Nephilim Death Squad – The Book of Daniel Part 5: Prince of Persia vs Michael the Archangel w/ Matt Hepner

Podcast: Nephilim Death Squad (TopLobsta Productions)
Episode date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: TopLobsta & David Lee Corbo aka "The Raven"
Guest: Matt Hepner
Theme: A deep-dive into Daniel Chapters 10-12 – exploring biblical prophecy, spiritual warfare, the “Prince of Persia,” Michael the Archangel, and the larger implications for understanding conspiracy, spiritual reality, and who can be part of God’s kingdom.

Episode Overview

This episode continues the Nephilim Death Squad's sequential journey through the Book of Daniel, taking a sharp focus on Daniel 10–12. The crew, with guest Matt Hepner, dissects the mystical and prophetic vision where Daniel witnesses cosmic spiritual battle: heavenly messengers delayed by the “Prince of Persia” and ultimately aided by the archangel Michael. Along the way, the conversation veers into practical theology, conspiracy theory at the intersection of faith, the pitfalls of modern church culture, and the nature of true spiritual authority and awakening. The style is irreverent, personal, and marked by both humor and sincerity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Blue Letter Bible Controversy and Podcasting Culture

[03:30–08:50]

• The hosts disclose a recent dustup with "Blue Letter Bible": they produced an episode promoting the tool, but management requested it be pulled due to the show's edgy tone and language.
• Matt defends BLB as a valuable resource, while the crew debate why a Bible search engine would shy away from supporting conspiracy-themed Christian media.
  • "Blue Letter Bible is the ultimate research tool. And so, like, I don't know. It's just weird for me because if they were like the local Baptist church, it's one thing... but it's a search engine for the Bible." (Matt, 07:05)
• The segment reveals broader commentary about the 501c3 church industrial complex and a lament that American church culture prefers “cupcakes” to “rough around the edges” believers.
• Quote:
  “The kingdom of God is looking for hard hitting, like people who are rough around the edges and people who are willing to get things done. And I think the Bible is over and over and over with examples of that.” – Matt [11:36]

2. Daniel 10: Daniel’s Vision and Spiritual Warfare

[12:50–41:00]

• The crew recaps the transition from Daniel’s previous prophecies to Chapter 10. Daniel, after fasting three weeks (“ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth…”), receives a stunning vision.
• Daniel’s experience is paralleled to modern spiritual “loneliness”: true spiritual depth is often isolating.
  • “If people are going to walk with God… it’s going to be a lonely walk. I just want to say that. I just want to make that clear to people because I think there’s people who think they’re going to be… super close to God… and they’re going to have a ton of friends. Biblically, it’s not really like that.” – Matt [21:41]
• Daniel’s companions flee in terror—spiritual encounters can be deeply unsettling. The story is compared to UFO encounters and “things that shatter ordinary perception.”
  • “Like, when the sky gets split and the natural realm just gets split and the spirit realm enters… Like, we don’t have a grid for this.” – Matt [24:05]

3. The Prince of Persia, Michael, and Unseen Warfare

[28:01–47:33]

• The key event: Daniel’s prayer is answered after 21 days, but the angelic messenger was delayed by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia”—an interpretation of territorial spiritual powers.
• Michael the Archangel intervenes, revealing a spiritual war playing out above geo-political history.
  • “It’s not because it takes 21 days to get from heaven to earth, okay? It’s because the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days.” – Matt [29:03]
• Daniel’s “one man’s prayer shakes heaven.” The group reflects on the radical, underestimated power of intercessory prayer, contrasting it with contemporary weak “prayer lives.”
  • “There’s a man on the earth praying… One dude is praying, and it’s moved heaven… Heaven’s on the move because of this one guy praying.” – Matt [30:01]
• Metaphor: The spirit realm has “legalities,” “courtrooms,” and “battlefields”—not just abstract spiritualism, but structured conflict influencing earth.
• “For whatever reason, like, legally, the Prince of Persia was able to hold up this messenger. And then Michael came through. I don’t think Michael came to… make a deal or talk through it. I think he came through and just was like—like, boom, he’s through.” – Matt [35:18]

4. Who is Israel? Angels, Mormons, and Spiritual Identity

[47:18–54:00]

• The passage’s reference to “Michael, your prince” launches debate on Michael’s role as angelic “patron” over Israel, and the demarcation between nations and their spiritual authorities.
  • “So, again, I know how you guys are about Israel, but just understand, if you’re fighting against Israel and you don’t like Israel, Michael’s their prince. So, if you want to be, like, against Michael, be my guy.” – Matt [47:18]
• Offshoot: Discussion of spiritual claims of other faiths (especially Mormonism/Joseph Smith).
  • “Like, none of that matters, dude. Like, we have a Bible, bro. People adding to it or saying stuff or saying God’s not the only God… whoa, I’m not getting into all…” – Matt [38:09]

5. Idols, Testimonies & the Nature of Authentic Faith

[54:00–61:36]

• Debate on Christian symbols: is wearing a cross or distributing plastic “Jesus” erasers a valid testimony?
  • Matt is uncompromising: "If you need that for people to know that you’re a Christian, you should be checking yourself. For me, personally, I don’t really wear any things that like, say I’m a Christian… If your claim is that the living God lives inside of you, you should [have the] raddest coffee shop in town. Like, what are we talking about?” [58:22–59:09]
• The group critiques performative Christianity vs. living faith—with personal stories about Christians being poor witnesses in daily life (e.g., stingy tipping at restaurants while leaving crosses as “testimony”).
• “I’m over the church not acting like the church. That’s all I’m saying.” – Matt [58:13]

6. Daniel 11–12: Prophecy, History & End Times

[62:02–113:48]

• Matt reads selections from Daniel 11–12, focusing on the vision’s prophetic sweep: empires rising (Persia, Greece, Egypt), the “abomination of desolation,” and the coming of the ultimate evil ruler (“the king will do as he pleases, exalting himself…”).
• Discussion on the cyclical nature of prophecy: Is Daniel describing events fulfilled under Antiochus Epiphanes, or also end-time Antichrist? The “already/not yet” aspect of biblical history.
• Key Focus: The dividing line at history’s end—those who know their God vs. those who don’t; the promise of resurrection—some to everlasting life, some to everlasting contempt.
  • “He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.” (Daniel 11:32) – Matt emphasizes, "It doesn't say the people who have perfect doctrine… People who know their God. Like, that's it." [75:43]
• Existential reflection: The necessity of picking a side, being “light” in escalating darkness, and not losing focus by obsessing over things you can’t control (politics, timelines, etc.)

7. Philosophical & Practical Takeaways

[117:48–End]

• Matt wraps up with an exhortation:
  “The time of the end is gonna come… your time is short. Dark is going to get dark, light is going to get light. And you got to pick a side and you got to be a part of the game. Like, you got to get in the game. There's an entire body dependent on you to take your role in the body… You gotta get with God and figure out your destiny. And you've got to be reading a Bible. You've got to be reading it every day, man…” [117:48]
• The group closes with gratitude for community and encouragement for listeners to seek authentic, committed spiritual life—not just surface acts or tribalism.

Memorable Quotes

• “When the sky gets split and the natural realm just gets split and the spirit realm enters. Like, we don’t have a grid for this.” – Matt [24:05]
• “Heaven’s on the move because of this one guy praying.” – Matt [30:01]
• “The kingdom of God is looking for hard hitting, like people who are rough around the edges and people who are willing to get things done.” – Matt [11:36]
• “If your claim is that the living God lives inside of you, you should [have the] raddest coffee shop in town.” – Matt [59:06]
• “People who know their God will be strong and will resist him.” (on Daniel 11:32) [75:43]
• “Dark is going to get dark and light's going to get light, and light gets lighter in a dark place to begin with, and the light's going to be lighter.” – Matt [113:11]
• “The time of the end is gonna come… and you got to be a part of the game. You gotta get in the game. There's an entire body dependent on you to take your role in the body…” – Matt [117:48]

Key Timestamps

• [03:30] – Blue Letter Bible controversy, 501c3 critique
• [11:36] – "Cupcakes" vs. biblical heroes & the kingdom of God
• [21:41] – On spiritual loneliness
• [24:05] – Spiritual perception and cosmic “quakes”
• [29:03] – Prince of Persia – spiritual war & delayed prayer
• [35:18] – Legal structures in the spirit realm
• [47:18] – Michael the Archangel’s relationship to Israel
• [54:00] – Crosses, icons, and Christian "testimony"
• [62:02] – Daniel 11–12: reading and unpacking
• [75:43] – "Those who know their God..." (Daniel 11:32)
• [99:35] – Resurrection: "some to everlasting life, some to contempt"
• [113:11] – Escalating light and darkness, exhortation to choose sides
• [117:48] – Final exhortation: “get in the game,” take your spiritual role seriously

Final Thoughts

This episode of Nephilim Death Squad delivers its trademark blend of biblical literacy, irreverence, and spiritual provocation. By using Daniel’s visions as a launchpad, the hosts break down complex issues surrounding spiritual warfare, authentic faith, cultural Christianity, and the urgency of choosing sides in a fracturing world. The chemistry between hosts and guest produces both comic relief and moments of piercing sincerity—an ideal listen for conspiracy-curious, spiritually restless, or devoutly unconventional seekers.

Listen if you want:

• A unique, unvarnished take on Daniel’s prophecies
• Honest wrestling with what it means to be spiritual, weird, or “rough around the edges” in the church
• Practical exhortation to live out personal faith—no matter how odd your story is

Skip if you’re seeking:

• Mainstream, sanitized apologetics
• A strictly academic or reverent tone
• “Safe” and controversy-free Bible study