Watchman on the Wall

Southwest Radio Ministries: Welcome to Watchman on the Wall, a daily outreach of Southwest Radio Ministries and swrc.com. God is still on the throne and prayer changes things. Today, we are excited to introduce a brand new book from Southwest Radio Ministries president, Dr. Kenneth Hill. It's entitled The Scripture Speaks, and it explores the timeless truth, authority, and power of God's word for believers today.

Friends, did you know that when you order from Southwest Radio Ministries, you're doing more than adding to your library? You're helping advance a ministry. Every purchase helps support the outreach of Watchman on the Wall, Prophecy in the News, and our efforts to proclaim biblical truth through radio, television, print, and digital media around the world.

You'll receive resources that inform, encourage, and strengthen your faith while helping us reach others with the Gospel. Order today at swrc.com or call 1-800-652-1144. Thank you for partnering with Southwest Radio Ministries. Now, here's our host, Dr. Larry Spargimino.

Dr. Larry Spargimino: Dr. Kenneth Hill is our guest. He is president of Southwest Radio Church and a longtime friend. Dr. Hill is also my mentor in broadcasting. That has become a very, very important part of my life and ministry.

We're going to be speaking about Dr. Hill's forthcoming book, The Scripture Speaks. Southwest Radio Ministries focuses on scripture and what scripture teaches about prophecy, science, current events, and many other subjects. We've been doing that since April of 1933. We are the oldest continuously broadcasting radio ministry in the world. We're also on television. Kenneth, it's a great pleasure to be with you speaking about your forthcoming book, The Scripture Speaks. God bless you, and we know this is going to be a great program and even the next one.

Dr. Kenneth Hill: Dr. Spargimino, God bless you, brother. I love you, and I am so thankful that the Lord has given us this time to be with our friends by radio and to be with you so we can talk about The Scripture Speaks. The first in that series is going to be coming out shortly. It's about Ephesians. We're going to be teaching Ephesians in that little book and we're excited about it.

Southwest Radio Ministries: Yes, I believe I have the cover here. Ephesians: God's Plan, Our Identity, His Power in Every Part of Life. Book one in The Scripture Speaks series. The Word, the Message for Today. I'm excited about that. But Kenneth, how did The Scripture Speaks come into existence?

Dr. Kenneth Hill: A number of years ago, I was pastoring a little church over in Kingsport, Tennessee, in the little community of Morrison City. It was the church that I had grown up in. It was where I had been taught the basics of scripture and even more than the basics of scripture while I was a child. They really put the scripture to you.

Sunday school, Vacation Bible Schools, the regular services of the church, and the youth and children's programs were all exciting to me. Then later on in life, I became the pastor there. That was indeed a blessing. I was there for several years, almost a full decade.

During that time, we had a number of studies of various books of the Bible because my preaching, as such as yours as well for the most part, has been quite expository. I was preaching through the various books of the Bible. Some of them took a long time and some took a short time. Ephesians took a medium amount of time. From that time of preaching those years ago, I garnered some notes from that and some recordings from the pulpit, and we have put together this first in the series. I was asked to do that just a matter of weeks ago, so it's on the fast track, I guess.

Southwest Radio Ministries: Right. I would say the Bible is the most important book in the world, and I know you feel the same way about it. Why should we treasure the Bible, study it, and obey it? And why are we so much engaged at Southwest Radio Church in proclaiming it?

Dr. Kenneth Hill: We have found that there is a dearth of the knowledge of the Bible. The very truth of scripture tells us that in the last days, there's going to be a famine and a drought, and it's going to be a famine and a drought of the truth of scripture. People are not going to be reading it as they should, and they're not going to be applying it as they should.

We know that when Christ was on this earth, He spoke from the Jewish scriptures at that time and He taught from that. He taught us to teach from scripture as well. That's how we have been doing it for a couple of millennia now. I haven't been doing it that long, nor have you, but the number of ministers of the Gospel from the time of Christ on until now have been teaching from the Word of God. That's why it's so important for us to continue that legacy, for us to teach from the Word of God.

I remember years ago, Larry, I was teaching at a college. It was a four-year liberal arts college, but it was in one of the major denominations and it was a liberal school. Can you imagine a liberal school like that? I taught there for a couple of years. The one thing that I was asked to do one time—now I was not teaching scripture, I taught scripture in Bible studies after I taught my classes.

Nighttime I would go over to where the kids came to have a milkshake and a hamburger. I would go over there two or three evenings a week just to spend time with the kids of that college and to teach them scripture. I would take the Bible and sit down, and we would go through a number of verses every time I was there. We had some kids that were lost that did not understand the Gospel at all and had never received Jesus Christ as their savior. But we also had a number of students that were students of the Word, and that was wonderful.

I was even invited one time, Brother Larry, to preach to the chapel service of the school. They had a chapel service once a month, and you weren't required to go, so you can imagine how many people were there. We had about 80 or 100 people there. I preached, and I was never invited back because I preached on the authority of scripture. I preached and said, "This is what we need to put our lives on the line for," and the two chaplains of the school could not agree with me on that.

Dr. Larry Spargimino: You stood for righteousness and truth, and we're not responsible for the results, but we are responsible for our part being faithful to the Word of God. That's what we want to do right now. Let's look at Ephesians. I'm looking at chapter one and verse three. It says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Tell us a little bit about the believer's blessings in heavenly places in Christ. What's that all about?

Dr. Kenneth Hill: As this verse tells us, we are giving praise. Paul put it here in his epistle to the Ephesians. He said, "Blessed be the God and Father." That is, we should think of that in the way of giving praise and adoration to Almighty God.

It's amazing to me that we have entire political organizations that refuse to even acknowledge that there is a God. It's amazing to me in many ways, Larry. I'm an old man now, not as old as you, but I'm coming. God is so good to teach me things.

When I was early in the political realm looking at the politics, I found that the folks that were in the Republican Party at the time that I was a child or a youngster and I was studying these things for the first time, most of them in the Republican Party in leadership were either agnostic or atheist. Now it's turned. Now the leadership—and this is most importantly to the working of God, of course—we had a president who was a storyteller and he was an actor. His name was Ronald Reagan. That guy, when he was president, he was presenting forth from Hollywood Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

In his private conversations and in some of his speeches, he really put forth the truth. He helped change the very structure of the Republican Party. Then the Republican Party took up the mantle of right to life, took up the mantle of scripture, took up the mantle of Christianity, and we have had a great change. But in the meantime, the other party has taken up the things of the devil.

It's very sad to me because as a child, I grew up in a home of Democrats and in fact was a Democrat early on in my working that I did to get the political word out. God changed me over time though, Larry. But why is it important then that we know that God is to be praised? We're to give Him our adoration, we're to give Him our praise, and we're to know that God in His very being has blessed us. Those of us who have come to Christ, we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings that are in heavenly places, that are in Christ Jesus, that are given to us that we might have the blessings of heaven on earth. And we have that, don't we?

Southwest Radio Ministries: We sure do. It's a wonderful thing to be a Christian in a crazy world. The Word of God just keeps us pointed in the right direction. It's so wonderful, and I'm glad to be part of Southwest Radio Church and to be part of an organization that we are now.

Friends, Dr. Kenneth Hill is our guest for this broadcast and the next. You can pre-order his book, The Scripture Speaks, by calling 1-800-652-1144. This will be a volume that you will treasure. It's loaded with insights. There's much wisdom in it from one of the Lord's choicest servants, Dr. Kenneth Hill, the author of The Scripture Speaks. 1-800-652-1144.

Kenneth, as we're diving into Ephesians, verse seven says, "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Unpack that for us as you do with such a flair and you do it so wonderfully.

Dr. Kenneth Hill: Let's give it some thought together. It is in Christ Jesus that we have our redemption. If Christ had never gone to the cross, if He had never been placed on the cross at Calvary, if He had never suffered the afflictions that He suffered before His death and agony on the cross, if He had not suffered as He did on the cross, if He had not bled for us and died for us, if He had not been placed in that tomb for three days and three nights—and when He came forth, He came forth triumphant over the grave, over death.

He was in charge of it. He had overcome the evil and the very time of death. Without Christ, there is no forgiveness of sins. Without the blood of Christ, there is no forgiveness of sins. In this one verse, we have it all. We have redemption through the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. How deep are those riches, Dr. Spargimino?

Dr. Larry Spargimino: When you think of forgiveness of sin—past, present, and future—when you think of what sin has done to the human race, just look at what's happening now in the world. It's just unbelievable. The violence, even in America, the confusion, the fact that people are sinners, and yet if you tell them you're a sinner, they'll laugh in your face. That shows how powerful sin really is. It has a blinding effect.

The riches of His grace—and by the way, I like to look at grace, G-R-A-C-E, as God's riches at Christ's expense. Thank you, Jesus. Most people might think I'm a pretty good guy, but I know my heart, and if it were not for Jesus, if it were not for the Holy Spirit, if it were not for the guidance of the Word of God and for the fellowship of the saints of the little church that I pastor, I'd probably have gone off the tracks a long time ago. I'd be in a swamp somewhere. God is so good.

Southwest Radio Ministries: Right. Chapter two, new life with Christ. Let's look at chapter two. It says, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." And then verse four says, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." Kenneth, what does that say about man's position before salvation?

Dr. Kenneth Hill: We were dead in trespasses and sins. Before we came to faith in Christ, we were dead, and we were dead in our very sins. We've never been forgiven because if we'd been forgiven, we would have been alive in Christ. And so here, before salvation, we were all dead in trespasses and sins. We were not just asleep. We were not just poor beggars. We were dead.

Dr. Larry Spargimino: That means that if God did not save us by His grace, we would stay dead. One day we would awaken in the fires of hell. I know you believe in a literal hell. I believe in a literal hell. People scorn it, make fun of the doctrine, but it's real. It hasn't changed.

People say, "Well, it's not fair that someone would suffer forever and ever." My response is: it depends on against whom is the sin. If sin is against an infinite being like Almighty God, then the penalty is infinite. For example, if I go out on the street and I punch somebody in the nose, no big deal, I might spend a night in jail. But if I were to go up to President Trump and punch him in the nose, I'd be in bad shape. Well, that's like sinning against God. He's eternal. He's almighty. He's all-powerful. Anyone who would sin against Almighty God with His grace and His love and His mercy given to all people deserves to be in hell for all eternity.

Dr. Kenneth Hill: Indeed, everything changed.

Southwest Radio Ministries: Yes, and that is so true. Verse eight says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship," the Greek word is *poiema*, we are His poem, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

We are hard up against the clock, but Dr. Kenneth Hill will be back with us for our next broadcast. Be sure to tune in and tell a friend about these programs. What does it mean to be blessed in Christ, chosen by God, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and how can the timeless truths of Ephesians transform the way we live today?

In his brand new book, The Scripture Speaks: Ephesians, Southwest Radio Ministries president, Dr. Kenneth Hill, takes readers on a verse-by-verse journey through one of the most profound books in the New Testament. Dr. Hill explores the riches of God's grace, the believer's identity in Christ, the unity of the church, spiritual growth, and the victory we have through Jesus Christ. This book will help you better understand God's plan for His people and strengthen your walk with the Lord.

Discover the life-changing message of Ephesians with The Scripture Speaks by Dr. Kenneth Hill. Order your copy today by calling 1-800-652-1144. You can also order when you visit swrc.com. Let the scripture speak and let God's word change your life.

Greek gods, Norse legends, ancient myths, and heroic tales—what should Christians make of mythology? Is it merely fiction, or could some of these ancient stories contain echoes of real events described in scripture? Today, author Mica Van Huss explores how believers should approach mythology from a biblical worldview.

Mica Van Huss: Welcome to the program today. I'm your host, Mica Van Huss, and today we're going to talk about how Christians should approach the topic of mythology. I have my daughter, Dixie, here with me today. Dixie, do you know what mythology is?

Dixie Van Huss: No, I do not.

Mica Van Huss: Mythology is ancient stories about how cultures came to be—the origins of cultures and ancient history. What do you think about that?

Dixie Van Huss: That is really cool.

Mica Van Huss: Christians have often approached mythology through two opposite extremes. Some reject mythology entirely, treating every ancient story outside of the Bible as worthless pagan fiction with no value whatsoever. Others become so fascinated with the mythological systems that they begin treating them as hidden revelation equal to scripture itself.

Both approaches miss a larger picture. A biblical approach to mythology begins with a simple foundation: the Bible is true and the nations are not spiritually neutral. Scripture teaches that humanity once shared a common origin. The nations descended from Noah and spread across the earth after Babel.

This means the peoples of the world carried with them inherited memories of the ancient past. They remembered creation, judgment, the flood, and heavenly rebellion. But as mankind scattered and drifted deeper into idolatry, these traditions became distorted and absorbed into the religions of the nations. This is why mythologies across the world often feel strangely familiar. They preserve recurring themes filtered through polytheism, regional gods, hero cults, and spiritual corruption.

Again and again, ancient traditions return to catastrophic judgment, divine rebellion, sacred mountains, sacred trees, lost golden ages, and serpentine powers connected to forbidden knowledge. Though the details vary from culture to culture, the patterns remain remarkably consistent. The similarities are not accidental. Scripture explains the nations, and mythology often reveals that the nations remember more than modern secularism is willing to admit.

At the same time, we Christians must avoid romanticizing paganism. Ancient mythology is not harmless folklore detached from spiritual reality. Scripture repeatedly teaches that the gods of the nations are connected to real spiritual powers operating behind idolatry. The ancient world was saturated with worship, sacrifice, and spiritual rebellion. Pagan temples were not merely theaters for storytelling; they were places of devotion directed toward powers that opposed the Creator.

This is why the Old Testament repeatedly warns Israel not to learn the ways of the nations. The danger was never merely fictional stories, but spiritual corruption. Israel constantly struggled with adopting the worship practices of the surrounding nations. The people were drawn towards the gods of Canaan, Egypt, Moab, and Phoenicia. The Old Testament records moments when sacred groves, high places, golden idols, and child sacrifice entered directly into Israel itself.

What began as a fascination with foreign customs often became spiritual corruption. Paul makes this especially clear in the New Testament. Writing to the Corinthians, he acknowledges that idols themselves are powerless objects of wood and stone. Yet, he warns that the sacrifices of the Gentiles are offered unto devils and not unto God. Behind the false gods stood real spiritual rebellion. The nations weren't worshipping nothing; they were worshipping created powers in place of the Creator.

As I discussed extensively in my book, Angels: Eternal War of the Princes, scripture teaches that after Babel, the nations were divided and placed under angelic princes appointed over the peoples of the earth. These fallen powers became the false gods worshipped among the nations. This is one reason mythology and spiritual warfare remain so deeply connected throughout history.

The gods of the ancient world were not merely literary inventions detached from reality. Behind the idols and legends stood spiritual powers influencing kingdoms, cultures, and religions. Mythology matters because it reveals mankind's enduring awareness of the spiritual realm and preserves distorted memories of humanity's earliest history. Ecclesiastes declares that there is no new thing under the sun, and across the world, the same mythic themes continue appearing because mankind shares the same ancient roots.

Mythology becomes a window into Babel, the divided nations, and the long rebellion of the spiritual powers set over them. Yet mythology must always remain beneath scripture, never above it. Christians should interpret myths through the Bible, not interpret the Bible through myths. This is where many modern writers drift into confusion. For Christians, mythology should neither be sacred revelation nor meaningless fiction. It's humanity reaching backward through truths dimly remembered. It's Babel echoing through civilizations scattered across the earth. It's the fragmented memory of a world that once knew the Creator and drifted into rebellion while still retaining traces of the truth. Dixie, what do you think about all that?

Dixie Van Huss: That is really interesting.

Southwest Radio Ministries: The book of Ephesians has been called the crown jewel of the New Testament, a powerful letter revealing who we are in Christ, the riches of God's grace, and His plan for the church. Now, Southwest Radio Ministries president, Dr. Kenneth Hill, brings this remarkable book of the Bible to life in his new verse-by-verse study, The Scripture Speaks: Ephesians.

You'll gain a deeper understanding of salvation by grace, adoption into God's family, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the unity of the church, and the spiritual armor every believer needs for daily victory. If you're looking for a resource that will strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of scripture, and draw you closer to Christ, this book belongs in your library.

Order The Scripture Speaks: Ephesians by calling 1-800-652-1144 or visit swrc.com. Discover the riches of God's word in the book of Ephesians with Dr. Kenneth Hill's The Scripture Speaks. Be sure to join us tomorrow as Dr. Hill returns to continue exploring the rich truths found in the book of Ephesians and why God's word remains the foundation for faith and life. That's tomorrow on Watchman on the Wall. Watchman on the Wall is a production of Southwest Radio Ministries and is supported by faithful friends like you. Visit swrc.com.