The gospel according to the Nephilim. How is Jesus similar to the Nephilim? How is he different?

In what way is Jesus like the Nephilim? And can we find the gospel in the story of the Nephilim? Stay with me and find out. Most of what we know about the Nephilim is rooted in 2 Bible passages. Genesis 6:4 “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—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.” These are mentioned again when the Jewish people were about to enter the land of Canaan. The spies shared a terrifying report about how large and strong the people there were. Numbers 13:33 “We saw the Nephilim there. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” We can deduce that the idea of the Nephilim was already a highly recognized part of the Jewish culture. What could the Nephilim have been? “The Nephilim are mysterious, giant-like beings mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and other ancient texts … known for their great strength and stature before the Great Flood. Their origin is debated, with interpretations ranging from demonic-human hybrids, rebellious angels mating with women (as in the Book of Enoch), to simply powerful, large human descendants of Cain or Seth, or just mighty warriors.” Some Bible teachers say that this idea that angels could mate with people is pure paganism. But others claim that this is historical. This is literal. Whatever the nature of these beings, whatever they were real or some sort of mythology, let’s examine their character and the result of their actions. And we’ll contrast those with the character of Jesus. And we’ll see that the gospel is actually found in this passage about the Nephilim. John 3:16 & 17 is the gospel in a nutshell. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Let’s contrast this with the Nephilim. According to Genesis 6, the sons of God, saw the woman of the world, lusted after then, and took any they wanted for themselves. This brings me to my first comparison. Comparison #1 John 3:16 says … God so LOVED; but according to Genesis 6, the “sons of God” so LUSTED. Comparison #2 God GAVE his only son. But the sons of God TOOK any women they wanted. Comparison #3 God gave up what was most valuable to him to help others. But the sons of God took whatever they desired FROM others FOR themselves Comparison #4 God gave the most beautiful thing in the heavens to enrich the earth. But the sons of God took the most beautiful women on earth to pleasure themselves. Comparison #5 For this one I’ll back up to John 3:14 and 15. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” According to John 3:14, God’s son would be lifted up – a clear reference to death by impalement or crucifixion. In contrast, the Nephilim became “mighty men on the earth.” The idea is they became dominant over all others and ruled over people by their power. They “lifted themselves up” for earthly glory and honor. The word “Nephilim” comes from a Hebrew word “feller” – that is, one who cuts things down, like a tree. Like a bully knock down a smaller kid. Comparison #5 Jesus was “lifted up” BY men (that is, murdered). But the Nephilim lifted themselves up and ruled OVER men. Comparison #6 Notice the result. God sent his son so that NO ONE would need to perish but that ALL could be saved through him. Jesus was sent here to make a better, happier, and freer world. But after the Nephilim, the earth was so filled with violence that eventually the earth was destroyed. God sent his son so that ALL could be saved. But when the Nephilim came, ALL was destroyed. It’s almost as if the Nephilim was a picture, or an anti-picture of Jesus who would arrive later. In theology we call that an anti-type. A “type” is a picture or a model or an image that shows us something else, something better. Like Moses is “type” of Christ. Moses was a good prophet. But Jesus was the perfect prophet. However, an anti-type is a picture that shows us something far worse than the good thing to come. Let me summarize. --God loved … but the sons of God lusted. --God gave … but the sons of God took. --God gave what was most valuable to him … but the sons of God took what was most beautiful and desirable women FROM us. --Jesus was lifted up by impalement … but the Nephilim lifted themselves up by knocking others down. --God’s one and only begotten son came to bring life and to help the earth … but the birth of Nephilim brought violence, destruction, and ultimately total death to every living creature. There you have it. The Gospel according to the Nephilim. Would you rather be ruled by Nephilim or Jesus?