Were the Nephelim Children of Aliens?
This will seem like an outlandish topic to some readers. A few decades ago, ideas about aliens or UFOs seemed to mainly be relegated to the Nevada desert, fringe cults or substance abusers. Times are changing. Our culture is lending increasing credibility to UFO or alien sightings.1 Even as I was writing this post, a local newspaper landed in our home with a supposed sighting of a UFO over Lake Ontario featured prominently. We also hear of professionals such as jet pilots and police officers recounting unusual events. Even governments are involved. The entertainment industry now regularly mixes ancient myths of the gods in with science fiction. There is also a growing trend which associates the "giants" of Genesis 6, in Hebrew the "Nephelim," with aliens. Some are claiming that they were actually the key to a thriving civilization before an ancient cataclysm.2 They propose that the gods of ancient times, such as Marduk or Jupiter, were what our culture now views as aliens, coming from distant planets, visiting the earth, interacting with humans, building pyramids, unlocking the secrets of the universe, and doing miraculous deeds in pre-flood ages. More and more people claim to be able to contact such beings through prayer or meditation. Young people are being exposed to theses ideas through popular books, podcasts, and videos. I am coming across more and more people that have questions about this passage, and the topic of Nephilim. What was happening before the flood? Who were these "giants?" Are Biblical angels actually aliens, some of whom were reproducing with human women? Why do people keep bringing up the Nephelim of Genesis 6?
“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants ("Giants" in Hebrew is the word Nephelim) 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. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” - Genesis 6:1–10
Who were these "sons of God?" There are two main schools of thought on this passage throughout the history of interpretation, with a third "middle ground" view:
First, the phrase "sons of God" refers to the line of Adam through Seth, while daughters of men refers to daughters of Cain. (See Genesis 5:1-5, Luke 3:38) Searching the context and cross-references is the key to this interpretation. Genesis 4 is the record of Cain's family line, which was characterized by selfishness, alienation from God, violence, and polygamy. An early Lamech (not the later father of Noah) is given as an example of a violent one who takes multiple wives. (Genesis 4:19-23) In contrast Genesis 4:25 to 5:32 is the record of the sons of Adam, who was made in the image of God. These "sons of God" did things like call on the name of the Lord, (4:26) walk with God, (5:22) bring comfort, (5:29) and preach righteousness. (2 Peter 2:5) They lived in covenant with the Lord, and sought to do his will. Over time it is clear that most of their own sons, though born to godly parents, fell away. Each generation had "sons and daughters" in Genesis 5, and so they multiplied, but by the time of Noah, they were all fallen away with the exception of one man and his family. This text would then be indicating that many descendants of Seth became polygamists, and took many wives from their godless neighbors. The world was becoming an increasingly selfish, adulterous, violent and rebellious place. Brutal men rose to the top, and dominated in a dangerous world. (Genesis 4:23-24) Only Noah and his family avoided intermarriage with the Cainites. (Genesis 6:9) It is reasonable that "giants," which is the word "nephelim" in Hebrew, is better understood as "fallen ones." In this view, the term actually refers to a state of willful depravity. Interpreters such as Augustine took the view that the Seth to Noah line were the sons of God, writing that "...there were sons of God descended from Seth who abandoned their holiness and sank down into this city of men." (City of God, 15.23) John Calvin wrote, "It was, therefore, base ingratitude in the posterity of Seth, to mingle themselves with the children of Cain, and with other profane races; because they voluntarily deprived themselves of the inestimable grace of God." (See Calvin's Commentary, on Genesis 6)
Second, others assert that the phrase "sons of God" in Genesis 6 was used in ancient Hebrew exclusively for angels. (Job 1:6, 2:1) They believe that the "fallen ones" are also those in Jude 6 that "...did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode." (See also 2 Peter 2:4-5) Though the Lord Jesus teaches that angels in heaven do not marry, (Matt. 22:30) they claim that these angels fell from heaven to earth, and they married because they were disobedient, and it is only the obedient angels remaining in heaven who do not marry. They assert that angels have bodies. (Rev. 21:17) In this view, the hybrid offspring of angels and women were powerful giants due to some genetic result of intermixing. They note that the root "nephilim" is also used for the Sons of Anak in Numbers 13, who were "men of great stature." The command to wipe out the Canaanites and prohibitions on marrying Canaanites were aimed at eliminating similar races that may have emerged after the flood, as Genesis 6:4 says "nephilim" also existed "afterward." The sons of Anak, and Goliath's gigantism, would be a result of being a descendant of fallen angels. (Numbers 13:33) This view, or related views, existed before the time of Christ in extra-Biblical Jewish writings, such as the book of Enoch, which some believe Jude refers to. (For more on this view, see this video by Peter Gentry.) 3 It is this view that is currently being stretched to association with aliens.
Third, it is notable that some interpreters propose that Genesis 6 refers to demon possession before the flood. The fallen angels of Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4-5 were the same evil spirits called demons in the New Testament, who left their proper realm of serving God and went down to earth to possess sons of Seth, and tempt them to take many daughters of Cain as wives. The flood wiped away the "hold" of these spirits on humanity, while it also doomed pre-flood demons to the abyss. In a literal sense, the first view is taken, in a spiritual sense, something of the second view was happening. (For more on this, see this sermon by John MacArthur.)
It seems to me that the first interpretation is still the strongest. The term "nephelim" seems to have been stretched beyond its root, and extra-biblical material may be affecting the second interpretation more than context or biblical cross references. It is not clear that the word "nephelim" itself should be primarily associated with gigantism, but rather with reprobates who became dominant through violence. I recognize that other views have been held by interpreters throughout church history, and that this is a difficult passage, so I would not argue about it too dogmatically. (1 Timothy 1:3–4) I also think the third view could have been a reality, though I am not convinced that "sons of God" refers directly to demons.
I do not know enough about the spiritual realm, or Jude's claimed use of 1 Enoch to absolutely rule out the second or third view, but unless I find compelling reasons to change, I still lean towards the first as the plainest meaning of the text. Especially in light of Luke 3:38, which explicitly calls Adam "the son of God," and the Lord's own description of pre-flood marriages in Luke 17:27, which plainly describes a time much like ours: sinful polygamy or polyamory. A view that is primarily cross referenced to scripture rather than extra-biblical sources, and which Augustine and Calvin held despite very different cultures, and which is still held by many Reformed interpreters today, and which is not shaped by popular trends, seems like a reasonable option.
I have no doubt, however, that many will not be convinced, and that some younger people are becoming increasingly convinced that descendants of Nephelim might still exist as hybrids, or that aliens might appear. I hear of increasing numbers of people that are latching on to these ideas. More and more people believe that there is a "cover up" that is hiding the existence of aliens, giants, or buried remains of giants. Why does this matter?
First, I am concerned about the potential that fables can creep into the church, and that this may relate to the dangers that Timothy was warned about in 1 Timothy 1:3–4, "...charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith." The command is simple: do not give heed to fables. I was reluctant to even write about this for this reason, this subject might actually be best ignored, and this post might only lead to disputes. There are good reasons not to obsess about Genesis 6 or stories about "gods." Yes, there is some credibility to the view that "mighty men of old" were in part the sources of myths about the gods, but we ought not to get too deeply into the related fables that are multiplying in our age. There is also a danger that some Christians, especially those influenced by literalist schools of post-tribulation-rapture dispensationalism, seem to be living in unhealthy fear and speculation: “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38–39 Do not allow trends on the internet, youtube, or social media networks to become a source for your interpretation of scripture or reality. Do not allow these things to take up your time, or clutter your mind, or seep into your family or church. Do not let fear become your guide. Falsehoods, fables, and fear generally have as much power over you as you allow them to have. There are better, and more important things to fill your mind with. "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God." - Colossians 3:1.
Second, I would like to appeal that we be sober minded about these things because this trend, as it is unfolding online, has many parallels to ancient paganism. This relates to deeply religious movements. Adherents wear t-shirts, or post online, about their faith in aliens, often using the catchphrase "I believe..." There are increasing claims to be able to communicate with "extra-dimensional" beings. Usually they bring messages of comfort. I have known professing Christians who dabbled in these things, and then slid into neo-paganism. Many people now desperately want to believe that aliens can teach them how to save the planet or bring world peace. The culture pushing these new narratives is often into strange spirituality, and they are presenting a view of aliens that makes them very much like gods. The names of ancient gods are now being used. The supposed personalities and capabilities of ancient gods are being promoted. Ideas woven into scientology, mormonism, and free masonry are seeping into the mainstream. Paganism is simply presenting in a new cloak, one that is more credible to people who claim to be "scientific." There is nothing new under the sun. As the narrative of "science" grows increasingly self-contradictory, people are desperate to fill the gaps. As telescopes, microscopes, and particle accelerators are revealing that creation and the "universe" are irreducibly complex and subject to entropy, many are desperate to find saviors. The global climate change narrative, and constant images of disasters on the news, have inspired much fear. Any saviour but the true Son of God seems to be preferred. If you have a friend or relative who is getting into this, please warn them of these dangers. Whatever view you take, if you believe the Bible, the Nephelim were not good. The worldly trend is to make "fallen ones" into benevolent aliens, while the Bible presents them as lustful and violent men. “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” - 2 Corinthians 11:14.
Third, there are practical reasons, especially for the many of us who have never seen one in person, to be skeptical about UFO narratives. There are now billions of people walking around with reasonable-quality cell phone cameras in their pockets, and we still have no still no crisp, clear, and compelling unedited pictures or videos. I have taken a lot of pictures of the sky, and spend some time looking through a telescope. I have dabbled in astrophotography, and landscape photography, and taken many pictures of the moon. In doing so, I have learned what lens flare, pollen, clouds, distant aircraft, floating seed pods, insects, birds, the moon, and satellites look like when lenses are out of focus, they are moving across the sky, or it is windy or partially cloudy. I have a few photos that I could post online that could probably get thousands of clicks, because they look strange. I believe that there are ordinary explanations for most of the existing photos and videos. Either those are not UFOs, or they are edited. I would not deny, however, that there do seem to be a handful of credible records of unidentified high-performance aircraft. If those videos are reliable, they seem to be be very fast moving spheres or oblong shapes. It would seem reasonable that our governments or others use unmanned aircraft which are very high performance, and it is logical that these drones might be extremely unfriendly to the environment or dangerous. Generally, in my estimation, the higher performance a vehicle is, the more dangerous and polluting it is. There would be technology to hide. If such a drone were to crash, they would have every reason to try to cover it up. Why were UFOs generally saucer shaped in the 1950s, then triangles, and now spheres? Should we not assume at this point that surveillance or military technology is decades ahead of what we know? You can now go to a discount store and buy a toy drone that would have seemed impossible 15 years ago. Is it not even to be expected that the "military-industrial complex" might have motives to promote UFO hype in order to give an alternative explanation for their own activities? Do governments never lie or cover things up? I'd argue at this point that we may also have to be very careful and sober about believing governments (Psalm 146:3) and mainstream media on this topic. These are institutions that now promote and believe twisted lies about sexuality. (2 Thess. 2:8-11) Graphics, A.I., and video editing software is now available to the masses. Use discretion and pray for wisdom. (James 1:5) Increasingly, internet algorithms tend to give us a reflection of own interests, fears, or lusts rather than a reliable representation of reality. As advanced video editing, special effects, and now "artificial intelligence" become available to the masses, we do actually have increasing reason for skepticism. Online platforms make their money from clicks, and have a profit motive that will likely incentivize the presentation of what a significant part of the population is interested in. We should expect at this point to have more "evidence" for alien, mystical, or supernatural false narratives thrown at us online. This also is not new, newspapers have reported on hoaxes in deceptive ways for many years in order to sell copies. Be normal.
Fourth, the presence unusual things in the sky, or even a hypothetical future arrival of seemingly otherworldly beings, would not prove the Bible wrong. Even if that did happen, nothing will prove that God's Word wrong. The claimed arrival of aliens could be in the category of very intense deception that deceives, if possible, the elect. (Mark 13:21-23) There could be great power in setting forth such a narrative, as both fears and false claims could be promoted. Not all of us share the same interpretations of the antichrist or book of Revelation, but the arrival of a personality with apparent supernatural powers could come to pass.4 (Rev. 13:13, 16:13-14) In Revelation, however, strange and evil beings actually came out of the sea, the earth, or the pit, rather than the heavens. Since the coming of Christ, Satan has been cast down. (Rev. 12:1-9) Deception and evil are depicted as coming from "below" rather than "above." The second beast comes from the earth, yet makes fire come down from heaven. (Rev. 13) The Apostle Paul warns that, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie." (2 Thessalonians 2:9–11). I tend to avoid constantly looking for "literal" or "mystical" interpretations of Biblical visions or prophecies.5 I am willing to accept, however, that we might yet learn more clearly how to interpret apocalyptic parts of the Bible, and that evil may become more manifest. If seemingly otherworldly beings appeared, it may mean that my more "rationalistic" interpretation was wrong, and the Bible was right all along. Or it may be very deceptive, and I was right. Whatever the case, the coming deception should not affect our view of the reliability of God’s Word one iota. "Let God be true and every man a liar." (Romans 3:4)
It seems to me, however, that the growing deception is not what some think it is. It actually arises from within human hearts by inspiration of the father of lies. It is forged in the darkest of places, the human heart. It is satanic.6 I am convinced, at this point, that this alien trend is a new iteration of idolatry in a growing culture of idolatry. Believers in "science" have found a way to resurrect ancient gods, and to use advanced technology to create images of them. Idolatry leads to judgement, but the judgement is actually not what many think it is. The current judgement is that those that replace God with "gods" are given over to a "debased mind." (Romans 1:28) We are watching civilization corrupt itself, from the inside out, because they have made God into gods, angels into gods, themselves into gods, and every kind of creature into gods. Truths about God, family, sexuality and marriage are being corrupted, and these lies are creeping across the earth by means of technology. It may be that Satan is indeed being loosed, and that we are entering an era that is much like the time before the flood.7 But not necessarily in the ways that some are thinking. I sincerely doubt that the point of Noah being "perfect in his generations" relates mainly to genetics, but suspect rather that it indicated a holy life, especially including a sanctified commitment to God-ordained marriage and family life, working diligently, preaching the gospel, and seeking peace and rest. This is the spiritual warfare that surrounds us once again. The temptation to get caught up in fables rather than His simple calling to a holy life. The temptations to engage in mixed marriages and deviant sexuality, and to celebrate humanistic identities rather than worship God. The temptation to think that God is as we are, rather than as He is. The temptation to fixate on online images rather than Christ, who is the express image of His person. (Hebrews 1:3)
This is indeed an age to flee from lies, and to flee from the wrath to come. The true Way of safety and salvation will not be what this world craves. There will be temptations in every generation to turn to the idols and the practices of the city of man. These lies are real, and deceptive. Be prepared for those that will seek to erect other gods, and seek to promote false christs. You cannot believe what you see on screens, it is not real. They may well only become more deceptive for a time, but in reality, the city of man is shaking and crumbling and its time will come. Lies and tyranny will not stand forever. One way or another, whether for the last time or yet again, the city of man will fall, and Christ will have the victory.
“Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, “Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” - Luke 17:22–30 4
Prepare to meet the true God. There is one Son of God who has the identity which is worth searching out. He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) Light after darkness.8
Notes:
1 As this post was being written, a hoax about a UFO landing and alien encounter in Las Vegas was spread across mainstream news. A meteor had crossed the sky over several states that night, and a family claimed a UFO landed in their back yard and left a circular impression in the ground. That impression was actually visible on google maps for many months prior to the "landing." The video clips were arranged even on the mainstream news to make it sound like a police officer's colleague had seen an alien as well, but he was actually talking about having seen the meteor in the sky. The young man responsibile for the hoax has online accounts that show he was already obsessed with aliens. This is deception, and the mainstream media clearly is willing to play along. “...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” - Ephesians 5:11
2 It has become trendy to believe that there was an ancient worldwide flood, or some cataclysm about 10-15,000 years ago, that may have related to a "pole shift." Some refer to this disaster as the "younger dryas" period. On the one hand, this trend is recognizing the truth that mainstream science had fallen into the denial of 2 Peter 3:5–6, "...they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water." More people are willing to believe in a worldwide flood-disaster, but now those that believe this often believe that before that, there was an "Atlantis" type civilization that was advanced. Also, it is notable that many of the people pushing this narrative are also using drugs. They are meeting "alien" figures while experimenting with mushrooms, marijuana, and psychedelics. Often it seems to be the people that are into UFOs that are seeing UFOs. It seems similar to the reality that the kind of people who were abusing substances, listening to dark music, playing with ouija boards, and watching horror movies a few decades ago were the ones seeing ghosts. I do not doubt that some of their experiences were, and are, indeed very dark.
3 If you take this second view, it changes your entire worldview in a sense. It potentially opens a can of worms, as the source of the other "gods," (See 1 Cor. 8:5-6) the roots of mythology, the identity of gentiles versus Jews, and even the purpose of circumcision all now become literal. Some will believe that the statement that Noah was "perfect in his generations" indicated that he and his family were not the product of hybrid marriages, and later commands to wipe out Canaanites, and specific prohibitions on marrying Canaanites related to avoiding genetic mixing with nephilim. This view can make the world a strange new world, as it would also take racial issues such as the evil of anti-Semitism and inter-racial marriage to another level as well. In this view, gentiles are potentially all polluted with nephelim blood, and the strictest of Jews are potentially the only pure humans. This view also may require that angels fell at multiple times, some pre-flood, some post-flood. Be aware that this view has extensive implications, and it may change your entire hermeneutic of scripture and even view of reality.
4 I understand that there are arguments to apply these passages mainly to the period before A.D. 70. It is true that indeed there was great deception at that time, including the false teaching of anti-christs, who mislead Jews into clinging to the physical Jerusalem when it was about to be destroyed. In contrast, early Christians fled Jerusalem because they heeded the words of Christ about its impending destruction. I believe, however, that the patterns of the city of man versus the city of God echo through all of history, and that there are multiple cycles of prophetic fulfillment, and that there is yet a future fulfillment of such passages as well. I do believe that every generation faces similar temptations to cling to the city of man while they ought to look to Christ alone as deliverer. Every generation has had its "anti-christs," and every generation of Christians needs direct exhortations from these passages. I still think that the pope of Rome is the most likely candidate for anti-christ, lawless one, and second beast to date, yet it seems likely to me that there is a final anti-christ that is yet to be revealed in the future.
5 Full preterism (the belief that Christ returned in A.D. 70 and this is the new heavens and earth) is a dangerous teaching, and leads to clinging to the city of man and to destruction in our age. They are utopians. The problem with full preterism is that (a) it makes this current mess the new heavens and the new earth, (b) it has always lead to heretical denial of the resurrection, and (c) there is zero evidence that the ultimate "coming of the lawless one" happened before AD 70. This is not yet the new heavens and the new earth, yet the Holy Spirit already dwells in us. If you are wondering what my end-times view is: optimistic-amillennial and partial-preterist. Optimistic enough that some people think I am post-millennial, yet realistic about the deceptions of this evil age. I think it is responsible to believe that it is possible that the gospel is very close to the ends of the earth, there is revival amongst the Jews, and Satan is loosed in our generation. Yet I am willing to be proven wrong by history, hopeful about the progress of the gospel, and willing to consider the teaching of those who know the scriptures well. The gates of hell will not prevail. (Matt. 16:18)
6 I am not taking aim here at Christian interpreters who take view #2 or #3 above, or calling their interpretations satanic. I recognize that they have some reasonable points from the other side, and I believe that a level of disagreement over an obscure passage is to be expected. I am calling the current cultural obsession with aliens satanic, and connecting the belief that aliens are benevolent spirit guides to paganism. I think those that take view #2 or #3 would fundamentally agree with me that the current trends are evil.
7 I have wondered if globalization and the abuse of technology may relate to the loosing of Satan for about 20 years. I was interested to come across this point in Pastor C. Schouls new book, "Grazing in God's Pastures," (Free Reformed Publications, 2023) page 13-14: "We believe that Satan has been bound so that he cannot decieve the nations and align all of them against the church, but it does seem that this binding is coming to an end, and that, through the apparent benefits of technology and commerce, the world is being readied for the control of a unified power." This quote is from a sermon that Pastor Schouls preached in May of 2000, which I was not aware of until last week. Many postmillenial brothers would clearly disagree with this, and would likely point to how the internet has also facilitated the spread of the gospel, and that A.I. is currently making translation of scriptures and sermons in obscure languages almost instantaneous. Perhaps this technology could lead to revival. We do not know the future, but it does seem that a growing worldwide embrace of abortion, redefinition of marriage, transhumanism, and "woke" gnostic ideologies via also the UN indicates a time of massive international spiritual declension. (This footnote added October 2023).
8 Light after darkness, in Latin Post Tenebras Lux, was a watchword of the Reformation and is on the coat or arms of Geneva. It communicated the hope that no matter how dark the city of man seems to get, the light of Christ will inevitably shine more brightly. As Reformed Christians, we should remain fixed in the Word of God. This means we should avoid useless speculation, not be given over to fear, yet always be soberly watchful. The reality is, the bulk of our civilization now seems to be sliding into mysticism and neo-paganism. The internet has not helped. With every passing year, it is gets more apparent why our Reformed forefathers were reticent to get too deeply into difficult passages or eschatology. Current events, trends, eschatology, or even passages like Genesis 6 should not be the primary foundations for your worldview, that will only divide you further from other Christians and distract you from the centrality of the doctrines of grace and Christ. More than anything, look to Him and forward to His coming. If I think this article is generating useless wrangling online, I will just delete it. Writing it was helpful for the organization of my own thoughts, if nothing else. If you got this far and think I should delete this article or change things, feel free to contact me at vandood@live.com, I would like to hear your thoughts.
