"Sons of God" (god), Fallen Angels, Nephilim and "The Watchers"

Now here's my next installment of this study on angels, ghosts, extra-terrestrial life; (and now) Satan and fallen angels. In this chapter; I'd like to deal a little more with "the nephilim incident" and even some interesting things Jesus says about "the days of Noah" and the end.

Nephilim:

Let's first start with the word "nephilim". Most Hebrew dictionaries say "nephilim" means "one who's fallen"; (as well as "giant" has been a presented translation).

Well after closer inspection of the format of the word used in the Hebrew; it is much more accurate to state that "nephilim" actually does mean "giant", more than it (technically) means "one who's fallen"; even though "one who's fallen" can (by implication) be linked to "nephilim", based on the fact that a "fall" had to occur in order for the nephilim to come into existence.

We also assume by context of the phrase in Genesis that the nephilim were "biologically giants". Yet it does bear some contemplation as to whether or not giantism (as in like it's cousin dwarfism) truly bears any relevance to the state of spiritual standing of the individual bearing this particular genetic abnormality. From a purely material standpoint, how large a human is; doesn't really matter. Same for animals. There is "giantism" in the animal kingdom too. Carbon based lifeforms come from "those of their own kind". And thus, this does beg the question as to whether or not "giants" is actually further defined in this context as "mighty men of renown"?

Now to be fair; there are Scriptures that speak of humans who are taller than the fellows of their geographical area. There's a tribe in Africa where both individual males and females average between six, to over seven feet high. Six foot males, (African or European) are not unusual; but six foot females from anywhere in the world, are certainly more rare.

In some Scripture though; these "tall tribes" are "associated" as "giants" and in some accounts; they are assumed to be traceable to the nephilim. Or at least that is how it has been recorded in the minds of Israelites who encountered them. (Joshua and the spies surveying the promised land.)

Were some of these tribes indeed associated with the nephilim? We'll look at that question when we get into the Scripture. Yet I certainly am of the opinion that human giantism should not be taken as a mark against someone's state of morality, or spiritual condition; just because the birth of some "giants" of antiquity were associated with fallen angels.

The tallest person recorded in modern history was Robert Wadlow. He was an American, born of normal size, to average height parents in 1918. Robert died in 1940 from blood sepsis caused by an infected blister on his foot. Robert began to grow exponentially from about the time he began to walk and was 5ft 3inches high at 5 years old. He was 7 ft at 12; and 8 ft 5 inches at 17. At the time Robert died, he was 8 ft. 11.1 inches high. So yes, Goliath being 8 plus feet high, is certainly humanly possible. Robert, like most other people with the condition of giantism; most likely had a "malfunction" of his pituitary gland.

That being said; there are "natural giants" (those who do not have a pathological medical reason for their size). Several modern basketball players fall into this category.

The tallest "natural giant" recorded in history is Angus MacAskill; a citizen of Canada who was born in Scotland. (1825-1863) Angus reached a height of 7ft 9 inches by 22 years old. He was of normal size and expected growth until his teens, in which he began to grow quickly. Despite his sudden growth spurt; Angus remained well proportioned and is recorded to have the largest chest circumference of any non-obese male. (80 inches) Angus worked in the fishing industry and often entertained fellow sailors by picking up boat anchors. He later toured with P.T. Barnum's circus demonstrating feats of great strength. When he was 14, being close to 7 feet high; his boat crew took him to a barn dance, where he'd gotten into a fight with another dancer. He'd hit the other fellow so hard, he knocked him out; for at least long enough for Angus to have returned to his ship. His captain found him on his knees praying he'd not killed the man.

So, both Robert and Angus were morally and socially average for their era. Both were involved in their communities and had some formalized religious training. Both were described by their communities as being kind (gentle and / or reasonable) people. And still today, I'm not aware of any other giants who are morally debase criminals, according to the general standards of human societies.

So this raises an interesting question about the Genesis account of "giants" as being associated with demonic forces. We'll get into exploring these tenants next.

"The Watchers":

Genesis 6:4:

There were giants 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.

This verse here, is the precursor to the stated reason for the flood. "…every imagination of the thoughts of the heart (of men) were evil continually.."

Look though at the phrase that follows "giants in the earth". We have "in those days; and also after that". This is a reference to both the pre and post flood eras. There are "nephilim giants" prior to the flood and there are "nephilim giants" after the flood.

The phrase "and the same became…" lets us know that this act of the "Sons of God" (become sons of god) is stated to be connected to the flood. The fall of these "Sons of God" having corrupted humanity (at the very least) with their dishonest doctrines, as well as their evil actions. All of this was related to the real nature of the Creator, for the ultimate motivation of Satan and his minions is to be worshiped. (Matthew 4:9)

Of those prior to the flood though; the New Testament states they were confined in "everlasting chains". (Jude 1:6) Assuming they weren't "loosed" somehow post flood; who are these "Sons of God" (god), now propagating this same disobedience?

Ancient extra Biblical texts name these as "the watchers". The "watchers" are described in these writings, as some class of angelic being and traditional theory has it that once the human portion of the nephilim die, the angelic portion becomes what we would call a demon.

This is according to beliefs that formulated between the Babylonian captivity and the penning of the New Testament. Documents related to these beliefs were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls; so we know they predate the Talmud. Elements of them are likewise referenced in the New Testament. Also, these beliefs span cultures as they are found in both BC (before Christ) Babylonian and Jewish folklore. There is also some "carry over" of some of these beliefs into both Persian and Egyptian writings.

Now is what the ancients "hypothesized" about these "watchers" actually true?

As for certain aspects of their conclusions; that we don't really know, because we don't fully know what they believed about all of the watchers. In other aspects, it would depend on how the Scripture itself defines "watchers". We can say that all the ancient texts do bear resemblance both to each other and the Biblical text. But of course just because non-Biblical texts agree and have resemblance to Biblical text, doesn't mean the early interpretations are correct. At the very least though, we can say there is historical consistency of these hypothesis of men.

As per the Bible though; there are passages (3 in all; and all in Daniel) that use the term "the watchers" as defined as some type of "Heavenly host". Yet in this context, those described are not fallen and are also stated as being "holy ones".

"Holy ones" used in these 3 passages is most often translated "saint" in other passages. All the places this particular Hebrew word is used are all in the book of Daniel. Its translated "holy one" 3 times, "saint" 5 times and "holy" 4 times. Interestingly, the "holy" = 4 times, is always followed by "gods". "The holy gods".

Now who are the "holy gods"? Jesus answered this in John 10:34-36:

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, you are gods?

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came and the scripture cannot be broken; say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, you blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God?

The passage Jesus quotes, references back to Psalm 82:6. In the beginning of this psalm, God speaks of His standing among the congregation and "judges among the gods". He asks how long will they judge unjustly and accept "the persons of the wicked". (This word "persons of the wicked" is plural.) They are commanded to defend the poor and fatherless and do justice for the afflicted and needy.

Now if God was speaking to a "congregation of angels"; this psalm would make no sense, for there aren't "poor, fatherless (or) needy" angels. Although, just like the just on earth are afflicted; I'm sure obedient angels are afflicted by the disobedient angels in the process of the cosmic battle of good verses evil. Also, seeing how there are only two classes of angels (obedient and disobedient); I'm sure the obedient ones have no qualms or difficulties standing against the disobedient. Angels are either fallen and absolutely morally corrupt, or they are not. Since there is no salvation plan for non-carbon based entities called "angels"; there is no in-between.

Which of course this raises several questions. Are these "watchers" / "holy ones" actually disembodied saints?

We saw this in the book of Revelation where an "angel" told John "Don't worship me, for I am one of your brethren."; which proves the presence of disembodied saints, as "relating" to the living in some manner. Revelation also states that the souls of the saints pray for justice and the avenging of their blood along with their fellow servants, who've also been martyred. It also seems that in this context, disembodied saints pray concerning events happening on earth too. And so, if it's true that "the watchers" / "holy ones" are disembodied saints; obviously they are not the fallen "son's of God" (god) we see elsewhere in Scripture. We know this because one who is atoned for, can not lose that atonement in this life or the next.

Secondly, the term "watcher" only appears in context with "holy ones"; and thus the only Scriptural conclusion we can draw is that "the watchers" are not fallen angels.

So the hypothesis presented by the ancients; being that there are fallen "watchers", is solely a matter of human speculation. This is true, even despite that we do have fallen "sons of God" (god). The "watchers" and the "sons of God" (or god) are apparently different groups.

Here's the clincher though! Later on in the Scripture the obedient humans (saints) are said to "become the sons of God". So just as Satan is ripped from his once held place of authority (obviously along with other fallen angels) and replaced by the blood bought of the Kingdom; the "title" of "Sons of God" than transfers to believers.

"Sons of God" (god):

So how would that fall "work" in terms of biological material world beings; as opposed to angelic realm beings?

Well, I already addressed how "everything is made after its own kind". And if we can't cross animal and human (no matter how close the DNA overlaps); how would one create an angelic human hybrid? Especially seeing that not only are these "not after their own kind"; they don't even wholly function in the same dimensions of existence.

Living humans (who are the only ones who can reproduce) can't enter the angelic realm. Matter of fact; at best, via visions and dreams can a mortal witness a type of theophonic picture. And of course if that experience is facilitated by a genuine obedient angel; the subject of all acts of worship always points to God.

So even if we are leaning toward "giant" (as related to nephilim) being defined as "mighty men of renown"; how does a demon (or Satan) "merge" to a human?

Well, we know this happens because we do see it with Judas. Satan is said to "enter" Judas; as well as Judas being described as one who "is a devil". (Luke 22:3, John 13:27, John 6:70)

We also see plenty of examples were demons are cast out of people and as explored before; that appears to have a multitude of applications (medically, psychologically and spiritually).

So if the "sons of god" could "marry" with the daughters of men to create a spiritually wicked offspring; (the biological aspect obviously having to be fulfilled by agreeable human parents) how does this happen?

We know all life has some "connection" to a mode of understanding that demonstrates to them that there exists a Creator. Higher life forms possess some sort of "soul" and what of plants, or lower lifeforms who obviously posses "the breath of life"? Is "the breath of life" sufficient of a connection for their purposes that they would not need a "soul"; as humans come to understand "soul"? I suppose that's possible, but I have no knowledge of any Scripture that plainly declares this.

This "spirit" ("breath of life"?) is what the Holy Ghost uses to communicate to the "soul" of the entity. Thus the actions of the two she bears coming out of the woods to destroy the 42 children that mocked Elijah. Same thing with Balaam's donkey. God utilized some "mode of communication" to cause these animals to respond the way they did specifically to the individuals they responded too. The donkey speaks specifically to Balaam and the she bears to kill these specific children for their mocking God's legitimate prophet. These weren't "random acts of animal behavior".

Mighty Men of Renown and The End:

Remember in the last chapter we found that "men of renown" as conveyed by a passage penned in Moses's time meant "learned cleric". (Numbers 16:2) We see this "evil learned cleric" application reappears in the days of Christ (they are the ones who sought to kill Christ) and also (as we will see) as part of the events of the last days.

Yet, does this really have anything to do with a "nephilim form" of biological giantism?

Well the answer to that very well may be both "yes" and "no".

We know from the context of how nephilim were created; that they were the product of "marriage". Now take a look at what Jesus says here:

"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark."

So, as we saw both before and after the flood there were nephilim "born" to the "daughters of men". Apparently, that "scenario" (comparison) emerges again just before the return of Christ.

So what does this all mean?

Now I'd explained in the previous chapter, that because angels and humans are very different types of creation; these "Sons of God (god)" could not produce children without the assistance / consent of men. For if Scripture is true and everything is "made after its own kind" and angels don't reproduce; this transgression had to be accomplished through human mediators. Thus the nephilim are indeed called "men" because they are 100% biologically human.

The "breath of life" comes from God and He is the only entity that can actually create life. If an organism does not possess "the breath of life"; than it by that definition, is not "alive". Nowhere in Scripture does God grant non-carbon based "angels" the ability to create life. Even the saints can't manufacture spiritual life in the unregenerate. That is solely the domain of God. Yet as we seen in Genesis where God speaks to Eve; the "serpent" is stated to have "seed".

So, let's jump over to the New Testament a bit. We have at least a couple examples where Jesus (and John the Baptist) tell disobedient Jews that they are "of their father the devil". And as mentioned before, Jesus also states that Judas "is a devil".

Now obviously no-one believed Caiaphas and these other scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were demon / human hybrids. No, they were indeed flesh and blood humans with human mothers and fathers. Nor were these religious leaders "giants" in terms of physical stature.

Back up again to the Old Testament. The last verse in Numbers 13 describes the "sons of Anak" who were "giants". Anak's father was "Arba". Arba had a city named after him which was beforehand named "Kirjatharba". After Kirjatharba was "the city of Arba" It became the city of Hebron.

The descendants of Anak were called the Anakim. The Anakim where the ancestors of the Philistines. Goliath was a Philistine. Archeology tells us the Philistines came from Crete and the Aegeans were the early ancestors of the Greeks. The Aegeans were also related to the Minoans. The Minoans are famed the world over for their maritime skills. Evidence has surfaced that like the Vikings; they even made it to Canada.

Which of course raises the question of whether or not some of these accomplishments were the result of information relayed by demons?

Now that is a common interpretation of this concept. These wicked people received abilities to secure great feats of technology, philosophy, art and culture. Yet if Satan is the "father of lies and a murder from the beginning" and "there is no good thing that comes from him"; why would anyone conclude that demons would advance human understanding of the cosmos?

Now it is plausible that some of that knowledge may have been relayed from the spiritual realm. Yet if that is indeed the case; it doesn't make sense that angels who've already fallen would have brought that about. Those types of actions are not in their nature.

On the flip side of this though, if the fall of the "Sons of God" entailed some sort of exchange of knowledge prior to their "getting wives", it is possible this "giving of the knowledge of good and evil" is the act that precipitated their fall (the getting wives) being what they exchanged for this.

Jude 1:7 explains that the angels like unto Sodom and Gomorrah "went after strange flesh". Here in is the explanation of their motivation for the actions they committed. Yet because fallen angels would not be giving humans viable information about the operation of the cosmos; (that would be against the nature of their fallen state) the act of their fall was actually giving humanity knowledge that they were not permitted to reveal. The reception of this knowledge did cause fallen humans to worship these (now demonic) "sons of god". These angels did this probably because they'd come to understand that they'd eventually be supplanted by "the watchers" (saints). So thus the goal of trying to create these spiritual "hybrids", (I believe) was an attempt to corrupt the seed of Eve; to prevent the birth of the one who would facilitate the saints replacing them.

Yet because Satan, and these fallen angels are not omnipotent and can not interact with the creation as the Holy Spirit can; they would require the cooperation of human beings to "inhabit" these men.

And this could be an explanation to the portion of the 10 commandments that says: visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me…". The "passing down" of the consequences of the parents actions upon the disobedient children who follow the parents lead. This passage is not saying God will hate someone because their parents are wicked; but that the iniquity of the fathers passes to the children who obey the evil they are taught (as opposed to obeying the conscience God gave them). We all have at least "two witnesses" in our lives: our conscience and the creation around us. Just because our parents were practitioners of evil, doesn't mean we need to be.

We all bear the fallen nature of Adam's transgression; but those who follow Satan make a distinct choice to do so. This is a different issue than someone encumbered by "run of the mill" / "simple" external sin such as drunkenness, promiscuity, or ill temper. In all this too though, there comes a distinguishing line between consequence of the fallen nature and demonic activity. Two who fornicate in a heterosexual relationship because they think they are "in love", is in a far different category of motivation than rapists, pedophiles or even homosexuals.

Interestingly, though Scripture more directly connects homosexuality to demonic activity; of the 3 categories listed above, solely based on "recidivism rates" a greater percent of homosexuals come to redemption than pedophiles and rapists. Could it be that homosexuality is more like "the first open door" to worsening demonic activity; even though pedophilia and/or rape don't necessarily (yet sometimes do) have a direct causal / effect correlation to homosexuality?

Yet as we edge closer to the end; we do see proliferation of false clerics, people "running after" to worship the beast (Bohemian grove type Satanic activity of the global cabal; as well as Epstein Island type activity) along with a pushing of the homosexual "agenda". Yet it is statistically arguable as to whether or not the actual percentage of numbers of homosexuals has increased, in comparison to population increase. (The statistics here don't tend to corroborate the statements of the agenda.)

Now to add an interesting twist to the notion of the nephilim being linked to biological giantism; we have the city of Kirjatharba becoming the city of Arba, becoming the city of Hebron. In Genesis 23:2; Sarah dies in Hebron and is subsequently buried in a "cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre".

"Kirjatharba" in Hebrew is derived from the word "four" (forth) and is translated as "the city of four". According to Jewish tradition; this is allegedly were Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Adam are buried.

Yet the first thing that pops into my mind when I think "city of four" isn't Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Adam. It's the four heads of the river emerging from Eden.

Pison- root means "to grow" or "scatter". "…compasses the land of Havilah where there is gold" (Havilah comes from root that means to shake or travail.) ".. the gold of that land is good (high quality) and bdellium ("separated out" = believed to be a sap type substance; probably amber) and onyx (a "blanched" stone - possibly "made back" by exposure to high temperatures). A source of earthquakes?

Gihon - root means "to bring forth". "…the same that compasses the whole land of Ethiopia."

Hiddekel - "that is it which goes toward the east of Assyria" (Likely word of foreign origin; generally thought to be the Tigris River.)

Euphrates - root means "to break forth".

Three of the roots for these rivers depict a "fountain head" that "spouts" water. The forth name being of foreign origin, the root meaning isn't known, yet the "definition" given by the text sates it goes east of Assyria. Their source is the river of Eden.

Nothing else of more information is stated about these rivers names, other than via directions stated; it's assumed they flow "north, south, east, west". Some further meaning may be delineated out of the symbolic meaning of onyx, gold, or Ethiopia. Yet knowing their source is Eden; assuming these rivers bear some symbolic giving of life since their source is the "river of life". These rivers (though existing in the real world just like Adam, Eve, Eden, the two trees and the creation story itself); are likely some allegoric microcosm of the salvation plan.

Conclusion:

So at the end of this chapter, via strictly what we find in Scripture; it's most likely that "the watchers" are disembodied saints. They have become the "sons of God" because the original angels who fell, became the "sons of god"; as opposed to their maintaining their "first estate". So these fallen angels (ranking under Satan) appear to be what's called "devils, demons, evil spirits" in both Old and New Testaments.

The nephilim are humans who've given themselves over to Satanic / demonic influence. They are the worshipers of the first beast described in Revelation 13. They have come about as a result of angels who fell; (at least this is my own hypothesis) from disseminating information to humanity they weren't permitted to give. The consequence of their actions on the humans who sought them, causes the "nephilim" humans to worship the demons, as well as Satan.

In return; (it seems to me) the demonic intention was an attempt to corrupt the seed of Eve, seemingly hoping their actions would somehow prevent the birth of the Messiah. Yet not having the ability to create biological life, because they are not God and do not possess the breath of life; the best they could hope for, was human cooperation to carry out their evil intent.