The Giants of Old

The Nephilim (נְפִילִים) are mutants. Sometimes translated as “giants” (Genesis 6:4), these are creatures who are an abomination to God, resulting from fallen angels (demons) taking the women of men and birthing these atrocities through them. In Genesis 6:4, we find that they existed before the Noahic Flood, and in Numbers 13:32, there is evidence of them after the Flood.

Rephaim (רְפָאֵל) means “fallen ones.” The translations for “Rephaim” vary widely, with some referring to them as dead spirits (Isaiah 14:9). These monsters are the result of demons corrupting the human nature by using women to produce abhorrent beings that are an abomination to God. They are a manipulation of human creation by demons propagating with women. Although they were called by different names after the Noahic Flood, they resulted from the same atrocious act by demons as the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:23).

Due to poor quality translations, we often miss the fact that these atrocities will not be raised to face judgment at the Great White Throne, where all unbelievers are judged. They are not recognized as human beings, or a creation of God, and will therefore be cast into the lake of fire, along with Hades, at the final judgment (Revelation 20:14).

The demons involved in perverting the seed of the woman by birthing these abominations are the angels who left their first estate (Jude 6) and were put in chains as a result of their attempts to corrupt not only the human seed but all biological life (Genesis 6:12).

The only way humans can directly interact with angels is when an angel takes on human form. Gabriel, the angel sent to speak with Daniel, was referred to as a man when he directly spoke with him (Daniel 9:21). Unlike mythology, angels do not have wings. This misconception arises from confusing different types of spirit beings. Only the Cherubim (Ezekiel 10:19) and Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2) are described as having what appear to be wings—they are spirit beings, but neither of them are angels.

The two angels who met with Abraham before destroying the valley of Sodom are described as men (Genesis 18:16). Angels, including demons, witnessed God create man from the ground (Genesis 2:7). Therefore, they would understand how to form a human body from the elements of the universe. An example of this is Satan, who has limited ability to create certain types of life, as demonstrated by Pharaoh’s magicians who opposed Moses (Exodus 7:9). However, this does not make them human; they remain spirit beings wrapped in flesh. The physical bodies they assume are of the same type as human bodies and can therefore reproduce with females (Genesis 6:2). This kind of twisting of nature resembles what scientists attempt through gene splicing, resulting in the perversion of human or animal nature.

God promised Satan that the seed of the woman would crush him. To prevent this, Satan instructed demons to corrupt all seed so God’s promise could not come true (Genesis 3:15). Even after the Noahic Flood, these demons again sought to pervert human nature, leading to them being placed in chains awaiting judgment (Genesis 6:3).

After the Flood, the Nephilim were known by different names, including being referred to as Rephaim (“fallen ones”). The Moabites called them Emim (Deuteronomy 2:11), and the Ammonites called them Zamzummim (Deuteronomy 2:20). They appear during the time of Abraham, when Chedorlaomer sacked Sodom and took Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 14:5-16). As part of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, the land of the Rephaim was included (Genesis 15:18-21).

The Rephaim were present in the Promised Land when Israel first came out of the wilderness. Their presence caused the Israelites to fear taking the land, leading them to reject God’s protection and wander in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 13:33). During Moses’ time, the kingdom of Og—one of the remaining Rephaim until King David’s time—resided in Ashtaroth and Edrei (Joshua 13:12). King David ultimately destroyed all the remaining Rephaim, bringing an end to them upon the earth (Deuteronomy 3:11, 13; Joshua 12:4).

The Philistines also had a few Rephaim in their midst, including Goliath, whom David defeated with a stone (1 Chronicles 20:4).

Now they reside in Hades (Isaiah 14:9) and will not be resurrected (Isaiah 26:14). Instead, they will be cast directly into the lake of fire, along with death and Hades, because they are abominations of God’s creation (Revelation 20:14). They know of God and tremble because of Him (Job 26:5); however, they will not praise God (Psalm 88:10), for they are a corruption of His creation.

The way of the Rephaim is corruption and the perversion of one’s nature. The seductress walks this path (Proverbs 2:18), and it is the same path unwise men follow when led by foolish women (Proverbs 9:18). Along with the seductress and foolish women, men who wander from the way of understanding find rest with the Rephaim in Hades (Proverbs 21:16).

Those who reject God and turn Him into the image of corrupt men—such as superheroes, false gods, and other idols—serving creation rather than the Creator, go down the path of the Rephaim while believing themselves to be wise (Romans 1:22-24). Just as demons sought to corrupt what God had created, humans who reject the truth and walk this destructive path likewise seek to pervert their own nature.