Lessons in Colossians

Covenants sometimes changes the meaning of words. Under the former covenant in Genesis 6:2, 4; Job 1:6, 2:1 make reference to fallen angels.

In Job 1:6 and 2:1 the most high God summons these beings including Satan before Him. God is always in control. I would have liked to have heard this solemn report in full and all that was said.

Under the covenant following the covenant of Law, [Hebrews 8:6-7] the words 'sons of God' take on a new meaning. In I John 3:2 God speaking through the Apostle John uses these words as terms of endearment. 'Beloved . . . . love . . . . (that) we should be called the sons of God.' How do we get from being 'children of disobedience & children of {Jesus} wrath?' [Ephesians 2:2-3] We move out of threatening darkness of the children of the evil one? The children of the evil one practice {Greek word--poiea} sinning. [I John 3:8a]

When sinners receive Christ [John 1:12] as personal Savior through repentance and faith in Christ, they become the sons and daughters of God. [I John 3:2}

This is in contrast to the O.T. accounts as to who the 'sons of God' really were at that time.

 

I have little confidence in what Drs. John Gill or Matthew Henry or John Calvin have to say because the three of these men are Five Point Calvinists and all three are Amillennialists. If you cannot trust the first two with the Book of Revelation they sure cannot understand Genesis 6:2 & 4. And I believe I am right that John Calvin never exegeted the Book of Revelation.

I too, know about Tartarus [II Peter 2:4] which Peter spoke about. The KJV interprets this verse as Hell, which is some place reserved for the fallen angels spoken about in Genesis 6:2 & 4 and in the passages in Job, as already referred to in my other post.

Study also Jude verse six and Revelation 20:10.

Tartarus, in my thinking, is a special holding tank until God casts these fallen angels, the Devil, the antichrist and the false prophet into a fiery Hell at the end of time. The N.T. speaks of Hell being made 'for the Devil and his angels.' {obviously the fallen angels including all of them}

Two different tribal groups still would not explain men who were eleven foot tall. Restudy Deuteronomy 3:11 about Og, the King of Bashan. Angels who are usually as tall as a man or much taller would help smooth out the theological problem.

 

The answer to the question as to whether 'the sons of God' [Genesis 6:2 & 4] were angels or merely men from another nation other than Israel is found in the key verses in Jude 6-7. Since this passage will answer the question without impunity let me jot it down.

'And the angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.'

The sin of Sodom and Gomorrha, for the most part, was homosexuality as described in Genesis chapter 19 and Romans 1:27. Their sin was cohabitation of men with men and thus their practiced perversion lead to their worthy place in Hell.

The sin of the fallen angels was the sin of fornication with women. Now let me give due credit to Dr. Kenneth S. Wuest the Greek scholar who says of Jude verse seven these thoughts.

'This verse begins with (hos), an adverb of comparison having the meanings of "in the same manner as, after the fashion of, as, just as." Here it introduces a comparison showing a likeness between the angels of verse 6 and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha of this verse. But the likeness between them lies deeper than the fact that both were guilty of committing sin. It extends to the fact that both were guilty of the same identical sin.' {end quote}

Wuest is saying basically--that the concept of 'strange flesh' comes from the word, (heteros) meaning another of a different kind. These angels, as he says, transgressed the limits of their own natures to invade a realm of created beings of a different nature. This invasion took the form of fornication, cohabitation with beings of a different nature from theirs.'

Ray is saying 'There is a similitude between the fornication of the angelic beings with women and that of the warped behavior of the men with men of Sodom and Gomorrha.'

Here is Wuest's expanded translation from the Greek language.

'Just as Sodom and Gomorrha and the cities about them, in like manner to these, having given themselves out and out to fornication and having gone off to a different kind of flesh, are set forth as an exhibit, undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.'

Dr. A.T. Robertson, the respected Southern Baptist Greek scholar says about the same as Wuest, though in more technical terms. Robertson says,

'In like manner' Adverbial accusative (cf. hos). Like the fallen angels. Having given themselves over to fornication (ekporneusasai).

The giants of the earth as recorded in Genesis 6:4 were the result of angels who became involved with the daughters of men . . . [vs. 2] The concept of the angels taking beautiful women who they chose . . . . hints that it may have been by duress.

 

Bob,

'The New Century Version tries to explain the foul sins of the angels by saying in Jude 1:6-7,

'And remember the angels who did not keep their place of power but left their proper home. The Lord has kept these angels in darkness, bound with everlasting chains, to be judged on the great day. Also, remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other town around them. IN THE SAME WAY THEY WERE FULL OF SEXUAL SIN and people who desired sexual relations that God does not allow. They suffer the punishment of eternal fire, as an example for all to see.'

When Jude uses the term 'in the same way' it has to refer to some kind of being who had the viable means to commit fornication with another being. The words 'in the same way' suggests a likeness in connection with another idea, and, of course, this refers back to the fallen angels. This is the view and understanding of Drs. Wuest, Robertson, and the least being me.

Why did God not put all the fallen angels into Tartarus? My theory is these angels who committed sexual sins with these women were incarcerated there because of this gross and repeated atrocity, which started to fill the world with this cross-breeding of human and angelic beings or hybrid human persons.

It clearly was His Divine plan to allow the other fallen angels to roam the earth to test human beings, as the Book of Job clearly states. The intent of the fallen angels is to make sinner and saint also to be in rebellion toward Almighty God.

The words, 'in the same way' clearly suggest a similitude or a comparison. Bob, you must explain how to view Jude's comparison, and who Jude is referring to when he says, 'in like manner.'

 

The Book of Jude speaks first to the children of God that they should defend the faith.

Secondly, he makes them aware that non-believers will join their ranks but will not be born of the Spirit children of God.

Thirdly, he speaks about some of the Israelites who after leaving Egypt died in the wilderness because 'they believed not.'

Fourthly, he speaks of a group of angels who presently are in a place of darkness and confinement until the Great White Throne Judgment. [Rev. 20:11]

Between verses six and seven God speaking through the thoughts of Jude declares that the fallen angels now in {Tartarus/Hell} (II Peter 2:4), had committed the same willful act of 'fornication' as the men who lived in Sodom, only the fallen demons preferred women. Tartarus is the holding chamber only for fallen angels/demons who committed this unthinkable crime against a holy God.

II Peter 2:1-19 seems to reflect a very similar message as the Book of Jude, which we know only has one chapter.

Fifthly, in verse seven he speaks of those already in Hell because of the vileness and degeneracy of the sins committed in Sodom and Gomorrha.

Michael the archangel was and is among the hierarchy of the Lord's angelic beings, filled with power and might.

Then, there was the error of Balaam, all who are examples of fallen human and angelic beings, except Michael, as noted above and the people of God.

In verse fourteen God speaks of His Second Coming Who Jesus will destroy at His coming. He explains about those who are sinful and that Christians should separate themselves from these evil souls.

In vs. 21 he tells them to remain close to Jesus and that we should depend on His mercy toward us.

There will be those who we can lead to the Lord, and it will be like snatching them away from the flames of Hell.

The last two verses are ones that I have repeated hundreds of times as a benediction offered over all of God's people.

 

The reference to angels in the word forms such as {angel, angel's and angels} are referred to in the combined Old and New Testaments, 293 times.

In the Book of Hebrews in the first chapter we are told that 'All the angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation.' (New Century Version) In what way do you think angels help us?

One of the missions of the archangel Michael in Daniel 12:1 is to protect the people of Israel.

Many people believe that in Revelation 12:6 John is speaking of Israel who will be driven into the wilderness at the time of the Great Tribulation. In the next verse John speaks of Michael and his angels fighting with the Devil and his {fallen} angels.

Do you think that angels are part of our lives today as Christians? Do they ever turn from unseen 'spirits' into beings that resemble the features of human beings? . . . . so that Christians may recognize that they are personally around their lives.