The Nephilim are some of the most mysterious and controversial beings in biblical history. They are directly linked to the moral and spiritual corruption that led to God’s judgment on the earth in the form of the Great Flood.
Were they just giants, or was there something deeper—something more supernatural—about them? And why do they appear again in Canaan, AFTER the flood? Even more importantly, could Jesus' reference to the "Days of Noah" been a warning about their return for the end times?
In Luke 21:11, Jesus speaks of great signs in the heavens and on the earth before His return. Could the return of the Nephilim’s influence be part of these signs?
The Nephilim and the Corruption Before the Flood
The first mention of the Nephilim appears in Genesis 6:1-4: “When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.” “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.”The Hebrew word Nephilim (נְפִילִים) comes from the root “naphal” (נָפַל), meaning “to fall”—which is why many believe they were fallen ones, the offspring of fallen angels and human women. The passage suggests that these hybrid beings were powerful, renowned, and dangerous, directly influencing humanity's corruption.
This sin was so great that God decided to destroy the earth with a flood. Genesis 6:5 says: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”
The Nephilim’s Lust for Flesh and Total Corruption
The Book of Enoch (an ancient Jewish text referenced in Jude 1:14-15) expands on Genesis 6 and describes the Nephilim as not only giants but also flesh-hungry predators: “And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another’s flesh, and drink the blood.” (Enoch 7:2-6) This is a critical point—the Nephilim weren’t just larger-than-life warriors; they were cannibalistic, violent creatures that defied the natural order. They devoured humans and animals alike, indulging in an uncontrollable lust for flesh and blood. This level of moral corruption and defilement of creation is what led to God’s decision to wipe out humanity and, by extension, the Nephilim.
The Nephilim’s Forbidden Knowledge
Did They Advance Human Technology? The Book of Enoch also reveals that the fallen angels who fathered the Nephilim gave humanity advanced knowledge that was never meant to be known.
Enoch 8:1-3 lists forbidden knowledge taught to mankind by the fallen angels:
• Metalworking and weapons (leading to bloodshed and war)
• Cosmetics and seduction (linked to moral corruption)
• Astronomy, sorcery, and divination (forbidden occult practices)
This passage implies that technology and secret knowledge were given to humanity prematurely, corrupting them further. This aligns with myths of ancient advanced civilizations, where sudden bursts of knowledge appear without any clear historical development. Could this pre-flood era have been more advanced than we assume? And if this knowledge survived, could its influence still be felt today?
The Flood
Did the Nephilim Truly Perish? Genesis 7:21-23 confirms that the flood destroyed all life outside of Noah’s ark: “Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died.”
Yet in Numbers 13:33, when Moses sends spies into Canaan, they report:
“We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. ”If the flood destroyed the Nephilim, how could they reappear in Canaan?
Possible Explanations for Their Reappearance
1. A Second Angelic Incursion – Some believe that fallen angels once again mated with human women after the flood, producing new Nephilim.
2. Genetic Remnants in Noah’s Family – If one of Noah’s sons’ wives carried Nephilim DNA, their descendants may have inherited Nephilim traits.
3. Exaggeration by the Spies – Some argue that the Israelite spies exaggerated their report out of fear, using the term “Nephilim” metaphorically.
Regardless, the Canaanite giants (Anakim, Rephaim, Zamzummim) were real, and they opposed Israel until Joshua and Caleb defeated them. Goliath, the Philistine giant defeated by David, may have been one of their last remnants.
Jesus, the Last Days, and the Greek Word “Apo” (Ἀπὸ)
Did Jesus Warn About a Future Nephilim Influence? In Luke 21:11, Jesus describes the signs before His return: “There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. ”This verse, when examined in the Greek, is fascinating. The word “from” in “signs from heaven” is the Greek word “apo” (Ἀπὸ). Apo means “away from” or “out of.” This could suggest that the signs in the heavens are not just natural disasters but something being released—something returning.
If the Nephilim were a product of fallen angelic activity, could Jesus have been warning about a future resurgence of similar supernatural events?
Final Thoughts
A Prophetic Warning? The Nephilim were not just giants. They were the result of a supernatural rebellion, and their influence led to global corruption, mass bloodshed, and the ultimate destruction of the pre-flood world. Yet, Jesus warns that the end times will resemble the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37).
If the Nephilim played a major role before the flood, could something similar be happening today? We see rapid advancements in technology, genetic modification, AI, and a growing interest in supernatural and occult knowledge—things that mirror the pre-flood era described in Genesis and the Book of Enoch.
If history is repeating itself, then Jesus’ warning should not be taken lightly. The Nephilim may not be walking the earth today in their original form, but their influence—the spread of forbidden knowledge and corruption—may be resurfacing in new ways. Could government classified programs be working with these today? Are these be the "greys we hear so much about? Could their return be part of the “fearful events and signs from heaven” that Jesus warned about? Only time will tell, but one thing is sure: I do not want to be here when all this takes place!