THE NEPHILIM (FALLEN ANGELS)

The progeny of the fallen angels with the daughters of Adam are called in Genesis 6, Nephilim, which means fallen ones (from naphal, to fall).  What these beings were can be gathered only from scripture. They were evidently great in size, as well great in wickedness. They were superhuman, abnormal beings ; and their destruction was necessary for the preservation of the human race, and for the faithfulness of God's word (Genesis 3:15).

This was why the flood was brought upon the world of the ungodly (II Peter 2:5) as prophesied by Enoch (Jude 14).

But we read again of the Nephilim in Numbers 13:33 : "there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, which come from the Nephilim".  How, it may be asked could this be, if they were destroyed in the flood ?  The answer is contained in Genesis 6:4, where we read :

"There were Nephilim in the earth in those days (in the days of Noah) ; 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 the mighty men (Gibbor in the Hebrew) which were of old, men of renown (who got a name and were renowned for their ungodliness).

So that "after that" (after the flood), there was a second irruption of these fallen angels, evidently smaller in number and more limited in area, for they were for the most part confined to Canaan, and were in fact known as "the nations of Canaan". It was for the destruction of these, that the sword of Israel was necessary, as the flood had been before.

In Genesis 14:5 they were already known as "Rephaim and "Emim", and had established themselves at Ashteroth Karnaim and Shaveh Kiriathaim.

In chapter 15:18-21 they are named : Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, and the Amorites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites".

These were to be cut off, and driven out, and utterly destroyed (Deut. 20:17, Josh 3:10). But Israel failed in this (Josh. 13:13, 15:63, 16:10, 17:18, Judges 1:19, 20, 28, 29, 30-36, 2:1-5, 3:1-7), and we know not how many got away to other countries to escape the general destruction.

It is certain that the second irruption took place before Genesis 14, for there the Rephaim were mixed up with the five nations or peoples, which included Sodom and Gomorrha, and were defeated by the four kings under Chedorlaomer.

Anak was a noted descendant of the Nephilim ; and Rapha was another, giving their names to different clans.

Their strength is seen in "the giant cities of Bashan" today ; and we know not how far they may have been utilized by Egypt in the construction of buildings, which is still an unsolved problem.

If these Nephilim, and their branch of Rephaim, were associated with Egypt, we have an explanation of the problem which has for ages perplexed all engineers, as to how those huge stones and monuments were brought together.

Moreover, we have in these mighty men, the "men of renown", the explanation of the origin of the Greek mythology. That mythology was no mere invention of the human brain, but it grew out of the traditions, and memories, and legends of the doings of that mighty race of beings ; and was gradually evolved out of the "heroes" of Genesis 6:4.  The fact that they were supernatural in their origin formed an easy step to their being regarded as the demi-gods of the Greeks.

REFERENCES : Dr. Bollinger, Archaeologist, Biblical Scholar, Historian.

NOTE:  Satan's plan was to prevent Christ of having a clean birth.

GOD BLESS

www.increasefaithbyknowledge.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/theElectChurch