Who is the Nephilim?
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The Sons of God (Genesis 6) Many ask the question “Who are the sons of God in Genesis 6?” And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My Spirit will not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days will be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants [Nephilim] in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. Genesis 6:1-4 There have been three theories proposed to explain this Scripture. First, the sons are the tyrant rulers of that day and the daughters are just whomever they chose. Second, the sons are the godly line of Seth (Sethites) and the women were the worldly women of the lineage of Cain (Cainites). Third, the sons were angels and the daughters were human women. In this chapter we will look at the possibilities of each theory.
Tyrant Rulers
The theory that godly rulers turned into tyrants was proposed by those who took their information only from the Ancient Book of Jasher. Jasher never mentions who these sons of God were, but did say: And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men, in those days, took from the cattle of the earth the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of the animals of one species with another… Jasher 4.18 This is nearly identical with Genesis 6:1-4, but notice that these “rulers” also started experimenting with crossbreeding animals. Where did they get this idea and how did they successfully accomplish this? There is more to the story than to say these “rulers” were just some tyrants.
Sethites and Cainites
The second theory is the most popular one today. The Cainites were the first to become corrupt and warlike. The posterity of Seth stayed godly long after the Cainites formed, but eventually they also corrupted themselves. Jewish historian Josephus mentioned the fall of the Cainites who became masters of war. Nay, even while Adam was alive, it came to pass that the posterity of Cain became exceeding wicked, every one successively dying, one after another, more wicked than the former. They were intolerable in war... Josephus 1.2.2 Josephus also mentioned the fall of the Sethites. Now this posterity of Seth continued to esteem God as the Lord of the universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for seven generations; but in process of time they were perverted, and forsook the practices of their forefathers; and did neither pay those honors to God which were appointed them, nor had they any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made God to be their enemy. Josephus 2.3.1 This presents a few problems: It is unlikely that a godly peaceful group suddenly turning evil could conquer a race of master warriors, unless you reverse the text and say that the master warriors (Cainites) took over the Sethites and stole their daughters. But the text does not say the sons of men took the daughters of God. And why is it only ungodly men taking godly women? Why did no ungodly woman marry a godly man and produce a giant? We are told the children of these matches were giants, but inbreeding causes genetic anomalies, but marrying outside of your tribe does not.
Angels and Humans
The third theory has been the standard interpretation for centuries. All the ancient rabbis and all the ancient church fathers up to about AD 300 taught the sons of God were angels and the daughters were human women. After AD 200, a movement began to grow denying the sons were angels but rather were Sethites. In addition to recording the history of the Sethites and Cainites, Josephus also recorded the history of the sons of God of Genesis 6. For many angels of God accompanied with women, and begot sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants or Titans. Josephus Ant. 1.3.1 Later Josephus mentioned the biblical Amorite giants around Hebron. In Hebron there were till then left the race of giants, who had bodies so large, and countenances so entirely different from other men, that they were surprising to the sight, and terrible to the hearing. The bones of these men are still shown to this very day. Josephus Ant. 5.2.3 Ancient church fathers who taught the sons of God were angels included: Athinogorius, Clement of Alexandria, Titian, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Myetus of Philippi, Philix, Ambrose of Milan, and Origen. Church fathers who taught the sons of God were Sethites included: Theodoran, Jerome, Julius Africanus, Chrysostom, John Calvin, and Martin Luther. If we look carefully at the New Testament we see that Jude quotes from the Book of Enoch (Jude 1:6), which gives an almost complete story of the descent of the two hundred sons of God. Notice that Jude states that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because they committed the same sin as the angels, going after “strange flesh.” 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. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 1:6-7 Those sons of God who went after strange flesh are chained under darkness, according to Jude. Peter says they are imprisoned in hell (KJV). In the Greek, the word for hell is Tartarus, also referred to as the bottomless pit in Revelation. Peter says their fall occurred before the Flood. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Tartarus], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 2 Peter 2:4-6 Scripture refers to angels as “sons of God” and “stars” in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Deuteronomy 4:19; Isaiah 14:13; Revelation 12:4; 12:9; Genesis 22:17. Christians are referred to as adopted sons of God in Hosea 1:10; John 1:12; Romans 8:14, 19; Philippians 2:15; and 1 John 3:1-2. Conclusion The consistent teaching of the ancient rabbis and ancient church fathers has always been the sons of God were angels. Genetic problems come from inbreeding, not outbreeding. A pacifist group does not suddenly make their own weapons and take over a group of seasoned warriors. When we take these facts and add to them the fact that Enoch has accurate prophecy fulfilled in our lifetime, the conclusion must be that the sons of God were fallen angels.
Tyrant Rulers
The theory that godly rulers turned into tyrants was proposed by those who took their information only from the Ancient Book of Jasher. Jasher never mentions who these sons of God were, but did say: And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men, in those days, took from the cattle of the earth the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of the animals of one species with another… Jasher 4.18 This is nearly identical with Genesis 6:1-4, but notice that these “rulers” also started experimenting with crossbreeding animals. Where did they get this idea and how did they successfully accomplish this? There is more to the story than to say these “rulers” were just some tyrants.
Sethites and Cainites
The second theory is the most popular one today. The Cainites were the first to become corrupt and warlike. The posterity of Seth stayed godly long after the Cainites formed, but eventually they also corrupted themselves. Jewish historian Josephus mentioned the fall of the Cainites who became masters of war. Nay, even while Adam was alive, it came to pass that the posterity of Cain became exceeding wicked, every one successively dying, one after another, more wicked than the former. They were intolerable in war... Josephus 1.2.2 Josephus also mentioned the fall of the Sethites. Now this posterity of Seth continued to esteem God as the Lord of the universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for seven generations; but in process of time they were perverted, and forsook the practices of their forefathers; and did neither pay those honors to God which were appointed them, nor had they any concern to do justice towards men. But for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made God to be their enemy. Josephus 2.3.1 This presents a few problems: It is unlikely that a godly peaceful group suddenly turning evil could conquer a race of master warriors, unless you reverse the text and say that the master warriors (Cainites) took over the Sethites and stole their daughters. But the text does not say the sons of men took the daughters of God. And why is it only ungodly men taking godly women? Why did no ungodly woman marry a godly man and produce a giant? We are told the children of these matches were giants, but inbreeding causes genetic anomalies, but marrying outside of your tribe does not.
Angels and Humans
The third theory has been the standard interpretation for centuries. All the ancient rabbis and all the ancient church fathers up to about AD 300 taught the sons of God were angels and the daughters were human women. After AD 200, a movement began to grow denying the sons were angels but rather were Sethites. In addition to recording the history of the Sethites and Cainites, Josephus also recorded the history of the sons of God of Genesis 6. For many angels of God accompanied with women, and begot sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants or Titans. Josephus Ant. 1.3.1 Later Josephus mentioned the biblical Amorite giants around Hebron. In Hebron there were till then left the race of giants, who had bodies so large, and countenances so entirely different from other men, that they were surprising to the sight, and terrible to the hearing. The bones of these men are still shown to this very day. Josephus Ant. 5.2.3 Ancient church fathers who taught the sons of God were angels included: Athinogorius, Clement of Alexandria, Titian, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Myetus of Philippi, Philix, Ambrose of Milan, and Origen. Church fathers who taught the sons of God were Sethites included: Theodoran, Jerome, Julius Africanus, Chrysostom, John Calvin, and Martin Luther. If we look carefully at the New Testament we see that Jude quotes from the Book of Enoch (Jude 1:6), which gives an almost complete story of the descent of the two hundred sons of God. Notice that Jude states that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because they committed the same sin as the angels, going after “strange flesh.” 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. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 1:6-7 Those sons of God who went after strange flesh are chained under darkness, according to Jude. Peter says they are imprisoned in hell (KJV). In the Greek, the word for hell is Tartarus, also referred to as the bottomless pit in Revelation. Peter says their fall occurred before the Flood. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Tartarus], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 2 Peter 2:4-6 Scripture refers to angels as “sons of God” and “stars” in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Deuteronomy 4:19; Isaiah 14:13; Revelation 12:4; 12:9; Genesis 22:17. Christians are referred to as adopted sons of God in Hosea 1:10; John 1:12; Romans 8:14, 19; Philippians 2:15; and 1 John 3:1-2. Conclusion The consistent teaching of the ancient rabbis and ancient church fathers has always been the sons of God were angels. Genetic problems come from inbreeding, not outbreeding. A pacifist group does not suddenly make their own weapons and take over a group of seasoned warriors. When we take these facts and add to them the fact that Enoch has accurate prophecy fulfilled in our lifetime, the conclusion must be that the sons of God were fallen angels.
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Is there any instance in Scripture where God gave permission
to any angel to take on the form of a human in order to do evil?
The Hebrew word for angel is mal`ach, and the Greek word is
angelos. Both words mean “messenger” and describe one who
executes the purpose and will of the one whom they serve.
Fallen angels serve Satan, but even Satan needed permission
from God before he could do any harm to Job, and he did
not take on the form of a human in order to do so.
Searching the KJV, there are 283 Bible results for “angel."
About 68 are an angel of the LORD. That leaves at least
200 Scriptures to find one mention of an angel taking
on human form with God's permission to do evil.
Can anyone show me one?
to any angel to take on the form of a human in order to do evil?
The Hebrew word for angel is mal`ach, and the Greek word is
angelos. Both words mean “messenger” and describe one who
executes the purpose and will of the one whom they serve.
Fallen angels serve Satan, but even Satan needed permission
from God before he could do any harm to Job, and he did
not take on the form of a human in order to do so.
Searching the KJV, there are 283 Bible results for “angel."
About 68 are an angel of the LORD. That leaves at least
200 Scriptures to find one mention of an angel taking
on human form with God's permission to do evil.
Can anyone show me one?
I think it is possible that sons of God from Gen 6 are not the fallen angels of Lucifer/Satan.
Because they are held in prison, in tartarus, in darkness and are waiting for the judgement.
If they were the Satan´s "1/3 of angels", Satan would be the only one freely moving and active evil force in this world.
Which is not an answer to your question, just a thought from a different view.
Because they are held in prison, in tartarus, in darkness and are waiting for the judgement.
If they were the Satan´s "1/3 of angels", Satan would be the only one freely moving and active evil force in this world.
Which is not an answer to your question, just a thought from a different view.
Lying spirits as demons that have no form (no DNA) They are not considered beast of the fields created from dust .There was no commandment to be fruitful and multiply. They have no way to procreate other than influencing humans to believe their lies after another will the spirit of lies Satan, another wisdom, the wisdom of this world.
Made for Hollywood yes. Reality no.
Lying spirits have no form. Satan before the fall like God who has no form was given the ability to put his thoughts on the tongue of a creature and the creature pronounce the words of the lying spirit, leading mankind to walk by sight after that seen the temporal .
God performed the same kind of work with Balaam's Ass putting his words in the mouth of a creature(DNA) to show he is not served with human hands as is the father of lies who walks around looking for someone to influence with his lies as the father of lies....a liar from the the beginning.
Num 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
A person must distinguish the things of God from those of men .It can avoid a lot of unnecessary drama from the antichrists. (plural)
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men Mat 16:22
Peter made a good drama king. denying the Lord over and over .
God performed the same kind of work with Balaam's Ass putting his words in the mouth of a creature(DNA) to show he is not served with human hands as is the father of lies who walks around looking for someone to influence with his lies as the father of lies....a liar from the the beginning.
Num 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
A person must distinguish the things of God from those of men .It can avoid a lot of unnecessary drama from the antichrists. (plural)
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men Mat 16:22
Peter made a good drama king. denying the Lord over and over .
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Yes the methodology of the antichrists (many ) that does say we do need a man to teach us and therefore usurping the authority of the author of scripture. . Shown by Peter working, rebuking , forbidding the Lord of Glory from finishing what he began.Because Peter refused to distinguish the invisible things of God from sinful men, the temporal as that seen .
You make some dogmatic statements in your reply. My views are suggestions I dont expect them to be taken as Gospel Truth.
The Book of Jubilees is not the only one that mentions this Enoch is another book that is quoted in the Bible. Do you think that God is only restricted to the Bible if so which one exactly?
How do you know what Angels are composed of? The word simply means Messenger. The only mention of the condition of Angels is what Jesus said in that they dont Marry in heaven. Those in question were not in heaven and lusted after earthly women. Paul advised women to cover their heads because of the Angels. He also advised that we could be entertaining angels unawares. Abraham did that. If Angels can eat they may also be able to reproduce if given the opportunity.
If the story of Giants was just a warning against being unevenly yoked with unbelievers it appears to be a very strange method of making a point.
The Book of Jubilees is not the only one that mentions this Enoch is another book that is quoted in the Bible. Do you think that God is only restricted to the Bible if so which one exactly?
How do you know what Angels are composed of? The word simply means Messenger. The only mention of the condition of Angels is what Jesus said in that they dont Marry in heaven. Those in question were not in heaven and lusted after earthly women. Paul advised women to cover their heads because of the Angels. He also advised that we could be entertaining angels unawares. Abraham did that. If Angels can eat they may also be able to reproduce if given the opportunity.
If the story of Giants was just a warning against being unevenly yoked with unbelievers it appears to be a very strange method of making a point.
Angels eat what and which ones? The ones that follow the Spirit of Christ or those who oppose doing the will of God as the meat thereof?
What would they lust after? The goal of the fallen angels was to destroy life not replenish it. They were used as lying murderers from the beginning. Their goal was to destroy all flesh to include Noah and his family, destroying the seed (Christ) .
They covered their heads to indicate they were available to have a sexual relationship or covered it to let them know they were not available?
What would they lust after? The goal of the fallen angels was to destroy life not replenish it. They were used as lying murderers from the beginning. Their goal was to destroy all flesh to include Noah and his family, destroying the seed (Christ) .
They covered their heads to indicate they were available to have a sexual relationship or covered it to let them know they were not available?
Yes strange as truth ...when looking for the spiritual understanding hid from the lost..
It was more than a warning it was a work of Gods faith a labor of His love to maintain the spiritul seed, Christ, in regard to the Mathew genealogy. Right from the beginning of entering the Promised Land God used taller people to intimidate the Jew in a hope they would put their trust Him and not their own flesh. They seemed like grasshoppers (the thought inspired to them by God. ) to the taller people rather than grasshopper compared to God in whom he wanted their trust (faith)
They were walking by sight unlike David who slew a big fellow.
Note.... (Purple in parenthesis) my personal comments.
Num 13:33 And there we saw the giants(Nephilim), the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: (Nephilim)and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Many time the apostate Jews turned things upside down rather than fearing God as if they were grasshoppers they feared the flesh of the taller big boys ...rather than walking by faith (the unseen)
Proper perspective is needed if we are to fear God aright.
Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Destroying the whole creation in order to protect the spiritual seed Christ as found in the Mathew genealogy is the point. It is the same principle in which God brought a dream to the Pharaoh not to sleep with Abraham wife. Or when he destroyed Jericho to preserve the spiritual seed (one) Christ through Rehab, or Tamar disguised as prostitute who l slept with her father in law or another sending Naomi to the land of the Gentiles , enemy of Israel to marry a Moabite another place there were giants
While the Jews (the grasshoppers) called them Nephilim, the Moabites called them Emims.and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
The Milwaukee Bucks call them Centers .
And it came to pass, when men (not angels ) began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,That the sons of God (those who follow after the Holy Spirit of God walking by faith) saw the daughters of men (not angels) that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,(never strived with angels they are not subject to salvation). for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Gen 6:1-3
It was more than a warning it was a work of Gods faith a labor of His love to maintain the spiritul seed, Christ, in regard to the Mathew genealogy. Right from the beginning of entering the Promised Land God used taller people to intimidate the Jew in a hope they would put their trust Him and not their own flesh. They seemed like grasshoppers (the thought inspired to them by God. ) to the taller people rather than grasshopper compared to God in whom he wanted their trust (faith)
They were walking by sight unlike David who slew a big fellow.
Note.... (Purple in parenthesis) my personal comments.
Num 13:33 And there we saw the giants(Nephilim), the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: (Nephilim)and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Many time the apostate Jews turned things upside down rather than fearing God as if they were grasshoppers they feared the flesh of the taller big boys ...rather than walking by faith (the unseen)
Proper perspective is needed if we are to fear God aright.
Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Destroying the whole creation in order to protect the spiritual seed Christ as found in the Mathew genealogy is the point. It is the same principle in which God brought a dream to the Pharaoh not to sleep with Abraham wife. Or when he destroyed Jericho to preserve the spiritual seed (one) Christ through Rehab, or Tamar disguised as prostitute who l slept with her father in law or another sending Naomi to the land of the Gentiles , enemy of Israel to marry a Moabite another place there were giants
While the Jews (the grasshoppers) called them Nephilim, the Moabites called them Emims.and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
The Milwaukee Bucks call them Centers .
And it came to pass, when men (not angels ) began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,That the sons of God (those who follow after the Holy Spirit of God walking by faith) saw the daughters of men (not angels) that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,(never strived with angels they are not subject to salvation). for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Gen 6:1-3
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