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 continue learning about the realm of the dead from author Micah Van Huss.

All the topics and information we bring to you on Watchman on the Wall is made possible because of your prayers and support. This week, please keep Watchman on the Wall and Southwest Radio Ministries on your prayer list. And as you're led, please consider a gift to keep us on the air proclaiming the truth.

You can give your gift at swrc.com or by calling 1-800-652-1144. That's 1-800-652-1144. Thank you, friends, for your support this week of Southwest Radio Ministries and Watchman on the Wall.

Author and speaker Micah Van Huss was one of the featured speakers at last October's conference. There he gave an excellent talk entitled The Realm of the Dead. Today, we're going to finish listening to this outstanding presentation.

Micah Van Huss: Isaiah 14:9, "Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming. It stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth. Art thou also become weak as we? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave."

There are three things of importance to unpack in this passage. First, the Hebrew word for dead here is Rephaim, the mighty giants of old. These are the demon spirits of the Nephilim in Sheol. The second thing to note here is this phrase "chief ones," and it translates from the Hebrew attudim, meaning male goats, the demons associated with Azazel, the scapegoat.

The third thing to notice in this verse is that these demons are welcoming a fallen entity into Sheol. They mock him as once powerful but now reduced to weakness. This isn't the only place that we find these giants in Sheol. Ezekiel 32:21, "The mighty shall speak to him out of hell, which caused terror in the land of the living. The mighty that are fallen are gone down to hell with their weapons of war, and they have laid their swords under their heads. They were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living."

What a fascinating piece of Scripture. The Hebrew word here for mighty is Gibborim. Where else do we see Gibborim in Scripture? It's the word used for the giants in Genesis chapter 6 to describe the Nephilim. Ezekiel isn't simply listing fallen warriors; he is drawing a direct line back to the hybrid giants of Noah's day.

One of the Scriptures that Jesus read, the Greek Septuagint, even translates this verse, "the mighty that are fallen," as "the giants of old." This reveals that Ezekiel is pointing to the ancient Nephilim now confined to Sheol. Though their bodies lie in Sheol, their spirits are not at rest.

And then the question arises: why do they have their weapons with them? These disembodied beings, the demons, will at a future point wreak havoc on the living. And that will lead us into the rise of Apollyon. Revelation 9, as we just read, reveals a terrifying scene. An angel descends from heaven to the earth to unlock the bottomless pit and release an ancient enemy.

"I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth, and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon."

Remember in our study of the underworld, the bottomless pit is Tartarus. And what entities are bound in Tartarus? Fallen angels are found in Tartarus. But which one is evil enough to be the king of Tartarus? It's not Satan because Satan is currently roaming the earth as the prince of this world.

This figure goes way back. The archaic Greek work Theogony tells of the Titans that were bound in Tartarus. It quotes, "They overshadowed the Titans with their missiles and buried them beneath the earth and bound them as far beneath the earth to Tartarus." In Greek mythology, it was the king of the Titans who was the king of the abyss. He is known in Greek mythology as Kronos, as Hades. To early Christians, he was the Roman god Saturn, the ruler of demonic powers.

In Scripture, he is Lucifer, the son of the dawn. We don't have time today to study this in-depth, but in my opinion, Lucifer is not Satan, but an older rebel. And here the veil lifts. Ancient writings outside of Scripture speak of a figure who led a rebellion before the flood of Noah, descending to corrupt the bloodline of mankind.

He is Shemihaza, the leader of the rebellious Watchers. The Watchers who were chained in Tartarus in 2 Peter and in the book of Jude chapter 1 verse 6: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Now the evidence connecting Shemihaza with Apollyon is a deep study that we cannot fully unpack today. But Derek Gilbert's work, The Second Coming of Saturn, is an excellent resource on this topic. So if Apollyon who rises from the pit in Revelation 9 is Shemihaza, then what is his army of locusts?

Revelation 9 tells us that the locusts torment men for five months. "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months." You'll notice that this is the same amount of time that the floodwaters were on the earth in the days of Noah. These locusts are demons, the spirits of the Nephilim.

Having roamed dry places for thousands of years, they are unleashed in the end times scenario. They will openly torment men for the same length of time that the flood tormented them. But unlike mankind, the demons have no resurrection. John 5:28, "The hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth."

The dead in Christ will rise, but the Nephilim will not. We see this in Isaiah 26:13, "Other lords beside thee have had dominion over us. They are dead; they shall not live. They are deceased; they shall not rise." So why is this passage important? The King James word "deceased" here is actually Rephaim in Hebrew. Remember in Ezekiel 32, the giants with their weapons that were in Sheol, the Rephaim.

A few chapters later, Ezekiel tells us that the spirits of the giants will be blocked from resurrection. Ezekiel 39:11, "I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea. And it shall stop the noses of the passengers, and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude, and they shall call it the Valley of Hamon-gog."

In traditional Christian commentary, this scripture has usually been interpreted as a symbol of the immense number of bodies at Armageddon. But I don't believe that this passage is telling us of a physical blockage, but of a spiritual one. Unlike humanity, the spirits of the giants will not rise in bodily resurrection.

These are the passengers that we just read about in Ezekiel 39, whose noses are blocked. They are doomed to wander as restless spirits until the judgment. That's a lot, so let's digest it for a second. This theory is not pulled out of thin air. There is evidence about how this plays out. We find these travelers in other texts.

The 3,300-year-old Ugaritic texts were found 100 years ago in Syria. And these texts talk about giants who travel to a great feast of the gods hosted in their honor. Note here in the Ugaritic texts that these giants use chariots, they use horses, they eat rams, calves, and lambs.

Why are all these details from an ancient non-canonical text important? Because 600 years later, Ezekiel records this exact same event in Scripture. Ezekiel 39:17, "Thus saith the Lord God, Speak unto every feathered fowl, gather to my sacrifice. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, of rams, lambs, and of bullocks. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men."

This is the same story that the Ugaritic texts talk about. But notice the two mentions of the mighty men. You can guess what the original Hebrew words are for mighty men here; it's Gibbor, the giants, the Gibborim. And do you know where else Scripture uses the word Gibbor? Again, Genesis chapter 6, the same giants who became the demons that now roam the earth.

The locusts that ascend out of the bottomless pit with Shemihaza, they are his children, the spirits of the Nephilim, demons. The feast recorded in Ezekiel and the ancient Ugaritic texts, what does that mean? Ezekiel here is not recording history; he is recording a prophecy because the feast of the giants has not happened yet.

We find it in Revelation chapter 19 verse 17, "I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried, saying to all the fowls, gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God, that ye may eat the flesh of mighty men, and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." The secular Ugaritic texts tell of the giants that were given a feast in their honor.

But know in Scripture, God says the sons of Shemihaza won't feast; they will be the feast. What the pagans celebrated as a banquet of the Nephilim, God reveals as a banquet on the Nephilim. And this feast takes place at Armageddon. After the locusts are released from the pit, Revelation 9 tells of a 200 million man army.

Revelation 9:16, "And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand. By these there was a third part of men killed by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths." The Nephilim demons will not rise in chariots as the ancient Rephaim texts predict, but in human hosts. They will possess 200 million men and fight at Armageddon.

So why did Shemihaza come to the pre-flood world? Jude chapter 1 verse 6, "the angels he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness." Now we reverse 7, "going after strange flesh." Shemihaza and his angels went after strange flesh before the flood. They sought sexual union outside of God's design that crossed species boundaries.

In the days before the flood, Shemihaza didn't just descend to the earth because of his lust for human women. He likely came with the intent to breed an end-times army, knowing that their bodies would not last, but that their spirits would endure. But Shemihaza and his sons will not win. At Armageddon, the great banquet of God, the birds will feast on their flesh. Because from the cloud, the host of heaven will descend, led by the Prince that was promised.

After He was transfigured, Jesus brought His disciples to the Grotto of Pan. This opening here is known as the gates of hell. A number of you have been here. The ancients believed that this was a portal to the underworld. And here Jesus asked His disciples a question: "Whom do you say that I am?"

Matthew 16 reads verse 16, "Peter saith, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. And Jesus said, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This statement by Jesus was the spark of a great division within Christianity for the last 2,000 years.

Catholics interpret Jesus's words to mean that Peter himself was the rock on which the church would be built. From this belief came the institution of the papacy, with Peter regarded as the first pope and the pope seen as the foundation of the Christian church. Many in the Protestant tradition argue that the rock was not Peter, but rather what Peter said: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

In this interpretation, the church is built not on a man, but on the truth of Christ's identity as the Messiah and the Son of God. While I agree with the truth of Peter's confession, I don't agree with either interpretation. I believe that Jesus was saying something else entirely. Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church.

We can picture Jesus standing at the base of Mount Hermon pointing at the mountain. "On this rock I will build my church." So if the rock is the mountain, then what's important about Mount Hermon? It's where the angelic Watchers descended before the flood in rebellion against God. But there is more evidence than this.

Jesus is looking at the gates of hell. Revelation 1:18, "I am he that liveth and have the keys of hell and death." In our study of the underworld, where did the righteous dead go? Into hell, specifically Abraham's bosom, the paradise portion of Sheol. What does Jesus say to the penitent thief that hung next to Him on the cross? He says, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

And then Jesus dies. And three days later, He would rise from the grave, conquering death, just as the ancient book of Genesis prophesied that He would do. But let's go back three days. What happens to Jesus during the three days in which His body is in the grave? Does Scripture tell us anything about it?

It does. 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 18, "For Christ being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit, by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient in the days of Noah." After the cross, while Jesus's body is dead, He is in spirit form. He goes down into Sheol and proclaims His victory over the Watchers that had descended on Mount Hermon, the same ones that corrupted the earth in the days of Noah and gave us demons.

But that's not all. Remember, He holds the key to hell. The righteous dead at this point are in Sheol. Jesus opens the gate and He takes them out of Abraham's bosom and He sets them free. Scripture tells us as much. Ephesians 4:8, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive. He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all the heavens that he might fill all things."

Notice here in verse 8 that He led the captivity captive. Jesus, the gatekeeper, gathered the righteous dead, ascended out of Sheol through the gates of hell, and ascended into heaven from Mount Hermon, the same mountain on which the Watchers descended. "On this rock I will build my church." Jesus was declaring that He has defeated the fallen angels that rebelled and descended on that very mountain. He is staking His claim over the realm of the dead.

The dead mocked, the giants terrified the living, the Watchers seeded rebellion, and the demons wander dry places. But no grave can argue with the voice that calls the stars by name. The Rephaim will not rise to rule, the beast will not rise to reign, and Shemihaza will not rise to keep keys that don't belong to him.

Southwest Radio Ministries: The past two days, we've been listening to "Realm of the Dead," a presentation originally given at the October 2025 Prophecy in the News Live event. Micah's presentation is based on his new book, Angels Eternal. And the presentation we've been listening to is available right now in its entirety on DVD.

Order both the book and the DVD today when you call 1-800-652-1144. That's 1-800-652-1144. Or order at swrc.com. Angels Eternal the book and Realm of the Dead DVD. 1-800-652-1144.

Southwest Radio Ministries: Pastor Larry answers your questions. Questions about the Bible, the Christian life, and the end times. Today, he answers a question about the identity of an angel. Pastor Larry, is Jesus Michael the archangel?

Pastor Larry: According to the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus Christ was the first created being in the universe. They claim that Michael was the name of Jesus before he left heaven and after he returned to heaven. Is their teaching supported by the Bible? I believe it is not.

In making their case, the Witnesses cite three verses from the book of Daniel: Daniel 10:13, Daniel 10:21, and Daniel 12:1. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in these verses that show that Michael and Jesus are the same individual. The Witnesses argue that Jesus is the highest created being.

However, Daniel 10:13 says that Michael is "one of the chief princes," meaning Michael is one of many chief princes. Hence, if Jesus is the highest created being, Jesus cannot be Michael because Michael is only one of the chief princes among many. Jesus is given many names and titles in the Bible.

He is the Son of God, Lord, and Savior, but he is never linked with Michael the archangel. Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." I would think the Witnesses would find this a definite problem with their view that Jesus and Michael are the same individuals. Jesus is never called Michael.

In Jude verse 9, we read, "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Now notice the words "the Lord" refers to Jesus. Michael called on the Lord Jesus to do so, and Jesus did rebuke Satan and his cohorts many times, but Michael could not.

Hebrews 1 verses 1, 2, and 3 tell us about the majesty and glory of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Verse 4 opens with the words, "being made so much better than the angels." Michael is an angel, but Jesus is so much better than the angels. Doubters of the identity of the second person of the Trinity need to read Psalm 102 verses 25 through 27. Those verses are talking about Jehovah.

Then the doubter needs to read Hebrews 1:10 through 12. These two passages are basically identical. Jesus is Jehovah. The careful student of Scripture will soon notice that key passages supporting orthodox Christian teaching have been altered in the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Whether you read the KJV, the NIV, the NASB, or the NLT, they all agree among themselves but disagree with the New World Translation. The Witnesses have tampered with the biblical text. This is something like one of the parties in a property dispute sneaking in on a dark night and moving a boundary marker to their own advantage.

Orthodox Christians often find passages in Scripture that might seem to suggest that Jesus is inferior to the Father, but we do not craftily adjust these verses to suit our position. Rather, we explain them in the light of the whole Bible. Which do you think reveals the truth: the former or the latter?

Another scripture that is used to allegedly prove that Jesus and Michael are the same is 1 Thessalonians 4:16: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God." Witnesses argue that this is proof that Jesus is the archangel Michael. Now let's face it: do the words "with the voice of the archangel" mean that Jesus is also the archangel?

If someone says Joe sings with the voice of an opera singer, does that mean that Joe is an opera singer? No. There is a similarity in voice quality, not an identity of person. Furthermore, in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, the archangel is not identified. Since Michael is but one of the chief princes as we've seen in Daniel 10:13, the reference might not be to Michael, but to another chief prince.

The founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses was Charles Taze Russell. He lived from 1852 to 1916. The Witnesses are often called Russellites. In 1912, a Baptist pastor by the name of J.J. Ross wrote a scathing pamphlet denouncing Russell. Russell brought a lawsuit against Ross for defamation.

The case went to court, and Russell lost. Russell did not know the original languages of the Bible as he falsely claimed, nor did he ever study any of the theological disciplines in institutions of higher learning. That did not bother Russell because he thought Christianity had been corrupted by churches and their pastors. He was the visionary who was going to bring a much-needed new reformation to the church.

The church always needs a new reformation, but Russell was not the man to bring it about. Russell and his successor, Judge Rutherford, departed from many of the historic doctrines of the Christian faith. They denied the physical bodily return of Jesus Christ, among many other things. The Witnesses are hard to deal with because of their appeal to the Bible and clever wresting of Scripture.

Dr. Walter Martin said, "The average Jehovah's Witness can make a doctrinal pretzel out of the average Christian in about 30 seconds." So friends, unless you are ready for them, you will spend hours of fruitless discussion and come away frustrated. Though it sounds harsh and unloving, 2 John verse 10 says, "If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither give him Godspeed. For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds."

Southwest Radio Ministries: The brand-new book, Shadows of Evil: The Rise, Rule, and Return of the Old Gods by Mac Dominick. In Shadows of Evil, author Mac Dominick takes readers on a journey through the forgotten realms of ancient mythology and biblical truth. What if the gods of Greece, Rome, Babylon, and Egypt weren't just myths, but echoes of real spiritual power?

Are these old gods gone, or are they preparing to rise again? Shadows of Evil offers a gripping exploration of the supernatural conflict unfolding behind world events and what it means for believers living in the last days. Order Shadows of Evil today and discover the truth behind the myths and prepare for what's coming next.

1-800-652-1144 is the number to call and order Shadows of Evil. 1-800-652-1144. Or order online at swrc.com. Shadows of Evil is perfect for readers interested in biblical prophecy, spiritual warfare, and ancient history. Order Shadows of Evil today. 1-800-652-1144.

Tomorrow, Josh Davis will reveal how you and I can resist global control. Be sure to tune in on your favorite radio station, online at swrc.com, or by downloading our free SWRC mobile app. Watchman on the Wall is a production of Southwest Radio Ministries and is supported by faithful friends like you. Visit swrc.com. That's swrc.com.