Who are the Nephilim (Genesis 6) ?

[ozso]

God’sWord says “also after that” it doesn’t tell us how it happened but it did. You still haven’t come up with a reason God would have women and especially children murdered. Just being an enemy of Israel just doesn’t cut it . Children are innocent! There has to another reason a compassionate merciful God would have innocent children killed. Your explanation goes against the nature of God in scripture.

It's an interesting theory.

 

[ozso]

All I am saying is that there was a reason. I also believe we have the reason in scripture but many refuse to see it.

'Many refuse to see it' is often applied to unorthodox views. The idea being that it's not accepted by most because it's incorrect, but rather because only a few special ones have been given a revelation.

 

[David Lamb]

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Nephilim actually means fallen ones. They were not giants, but they were fallen because they were the offspring of fallen angels (sons of God) and daughters of men

I wonder how that fits with the bible saying that angels are spiritual?, as Psalm 104 says:

“Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Ps 104:4 NKJV)

An angel can be fallen, but can a spiritual being have intercourse with a physical being to produce offspring?

 

[ozso]

I wonder how that fits with the bible saying that angels are spiritual?, as Psalm 104 says:

“Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Ps 104:4 NKJV)

An angel can be fallen, but can a spiritual being have intercourse with a physical being to produce offspring?

Well... angels are described as being physically human in nature several times. The men of Sodom wanted to "know" them. Paul says people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it it. Jacob wrestled with an angel.

 

[David Lamb]

Well... angels are described as being physically human in nature several times. The men of Sodom wanted to "know" them. Paul says people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it it. Jacob wrestled with an angel.

True, but just because the men of Sodom thought that the angels were men, that doesn't mean they were. These were the same angels that I imagine Hebrews refers to here:

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” (Heb 13:2 NKJV)

Although spirit beings, angels sometimes appeared in human form.

 

[ozso]

True, but just because the men of Sodom thought that the angels were men, that doesn't mean they were. These were the same angels that I imagine Hebrews refers to here:

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” (Heb 13:2 NKJV)

Although spirit beings, angels sometimes appeared in human form.

That's what I'm saying. How human, as in able to to impregnate a woman, of course is unknown. But I'd say, probably not. And also the angels in the passages we've brought up, were not fallen angels. Demons are never described as taking on a physical appearance that I know of. Which I figure is a reason why they possess people.

 

[d taylor]

I wonder how that fits with the bible saying that angels are spiritual?, as Psalm 104 says:

“Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Ps 104:4 NKJV)

An angel can be fallen, but can a spiritual being have intercourse with a physical being to produce offspring?

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So how does this one verse tell you everything and angel is or everything that they can do.

 

[JEBofChristTheLord]

One of the three was Yahweh, and there were two others. They ate food. Likewise, after Christ the Lord rose, and returned, He ate food.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Giant people who once dominated certain regions of the earth. During a certain period after the flood, God lead a number of peoples (not just Israel) to kill them all off. (Deuteronomy Chapter 2 is a good example)

So whomever the giants were, they're dead.

 

[Postvieww]

'Many refuse to see it' is often applied to unorthodox views. The idea being that it's not accepted by most because it's incorrect, but rather because only a few special ones have been given a revelation.

Not in this case! The most accepted alternative view is the Sethite view which is completely based on speculation with no real Biblical evidence. We have far more scripture to support the angelic incursion than the alternate theory. Then when one considers the physical evidence and Historical church record it is quite obvious which is the more believable scenario. Several years ago when having this discussion with a pastor friend of mine we exchanged our views and he said to me “ I cannot with scripture refute what you say but I choose not to believe it”. That is where most are one this , many will hold on to any theory no matter how weak because they cannot intellectually accept the possibility something like this could happen. It is almost the same thing with miracles today. It does not take special revelation from God to believe what is clearly stated in scripture but the alternative view with absolutely no clear scripture to support it is the go to by many because they “choose to believe it”. I am in no way an expert but I have studied this in depth started threads and participated in threads on this forum and have heard just about every excuse known why this couldn’t happen but still believe Genesis 6 as written as well as Jude and all of supporting scripture.

 

[Postvieww]

I wonder how that fits with the bible saying that angels are spiritual?, as Psalm 104 says:

“Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” (Ps 104:4 NKJV)

An angel can be fallen, but can a spiritual being have intercourse with a physical being to produce offspring?

Angels can appear as men. In scripture they ate food with men. If we have a Casper the friendly ghost idea of a “spiritual being “ then IMO we have assumed too much. The fact is we have no idea of what angels are capable of.

 

[Postvieww]

That's what I'm saying. How human, as in able to to impregnate a woman, of course is unknown. But I'd say, probably not. And also the angels in the passages we've brought up, were not fallen angels. Demons are never described as taking on a physical appearance that I know of. Which I figure is a reason why they possess people.

You have brought up a topic many IMO get wrong. Fallen angels are NOT demons. They have different attributes and operate very differently.

 

[Postvieww]

Well... angels are described as being physically human in nature several times. The men of Sodom wanted to "know" them. Paul says people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it it. Jacob wrestled with an angel.

True!

 

[ozso]

You have brought up a topic many IMO get wrong. Fallen angels are NOT demons. They have different attributes and operate very differently.

According to what?

 

[Postvieww]

According to what?

Your Bible. Study in depth about angels and demons in scripture it is very easy to see they operate very differently.

 

[d taylor]

You have brought up a topic many IMO get wrong. Fallen angels are NOT demons. They have different attributes and operate very differently.

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Demons seek out dry places (water-less). The nephilim drowned in the flood.

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

 

[ozso]

Your Bible. Study in depth about angels and demons in scripture it is very easy to see they operate very differently.

Anyone can proclaim anything and then say "you'll find it in the Bible if you study hard enough".

 

[ozso]

Not in this case! The most accepted alternative view is the Sethite view which is completely based on speculation with no real Biblical evidence. We have far more scripture to support the angelic incursion than the alternate theory. Then when one considers the physical evidence and Historical church record it is quite obvious which is the more believable scenario. Several years ago when having this discussion with a pastor friend of mine we exchanged our views and he said to me “ I cannot with scripture refute what you say but I choose not to believe it”. That is where most are one this , many will hold on to any theory no matter how weak because they cannot intellectually accept the possibility something like this could happen. It is almost the same thing with miracles today. It does not take special revelation from God to believe what is clearly stated in scripture but the alternative view with absolutely no clear scripture to support it is the go to by many because they “choose to believe it”. I am in no way an expert but I have studied this in depth started threads and participated in threads on this forum and have heard just about every excuse known why this couldn’t happen but still believe Genesis 6 as written as well as Jude and all of supporting scripture.

The issue with this single verse is it's generated a huge mythos. I bet there's umpteen books dedicated to it. With the Sethite interpretation it's, "oh okay" and that's about as far as it goes. With the other version it's, "ooh what a fascinating mystery that has to be explored". I think mankind is perfectly capable of being pure evil of its own accord. Look at the Nazis for example. Did Hitler need a fallen angel to father him to be so evil?

 

[Laodicean60]

They reappeared after the flood as scripture shows.

Do you have a verse I thought the reason for the flood was to end the evil of that day?

 

[Postvieww]

Did Hitler need a fallen angel to father him to be so evil?

No but he probably was demon possessed!