Bible Question:
It seems the fallen angels in Genesis 6 had physical bodies in order to reproduce with the daughters of men. Could the angels die and their spirits go to hell, or were their bodies invincible?
Bible Answer:
Great confusion exists in Genesis 6 as to how the sons of God, who were fallen angels, had children by the daughters of men. Some people believe these children were the Nephilim in Genesis 6:4. The article “Who were the sons of God? Are they angels or people?” explains the sons of God had to be fallen angels. But how did did fallen angels have children with the daughters of men? Did the fallen angels have physical bodies with genitals in order to have sex with human women? What follows examines how did fallen angels produce children?
Fallen Angels Had Male Bodies
Genesis 6:2-4 states that the sons of God took wives for themselves and went in to the daughters of men.
. . . the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose . . . when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Genesis 6:2, 4 (NASB)
The phrase “came in to” or “went in to” is a common term in the Old Testament for sexual intercourse (Genesis 16:4; 29:23, 30; 30:4; 38:2, 9; 38:18, for example). It is a very descriptive term and describes what happens when sexual intercourse occurs between a man and a woman. This would seem to suggest that the fallen angels had male genitals.
This would seem to be supported by the fact that angels are referred to with male pronouns such as “he” or “him” (Daniel 10:10-20; Revelation 8:3) or as “men” (Genesis 18:2). In Genesis 19:1-5 it is clear that the angels appeared as men. But Scripture does not tell us angels have male bodies. To conclude that fallen angels do would only be guessing and guessing is not proof.
Fallen Angels Cannot Marry
But this seems to be impossible since Matthew 22:30 teaches us that angels are not given in marriage.
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Matthew 22:30 (NASB)
Yet, Matthew 22:30 only says that they are not allowed to marry in heaven. Therefore, how did fallen angels go in to the daughters of men and produce children? It appears that there is another meaning to the phrase “came in to.”
Fallen Angels Produce Children By Demonic Possession
The most likely and most plausible explanation is that the expression “came in to” or “went in to” refers to demon possession. For example, Luke 8:30 states that many demons or fallen angels have entered a man. That is, they went in to him.
And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. Luke 8:30 (NASB)
Another example is Judas Iscariot, who was demon possessed just before he betrayed Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. That is the witness of Luke 22:3 and John 13:27.
And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. Luke 22:3 (NASB)
After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” John 13:27 (NASB)
We know that demon possession caused extremely unusual things to happen to people. Some individuals became blind and mute (Matthew 12:22) or mute (Matthew 9:32-33). Mark 5:3-15 describes a man who had super-human strength, was extremely violent and cut himself. After the demon was cast out, the man was “in his right mind.” In short, demons can cause extreme things to occur in a human. Can they also cause a fetus to be born? It is a strong possibility, but once again we do not have Scriptural support. But this appears to be the most likely explanation of Genesis 6:2-4; 1 Peter 3:19-20; 2 Peter 2:4-6 and Jude 6-7. It is the only consistent explanation we can derive from the Scriptural statements. In short the sons of God were fallen angels who produced children called Nephilim.
Conclusion:
Scripture teaches that angels are eternal beings. Angels will never die. That is the testimony of Luke 20:34-36.
Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels . . . Luke 20:34-36 (NASB)
Scripture teaches that a third of the angels in heaven joined Satan in rebellion against God and, consequently, were cast down to the earth along with him (Revelation 12:3-4). Later some of these fallen angels violated their “proper abode” or “domain” (Jude 6) and, apparently, possessed the bodies of some women and caused them to give to birth to children. In response, God punished them by sending them to the abyss (Luke 8:31), which is also called the pit (2 Peter 2:4) or prison (1 Peter 3:19). They are being held until the time of the tribulation when they will be released to attack the world (Revelation 9:1, 11). Eventually, they will be assigned to the lake of fire where they will live forever (Revelation 20:10).
Where will you spend eternity? Scripture teaches that humans will die once and after that we are judged (Hebrews 9:27), and spend eternity either in heaven or hell (Matthew 25:46). Do you know where you are going to spend eternity? If you are not sure, then please visit Searching For God and discover how to go to heaven.
Suggested Links:
Who were the sons of God? Are they angels or people?Who were the sons of God and daughters of men in Genesis 6:2-4?
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