GIANTS IN THE LAND...NEPHILIM
Regarding "the sons of God" and giants from Genesis 6
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). I don't
believe this...and I challenge anyone's theology and interpretation of
Scripture if they subscribe to it.
Understand this...The theological position from Genesis 6 that fallen angels
had sex with humans to create a race of giants is sometimes presented as truth.
However, no Scripture supports this and I don't even enjoy talking about it.
In fact, there should be very little thought and study toward this as we try
to prepare ourselves to stay in touch with what God desires for us to do.
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)
The basic premise for the Bible student should be that the doctrine of man's
earthly dominion is that God gave His delegated authority to human beings on
this planet. The Word states that 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 (a person who
governs a kingdom in the minority or absence of the sovereign) 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. Demons
did inhabit a human being (Legion), but they did not take on man's flesh.
Of course we know that angels, both heavenly and fallen, can appear in human
form (the two angels visiting Lot at Sodom), 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..."
(Note: lower case "sons"...not Sons of God.
The Hebrew for the term "sons of God" is ben Elohim, which means literally
"sons of God."
Important: 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."
(Matt. 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." (Gal. 3:26, NASB)
In Gen. 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...'" So, we see an explicit reference to who and what God
intended to bring judgment 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... (And we know from Scripture it included his family).
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 sets the parameters for reproduction in Genesis chapter
one, and no one, and no "thing" can reproduce outside of His plan
His plan is perfect. Man is the one who messes "the perfect" up. I messed it
up because I am a sinner. However, I am a sinner who knows it...and I am a
sinner saved by grace.