The Nephilim: Who were they? Angels, Demons or Aliens?

The Bible describes a mysterious ancient people called the Nephilim with angelic origins. The Scriptures reveal that God created angels to serve Him, but a third of them rebelled in the Heavenlies. Their leader, the Archangel Lucifer, became Satan and his followers became demons. Most of the angels who became demons continue to operate on earth or in the supernatural realm, waiting for their terrible day at the Great White Throne Judgment. However, a small number were locked up in ancient times because of a terrible sin. This crime is described in the Book of Genesis. In the time of Noah, a few angels became so shamelessly depraved that:

The sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married…the Nephilim were on the earth in those days – and also afterwards – when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown

– Genesis 6:2-4

Two groups are mentioned in this passage of Scripture: The daughters of humans and the sons of God. If you are unsure who the sons of God are, you can find the answer in the Book of Job. He saw the sons of God, angels, before the Lord in Heaven (Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7).

The Nephilim were the offspring of this hybrid human-angel relationship. The Hebrew word ‘Nefilim’ can be translated as ‘Giants’ or interpreted as ‘The Fallen Ones,’ from the Hebrew ‘Naphal,’ to fall. Humankind is made in God’s image. Therefore, the sin of angels and humans reproducing was considered so vile to the Almighty, that these angels were apprehended and locked away from ancient times. Jude says:

And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling – these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the Great Day

– Jude 1:6

The Nephilim did not disperse from the earth. When the Israelites went into the Promised Land they testified, ‘We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them’ (Numbers 13:33).

Seventeen times Anak is identified in the Bible. These people were tall, strong and fearsome, and what they possessed they refused to relinquish. But under God’s anointing, Joshua drove them out of Israelite territory, but they survived in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod. Goliath was from Gath (Joshua 11:21-22, 1 Samuel 17:4).

This is why the Israelites were told many times in Scripture to keep their faith and bloodline pure. They were forbidden to marry and reproduce with the nations around them. The Bible says:

Do not lie with the fallen warriors of old, who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war

– Ezekiel 32:27

The Nephilim were few in number and their legacy would have been diluted by being a minority. However, ancient Israel was told to protect its faith and bloodline, so Jesus of Nazareth would be a pure son of Adam – as He was – to fulfil His purpose as the Second Adam (Deuteronomy 7:3, Judges 14:3, Matthew 15:24-26, Luke 3:23-38, John 4:22, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49).

The Nephilim seed may still hold a key to the end times in the person of the Antichrist. Jesus said, ‘As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.’ The descendants of the Nephilim were active and alarming in those days! Thus, in the supernatural warfare of the end, don’t be surprised if something of the nature of the Nephilim is found within the Antichrist and the Second Beast.

 The Bible contains many hints about things we do not understand:

God stands in the congregation of the mighty ones; He judges among the gods…I said, ‘You are gods…but you shall die like men and fall like one of the princes’

– Psalm 82:1, 6-7

This article was adapted from the book The End Times, The Book of Revelation by Paul Backholer, as is used by permission. Also available, is the prequel, Heaven, Paradise is Real by Paul Backholer.

By Paul Backholer. Find out about Paul’s books here.