Fallen Angels?: Genesis 6:1-4

[harleylds]

Can someone please explain the scriptures in Genesis 6:1-4! I am confused on who the 'Sons of God' are, and what it all means that they are mating with the daughters of men?! I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I got in a discussion with a friend the other day; we are both confused about this chapter. So any insight would be wonderful. Thank you!

[Bensalem]

Can someone please explain the scriptures in Genesis 6:1-4! I am confused on who the 'Sons of God' are, and what it all means that they are mating with the daughters of men?! I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I got in a discussion with a friend the other day; we are both confused about this chapter. So any insight would be wonderful. Thank you!

At the very least, it is an early endorsement of plural marriage...since it goes on to say "they married as many as they chose."

[Traveler]

Can someone please explain the scriptures in Genesis 6:1-4! I am confused on who the 'Sons of God' are, and what it all means that they are mating with the daughters of men?! I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I got in a discussion with a friend the other day; we are both confused about this chapter. So any insight would be wonderful. Thank you!

The phrase “son of” denotes a covenant. The ancients used this terminology often. Jesus used this himself in referring to himself as “the son of man” meaning that he had a covenant with mankind. In the ancient world often the Suzerain would call those that established a covenant as his sons or the son of the Suzerain. This give a reading to the scriptures that covenant people took wives from non covenant societies in the world.

The Traveler

[bert10]

The Watchers.

Yes, there is much confusion. But I suspect not so much in Moses day. The term we are looking for is called the "Watchers" it can be found only Twice in the bible. in the Book of Daniel.

The "Watchers" are the true Guardian Angels. They were here to help and guide Mankind in the path of Righteousness.

The Fallen Watchers are they who left their habitation to do what was wicked before the Lord.

They taught men in the ways of wickedness...to put a value on man and elements and how to use elements for wickedness. They created Nephilims by sorcery with the daughters of men and corrupted plants and animals. [Genetic engineering]. God destroyed all their works so that none survived except what God created and commanded Noah to save.

The flood destroyed them all and the works of the Fallen Watchers. However, God allowed sorcery and the giants to be back on the earth when the sons of cain found the ancient writings. Goliath for Example was the last of his kind and he was also the smallest. When Israel measured the bed of Og for example. That bed was 13.5 feet long and six feet wide. [4 X 9 cubits]

I think you are right...the meaning "Son of" depends on the teaching or stories it is in.

bert10

[pam]

If you were to read Moses 8:13-16 it explains a bit more what was meant by the Sons of God. This is an inspired interpretation given to Joseph Smith.

[bert10]

We are all Sons of GOD in the beginning. Angels have their different orders in heaven. And Watchers is of the Religion that Enoch practiced. And Enoch and the inhabitants of Zion were taken to heaven. Melchizedek did the same thing with Salem after the flood. However, because of wickedness the teachings and knowledge was in time removed from the earth. If you read Galatians..it explain that what Abraham received was by promise and the law that came 430 year later was not to replace the promises...but came because of disobedience and great wickedness. And you will also more on the Law in Romans...The law was given to shut the mouth of men and that the whole world might be guilty before God. The way of perfection that Enoch and Melchizedek taught was removed from the earth. And the sign and ordinance for it was the Circumcision where when men removed a piece of their foreskin foreshadowing that they were no longer whole before the Lord. That they were incomplete in Love. Remember J. Smith said that he could not teach one half of what he knew. Neither could Moses.

Today we are in the times of the restitution of all things...and them that in faith ask, seek and knock it shall be done to them according to their ability to receive. Watchers is found twice in the book of Daniel. The Hebrews somehow failed to remove all traces of the Religion of Enoch. Where men and some Angels walked hand in hand.

Prophets and the scriptures are not the way...they can only point to the way. Every man or woman by and with the Spirit of God must find the way of perfection and walk in it for themselves. And the knowledge for this to happen shall be given to them...bit by bit as taught in Isaiah.

bert10

If you were to read Moses 8:13-16 it explains a bit more what was meant by the Sons of God. This is an inspired interpretation given to Joseph Smith.

Edited November 29, 2010 by bert10

[SeattleTruthSeeker]

Can someone please explain the scriptures in Genesis 6:1-4! I am confused on who the 'Sons of God' are, and what it all means that they are mating with the daughters of men?! I apologize if this is a stupid question, but I got in a discussion with a friend the other day; we are both confused about this chapter. So any insight would be wonderful. Thank you!

As Bert10 pointed out - Genesis 6:1-4 is a smaller scripture that may have been part of a larger passage. This passage is contained in the Coptic version of the Book of Enoch - an Apocryphal work that the Epistle of Jude quotes from, and at one time was considered scripture.

[Chapter 6]

1 And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto 2 them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men 3 and beget us children.' And Semjaza, who was their leader, said unto them: 'I fear ye will not 4 indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.' And they all answered him and said: 'Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations 5 not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.' Then sware they all together and bound themselves 6 by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn 7 and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And these are the names of their leaders: Samlazaz, their leader, Araklba, Rameel, Kokablel, Tamlel, Ramlel, Danel, Ezeqeel, Baraqijal, 8 Asael, Armaros, Batarel, Ananel, Zaq1el, Samsapeel, Satarel, Turel, Jomjael, Sariel. These are their chiefs of tens.

[Chapter 7]

1 And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms 2 and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. And they 3 became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells: Who consumed 4 all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against 5 them and devoured mankind. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and 6 fish, and to devour one another's flesh, and drink the blood. Then the earth laid accusation against the lawless ones.

[Chapter 8]

1 And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all 2 colouring tinctures. And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they 3 were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways. Semjaza taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, 'Armaros the resolving of enchantments, Baraqijal (taught) astrology, Kokabel the constellations, Ezeqeel the knowledge of the clouds, Araqiel the signs of the earth, Shamsiel the signs of the sun, and Sariel the course of the moon. And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven . . .

[Chapter 9]

1 And then Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel looked down from heaven and saw much blood being 2 shed upon the earth, and all lawlessness being wrought upon the earth. And they said one to another: 'The earth made without inhabitant cries the voice of their cryingst up to the gates of heaven. 3 And now to you, the holy ones of heaven, the souls of men make their suit, saying, "Bring our cause 4 before the Most High."' And they said to the Lord of the ages: 'Lord of lords, God of gods, King of kings, and God of the ages, the throne of Thy glory (standeth) unto all the generations of the 5 ages, and Thy name holy and glorious and blessed unto all the ages! Thou hast made all things, and power over all things hast Thou: and all things are naked and open in Thy sight, and Thou seest all 6 things, and nothing can hide itself from Thee. Thou seest what Azazel hath done, who hath taught all unrighteousness on earth and revealed the eternal secrets which were (preserved) in heaven, which 7 men were striving to learn: And Semjaza, to whom Thou hast given authority to bear rule over his associates. And they have gone to the daughters of men upon the earth, and have slept with the 9 women, and have defiled themselves, and revealed to them all kinds of sins. And the women have 10 borne giants, and the whole earth has thereby been filled with blood and unrighteousness. And now, behold, the souls of those who have died are crying and making their suit to the gates of heaven, and their lamentations have ascended: and cannot cease because of the lawless deeds which are 11 wrought on the earth. And Thou knowest all things before they come to pass, and Thou seest these things and Thou dost suffer them, and Thou dost not say to us what we are to do to them in regard to these.'

[Chapter 10]

1 Then said the Most High, the Holy and Great One spake, and sent Uriel to the son of Lamech, 2 and said to him: 'Go to Noah and tell him in my name "Hide thyself!" and reveal to him the end that is approaching: that the whole earth will be destroyed, and a deluge is about to come 3 upon the whole earth, and will destroy all that is on it. And now instruct him that he may escape 4 and his seed may be preserved for all the generations of the world.' And again the Lord said to Raphael: 'Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening 5 in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may 6,7 not see light. And on the day of the great judgement he shall be cast into the fire. And heal the earth which the angels have corrupted, and proclaim the healing of the earth, that they may heal the plague, and that all the children of men may not perish through all the secret things that the 8 Watchers have disclosed and have taught their sons. And the whole earth has been corrupted 9 through the works that were taught by Azazel: to him ascribe all sin.' And to Gabriel said the Lord: 'Proceed against the bastards and the reprobates, and against the children of fornication: and destroy [the children of fornication and] the children of the Watchers from amongst men [and cause them to go forth]: send them one against the other that they may destroy each other in 10 battle: for length of days shall they not have. And no request that they (i.e. their fathers) make of thee shall be granted unto their fathers on their behalf; for they hope to live an eternal life, and 11 that each one of them will live five hundred years.' And the Lord said unto Michael: 'Go, bind Semjaza and his associates who have united themselves with women so as to have defiled themselves 12 with them in all their uncleanness. And when their sons have slain one another, and they have seen the destruction of their beloved ones, bind them fast for seventy generations in the valleys of the earth, till the day of their judgement and of their consummation, till the judgement that is 13 for ever and ever is consummated. In those days they shall be led off to the abyss of fire: and 14 to the torment and the prison in which they shall be confined for ever. And whosoever shall be condemned and destroyed will from thenceforth be bound together with them to the end of all 15 generations. And destroy all the spirits of the reprobate and the children of the Watchers, because 16 they have wronged mankind. Destroy all wrong from the face of the earth and let every evil work come to an end: and let the plant of righteousness and truth appear: and it shall prove a blessing; the works of righteousness and truth' shall be planted in truth and joy for evermore.

17 And then shall all the righteous escape, And shall live till they beget thousands of children, And all the days of their youth and their old age Shall they complete in peace.

[Just_A_Guy]

Prophets and the scriptures are not the way...they can only point to the way. Every man or woman by and with the Spirit of God must find the way of perfection and walk in it for themselves. And the knowledge for this to happen shall be given to them...bit by bit as taught in Isaiah.

I fully agree with this; but I wish people would be a little more circumspect about a) taking their own personal views, b) teaching them as absolute truth to third persons, c) subtly hinting that anyone who hasn't likewise accepted those same "truths" must be on an inferior spiritual plane, and d) implying that Church leaders like Joseph Smith knew of these "truths" but demurred to teach them.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that there really were "watchers", but it strikes me that the Moses 8 narration makes perfect sense even without trying to shoehorn Mormon Maiar into the story.

Edited November 29, 2010 by Just_A_Guy

[rameumptom]

I discuss it in the Old testament forum here:

http://www.lds.net/forums/old-testament/29729-lesson-5-moses-5-7-a.html

[Guest ramsey333]

The sons of God were angels originally intended to aid humans on earth in their development. They had bodies and walked among man kind. They were also giants. They were here so long that they became very integrated with mankind, and became very lax on their roll ~ to the point that they believed they too were Gods (or could become God). Eventually, they fell to temptation towards human women on earth and ended up creating a completely different species. One of angel and human together. God was mad... Because they broke all the rules. In consequence, these sons of God became what we now know as the fallen angels. And as earth began to fill with their descendants, the world became very corrupt. God then sent the flood to take care of the corruption on earth, and the human+angel offspring of the fallen. Some of the fallen still remain ~ not on earth but by inhabiting different worlds. We know them as one species of extraterrestrials. Eventually they will be cast down to here though (per prophecy in the bible). Many humans will believe they are indeed angels ~ because of the way the speak and look. When they aren't angels anymore at all.

Thats all it in a nutshell. I haven't read the above posts of LDS members. I have no doubt that many of them may be in support of the fallen, simply because they don't know the truth of what actually happened and who they (the LDS) actually support. The LDS are actually linked to the fallen. It is the reason that the LDS will go through the tribulation ~ because they aren't actually *saved*. Those who are truly saved and do not believe in the teachings of the fallen, won't be here for the worst part of the tribulation. The LDS will be tested one last time, in hopes that they will see the truth ~ change their minds ~ and will follow the true teachings of Christ. Just like the rest that will be left behind ~ that have the option of making the same choice.

[Maedros]

I think that the Watchers were not angels (the real Guardian Angels) but were mortal men who had advanced to a level of righteousness as to be angelic - men who had entered into all the holy covenants and were hence spiritually begotten "sons of god" - I think that these were men of high intellect and understanding who had probably enjoyed communion with real angels and learned from them the mysteries/sciences of the earth. They were of high spiritual endowment and were as such the Watchers - the servants of Heavenly Father among men who enjoyed the companionship of the Holy Ghost and communion with heavenly beings. The sons and daughters of men were mortal men and women who were not under oath and covenant and when these started to beget beautiful daughters - the Watchers began to lust after them and entered into a secret combination among themselves and married these women - by this act they broke the everlasting covenant of marriage and were thus excommunicated - probably because of a combination of their scientific acumen and high birth as Adamites their mixture with the daughters of men bred giants or giantlike humans - having denied and sinned against the Spirit of God these apostate Watchers became carnal and devilish and began to war against the Light and Truth thus becoming the "sons of perdition" who delighted in bloodshed - their children the Nephilim were naturally wicked because of their fathers. Thus we see that there is a logical explanation - except for satan and his horde - no other angels fell from heaven - the angels who ministered to adam and his posterity were those who had lived or would have still lived upon the earth and without physical bodies they could not beget life because the Saviour was the first fruits of the resurrection therefore no embodied beings would have communed with mankind at that time - the Lord destroyed the inhabitants of the earth with the flood because of the extreme wickedness of those righteous men (the Watchers) who had fallen - their example led everyone astray and drenched the land with blood and sin - hence the need for the flood (which is symbolic of a baptism for the remission of sin).

[Guest Danar2amir]

At the very least, it is an early endorsement of plural marriage...