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What
The Bible Says About The Nephilim
Did Fallen Angels Have Sex with Humans and Create a Race of Giants?
Craig von Buseck, D.Min.
The Nephilim: Children of Demons?
A viewer writes:
I have questions regarding "the sons of God" and
giants from Genesis 6. Some Bible teachers believe that angels took the form of
flesh (actual incarnation) to engender offspring with women, thus
"Giants" came into being (Nephilim). What do you believe?
This
theological position from Genesis 6 is common -- that fallen angels had sex
with humans to create a race of giants -- but I don't subscribe to it.
This
is what the Bible says about the Nephilim:
“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.” (Genesis 6:4,
NASB)
A
basic premise in the doctrine of man's earthly dominion is that God gave His
delegated authority to human beings on this planet.
And
God made only man as a fleshly being with a soul.
Demons,
which most theologians believe are fallen angels, have a soul/spirit, but no
body.
Animals
have a body and mind, but no eternal soul/spirit.
Man
is uniquely made in God's image as a triune being -- spirit, soul (mind, will,
and emotions), and body.
God
gave dominion to man on the earth to rule as His regent because man was made in
His image as a triune being.
So
only a triune man, made out of the dust of the earth, can have dominion under
God.
Demons
cannot take on flesh -- there is nowhere in the Bible that says that they can.
Of
course, we know that angels, both heavenly and fallen, can appear in human
form, but they remain spirit beings only.
Also, in Genesis chapter one, God says in verse 24, "...
Let the earth produce living creatures according to their 'kinds'..." A
fish cannot produce with a bird. And a man cannot produce with an animal -- or
a demon. All creatures on the earth produce only according to their 'kind.'
In
the passage in question, we see that the Bible says:
"...'the sons of God' saw that the daughters of man
were beautiful..."
The
Hebrew for the term "sons of God" is ben elohim,
which means literally "sons of God."
A
key of biblical interpretation is to allow the Scripture to interpret itself.
People fall into error when they try to make the Bible say something to fit
their particular doctrinal position when the text does not say it.
In
this case, the text simply says 'sons of God,' which is a
designation for humans.
There
is nowhere in the Bible where demons are called 'sons,' and especially
not 'sons of God.'
There
are three passages in Job that refer to the 'sons of God,' that
seem to indicate that these were godly angels, since mankind had not received
access to God's presence before the resurrection of Christ, and Demons had been
expelled from God's presence.:
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” (Job 1:6,
NASB)
“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to
present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present
himself before the LORD.” (Job
2:1, NASB)
“When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of
God shouted for joy…” (Job 38:7, NASB)
Throughout
the rest of the Bible, and particularly in the New Testament, when the term 'sons
of God' is used it is referring to human beings.
In
the genealogy of Jesus, Luke writes in chapter 3:38, '... son of Seth,
son of Adam, son of God.'
Jesus
referred to human beings as 'sons of God.'
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NASB)
“Jesus said to them, The sons of this age marry and are
given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age
and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of
God, being sons of the resurrection.’” (Luke
20:36, NASB)
Paul
also referred to humans as "sons of God:”
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are
sons of God.” (Romans 8:14, NASB)
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for
the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans
8:19, NASB)
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ
Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26, NASB)
In Genesis 6:3,
God says, "My Spirit will not remain with 'mankind' forever, because
they were corrupt."
It
says "mankind" -- not a mix of man and demon.
In
verse 4 it says the Nephilim were "... powerful men..."
Again, not powerful demon-men.
And in verse 7, "... the Lord said, 'I will wipe
off the face of the earth: man, whom I created...'"
Here
we see an explicit reference to who and what God intended to bring judgement to
-- man.
God
says nothing about demons or fallen angels here. That which God created, man,
would be destroyed -- with the exception of righteous Noah.
God
alone is the Creator. Demons and angels do not have the power to create, so
they could not have re-created, or reproduced with human beings.
If
these were a separate race created by demons reproducing with men -- which
would not be something God created -- then I believe God would have made it
clear that the demon-men were being destroyed along with the regular men.
But
God only says that He will destroy MAN who he created.
If
the demons were reproducing offspring with humans then, why don't we see any
other instance of this in the Bible -- and why aren't they doing it today?
The
answer, I believe, is that it simply isn't possible.
We
need to be careful that we don't try to force the Bible to say what it doesn't
actually say.
This
is how cults and false religions are started and grow. Instead, we must use
proper biblical interpretation that lets the Bible say what it says, adding
nothing and taking nothing away.
God
is sovereign, and He set the parameters for reproduction in Genesis chapter
one, and no one, and nothing can reproduce outside of His plan.
This
should give us great comfort.
Craig von Buseck, D.Min.
Dr. Craig von Buseck is a published author
and Editor of Content for Inspiration.org, the website of Inspiration
Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina. Craig is also a contributing writer
for CBN.com, ChristianPost.com, MTL Magazine, and Charisma Magazine. He holds a
Doctor of Ministry and an MA in Religious Journalism from Regent University.
Craig’s new book, I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel, was
recently released by Lighthouse
Publishing of the Carolinas. This exciting biography examines the Zionist
Movement and the life of Harry S. Truman – and how they came together in a
crucial partnership prior to the rebirth of the modern Nation of Israel.
Craig’s other books include Seven Keys to Hearing God’s
Voice, Nobody Knows:
The Harry T. Burleigh Story, Praying the News, co-written by 700 Club co-host
Wendy Griffith; and NetCasters:
Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men.
Craig served as Spiritual Life Producer and
Programming Director of CBN.com for 12 years. He also served as a member
of the executive board of the Internet Evangelism Coalition for more than ten
years. He has extensive speaking experience and travels often to conferences,
professional events, churches, and writer training meetings.
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