Mighty Ones of Old, Men of Fame

The disobedient materialized angels had sexual relations with women, and the women bore children.  These were not ordinary children.  They were Nephilim, half human, and half angel.  The Bible account says:  "The Nephilim proved to be in he  earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of the true God continued  to have relations with the daughters of men and they bore sons to them, they were the mighty ones who were of old, the men of fame." -Genesis 6:4. 

The Hebrew word "nephilim" literally means "fellers," those who feel others, or who cause others to fall, through violent acts.  Thus, it is not surprising that the Bible account adds:  "The earth became filled with violence." (Genesis 6:11)  The mythological demigods, such as Heracles and the Babylonian hero Gilgamesh, strongly resemble Nephilim. 

Notice that the Nephilim were called "mighty ones" and "men of fame."  Unlike the righteous man Noah, who lived in the same period, the Nephilim were not interested in promoting the fame of Jehovah.  They were interested in their own fame, glory, and reputation.  Through mighty acts, which undoubtedly involved violence and bloodshed, they earned the fame they craved from the ungodly world around them.  They were he superheroes of their day-feared, respected and seemingly invincible.

While the Nephilim and their debased angelic fathers may have enjoyed fame in the eyes of their contemporaries, they certainly were not famous in God's sight.  Their way of life was detestable.  Consequently, God acted against the fallen angels.  The apostle Peter wrote:  "God did not hold back from punishing  the angels that sinned, but, by throwing them in Tartarus, delivered them to pits of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment; and he did not hold back from punishing an ancient world, but kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people." -2 Peter 2:4, 5.

At the global Flood, the rebellious angels dematerialized and returned in disgrace to the spirit realm.  God punished them by prohibiting them from again materializing human bodies.  The Nephilim, the superhuman offspring of the disobedient angels, all perished.  Only Noah and his small family survived the Deluge.

Next time: Men of Fame Today

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000