ANGELIC INFILTRATION
From an original study taught by RBT Bible Ministries. Used with permission.
Genesis, Chapter Six opens with a brief statement regarding the antediluvian (pre-flood) civilization. It reads: “Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them.”
“Men” is a generic term and refers to all mankind. “Daughters” means more than that … it actually refers to an abundance or excess of beautiful women … so that they were very desirable. “That the sons of God [bene-ha-Elohim] saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took (volition — they decided to go for it) wives for themselves, whomever they chose. (Genesis 6:2).
Please note that in the Old Testament, bene-ha-Elohim is always used for angels never for human beings.
However, in the New Testament, “Son of God” is a title for Jesus Christ, while “sons of God” refers to believers (John 1:12). The reference here in verse two is to fallen angels. We know this by comparing Scripture with Scripture. In Jude 6 and in 1 Peter 3:19-20, which confirm that fallen angels “who once were disobedient” and “did not keep their first estate (own domain).” So, these emissaries involved in the assault on the “daughters of men” are the same ones incarcerated in 2 Peter 2:4.
Please note: From these verses we can legitimately deduce that this was most likely an attempt by Satan to prevent the Savior from coming into the world to save fallen mankind.
Immediately, certain questions arise concerning the physical possibilities and capabilities of angels to interact with humans. Are not angels invisible to man? YES! Their bodies are composed of light. But, they can also transform themselves to appear as human beings (Luke 24;4,23). So, they obviously appeared as strikingly handsome and masculine.
Matthew 22:30, raises a second question: How is procreation possible based on Matthew 22:30. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in Heaven.”
Answer: Apparently, before the flood angels had that capability, but since the infiltration, God put a stop to that.
In Genesis 6:3, God states that man’s remaining days on earth will be 120 years.
God gave the people 120 years to repent from self-indulgence to faith in God, but no one cared, no one listened to Noah. They must have considered him a fool. None the less Noah continued to build the Ark and warn the people until “the time was full” — the 120 years had expired, the Ark was completed and the Lord destroyed the encroachment of Satan into the human race.
In 2 Peter 2:4,5, God expressed that Noah was a “preacher of the Gospel” and, furthermore, that the Angels who took to themselves daughters of men were incarcerated in darkness (their light was “turned off”) “reserved for judgement.”
THE SUPER RACE
In Genesis 6:4: “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 bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”
So, from this verse we learn that a super-race emerged. The progeny were called “Nephilim,” literally “fallen ones” in the Hebrew, but is sometimes translated “giants” in English. They were more than giants or super men, they were now a fallen race, not just as angels, but now as mankind … they were no longer true humanity — they were half-man and half-angel, but creatures of incredible strength and intellect.
Notice too that they cohabited with the daughters of men. The result therefore of inter-marriage, is that the children became mighty men who were of old (of antiquity), “men of renown,” — men of heroic status.
All ancient literature contains stories of mighty men who could perform supernatural feats. If you will recall from ancient history, these mighty men were super warriors and were half man and half-god, “demigods.” For example: in Greek mythology, Zeus, was the chief god, and was said to be the father of most of them, including: Orpheus, Thesseus, Cadmus, Perseus, Jason, and we all know about Hercules from the movies, Castor, and Pollux.
Although the ancient literature is considered mythology, it is not entirely mythical. These myths were actually based on factual events that took place before the flood, during the antediluvian period. Of course, as the centuries turned, human nature embellished and transformed these super-creatures, but to what extent no one really knows.
There are four civilizations revealed in Scripture, and it is interesting to note that each civilization begins with believers only, and Divine blessing; each terminates with Divine judgment and the destruction of all unbelievers.
1). The Antediluvian civilization — from Adam to the flood;
2). The post-diluvian — from Noah to the Second Advent of Christ;
3). Then, when Christ comes (Second Advent), The Millennium reign for a thousand years, at the end of which all unbelievers of history will stand before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment and be cast into the Lake of Fire.
4). The Eternal state — from the creation of the new Heavens and the new earth, and Divine Blessing forever and forever.
In Genesis 6:8-11, we read that “Noah found favor with God,” which expresses his faith. Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. “Corrupt” in our context indicates that true humanity had nearly vanished from the earth. The extreme evil of men must have really been increased by the sin nature of these fallen angels, because corruption was destroying the civilization of that time. Apart from the Tribulation (a period of seven literal years which completes the Age of Israel, immediately following the Rapture — it terminates with the Second Advent of Christ), this antediluvian period was the worst period of violence and unrestrained evil the world has ever known. This is expressed in Genesis 6:12-13.
When the flood was fulfilled and the super race of unbelievers was annihilated, God judged those fallen angels who infiltrated the human race, before it was completely destroyed. The details are revealed in 2 Peter 2:4-6.
God protected the line of true humanity through whom Christ would come into the world, by drowning the Nephilim in the flood and casting them into a special compartment in Hades called Tartarus.
The Greeks thought of Tartarus as a subterranean place lower than Hades where divine punishment was meted out. Tartarus is a place of extreme torment, of temporary fire and of suffering. Part of divine judgment is burning and pain; part is thick darkness, but most of all it is eternal separation from God.
The angels in Tartarus are at present reserved (guarded) for judgment. They are not yet in their final state. They are confined to a temporary prison, where they will remain until the Great White Throne Judgment. They will at that time be cast into the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20).
VICTORIOUS PROCLAMATION
Finally in our study we have “The Victorious Proclamation.” In 1 Peter 3:19-20a, we learn that Christ not only went to Paradise, but He went to Tartarus: “In which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, who once were disobedient.” The content of Christ’s proclamation is suggested in 1 Peter 3:18. Christ informed these fallen angels that they had failed in their attempt to destroy true humanity, and that Christ had gone to the Cross as planned. The sudden appearance of Christ to these fallen spirits, in resurrection body, was visible evidence of His strategic victory over Satan in the Angelic Conflict.
Thank you Father for your wonderful plan of Grace and for these fascinating Truths in your Word. May each reader be challenged to study your Word and apply it to the details of their lives. In Jesus we pray, Amen.
Happy Studying!