Someone calling himself a "Bible Prophet" has written:
A proper understanding of the Nephilim, or the "giants" mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, will not only illuminate much of mankind's ancient history, but will reveal information on God's Plan of the Ages. It will also prove that such doctrines as Eternal Torment or Universalism are incorrect interpretations of God's Word...E.W. Bullinger presents an informative outline of the Nephilim of Scripture in Appendix 25 of his Companion Bible. He defines these creatures as "The progeny of the fallen angels with the daughters of Adam...They also became known by other names such as Rephaim and Emim (Gen.14:5), Anakim (Num.13:33), Horim and Zamuzummim (Deut.2:10-23). Then in Genesis 15:18-21 they are named among the Canaanites. Little recognition is given how important the "sword of Israel" was in the destruction of the Nephilim for the human race. Many have pondered why the destruction of these peoples included children and infants, but we can now know the reason. Israel failed however in destroying all the Nephilim, and we have no way of knowing how many survived and escaped to different parts of the world..."
http://www.bibleprophet.com/Doctrine/ABC093.html
We know from scripture that the Canaanites were to be driven out of the land, that this was by divine decree, and that the reason for this decree had to do with their detestible religious practices (which included homo and heterosexual temple prostitution, and the sacrifice of their own children)
It's also true that if they could not be driven out they were to be completely exterminated, but was this because they had been genetically poluted by the Nephilim, or because there weren't enough lactating Hebrews to nurse Canaanite infants?
In either case, God was within His rights as Creator:
The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. (1 Sam. 2:6.)
...who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:20-21.)
What's interesting is that the Canaanites weren't completely exterminated, and in a later age they shared in God's mercy:
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. (Matt. 15:21-28.)
The "Bible Prophet" has also written:
Satan the Devil is the one who controls all the powers of evil. The Nephilim were also an illegal creation who will not rise in the resurrection from the dead.
Dead - they live not, Rephaim, they rise not." Isa.26:14 (YLT)
Along with these are also included those few of mankind who committed unpardonable sins and are to have their lot cast in with those who do not rise.
http://www.bibleprophet.com/Elijah009.html
I do not know if fallen angels actually cohabited with women in the days of Noah, but it seems implied in Genesis 6:2 & 4, so is what the "Bible Prophet" says here really true? It seems that those creatures were born of human women in any event, so if Jesus is one of our race, would they not be too? If a sovereign God (who foresees all) allowed angels to cohabit with women, are their offspring not part of His creation?
Col. 1:16-17 says:
for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him, and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him (Concordant Version)
Verse 20 says:
and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.
If verse 20 is only speaking of legal creations, wouldn't it follow that verses 16-17 only speak of legal creations? Are children born of adultery, incest, rape, even pre-marital indiscretions "illegal creations"? Are they not part of the "all" that has it's cohesion in Christ? Are they not included in the "all" that will be reconciled to God thru the blood of Christ's cross? What about test tube babies? If science succeeds in cloning human beings, will these "illegal creations" also be denied resurrection? I believe this is a very dangerous teaching.
And getting back to Isa. 26:14--it's my understanding that Hebrew really has no verb tenses, and that these are supplied by the context (and the translator.) In Young's translation, "live not," and "rise not" are in the present tense, and are part of the song Israel will sing "in that day." Does this really imply that the Raphaim will not "live," or "rise" in another day? Even if I did not believe in the salvation of all, I would have to reject this teaching, as the Bible clearly says that all the dead--"small and great"--will be raised at the Great White Throne Judgment that follows the millennium:
and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is that of the life, and the dead were judged out of the things written in the scrolls -- according to their works; and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works (Rev. 20:12-13.)
Most of the 26th chapter of Isaiah would seem to have the millennial age in view, but notice verse 19:
But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead (Heb. Rapha--same word used in verse 14.)
The Raphaim do not rise again during the millennium, but they will be raised in the next age.
Death and hades are emptied before the great white throne.
If the Raphaim are dead, they will be raised at this judgment--they will not be left in their graves. The following verses all use the same Hebrew phrase used in Isa. 26:14, and none of them (when rightly understood) imply that those who "rise not" will never rise:
Bless, O Jehovah, his strength, And the work of his hands Thou acceptest, Smite the loins of his withstanders, And of those hating him -- that they rise not! (Deut. 33:11, Young’s Literal Translation.)
I pursue mine enemies and destroy them, And I turn not till they are consumed. And I consume them, and smite them, And they rise not, and fall under my feet. (2 Sam. 22:38-39, Young’s Literal Translation.)
Therefore the wicked rise not in judgment, Nor sinners in the company of the righteous (Ps. 1:5, Young’s Literal Translation.)
Who is bringing forth chariot and horse, A force, even a strong one: `Together they lie down -- they rise not, They have been extinguished, As flax they have been quenched.' (Isa. 43:17.)
My good friend, Darroll Evans contributed the following:
Raphaim (plural)---the dead---all occurrences
The Hebrew refers to ghosts of the dead.
Job 26:5 "The dead tremble, those under the waters and those inhabiting them. (NKJ)
Ps 88:10 Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah (NKJ)
Prov 2:18 For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead; (NKJ)
Prov 9:18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell. (NKJ)
Prov 21:16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. (NKJ)
Isa 14:9 "Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you, all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. (NKJ)
Isa 26:14 They are dead, they will not live; they are deceased, they will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. (NKJ)
Isa 26:19 Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (NKJ)
That seems fairly conclusive until we ask---“who is dead?”
We all WERE dead in trespasses and sins prior to our being called by God to come to Christ.
Ps 88:10 Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah (NKJ)
The answer is ABSOLUTELY!
BUT, God has a plan.
2 Sam 14:14 "For we will surely die and become like water
spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet
God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that
His banished ones are not expelled from Him. (NKJ)
1 Pet 3:18-20
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (NKJ)
As you can see, Christ used the time (3 days and 3 nights) to go and preach to those who were formerly disobedient. They were not dead saints, as many now teach, they were dead sinners.
It is from there that he led captivity captive.
Eph 4:8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." (NKJ)
Christ took those who were formerly disobedient and led them captives into His freedom and liberty. He shall do that in the resurrection.
1 Cor 15:21-26
21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (NKJ)
First Christ, then those who have been called and appointed to follow Him in this life, and finally there are those who have not accepted Christ in this life, but they will bow to Him at that time, their time.
God Bless.
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