests there was something important about the place. 

The Iron and Myth crew joins us this month to discuss Sharon and Derek Gilbert’s new book, The Gates of Hell: Dr. Judd Burton (www.BurtonBeyond.net), author of Interview with the Giant; Doug Van Dorn (www.douglasvandorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; and Brian Godawa (www.Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and the new novels Judah Maccabee Parts 1 & 2.

We delve into the concept of the 'Gates of Hell,' exploring its literal and metaphorical implications. We discuss the historical and spiritual significance of various locations, including Caesarea Philippi and Babel, and how these relate to ancient practices of necromancy and communication with the spirit realm.  

Our conversation also touches on the connections between Jesus' baptism and cosmic geography, as well as the relevance of ancient cultures like the Hurrians in understanding these themes. We focus on the place of Jesus' baptism, the land of Bashan, and the implications of megalithic structures exploring the legacy of the Nephilim and their connection to modern spiritual practices, including the role of artificial intelligence in shaping contemporary beliefs.

Tonight's View from the Bunker episode includes comments on the Israel-Iran war recorded, edited, and uploaded *before* the airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities by the U.S. Air Force.

Just letting you know why the episode sounds like I somehow missed an event that will have global ramifications for years to come.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION is cryptic and complex. Supernaturally so. 

Critics who write off Revelation as a hallucination have obviously not looked at the literary structure of the book. The Iron and Myth crew discusses a book by regular IaM panelist Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com), Rings of Revelation, that shows a level of complexity to the work of the apostle John that is beyond human. 

Brian Godawa (Godawa.com) and Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net) join us to explore Revelation’s literary structure, thematic elements, and the interplay between supernatural and earthly realms. Doug presents a unique perspective on Revelation as a literary masterpiece, emphasizing its cyclical nature and chiastic structure.  

The discussion also touches on the use of popular culture, such as Star Wars, in understanding biblical texts, and the implications of astral theology within the context of divine council. We also congratulate Doug for presenting a new take on end times prophecy in a non-contentious way, recognizing that God may have made prophecy hard to understand by design so that the fallen realm isn’t able to fabricate a convincing lie. 

Join Doug Van Dorn’s Reformed Fringe at www.ReformedFringe.com! 

THE SO-CALLED silent centuries between the Book of Malachi and the Gospel of Matthew weren’t as quiet as we’ve been taught.

This month, the Iron and Myth crew discusses a fictionalized account of Judea’s struggle for independence in the second century BC from the rule (and gods) of their Greek overlords by Iron and Myth regular and best-selling author Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), Judah Maccabee Part 1: Abomination of Desolation and Judah Maccabee Part 2: Against the Gods of Greece.  

Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com) and Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net) join Brian to discuss the historical and theological significance of the centuries between the Old and New Testaments, focusing on the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabees. We analyze the role of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Maccabean revolt, and the implications of these events on Jewish history and theology.  

Our conversation also explores the nature of historical fiction and how it can be approached from a truth perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding divine authorities and principalities in the context of these narratives. Brian shares how he balances myth and history in biblical narratives, emphasizing the concept of 'mytho-history' as a blend of mythological and historical storytelling. He explores the role of fiction in understanding scripture, the importance of cultural context, and how integrating non-biblical stories can enhance biblical narratives.

IT’S BECOMING more acceptable for pagans to proclaim their faith openly in America. 

Carl Teichrib (GameOfGods.ca), author of Game of Gods: The Temple of Man in the Age of Re-enchantment, shares his experiences at the 2025 Paganicon in Minneapolis. Carl tells us that many of the Neo-pagans there, who now follow gods of the Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, and Norse pantheons, came out of Christian churches. 

We discuss the reasons these modern-day pagans abandoned Jesus and the responsibility we Christians share for failing to serve as effective ambassadors for our King. 

Follow Carl on X (@CarlTeichrib) and take advantage of his research at ForcingChange.org. 

RED HEIFERS are back in Israel! But what does that mean, exactly? 

Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, writer for Israel365News.com and author of the new book Return of the Red Heifers (israel365store.com/products/red-heifers), joins us to explain the significance of the heifers, why they’re important, and why a Third Temple isn’t necessary to begin the sacrifices on the Temple Mount. 

We also discuss the historical context of the relationship between Jews and Christians, the role of the Messiah, modern misunderstandings surrounding these topics and the potential for future collaboration between the two faiths. 

Follow Adam’s Substack here: AdamEliyahuBerkowitz.substack.com. 

IT’S CALLED the world’s oldest temple. While only a small portion of the site has been excavated, the clues point to one solid conclusion: It was meant as a point of contact with the gods.

Our usual Iron and Myth crew is joined by special guest Dr. Aaron Judkins (aaronjudkins.com, aaronjudkins.substack.com), co-author with Dr. Judd Burton (burtonbeyond.net) of the best-selling book Decoding Göbekli Tepe: Biblical Anatolia and the Watchers (https://amzn.to/4hcbvyX).

Rounding out the discussion are Doug Van Dorn (douglasvandorn.com), author, pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Northern Colorado in Boulder and host of the Giant Steps podcast, and Brian Godawa (godawa.com), best-selling author and award-winning screenwriter, whose new novels Judah Maccabee, Part 1: Abomination of Desolation and Judah Maccabee, Part 2: Against the Gods of Greece will be the topic of next month’s Iron and Myth. 

Our conversation digs into the significance of Göbekli Tepe, exploring its classification as the world's oldest temple and the cultural implications of its construction. The discussion highlights the mysterious influences that may have contributed to the site's creation, including supernatural elements and connections to biblical narratives.

Recent discoveries at Göbekli Tepe, including evidence of habitation and the symbolism of the vulture stone, are examined, alongside the ongoing research and future excavations that may further illuminate this ancient site. Judd and Aaron explore the historical and spiritual significance of Göbekli Tepe, discussing its connections to biblical narratives, the influence of supernatural entities known as the Watchers, and the site's implications for understanding ancient burial practices and archaeoastronomy. 

Finally, they share the links between Göbekli Tepe and the first humans, Adam and Eve, emphasizing the site's role in the broader context of ancient history and its relevance to modern biblical studies.

IT’S DIFFICULT enough explaining why we Christians believe in Jesus, but doing so with our Jewish brothers and sisters requires tact and patience made necessary by almost 1,900 years of mutual animosity. 

We’re joined this week by Dr. Igal German, founding director of the Institute of Biblical Apologetics (BibleApologist.org) and Yesod Bible Center (YesodBibleCenter.com). We discuss Dr. German's journey from rabbinic Judaism to faith in Jesus as the Messiah, his work in apologetics, and the current state of Christian responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  

Dr. German emphasizes the importance of understanding apologetics as a defense of faith, the need for a strong Christian voice in support of Israel, and the mission to reach the Jewish community with the gospel. There is a complex historical and theological relationship between Judaism and Christianity, and we explore the implications of supersessionism, the interpretation of Messianic prophecies, and the role of education in bridging the divide between Christians and Jews—especially the importance of understanding the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and the need for compassion and sensitivity in evangelism. 

NOTE: Apologies for the audio issues with my mic this week! 

IN THE ANCIENT Near East, the dead never really went away. And if you didn’t care for them properly, they could make your life hell. 

With us to discuss the cult of the dead in the lands around ancient Israel is our Iron and Myth crew: Dr. Judd Burton(www.BurtonBeyond.net), author of Interview with the Giant; Doug Van Dorn (www.douglasvandorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; and Brian Godawa (www.Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and a new novel based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea. 

We explore the cult of the dead in ancient Israel, examining its practices, rituals, and the influence of ancestor worship. The discussion delves into archaeological findings, biblical references, and comparative analysis with other cultures, particularly focusing on the Rephaim and the significance of rituals like the Marzeah feast.  

The pervasive nature of these beliefs and practices in ancient societies is evident in biblical references to the Rephaim and the cult of the dead, and we discuss how these concepts have influenced modern spiritual practices. We also discuss how Jesus' ministry and the Last Supper serve were spiritual warfare against the cult of the dead, drawing parallels to contemporary practices that echo these ancient beliefs.