Greg Boyd finishes our Twisted Scripture series by delving into the passage in Genesis 6:1-7 on the issue of the Nephilim. This controversial passage deals with the creation of hybrid beings, the Nephilim, that are the offspring of fallen angels and daughters of humans. This passage has led to many distracting theories and conspiracies that have served to move us away from the tasks of the Kingdom of God. Our job, as Kingdom people, is to stay vigilant to all the ways the principalities and powers of this fallen world are constantly trying to spiritual engineer the Kingdom and our identity in Christ out of this world. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and be careful of this temptation to slowly lose our Kingdom calling.
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Twisted Scripture: Genesis 6:1-7
• Greg Boyd
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The focus of this final week of our Twisted Scripture series is the account of the Nephilim in Genesis 6:1-7. The Nephilim have grown in popularity over the last number of years, but most of the discussion has been surrounding apocalyptic and fantastical novels and predictions. The majority of these books and theories have very little to support them and certainly do not take into account the broader application of the Nephilim within the canon of Scripture.
The story of the Nephilim within the book of Genesis is the precursor to the flood narrative and describes the reason for the flood. The first issue to be tackled in this sermon is to deal with the confusion on the identity of the Nephilim. Saint Augustine argued that since the sons of God (mentioned in Genesis 6:2) are spirit beings they could not have any sexual interaction with the daughters of humans. Much of this goes back to Augustine’s platonic thread of thinking through his work. Augustine argued that the sons of God are the righteous descendants of Seth and that the daughters of humans are the wicked descendants of Cain and that this relationship was deluding the righteous blood of Seth. Greg argued that Augustine’s interpretation of this passage was flawed by noting that the Bible does not specifically describe the descendants of Seth as particularly righteous or the descendants of Cain as particularly evil. There is also no reason to believe that the offspring of evil people and righteous people would produce an offspring like the Nephilim that have a greater size or power than other offspring. The interpretation of this passage by the early church up until the 5th century was that this passage is describing fallen spiritual powers (sons of God) who came and had sex with daughters of humans that produced these hybrid creatures called the Nephilim. We are forced, based on the evidence, to continue along this same line of thinking to interpret this bizarre passage. Greg also spends time arguing that the Nephilim were also giants. This is defended through ancient stories of giants along with the account of the Israelite spies in Numbers 13:33 where they note that the inhabitants of the promised land were descendants of the Nephilim and large in stature.
The main issue with this story in Genesis 6:1-7, and the reason for the coming flood narrative, is that the birth of these hybrid creatures was on the verge of derailing the whole creation process by overpowering humanity in its present state. This is the reason behind God removing his Spirit to allow the flood to envelop the earth. The flood then becomes a desperate rescue mission by God to keep his plans for humanity on track and to salvage all that can be salvaged.
These few verses have been twisted in two main ways. First, these seemingly bizarre, confusing and short verses have been used to create hysteria and strange conspiracy theories. Our encouragement and calling is to not waste any time with these conspiracy theories since as kingdom people we should be too busy with the work of the kingdom to bother with these bizarre ideas. These types of manufactured hysteria are just one big demonic distraction in the midst of a world with slavery, homelessness, terror, and hunger. Second, another well-meaning twist to this scripture comes from Numbers 13. The argument from some is that the reason behind God’s command of the Israelites to slaughter all the Canaanites is because the land was filled with this hybrid humanity of the Nephilim. While it is critical for us to get an explanation for the reasoning behind the picture of God commanding the genocide in the conquest narratives, this is not a plausible explanation. The primary reason for the implausibility of this explanation is that the narrative in Numbers 13 is the account of hysterical people coming back to convince the Israelites that the Canaanites are too strong to be conquered. We also see throughout the Old Testament that the slaughtering of the Canaanites was not God’s idea. Greg specifically noted the passage in Exodus 23:28-30 where we see that God’s plan was to use an insect infestation to slowly migrate the Canaanites from the land without using violence. God wanted a non-violent migration that means he didn’t want to slaughter the Canaanites and, therefore, it is not comparable to the Nephilim account in Genesis 6.
The application of this passage comes when we see that the story is all about boundaries being crossed in inappropriate ways. The order of creation is being violated and we need to have clear lines of demarcation to avoid coming under the influence of fallen principalities and powers. In the same as the sons of God in Genesis 6 were trying to genetically engineer humanity out of existence so the principalities and powers of today are trying to spiritual engineer the Kingdom of God out of existence. These principalities and powers are constantly trying to install fear in us to draw us away from the beauty of the self-sacrificial love in the Kingdom of God. We need to continually keep Christ on our mind to stay vigilant against this desire of the enemy to destroy of the works of the Kingdom.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Controversial Issues, Identity in Christ, Temptation
Sermon Series: Twisted Scripture: Season 2
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Focus Scripture:
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Genesis 6:1-7
1 When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
18 thoughts on “Twisted Scripture: Genesis 6:1-7”
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To say that i’m surprised at Greg’s take on this would be a grievous understatement. This ‘hybrid demon/human mutants’ really sounds wackadoo to me. Spiritualizing it at the end of the message by talking about how we are being un-kingdomized through a similar hybrid demonic plan doesn’t help. Augustine got it wrong in many ways but in this, i wonder.
It doesn’t matter how it sounds. The true scholarship, using both language studies, as well as looking at how ancient Hebrews believed as far back as 300-200BC, points to the supernatural interpretation.
Because the author of Hebrews and Jude in the NT potentially see Enoch as a historical personage (11:5) & (1:14-15) I wouldn’t totally discount some of this as “caca”. Also, references and allusions in II Peter 2:4–5 and I Peter 3:19–20, as well as in Deuteronomy may bear this out to some degree. Some branches of the Faith still hold “The Book of Enoch” as cannon. The fact that the Essenes possessed copies or fragments as well, adds somewhat to its credibility.
But ……..sifting through the ludicrous minutia of all this is nigh to impossible anymore, as New Agers, Ufologists, Conspiracy Theorists, Hollywood and the Wack-o Crowd have high jacked legitimate exegetical analysis. Like Greg said; “One Big Distraction!” Anything to get our eyes off The Cross. It is interesting though, how a lot of contemporary Sci-Fi draws inspiration from this genre.
Great exposition! Great rhema!
More is needed in this hour like never before!
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Indeed…
It IS a war out there! No discharge. No rest. No hot chow. No movies. Eat ‘at the ready!’ With your weapons ready.
No time for mierda, cagada, estupideces y otra tonterías!
‘Y no más tiempo perdido con mas CACA!’
Well said on Sunday. And refreshing to hear ‘in church’!
The Adversary IS defeated. But NOT dispossessed nor paraded as captives for all to see!
His Anakim, Zamzummim, Rephaim, Emim, Horim, Avim, Caphtorim… AND Nephilim (Look it up!) are hiding, disguised, harassing, as usual.
What did Pogo say? ‘We have met the enemy and he is us!’
The Captain of our souls STILL commands us with all urgency in this last hour:
‘Vestíos de toda la armadura de Dios!’ Against ALL those Galatians 5:19 holdouts and traitors!
No más tiempo! No mas ‘Oh, my goodness!’
Y no mas caca! O excusas!
@Dave Pritchard; Tell me…’after’ the flood, did the devils start back with their mutant making plan? Are the devil spawn among us today? Greg did not make that clear and i know to not be afraid 🙂 thanks
Kevin,
Ha! Yeeeaaaa……….….and Yes, the New World Order Nephilim Illuminati Lizards took down WTC 7!
Anthropologically we might say that humanity has moved beyond “Magical Realism”, but looking around, it seems as if its as intense as ever!
In all seriousness though, in some ways the discussion begs the question about the true nature of “Evil” and how it is manifested in today’s culture. There are a lot more subtle and sublime ways in which the Enemy attempts to thwart God’s creation today, rather than potential overt genetic mutation – Weapons production for mass profit, food additives, animal & environmental abuse, insidious religious and political ideologies, bigotry, you name it! If you think about it, various “Genocides” throughout history have embodied this same kind of unimaginable level of Evil.
Anything to get mankind to prey upon themselves and self-destruct would seem to ultimately have a Satanic impetus behind it.
So much of this though becomes an indiscernible canard, where Pop-culture and the mass media patronize and cater to our hidden fears and phobias. Psychic Vampire Theory, Alien Abductions, The David Icke Dreamworld, Human Bigfoot hybrids, etc… all prep the mind for “Incubitic” infiltration.
But Jesus along with his trusty servant Mighty Mouse “Are Here to Save the Day!!!”
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@Dave Pritchard; Tell me…’after’ the flood, did the devils start back with their mutant making plan? Are the devil spawn among us today? Greg did not make that clear and i know to not be afraid 🙂 thanks
}
My understanding of what Greg was saying was the the nephilim were destroyed in the flood.
The post-flood giants, Anak, Sheshai, Ahiman, Talmai, Goliath, Og, king of Bashan, etc. were just taller men, 6 feet, 7 feet, 8 feet tall; what I would call genetic outliers of humans, not nephilim.
I had the same question myself. Anyways, that was my take-away.
Hey Roland; that’s what i heard Greg say as well, that they were destroyed in the flood…..then he started bashing all the books on the subject. Why are those books ‘caca’? Is it because greg believes the hybrids were all destroyed in the flood so there’s no point in writing books? The prince and power of the air is still very much active in subtle ways, like those Dave spoke of, and i’d like to know if these beings are active today as well. greg does not say whether or not the devil’s picked back up where they left off. Things were much simpler when my only belief was that the ‘sons of God’ were simply godly men and not ‘nephphlegm’
While there may be some deeper meaning, or symbolism, to these beings, I agree that they are more of a distraction to the overall mission of God’s kingdom and our calling in it. In my opinion, it’s like arguing over how old the universe/earth is…billions of years or a couple thousand. I don’t get how Christians can get so wrapped around the axle with some of this stuff to the point of making it an us versus them attitude. I have to ask myself how this relates at all to my relationship with Christ and what He’s doing in me. Even if people knew for certain who/what the nephilim were, what impact (if any) would that have on their relationship with Christ? Is this really a stumbling block for some?
Wow! right on Greg, that is now one of my favorite messages. I agree wholeheartedly that to many people get tripped off on these things that are not important, and forget about the one thing that we need to be focused on, lifting up Jesus. As far as I’m concerned maybe there is an illuminati, and maybe they are plotting to take over the world, I know that that is Satan’s plan; well they can have it. My home is in heaven and my eyes are fixed on Jesus. It’s much easier to get caught up in theories or doctrines but it costs a lot more to truly live God’s law of love, and to take up our cross daily to follow Him. Lord help me I have a long way to go but thank the Lord he made the trip for me. The world is quickly going to hell let’s hurry up to show them the way to heaven. Thanks Greg for sounding the trumpet.
I once read that the “nephilim” were simply the children of the unbelieving line of Cain with the believing line of Seth. When it says “sons of God” it simply refers to the godly line of Seth. So intermarriage between the two was bad because the believers were becoming like the non believers. Doesn’t it seem to suggest in the Bible that angels CANNOT PROCREATE. Matthew 22:30
Jude 1:6-7 has been used to add additional information:
“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 Gomorrha, 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.”
In “like manner” as these angels, the inhabitants of the five cities of the plain went after “strange” (different) flesh.
All I can say is…
The King’s Decision
By Robert Winkler Burke
Book #4 of In That Day Teachings
Copyright 2/28/09 http://www.inthatdayteachings.com
“I am your servant, Truesword, and I stand before you, oh King, to beg your forgiveness and mercy. As a prince in your royal court I have slept with your oldest daughter and made her pregnant. We have vowed to wed but I want to kill myself to hide my shame. Your daughter says if I do, she will too, so I haven’t, because I love her and our child. I am the biggest fool in the kingdom. What decide you, oh my King?”
“I am your servant, Doublecut, and I am told to stand before you, oh King, to beg forgiveness and mercy. As a prince in your court I have been accused of sleeping with your youngest daughter who is now with child, said to be from my loins. She, your daughter, has asked me to wed her, but I fear my King’s wrath. I have been told I am the biggest fool in the Kingdom. Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong. But have mercy, as the Kingdom knows your birth date is but a few months after your royal parent’s wedding. What decide you, oh my King?”
“I, King of the realm, have heard enough from these two. The last one here, this Doublecut: Take him to the dungeon and kindly remove his head that confusion no more bother it. The first one, Truesword, take him to my family’s quarters and kindly remove his coat that he might wear our family’s crest. Let the royal Queen make wedding plans with our daughter. Tonight we feast, for my Kingdom has a new son!
“Ye gods! I am in a merry mood now! Belay that order on young Doublecut. Let his head stay upon his shoulders and we shall call him up from the dungeon at every month’s end, just to check and see what a fool believes. If he continues thinking like a fool, well enough! We shall ask his opinion on Kingdom matters, and by his reply will know the foolish way to avoid! Ha! Eh? If, on the other hand, he ever becomes wise, then we shall have cause for some future celebration.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this sermon! I also enjoyed reading all about Greg’s view on Open Theism. Keep shaking the kingdom in a good way WH!
Nephilim, Aliens, The Lord of the Rings & Tyrants
Genesis 6:4
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
NAS
Introduction
Aliens and Nephilim
A widespread epidemic of mysticism is being resurrected and fueled through media pipelines by people’s obsession for science fiction, aliens, and UFO’s. The extraterrestrial feeding frenzy can be seen everywhere; it is on the Internet, which has hundreds of web sites devoted to aliens and science fiction; it is on television and in the movie industry with an ever-increasing audience, including a large percentage of Christians who view it as nothing more than, “harmless entertainment.”
One of the most bizarre interpretations of scripture is called the ‘Serpent’s Seed Doctrine’ and it has been around for at least the past 400+ years, beginning with many of the early reformers, such as John Calvin, John Wycliffe and many others.
Two main camps or schools of thought promulgate the doctrine. Camp #1 believes in extraterrestrial intercourse between fallen angels and pagan women and Camp #2 rejects the alien/human connection. Both camps have some really screwy ideas, as you will see.
Two elements are involved in the Serpent’s Seed doctrine of Camp #1:
The creation of the serpent’s ‘seed’ in the Garden of Eden when Eve sins by having sexual intercourse with the serpent (Lucifer) who manifest himself to her in human form, tempting her to transgress the command of God (Genesis 3:1-6). She then becomes pregnant and gives birth to Cain, an evil and wicked son who murders his brother Abel. Cain is considered the first offspring or “seed” of the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15), and eventually it is Cain’s descendents who become the “daughters of men” in Genesis 6:4. Hence the beginning of the ‘serpent’s seed’ dogma.
The “daughters of men” being descended from Cain are also considered ‘seed’ of the serpent, and they are pagan women predestined to eternal darkness. Because they do not have God’s protective covering, the daughters of men are overpowered and raped by a band of fallen angels called the “sons of God” (or “sons of gods”) in Genesis 6:2 and 6:4. The women become pregnant and give birth to a gigantic race of men called “Nephilim.”
Camp #1 teaches the ‘Nephilim’ (Genesis 6:4) are a race of alien humanoids, the offspring of sexual relations between fallen spirits (demons) called the ‘sons of gods’ and the grossly pagan descendents of Cain called the ‘daughters of men.’
Supposedly, the unfortunate byproduct of these ungodly marriage unions was a gargantuan, superhuman race of part man/part fallen angel called ‘Nephilim.’ The Hebrew verb (napal), meaning, “to fall,” has been considered the source of the noun ‘Nephilim,’ and so these gigantic creatures have been thought of as “fallen ones.”
On the other hand, Camp #2 believes the Nephilim are mongrel human giants, and that they are the offspring produced through sexual relations of Cain’s literal descendents (the daughters of men) with the literal apostate descendents of Seth called the ‘sons of God.’ The intermarriage between the godly line of Seth and ungodly line of Cain produced a group of huge men called Nephilim.
Camp #1 says the “sons of (alien) gods” in Genesis 6:4, came down from another dimension, and overpowered pagan women with their supernatural strength, forcing the ‘daughters of men’ to have sex with them. These alien ‘sons of gods’ raped and impregnated the women, and they gave birth to a progeny that grew into massive hulk-like humanoids called Nephilim. Of course this is all fiction, but naïve Christians are buying into this deception without realizing its’ viral consequences.
The Hebrew words for “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 and 6:4 is “bene ‘Elohim,” which can also be translated either “sons of God” or “sons of (pagan) gods.”
Some commentators claim “sons of God” in Genesis 6:4 and Job 1:6 refer to a “special class of beings that make up the heavenly court,” and may even be identified with angels or messengers.
· Wycliffe Bible Commentary says, “ that members of the heavenly company selected choice women from the earth and set up marriage relationships with them, literally and actually… Women were chosen and forced to become parties to the unnatural relationship… we conclude that some men of the heavenly group (angels or messengers) actually took wives of the earthly women. They used superior force to overpower them, to make the conquest complete. The “sons of God” were irresistible (cf. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).” (From The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)
This is a doctrine with loads of appeal to people that believe in the aliens, Bigfoot and the boogeyman. Nephilim are first mentioned in the Book of Genesis (6:4) and once in the Book of Numbers (13:33). Later we will examine this doctrine and scrutinize it from the context of the scripture passage in which Nephilim appears.
On the contrary, Camp #2 believes Cain’s descendants became increasingly godless and pagan. These descendents of Cain are believed to be the group of people called the “daughters of men” first mentioned in Genesis 6:2 & 6:4. The “sons of God” in Genesis 6:4 were a race of morally depraved human beings descended from Seth, whose origin can be traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Matthew Henry, Scofield, and Jamieson, Fausett & Brown are but a few of many commentators who ascribe to this idea.
Hence it is believed the righteous descendents of Seth did not keep themselves set apart to Yahweh, but they grew more and more wicked, and intermingled themselves with the ‘serpent-seed’ race of Cain (called the daughters of men). This ungodly interaction did not rob them of their status as ‘God’s elect’, but rather, it threw them into temporary apostasy.
The second view claims that Nephilim are the offspring of apostate Sethites (sons of God) who intermarried with depraved Cainite women (daughters of men) producing a progeny of wicked tyrants.
Many enthusiasts of the Serpent’s Seed doctrine in Camp #1 believe Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and had sexual intercourse with the serpent (Satan). Supposedly, Lucifer (the proper name for Satan meaning, “light bearer”) used his great supernatural powers to transform himself into the form of a man, thus appearing to Eve in the garden.
According to the doctrine, the serpent bewitched and mesmerized the woman, appearing to her with such lustful passion she fell into a cult-like trance. This serpentine anthropoid looked so handsome and irresistibly delightful to her, she desired to have intercourse with him (READ Genesis 3:1-7). Proponents of serpent seed dogma believe the motive for Eve’s sin was to take herself from beneath the protection and spiritual “covering” of her husband.
In her rebellion, Eve became easy prey for the devil; he impregnated her with his “seed.” After Adam and Eve’s transgression had taken place, God cursed the earth, and His message to the serpent is the basis for the title ‘Serpent’s Seed.’
Genesis 3:13-15 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” NKJV
The offspring of this union between the woman and the serpent was her son Cain. Adam’s sin was failing to protect his wife, and some have even speculated that Satan transformed himself into the form of a woman and Adam had sexual intercourse with the serpent.
John Calvin’s perverted brand of Divine ‘predestination’ could be said to be a byproduct of serpent’s seed doctrines. Unrighteous Cain was ‘predestined’ to kill his righteous brother Abel because he (Cain) was the offspring (seed) of Satan. Cain was acting according to his ‘totally depraved’ nature, and all who descended from his loins would be ‘predestined’ to the same fate. Those who cling to Serpent’s Seed Doctrine use this teaching as an explanation for why some people choose evil, while others choose good. It is a fantasy doctrine and becomes the rationale for Christian parents whose children reject the gospel, or justification for other believers whose loved ones reject the truth.
What’s Wrong With The Serpent Seed Doctrine?
There are multiple reasons why the Serpent’s Seed dogma is faulty and contrary to scripture.
Cain cannot originate from sexual intercourse between Eve and the serpent because he is the offspring of Adam and Eve.
Genesis 4:1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” (From New International Version)
2. The Nephilim cannot be labeled as byproduct of intercourse between women and fallen angels (demon spirits) because their lineage and ancestry is specified in Genesis. The Nephilim came from the ancestry of Anak (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim).
· Numbers 13:33 There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” NAS
3. Cain cannot be the byproduct of the “serpents seed” because Cain would then be the only one whose loins could continue to generate the serpent’s seed. ALL of Cain’s offspring and descendents would have been destroyed in the great flood! Remember, only Noah’s family went into the ark and were saved, and Noah is a descendent of Seth, not Cain. When Noah entered the ark, he took his wife, his three sons (Ham, Shem and Japheth) and their wives. Everyone else on the earth was killed.
· Genesis 7:13 On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark. NAS
4. The fact the “sons of God” married the “daughters of men” is no proof at all for the theory that the sons of men were fallen angels (messengers). The text specifies both men and women here are mortals!
· Genesis 6:3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (From New International Version)
5. The Nephilim are indicated as having ALREADY been on the earth BEFORE the sons of God and the daughters of men came together conjugally.
· Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. NASU
6. The Nephilim are not necessarily the offspring of the union between the sons of God and the daughters of men; the text above in 6:4 merely states that before and after the sons and daughters married and had relations, they (the Nephilim) were there.
· NOTE: A simple example would be like saying, “The brother was there before and after the couple got married and had children. He was a well known man with a powerful reputation.”
7. The sons of God and the daughters of men are mentioned as separate and distinct from the Nephilim earlier in the context of Genesis chapter six. Genesis 6:1-2 simply says the earth’s inhabitants multiplied, daughters were born to the line of men referenced in Genesis 5:1-32. The “sons of God” are not alien spirit beings that come down from heaven and have sex with the daughters of men; this interpretation is the vain imagination of those who don’t read their Bibles carefully. The sons of God are the entire human lineage listed in chapter five.
· Some names of the “sons of God” mentioned are “Seth” (Genesis 5:5-8), “Enoch” (Genesis 5:18-24) and “Noah” (Genesis 5:29-32). These men lived a long time; Seth lived 912 years, Enoch lived 365 years (before God took him alive into heaven!), and Noah was 500 years old when he had his sons Ham, Shem and Japheth.
· Genesis 6:1-2 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
· Doesn’t it make sense that if a man lives to over 900 years old that he would be involved in the multiplication of inhabitants on the earth, and that “daughters” would be born to these men? Why attempt to overcomplicate these simple verses with a complex alien explanation?
8. When God created living organisms, He made every living creature that moves “after its kind.” (Genesis 1:21-25) God made man in His own image and likeness; He made them made and female, and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:27-28) Even after mankind first sinned, he begat offspring in his own image, NOT that of the sexual intercourse between fallen angels and humans:
· Genesis 4:1-2 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. NASU (NOTE: In the text, Eve emphatically proclaims, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD.” How then can proponents of serpent seed philosophy believe Cain is the offspring of Eve and the serpent?
· Genesis 5:1-3 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created. When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. NASU
In Genesis 6:2 & 4 some Christians try to use the “daughters of men” as being Cain’s descendents and the “sons of God” as referring to Seth’s descendents, and believe it was necessary for the two groups to procreate to generate the human race. This contradicts the earlier text of Genesis 4:17 that reads, “Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch.”
Furthermore, Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters, and given their longevity, and that of the human race before the great flood, they literally multiplied the earth with inhabitants. The United States of America is less than 250 years old and one can observe how populated it has become. Imagine how crowded it would be if another 550 years passed!
· Genesis 5:4 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. NASU
Nephilim & The Lord of the Rings
There is no such thing as copulation between Satan and Eve, or demons and women, or demons and men. Not only is the aforementioned Serpent’s Seed Doctrine bogus, but also, it is covertly dangerous to one’s spiritual well being. The subtlety of this teaching reads like something from a new Star Trek series, is the elucidation from Lucifer, the light bearer (or Morning Star).
· 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; so it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds. AMP
Sadly, discernment is a quality lacking in the lives of most Christians today. They watch television, videos and movies filled with witchcraft masquerading as Harry Potter and proclaim it to be “perfectly harmless.” Other Christian camps (with even less discernment) chastise the Harry Potter clan, while they glibly and passively absorb Lucifer’s light rays at the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies. Christians love to make excuses for the sin they enjoy, and Lord of the Rings enthusiasts say, “But Lord of the Rings is based on J.R. Tolkien’s book, and he’s a Christian author.”
While naïve Christians view the Lord of the Rings movies as “a classic battle between good and evil” and analyze it as a Christian allegory with overtones of moral virtue, they glibly ignore their bias for Hollywood’s version of Tolkien’s books as a valid, “Christian world view.” Since when has recent Hollywood cinema presented an accurate “Christian world view” of good and evil?
English novelist J. R. R. Tolkien created an enduring body of work that includes the novel The Hobbit (1937) and the trilogy The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955). These books are set in a fantasy world called Middle Earth. The Hobbit centers around the small and timid Bilbo Baggins who, lured into a treasure-hunting adventure, finds a ring that makes its wearer invisible. In The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo’s nephew Frodo gains possession of the ring and battles Sauron, a demonic being who desires control over all Middle Earth.
J. R. R. Tolkien British author J. R. R. Tolkien wrote the fantasy tale The Hobbit in 1937 as a children’s book. The sequel, a three-volume set entitled The Lord of the Rings, written between 1954 and 1955, tells a tale of good against evil in the fantastic setting of Tolkien’s imaginary Middle Earth. Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2002. © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
The question today’s Christian must ask is, “What would Jesus do?” Jesus spoke in parables and used allegory to present the kingdom of God to the multitudes. However, Jesus did not speak of “wizards” as in Tolkien’s book, where Bilbo’s adventure begins with a visit from a powerful wizard named Gandalf who reveals he must travel with thirteen (an occult number) dwarves to a Mountain where Smaug, an evil dragon lives.
· 1 John 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (From New International Version)
· Mark 4:22-23 “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” (From New International Version)
· Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. (From New International Version)
Tolkien’s fantasy has Bilbo slaying the dragon so he can capture a treasure for the thirteen dwarves, and take a ring for himself so he can become invisible through its’ supernatural power. The trilogy evolves with Frodo inheriting the ring, and a satanic being named Dark Lord Sauron comes out of hiding to seek the ring, whose mystic and demonic power can restore him. Does this sound like the type of allegory the Lord Jesus would use?
Noah Webster’s Dictionary defines wizard as a conjurer; an enchanter or a sorcerer. Large tears roll down the face of Jesus as he watches his people become a mishmash of entertainment seekers enchanted with sorcery. They rate the degrees of sin they can tolerate while comfortably enjoying their movies or video games or Internet sites. Their hearts and minds have acclimated to an environment of techno gadgets that keep them from doing anything BUT the study of God’s word, evangelism, prayer and discipling others in Jesus’ name.
Movies like ‘ET Come Home,’ and the Star Trek series first initiated the child of God into the cosmos of beguiling spirits. These flicks had an appeal seemingly harmless. Then came Star Wars, the ultimate sequel of good verses evil. Each time passivity submits to yet another compromise, and it becomes easier and easier to rationalize ungodly behavior. Soon it’s the norm to see Alien, then Aliens, then Alien 3, and then Alien Resurrection. The progression is by design, and Lucifer laughs in triumph as the Christian salivates in anticipation of the next ray of darkness in the form of science fiction.
“It’s all harmless, right? I mean, c’mon, what’s the big deal?” the demons whisper, “Go ahead, your kids will love that new video game. Just think…you’ll have lots in common with them because you’ve seen all the movies. And the bad parts? No problemo…I’ll teach them how to sort that out; I’m very discerning.” The Christian’s interest continues to peak, and so does the devil’s.
Worst of all is how those immersed in sci-fi entertainment become so defensive when criticism is leveled at their pet sin, “Oh boy, they just don’t really understand sci-fi or they wouldn’t say those things!” Dear reader, have you considered that the truly discerning believer does understand and that’s why they criticize?
Television producers nationwide are proliferating ‘reality TV’ that is totally unreal (I mean really, watching Ozzie Osborne stutter to say f— this and f— that at home with the wife & kids? You have to be kidding!). Like reality TV, the infatuation with aliens and science fiction has blurred the Christians’ realty, and is covertly influencing the way they interpret the Nephilim of Genesis 6:4.
Aliens are not real, and even if they were, how does that change a Christian’s life? The Nephilim are not a race of extraterrestrial giants that emerged from human intercourse with fallen angels or aliens. And if these things are merely fiction, then there’s no harm done, right? Dead wrong my friend.
· Jude 12-13 speaks of Christians “without scruples providing for themselves alone” and calls them, “clouds without water, swept along by the winds.” More revealing is what the believer becomes as he or she bites into the tree of good AND evil, eventually becoming, “twice (doubly) dead, lifeless and plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, flinging up the foam of their own shame and disgrace; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever.” (From the Amplified Bible)
The right way matters, and it’s not OK to mix a little bit of poison with your dinner. Rat poison is usually less than 3% strychnine and 97% rolled oats. The scriptures must be interpreted accurately, or not at all. There are many portions of God’s word that leave us with unanswered questions. There are passages that have yet to be revealed to us by God, which He will do in His time.
The Nephilim of Genesis 6:4 are NOT one of the mysteries or ambiguous portions of the Bible. It has and deserves answers and will expose the deception of the Serpent Seed Doctrine. Furthermore, it will teach the truth and set us free to deepen our relationship with God the Father, and with His son Jesus Christ.
Who Are The Nephilim?
The Nephilim first appear in Genesis 6:4 and then again in Numbers 13:33.
Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. NASU
The text above is somewhat ambiguous to interpret because it not obvious if the Nephilim are one and the same as the “sons of God.” It is likely Nephilim is a reference to the stature of certain giant men who lived “in those days” and “afterward.” Nephilim are not the ‘sons of God’ who married the ‘daughters of men’ because these are mentioned together in the context before Nephilim appear (Genesis 6:2). The word “afterward” is penned on purpose to show Nephilim continued to exist in a dominant role after the flood.
The Hebrew word for the English transliteration ‘Nephilim’ is defined as follows:
Nephilim = OT: 5303 nephiyl (nef-eel’); or nephil (nef-eel’); from OT: 5307; properly, a feller, i.e. a bully or tyrant. OT: 5307naphal (naw-fal’); a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative) (Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Nephilim means “a feller” (One who hews or knocks down). To hew can mean to cut with an ax, or other like instrument, for the purpose of making an even surface or side; as, to hew timber. One possibility for describing Nephilim is as a kind of ancient lumberjack whose trade is to hew down, to cut down; to fell (trees) by cutting.
To hew or to chop can take on a completely different character. It can mean to cut or to hack; as, to hew in pieces. This may refer to a savage sort of man who uses a sword or another sharp instrument to cut off the parts of human bodies in warfare, thus ‘felling’ a man to the ground.
These Nephilim were a group whose men were known as, “the mighty men who were of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:4; NASU). In Hebrew the phrase “the mighty men” means, “the powerful warriors” or “tyrants.” The phrase “men of renown” in Hebrew means, “men of reputation, fame, glory or authority.” So these Nephilim were warriors and tyrants who had a reputation and were famous for their exploits and killing.
Numbers 13:33 tells us Nephilim still existed some years after the great flood, but these could not be direct descendents of the antediluvians in Genesis 6:4 who died in the flood.
Numbers 13:33 “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” NASU
The “sons of Anak” are “a part” of the Nephilim, as described by Israel’s spies when they returned from the land of Canaan. To gain insight into the characteristics of Nephilim, we must examine the context of scripture passages in which they appear. In Genesis 6:4 Nephilim are sandwiched between verses that speak of the most grievous corruption of mankind:
· Genesis 6:1-12 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. 10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. NASU
The Nephilim were corrupted, because they are included as a part of “all flesh” that “had corrupted their way upon the earth” (Genesis 6:12). Furthermore, as soon as Nephilim are mentioned in 6:4, the next verse says, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
To confirm this interpretation one need look no further than the verse just before Nephilim are mentioned, when the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3)
The account in Numbers 13:33 does not paint a favorable picture of the Nephilim either. Moses sent out spies to see what was in the land of Canaan, and this is a part of their report mentioning the Nephilim:
Numbers 13:31-33 But the men who had gone up with him said; “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” 32 So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. 33 “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” NASU
The spies said of the Nephilim, “they are too strong for us” and spoke of their domain as “a land that devours its inhabitants.” Obviously Nephilim lived among a race of people large in stature because the spies said, “all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.” The Nephilim were particularly gigantic for they are described as, “the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” The spies had nothing but a “bad report” about the land where the Nephilim dwelt.
There is another account of the sons of Anak, and it describes the Nephilim. After the spies of Israel returned from Canaan, the LORD spoke to the people through Moses; He commanded them to cross the River Jordan and conquer the sons of Anak:
Deuteronomy 9:1-2 “HEAR, O Israel. You are to cross the Jordan today to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you are, cities great and fortified up to the heavens, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’” AMP
The words of Moses not only describe the enormous size of the Anakim, but also the dread of those who saw them. When all the facts are in, it is highly unlikely the Nephilim are fellers of trees and more probably gargantuan men that hew their enemies to pieces and “devour” them (not as cannibals, but metaphorically they consume their opponents).
The word Nephilim is only used in two scripture verses, but its root word origin ‘napal’ or ‘naphal’ appears elsewhere in the OT and is more descriptive of the character of these men. Naphal means, “to fall, be prostrate, drop; to be overthrown; to cause to fall, throw down, cast oneself down; to fall upon, attack; to fell, make the face fall; to lay down; to desist.”
AMG WordStudy Bible & Reference CD says of naphal, “The main idea behind this root is a violent or accidental circumstance or event. The meaning can range from a simple, literal falling, e.g., falling down through a lattice (2 Kings 1:2), falling in battle (Judges 20:44) or into the hands of another (Lamentations 1:7), or by the hand of an opponent (1 Chronicles 20:8).”
Apparently this ancient Hebrew Nephilim (fellers) word was well known to Israelites who associated it with its root word naphal (to fall). Two ideas of what “fellers” are emerge from the root word origin of Nephilim; the first is their reputation for “violent circumstances” (see AMG above) and causing their opponents to “fall” in battle. The second word association with Nephilim had more to do with how other people reacted or responded to them; those who met the Nephilim face-to-face would ‘fall prostrate’ before these giant warriors (or their hearts would ‘fail’ them for fear of the Nephilim).
The Nephilim & Goliath
The most popular account in the Bible is the OT story of David and Goliath. Goliath was a giant of a man. Goliath was 9 ½ feet tall (1 Samuel 17:4) and skeletons recovered in Palestine attest to the fact that men as tall as Goliath once lived in that general region (Also see Deuteronomy 2:10-11).
In the Hebrew OT the root word for Nephilim (naphal) is used three times in the text of David and Goliath. Below are the three scripture verses, and notations have been made next to the English words translated from naphal (naphal means to fall or prostrate oneself in fear).
1 Samuel 17:32 David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail (naphal) on account of him {Goliath}; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” NASU
1 Samuel 17:49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell (naphal) on his face to the ground. NASU
1 Samuel 17:52 And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. So the wounded Philistines fell (naphal) along the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. AMP
That Nephilim were a class of warriors within the communities of giants can now be firmly established. These massive men were fellers, who used axes, swords and sharps stones to hack (hew) their enemies to pieces. There was a day of reckoning for Nephilim when David was made king of Israel, and Joash his general. Together they pursued and destroyed the enemies of God, and did unto the giants as the giants had done to others:
1 Chronicles 20:3-8 And he brought out the people who were in it, and cut them with saws and with sharp instruments and with axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. Now it came about after this, that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued. And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. And again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. NAS
Nephilim in the Church
One of the definitions for Nephilim given by Strong’s Dictionary is “a tyrant; a bully.” To bully means, “to insult and overbear with noise and blustering menaces.” To tyrannize is to exercise impetuous control; to rule with unjust and oppressive severity; to exercise power over others not permitted by God, His Law or required by justice, or with a severity not necessary to the ends of justice.
A prince will often tyrannize over his subjects; republican legislatures sometimes tyrannize over their fellow citizens (e.g. – Saddam Hussein’s republic), masters sometimes tyrannize over their servants or apprentices and a husband intimidates or browbeats his wife and children.
There are also a sort of Nephilim that occupy the pulpits in churches across America and the world. They use fear tactics to control the people and keep the money rolling in. They fleece God’s sheep for tithes and offerings through coercion and peer pressure. They are spiritual bullies, and all it takes is one small stone of truth slung by the hand of anointed servants to bring them to their knee in repentance.
These avaricious wolves even use the Bible out of context, quoting OT passages to get the people to tithe to the institution or church organization, saying, “Some of you don’t believe in tithing, but Malachi says, Will a man ROB God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed YOU?’ In TITHES and offerings!”
2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we have dominion [over you] and lord it over your faith, but [rather that we work with you as] fellow laborers [to promote] your joy, for in [your] faith (in your strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God) you stand firm. AMP
The minister’s voice rises higher, his finger points squarely in the middle of the congregation, and he finishes quoting Malachi out of context, “You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ALL the tithes into the church…”
Of course this never really gets everyone to give 10%, but it will make enough folks feel guilty, ashamed or uncomfortable enough that they dare not be seen withholding from the offering plate. What ever happened to the cheerful giver? Why not teach that love is the gift we give to God when we care for the needs of others?
Pastors act like Nephilim in other ways too, like manipulating what people believe, and demanding conformity to a set of manmade rules. Some pastors are so obsessed with manipulating others they tell the women whether or not they can wear make-up, or cut their hair, or how far below the knee their dresses must go. Other ministers are so insecure they do all that is in their power to keep others from “stealing” their sheep (instead of recognizing they aren’t his sheep but God’s!).
1 Peter 5:1-3 I WARN and counsel the elders among you (the pastors and spiritual guides of the church) as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory (the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (disclosed, unfolded): Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully; not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). AMP
Husbands that intimidate and criticize their wives are like Nephilim; they are bullies, and make their wife afraid to share her opinion or truly be herself. They put demands on her and have expectations like a taskmaster, “Where’s my dinner? Where’s my shirt? Blah, blah, blah!” They treat the one they promised to love and cherish like she was a child.
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them. AMP
God drove the Nephilim out of Canaan and He will drive it out of those who refuse to do His will. He is the one who demands us to obey, and yet He does it with patience and love. He wants us to treat others the way we want to be treated, and if we do it, the Nephilim will shrink into little midgets.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] AMP
SELAH…Pause and Reflect
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What of Og of Bashan? Deuteronomy 3:11 – (For only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits and its width four cubits by ordinary cubit.)
Also, Gen. 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward
Deut. 1-2 What about Emim, Anakim, Rephaim, Zamzummim, Caphtorim, Avvim. The Nephilim weren’t the only hybrids. It seems that when complete destruction is commanded, one of these hybrids is connected to the people group.
I don’t understand how Jesus Christ wasn’t a Nephalim. He had a human mom, Mary, and an Angel dad, Gabriel.