Sin, Soul, Death and Hell: What Every Worldview Must Face

Editor’s note (2026):
This article serves as a foundational reflection for the themes explored throughout this blog. Questions of sin, mortality, judgment, and ultimate destiny shape every worldview, whether religious or secular. Many later posts build on these concerns by examining how Scripture—particularly the new covenant—addresses them more fully.
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Every worldview—religious or secular—must eventually reckon with the same unavoidable realities: sin, mortality, judgment, and death. How these realities are understood shapes how people live, hope, and interpret meaning itself. This article explores these questions carefully, not through fear or speculation, but by examining how Scripture speaks about the soul, death, and ultimate accountability.

At first glance, a title like Sin, Soul, Death, and Hell may not invite cheerful reading. One might reasonably be tempted to move on to something more pleasant. Yet my interest here is not rooted in morbidity or a fascination with the darker side of life. Rather, I am convinced that these are subjects every person must eventually confront. They touch the deepest questions of meaning, responsibility, hope, and destiny.

Speaking as a Christian, I believe these four topics—sin, soul, death, and hell—figure prominently in our understanding of the gospel. At the same time, it is evident that disagreement and division persist within the Church regarding how these terms should be understood. There is no single consensus. Instead, strong and often contradictory doctrinal positions exist across denominations. My concern is that, whether through misunderstanding or misuse, these concepts are sometimes reshaped in ways that effectively result in a different gospel being preached.

This raises an important question: Why is there so much disagreement over ideas that seem so foundational? Are there historical influences which resulted in those currently held doctrines and traditions? Are the doctrines (commonly assumed today) truly biblical in origin, or have they been shaped—perhaps unintentionally—by historical, philosophical, and cultural influences external to Scripture? Have certain ideas been imported into the biblical text rather than derived from it? This essay argues that many commonly held views owe as much to Greek philosophy and later theological developments as they do to Scripture itself. I believe this has often been the case, though each reader must ultimately decide for themselves.

Church Tradition, the Fathers, and the Need for Caution:

When doctrinal differences arise, appeal is frequently made to church tradition or to the writings of the so‑called church fathers. While I do see value in engaging these sources, I also believe they must be approached with discernment. Many figures regarded as church fathers lived several centuries after the apostolic era. Their historical, philosophical, and cultural contexts were often quite different from those of the first‑century believers who originally received the gospel message.

Augustine of Hippo is a particularly influential figure in this regard. He wrote extensively on sin, grace, salvation, the soul, and hell, and his views exerted enormous influence on Western Christianity throughout the medieval period and into the present day. Yet Augustine lived more than three hundred years after the Church was established. In several key areas, his theology marked a departure from earlier Christian understandings.

Augustine, Original Sin, and Early Conflict

Augustine’s teachings on grace, salvation, and sin illustrate how theological developments can significantly reshape Christian doctrine. According to Augustine¹, human history represents a spiritual conflict between two opposing groups—the seeds of the woman and the seeds of the serpent. In his view, the Church stood in direct opposition to the world and consisted not of all humanity, but of Christians and those mysteriously destined to become Christians.

Central to Augustine’s soteriology was his division of grace into categories. He distinguished between what he called sufficient grace—a grace given to all—and efficacious grace, a grace that works irresistibly and infallibly in the wills of the elect. Salvation, in this scheme, ultimately belonged only to those whom God had eternally chosen.

This teaching represented a sharp break from earlier Christian proclamation. The Church had consistently presented itself as a refuge for all, not merely a predestined few. Scripture repeatedly affirms the universality of Christ’s saving work: Christ died for all, rose for all, and God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

Scripture itself does not clearly teach that humans are born guilty. Romans 5:12, often cited as proof of inherited sin, more accurately describes how death entered the world through sin, not how guilt is transmitted biologically. The biblical emphasis is consistently on human mortality as the consequence of sin, rather than innate culpability.

Augustine on Sin and the Transmission of Guilt

Augustine’s views on sin were also shaped by a deep suspicion of the physical world, particularly human sexuality. In his debates with Pelagius, Augustine argued that the guilt of original sin was transmitted through the sexual act. While he later softened some of his language, he continued to maintain that Adam’s guilt was passed on biologically and that baptism was necessary to remove this inherited guilt.

In defending these positions, Augustine sometimes relied on his own prior writings and on ideas he attributed—often inaccurately—to earlier church fathers. Over time, these arguments contributed to the widespread acceptance of doctrines such as original sin, irresistible grace, and predestination in Western Christianity.

Notably, the earliest Christian communities did not possess a fully developed doctrine of original sin, and the Eastern Church has never formally adopted it. Historically, the concept begins to appear only in the third century, as theologians sought philosophical explanations for human evil and suffering.

Scripture, Sin, and Death

The Bible does not explicitly teach that humanity is born guilty of original sin. Romans 5:12, often cited as a proof text, more accurately describes how death entered the world through sin, not how guilt is inherited at birth. Scripture consistently teaches that sin entered the world through one man and that death came as a result of sin—but it does not clearly state that Adam’s guilt is biologically transmitted to all humanity.²

Manichaeism and Augustine’s Intellectual Background

To understand Augustine’s theology, it is essential to consider his earlier involvement with Manichaeism³, a dualistic religious system that combined elements of Gnosticism, Christianity, and Persian religion. Manichaeism viewed reality as a cosmic struggle between light and darkness, spirit and matter. Matter was seen as inherently evil, and salvation consisted in freeing the soul from its material prison through special knowledge.

Although Augustine later rejected Manichaeism, many scholars argue that aspects of its dualism continued to influence his thinking—particularly his negative view of the body and his emphasis on the soul’s superiority.

Gnosticism and Its Ongoing Influence

Manichaeism is a form of Gnosticism, a philosophy that has repeatedly resurfaced throughout Christian history. Gnosticism⁴ teaches that salvation comes through hidden or higher knowledge and often denigrates physical existence. Influenced by Plato, Gnostics exalted the intellect while viewing the body as a hindrance or prison.

This mindset subtly shifted Christian hope away from bodily resurrection and toward the survival of an immortal soul. Historically, such thinking has led either to asceticism⁵ – harsh denial of the body – or to antinomianism⁶, the belief that bodily behaviour is morally insignificant.

Greek Philosophy and the Concept of the Soul

The idea of an immortal soul owes much to ancient Greek philosophy. Plato, in particular, argued that the soul is immortal and capable of contemplating eternal truths once freed from the body. Even though such an idea is not expressed anywhere in the Bible, these ideas came to deeply influence later Christian thinkers, including Augustine

Augustine’s extensive engagement with Platonic and Neo‑Platonic philosophy shaped his understanding of the soul’s immortality. Through his writings, Platonic assumptions about the soul became deeply embedded in Western Christian theology.^{7,8, 9}

Resurrection Versus Immortality of the Soul

The central Christian hope found in the New Testament is not escape from the physical world, but resurrection and renewal. The biblical emphasis falls not on the immortality of the soul but on the resurrection of the dead. Paul teaches that immortality is something humans put on in the resurrection, not something they possess by nature. As Paul writes, “this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). Immortality is not portrayed as a natural human possession but as something granted by God through resurrection. God alone is inherently immortal. Salvation, therefore, is not about abandoning creation but about its restoration.

In Scripture, humans are not depicted as souls trapped in bodies, but as unified beings. The Hebrew term nephesh, often translated “soul,” simply means a living being or life itself. Likewise, the Greek psyche frequently means “life,” not an immortal essence separate from the body.¹⁰

Reading Scripture in Its Original Context

I close with two reflections that capture the heart of this study. First, Michael Heiser reminds us that Christian tradition is not the interpretive context of Scripture. The Bible must be understood within the worldview of its original authors, not filtered primarily through later creeds, philosophies, or theological systems.

Second, Tammy Galvan‑Barnett powerfully illustrates the danger of mixing Greek dualism with Christian theology. When Christianity is viewed through Platonic lenses, the physical world is devalued, salvation becomes an escape from creation, and faith is reduced to a private, spiritualized experience. Scripture, however, affirms the goodness of creation and looks forward not to escape, but to renewal.

 

I would like to add a brief quote from the paper by Tammy Galvan-Barnett:

“This study clearly demonstrates the tragic impact of Greek philosophical thought on Christian thought; mixing these two very different modes of thought undermines a biblical approach to Christianity. Furthermore, creating a synthesis between Greek philosophy and Christianity taints both modes of thought. Remember the analogy about the glass of milk and the vomit from the introduction? Neither one is left in its pure form when you mix them together.

Greek dualism adulterates genuine Christian faith. In Platonic Christianity, believers place their spiritual life in a private sphere, separate from public life, rather than integrating their faith with all aspects of life. In this dualistic mindset, biblical faith is understood to be private; we divide God’s universe into two kingdoms; we devalue the physical world – ordinary life, the earth, and humanity; and we reduce the doctrine of salvation to a ticket out of hell and an escape from this evil world. Is this the point of Christ’s teachings in the New Testament – to devalue life on earth? Perhaps a more biblical view of salvation means that humans begin living, truly living in the sense that God meant, once they become believers. Why? Because the point of salvation is realizing the saving grace of Christ and once this happens we ought to begin viewing the world through the lens of Scripture, allowing Scripture to shape us and our worldviews.”¹¹

Concluding Reflections

My purpose in this study has not been to dismiss all tradition or philosophy, but to encourage careful discernment. As I have explored various doctrinal positions over the years, I have come to recognize that some matters remain mysterious, some are unclear, and others are quite plainly taught in Scripture.

The challenge before modern Christians is to resist reading Scripture primarily through the lenses of later creeds, traditions, or philosophical systems. While these may have historical value, they are not inspired. What has become increasingly clear is the importance of reading the Bible within the historical and cultural context in which it was written—and of testing all doctrines against Scripture itself. In this, the Bereans of Acts 17:11 provide a timeless example: they “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

That posture—humble, diligent, and Scripture‑centered—is the one I commend to the reader.

Further reading:
Readers interested in how Scripture addresses these questions through the lens of covenant, Christ, and fulfillment may want to explore the Strange Theology series:

• Strange Theology — Part 1

• Strange Theology — Part 2

• Strange Theology — Part 3 

   

Appendix: Notes, References, and Further Study

1. Augustine’s Doctrine of Original Sin, Orthodox Christianity. “Augustine’s Doctrine of Original Sin.”

Source: https://orthodox-christianity.com/2011/02/augustines-doctrine-of-original-sin/

2. Romans 5:12 and Original Sin, Michael S. Heiser, Dr. Michael Heiser Critiques the Church-Age Doctrine of Original Sin.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3IkEyhp9FA&t=23s 
Supplementary material: https://drmsh.com/romans-512/

3. Manichaeism, Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Manichaeism.” Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manichaeism

4. Gnosticism and the Human Body, David Koyzis, “Gnosticism and the Human Body,” Christian Courier. Source: https://www.christiancourier.ca/gnosticism-and-the-human-body/

5. Asceticism Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/

6. Antinomianism, Wikipedia, “Antinomianism.” Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinomianism

7. Ancient Theories of the Soul, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Ancient Theories of Soul.”

Source: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ancient-soul/

8. Plato’s Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul, Thomas Marshall Miller, Plato’s Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul, PhD Dissertation, Princeton University. Source: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01vx021h330

9. Augustine’s Philosophical Anthropology, “Augustine’s Philosophical Anthropology: Immortality of Human Soul in a Composite Soul-Body.” Source: https://cafn.us/2011/01/26/augustine%E2%80%99s-philosophical-anthropology-immortality-of-human-soul-in-a-composite-soul-body/

10. Biblical Use of “Soul,”  Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – “Soul.” Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/soul/

11. Greek Philosophy and Christian Thought, Tammy Galvan-Barnett, Approaching Christianity: Exploring the Tragic Impact of Greek Philosophical Thought on Christian Thought. Master’s Thesis, Olivet Nazarene University, August 2012. Source: https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=hist_mapt

Lousy Predictions, False Prophets and the Church

 

Editor’s note (2026):

This open letter was written in response to a specific social, cultural and political time period. It is preserved here as part of the journey, not as a persistent and ongoing position. Readers may find fuller theological context for these concerns developed more carefully in later posts focused on covenant, Scripture, and church unity.
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Not long ago I was reading a short article that made reference to 1 John 4:1-6 in their daily email. This short Biblical passage, along with a brief commentary, really got me thinking along a line somewhat different from that which was the point of their post. I do, however, think that there is a very solid rationale to the line of reasoning triggered within me by the article.

The passage in question (1 John 4:1-6) reads as follows:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (NIV)

The author of the post included this statement in their commentary, “...this month we have reflected on submitting to God so that we can discern how to live by his will. And here John helps us remember that we need to test all the words and voices and messages we hear ‘to see whether they are from God.’”

This then served as the seed or spark for what follows. Please allow me to highlight the phrases that stand out for me:

- do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God

- many false prophets have gone out into the world

- Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God

- every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not from God

- the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world

- They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them  *(note: The “they” mentioned in this phrase is a reference to false prophets according to my understanding)

- This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”

Finally, there is the comment the author of the post makes: “here John helps us remember that we need to test all the words and voices and messages we hear “to see whether they are from God.”

Thinking about all these points - the warnings about false prophets, lying spirits and the failure to test those spirits/lies (leading to really bad decisions)… I am struck with just how relevant this message is in today’s world. Throughout history we’ve been exposed to false prophecies and prognostications which have led to terribly unwise or even disastrous decisions on the part of individuals, communities or even whole nations. This has always been the case when the truth is ignored or suppressed in favour of the lie/fantasy or pursuit of some hidden but desired outcome.

So while false prophets have been amongst us all along, there has been no time in history (that I can think of) where they have had as much impact globally as has been the case over the past few years.

I am especially struck by the large numbers of people who are deceived by the proclamations of “false prophets” and evil/lying spirits over the last two and a half years. These are strong statements and I anticipate such assertions might be met by a high degree of skepticism and ridicule in response. In today’s world, any mention of prophets or evil spirits is likely to be disbelieved or ignored by most folks. Even those willing to allow for such possibilities, the scope would likely be limited to “religion” or “matters spiritual.” After-all, for day to day matters we’re far too advanced and sophisticated to give ear to prophetic mutterings; we have scientists who proclaim the truth and we “follow the science”… or so we’ve been told.

For many years our society was based largely on Christian ideas and values. In more recent years this factor has been moving toward a strictly materialistic world view, and away from any consideration of the supernatural realm or matters spiritual. The degree to which many people have tried to replace God, or remove Him from their daily reality, has varied from a little, all the way to completely. Some take the “only within the church” (and then only at certain specific times) view while others have gone all the way to totally rejecting Him. Unfortunately it seems that many within the church are now following that worldly trend and are not heeding the warnings given in scripture… such as quoted earlier in this essay, 1 John 4:1-6. Science came to be seen as all that was needed in a material world.

Well...... since science is a study of the material world and since the material world follows the natural laws God has created, this approach might seem adequate to get by on a day-to-day basis. So allow me to take literary license in order to clearly illustrate how the above Bible passage might be viewed so that it might look more like this emerging “scientific” view:

“Dear friends, do not believe every prognostication, but test the hypothesis to see whether it is “following the science” because many false scientists are at work in the world. This is how you can recognize real science: Every prediction that acknowledges rigid adherence to the scientific method and truthful reporting of consistently produced results can be called science, but every prediction that does not adhere strictly to facts and the scientific method can not be called science. This is the spirit of the conspiracy theory, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are followers of science and have overcome conspiracies, because that which you follow is better informed than the one who is uneducated. They are poorly informed and unsophisticated and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the superstitious and ignorant, and there are many who listen to them. We are educated scientists, and whoever knows the science listens to us; but whoever does not follow the science does not listen to us. This is how we recognize truthful predictions versus conspiracy theories and dangerous, misleading information.”

On the face of it, the idea of using “science” to explain and predict happenings in the material world might seem reasonable – if one also recognizes some obvious limitations. If you eliminate God from the equation, you also eliminate His character and replace it with the slim hope that only known and provable facts will be reported as truth. This view relies completely on flawed human nature, despite all other influences, temptations and pressures to the contrary. Placing this degree of faith in failed and flawed humans is far too risky and unreliable.

Science has no morality nor can it address or test anything outside the material realm. It is vulnerable to all kinds of human shortcomings, failings and deception. This is especially true when God and His word are denied or simply relegated to a “religious domain.” So… what we have seen happen is the personhood of God has been replaced with a concept (science) and the authority, that is God’s alone, has been denied.

Therefore, as we are now seeing, it did not take very long for the above passage to be revised yet again so as to read:

“Dear friends, do not believe any predictions or warnings which have not been proclaimed by our experts and their computer models. They have “followed the science” and the science is settled. Many fake scientists are at work in the world. This is how you can recognize real science: Every prediction that acknowledges the supreme authority of government and their appointed experts can be called science, but all findings, predictions or warnings that do not adhere strictly to the officially decided upon narrative can not be called science. Any claim that contradicts the official narrative is the spirit of the conspiracy theory, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

In 1 John 4:1-6, John warns against false prophets, false promises and predictions and evil spirits. I believe his warning was meant to address the whole of society and not just what is said or happens within the four walls of a church building. Those spoken of as prophets were not limited to “religious proclamations” or just “spiritual matters.” Prophets also addressed heads of state and spoke to every day concerns and matters of governance and state. There are many instances when kings and state leaders ignored the true prophets (choosing to listen to the false instead) and this always resulted in complete disaster. There are also recorded times when the prophets were heeded and the outcome was much better with disaster avoided.

Over the past several decades, and especially the past few years, we have seen one dire prediction after another and all claimed to be based on “the science” when in reality they have been based on flawed models and bad science. Their cataclysmic prophecies were used as tools to instill fear and shape human behaviour toward some desired model of compliance. Now, one can question the motivation of using such obvious flawed models – but only at the risk of being labelled as a conspiracy theory nut before being ignored. Pointed questions, challenges and debate have always been denied with statements such as the “science has been settled” – until it hasn’t. When the hypothesis is shown to be critically flawed, the proclamation becomes, “the science is evolving as we are learning new things.” So, is it settled or is it evolving? Depends on the agenda I guess.

Let’s look at just four examples of such scientific predictions (I’m going to label them as examples of false prophecies):

#1) The declaration of the C-19 pandemic began with a prediction of 2,200,000 deaths in the USA and 510,000 deaths in the UK. This prediction was widely reported by most mainstream news sources as well as extensively in social media. It was declared that extreme (2 week) lock-down measures must be implemented, based on those prophecies, “to flatten the curve.”

#2) It was prophesied the hospitals would be bursting at the seams and undergo a tremendous strain leading to the collapse of the health care system.

Outcome #1: Among other things, the models were exposed as fatally flawed right from the start. This whole prediction was based on faulty modelling done by people like Neil Ferguson. Professor Ferguson is a British epidemiologist and professor of “mathematical biology,” who specializes in developing computer models which attempt to predict the patterns of spread of infectious disease in humans and animals. He has a history of producing faulty models and calamity prediction.

Not only were his numbers way overblown, they were also used to generate the level of fear that the announcements were meant to generate. In order to attempt to support these extremely high numbers, deaths from numerous other causes were included in the daily media reporting. Numerous independent doctors as well as independent media sources confirmed that a great many of these other deaths included those with multiple comorbidities that actually died from something like cancer, heart disease diabetic complications etc. Many families reported that relatives who had died, as a result of accidents and even suicide, were counted among the “Covid deaths” if authorities could establish recent symptoms or a clinical picture that might fit a Covid diagnosis.

Not only this... but to spice it up even more, testing was implemented on a massive scale using an inappropriate PCR testing procedure which even its inventor states was never intended for diagnostic purposes. This test is known to produce largely false positives – particularly when run for the number of cycles most governments (and not “science”) mandated.

In response, the following quote is a critical analysis of the “science”:
“Epidemic forecasting has a dubious track-record, and its failures became more prominent with COVID-19. Poor data input, wrong modelling assumptions, high sensitivity of estimates, lack of incorporation of epidemiological features, poor past evidence on effects of available interventions, lack of transparency, errors, lack of determinacy, consideration of only one or a few dimensions of the problem at hand, lack of expertise in crucial disciplines, groupthink and bandwagon effects, and selective reporting are some of the causes of these failures.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7447267/

Outcome #2: As to the measures implemented in response to the prophecies (usually referred to as the “trusted science”) the term disastrous would seem appropriate. Not only did the health care system fail to collapse, but what we saw was a very poor utilization of medical, therapeutic, diagnostic and personal support care resources. We saw the cancellation of needed surgeries, cancellation of most diagnostic testing for potentially life threatening diseases, a dramatic increase in suicides, the near destruction of the economies of countries and the devastation of many small and medium sized businesses.

The catastrophic burden on hospitals (which was supposedly a prime focus) simply never happened. To be fair, there were hospitals, in a few large urban areas, that were stretched to their limits and those were the ones to receive the lions share of media attention. They legitimately needed extra help and attention. However, because such a broad and general approach was decreed (rather than a very targeted approach) resources were very poorly utilized. Across the board, huge numbers of patients were simply discharged prematurely, the system set aside all but dire emergencies, and the focus was narrowed strictly to looking for the prophesied flood of pandemic patients.

It is now largely acknowledged that many, many hospitals were empty throughout the first two years of “the pandemic” and in some instances health care professionals were actually laid-off because their facilities were nearly empty. Meanwhile, huge numbers of important diagnostic tests, surgeries and treatments were cancelled… many with disastrous outcomes for those whose diagnosis was missed or surgery delayed.

#3) Public mandatory masking, “social distancing,” and the closure of many businesses was declared as necessary. Along with this, ALL churches were ordered closed with these measures declared/prophesied as necessary in order to prevent the spread.

Outcome: The effects of these measures, has been disastrous. Due to the loss of personal freedom and civil rights, their impact socially, economically, emotionally and spiritually is immeasurable. No scientific evidence has ever been produced – either before such measures or since – to show any beneficial effectiveness from such mandates. However many studies and statistics are now available (and have been reported in various media outlets and by large numbers of personal first-hand and family accounts) that show the terrible harm caused by such measures; not the least of which was the large increase in suicides. By the way, sound medical practice, based on scientific study, has always held that you isolate the people who are actually sick and not the healthy population.

#4) Proclamations concerning the so called vaccines: They will be/are necessary, have been adequately tested, and are safe and effective.

Outcome: Depending on how you look at these statements, they can be viewed as either false prophecies or straight up lies. In practical application the government implemented mandates (they insisted were based “on the science”) that were to be lifted only as certain target goals of compliance were reached. They then continually changed those goals and ultimately never fully lifted the mandates (all the while still claiming to “follow the science”). Every single claim made about the “vaccines” has been changed as each of the initial claims has demonstrably failed. People are now on their 4^th and some on their 5^th booster. Deaths and disabilities from the shots have skyrocketed according to the numerous peer reviewed reports and studies that I’ve read. (Example) https://www.theepochtimes.com/young-adults-dying-in-record-numbers-but-not-from-covid-19_4716218.html?utm_source=MB_article_free&utm_campaign=mb-2022-09-09-ca&utm_medium=email&est=e5k3jqfjjkhD%2BR4Ogy0t%2F618OAwUUR5tJXWVdh%2F15q93dMFfZ7uv2uxW7F4TUQhUhA%3D%3D&utm_term=newstop&utm_content=1

The lying I made reference to, became very evident after it became apparent that the “vaccines” had no effect in preventing the spread of the disease. This fact was pointed out and questioned during a live-streamed EU investigation into the “pandemic” measures. Representatives of Pfizer admitted the vaccines had never been tested to see if they stopped the spread and claimed no such assertions had ever been made (https://youtu.be/ri9bOIilA70). However this is simply untrue. Governments used the assertion that vaccinations would stop the spread (the effective rate being bandied about was 95% effective at preventing or catching the disease and stopping the spread).

Claims of effectiveness were also used as the basis for implementing various vaccine mandates and imposing restrictions on peoples freedoms. For a period of time public anger was deliberately stirred up against the “unvaxxed” with the claims Covid was now a “disease of the unvaccinated.” Subsequently the claim for continuing with the vaccination programs was the insistence that they would lessen the severity of infection and need for hospitalization. Of course these are unprovable claims (how exactly do you prove the statement “if I hadn’t had the shots it would have been a lot worse?”) and so far the statistics do not support the statement with regard to hospitalizations or deaths.

Over the years the spokespeople for this false god aka “science,” have made numerous other false claims and prophecies. A short list of such claims includes topics such as: our origins, the climate, family, sexuality, biology and human nature. Each of those items is a topic worthy of a full and detailed discussion which is beyond the scope of this short essay. However this does beg the question: “Despite so many false and failing prophecies and pronouncements, despite such a terrible track record, why do so many people continue to listen to the voices of these false prophets?” Could it be because as John says, “They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”

While this may explain why, despite such a terrible track record, so many people continue to listen to the voices of these false prophets, it raises an even more puzzling question; “What happened to the church with regard these same issues?” Sadly, it is my conclusion that large segments of “the church” went in lock-step with the world. Some continue to walk in the way of the world and now some have permanently closed. While I believe it is easy to apply worldly reasoning and rationalizations why this would happen, it is important to remember whose church it is – and that a spiritual rather than simply a material reason needs be sought. It is important to remember that John’s message and warning was written to those identified as believers or “the church.” One might wonder why such a message would even be necessary for believers when it might seem such a message should more properly be directed to the unbelieving world… but the church? It’s a curious fact that much of the New Testament has to do with the birth and growth of the church. Jesus declared the “gates of hell” would not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18). He did not say, however, that the church would escape temptation and attack from the forces of evil, nor did He say it would never need confronting or correcting. Many of the letters in the New Testament are letters of both encouragement AND correction. In fact, one could draw a parallel between the need for correction (addressed toward the church) and that directed at Israel in the Old Testament.

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This seems a good place to include Paul’s admonition and warning to the church in Ephesus (quoting from Ephesians 6:10-18):

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...” (ESV)

Most teaching I’ve encountered, with regard to this passage, has been directed at “the individual” (you and me) reminding us that the battle is largely spiritual and how we each must put on the whole armour of God. This is true but let us not overlook that it is the church body that is addressed in this letter. It clearly outlines the schemes of the devil, and reminds us: ”… we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places…”

So I’m left to wonder about the times we’re in as I also wonder about the church, and I must ask “what church?” Are we at all mindful of the church of Laodicea? It was said of that church, “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:17-18 ESV) If this is indeed the case today, the warning is dire and can be ignored only at one’s own peril.

Giants in the Land

Shortly after posting the, “Days of Noah” blog post, I was challenged on the topic of fallen angels and their illegitimate activity with humans. Specifically the concern was the assertion that the Nephilim were the offspring of angels or divine beings having sexual relations with humans. In the post I mentioned 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Numbers 13:30-33 and Genesis 6:1-4. These were cited as examples of passages that make reference to the activity of these fallen beings as well as the resulting consequences and outcomes. Perhaps now would be a good time to look at these passages as well as any supporting texts in more detail.

Starting with Numbers 13:30-33 which reads:

“But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

The backstory to this passage, is the story of the twelve spies sent by Moses to check out the land of Canaan. It is found in Numbers 13:17-29 and reads as follows:

“Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there.

At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.””

These passages give rise to several questions and comments with respect to the topic of the Nephilim?:

1. All twelve spies agreed the land was good, produced abundant food and crops. It was a land flowing with milk and honey. So what was the “bad” report?

2. Verse 22 clearly states, “the descendants of Anak, were there.” This is stated as a matter of fact and is noted even before any reports were given. Later in verse 33 these descendants of Anak are mentioned again as part of the negative report, “there we saw the Nephilim the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim.” These are terms and tribes that seem to be already known about. They are not made up words to describe very tall people. So, who was Anak?

3. Who were the Anakim?

With respect to the first question about the “bad report,” I am referencing the following article “What did the spies do wrong?” https://images.shulcloud.com/618/uploads/PDFs/Divrei_Torah/170617-What-did-the-spies-do-wrong-Shlach-Lecha.pdf

1. “It’s not that they lied, rather their report was given with the intent to scare and demoralized the people.

‘39 years later, Moses himself said the same to their children, as they were about to enter the Promised Land:

You will be coming to conquer nations that are greater and more powerful than you, with great cities, fortified to the skies. They are a great nation, as tall as giants… [Deut. 9:1-2]”

2. “They doubted God’s power. Their very mission implied doubt about the value of God’s gift and God's ability to deliver it. God said "Send for yourself," meaning "I am not commanding you, but if you wish, you may send." Indeed, the people had come to Moses asking for that. [Deut. 1:22]

-Talmud: God told Moses, "I told them that the land is good. By their lives! Now I will give them the opportunity to fall into error through the words of the spies, so that they will not inherit it.” [Sotah 34b, Midrash Tanchuma, Shlach 5]

-But spying for military preparations is OK. The Torah does not tell us to rely on miracles. It's the spies’ presentation that was not OK. [Ramban]”

3. Their lie was the twisting of facts and how they presented their opinion as a part of those facts. “…They did not report (or did not try to find out) what the inhabitants thought of them. Forty years later, Rahav in Jericho tells the spies sent by Joshua that the inhabitants feared the Jews:

I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that a great fear of you has fallen upon us. All the inhabitants of the land faint because of you... As soon as we heard [of the miracles God performed for you] our hearts melted, no courage remained in any man, because of you. [Joshua 2:9-11].

-And the Jews themselves knew that. Earlier, in their Song at the Sea, they had said:

The people of Canaan will melt away. Terror and dread will fall on them. [Ex. 15:15-16]

-The spies made unwarranted assumptions. They said: “In our eyes, we seemed like grasshoppers, and so were we in their eyes.” In Talmud, Rabbi Mesharsheya asks:

The spies were liars. As regards “In our eyes, we seemed like grasshoppers,” very well; but how could they know that “so were we in their eyes”? [Sotah 35a]

How did the spies know how the inhabitants saw the Jews?

Now to address questions #2 & 3 concerning Anak and Anakim. This page from Bible Hub.com is all about the Anakim complete with definitions descriptions and bible references: https://biblehub.com/topical/a/anakim.htm

In addition, https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1453-anakim, gives a description as well as references to both Rabbinical and Hellenistic Literature: “According to rabbinical tradition (Gen. R. xxvi.), the Anakim are of the same Titanic race as the Rephaim, Nefilim, Gibborim, Zamzummim, and Emim.” Often these terms and descriptions are used in close relationship to each other or sometimes even interchangeably.

The link: https://www.compellingtruth.org/Rephaim.html, provides a fairly full description of the Rephaim and where it is believed they came from. Quoting from this article:

“...The Rephaim were similar to the Anakim (Deuteronomy 2:20–21). The Rephaim are mentioned again in Exodus when the Israelites were trying to enter the Promised Land. The Rephaim were living in Canaan, and the Israelites were terrified of them—the Israelites didn't want to go into the Promised Land because it was inhabited with "giants" (Numbers 13:33), the sons of Anak. The spies came back to Israel and told the people that "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them" (Numbers 13:32–33). The Promised Land, though beautiful (Numbers 13:27) was inhabited with giants—men so big that the Israelites felt like grasshoppers next to them. The Rephaim were of the same type.

Can this be taken literally? Who are the Nephilim? The Bible says that Og, king of Bashan (one of the last Rephaim) had a bed that was thirteen feet long (Deuteronomy 3:11). Was this just the grandiosity of a king, or did Og really need a bed that large? We know the ancient Jews believed them to be giants because the Greek word titanes, from which English derives the word titan, is used to translate the Hebrew word rephaim. Ancient folklore from many cultures features stories of giants. And there is biblical basis for their existence. The Nephilim (the word used synonymously with the Anakites) were the offspring of fallen angels and women (Genesis 6:1–4). How this is biologically possible we don't know, but the story is presented literally. The phrase used in the passage is "sons of God" who took "daughters of man" as their wives and bore children through them. The phrase "sons of God" is used exclusively elsewhere in Scripture to describe angelic beings.”

Looking now at 2 Peter 2:4 it says: “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell[a] and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.” Keeping this passage in mind, lets look at Jude 1:6 which says: “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—” Both these passages refer to angels bound in gloomy darkness for their sin. These passages also beg the question, what was their sin(s)?

I think in this instance the passage from Jude helps make the reference in Peter much more clear. Looking at the passage in Jude a bit more carefully, verse 6 does not end as a complete sentence or thought but rather it ends with a dash and continues on into verse 7. Thus the thought conveyed here (in speaking of those angles reads, “...left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire...” In other words he is comparing the activity of those angles to the immorality and depravity that occurred in Sodom and Gomorrah.

In speaking of this verse, https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/jude-1-6, I found this supporting quote:

“The angels in this verse, "who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode," is speaking of those who rebelled with Satan and also sinned in Genesis 6, "when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them." Although all angels who chose to rebel with Satan lost their position in the holy, heavenly angelic realm... this group also abandoned their angelic form by taking on a human form in order to have sex with human women, which resulted in a hybrid offspring, described in Genesis as giants or Nephilim. However, the message to us from Jude is a warning to all who have a common faith with the apostle, against falling into apostasy.”

In my original post I made reference to several extra-Biblical texts including the book of Enoch. The passages noted referenced in 2 Peter and Jude, are both quotes from Enoch. There are no other scriptural references to these angels being committed to chains and bound in gloomy darkness… when these two writers wrote, they were quoting from a know source. They would have presumed those to whom they were writing would also have known and understood the reference.

Finally, I want to include excerpts from Catholic scholar, Dr Taylor Marshall. In an article titled, “Angels having Relations with Humans within Jude and 2 Peter and 1 Enoch” he writes:

“Genesis 6 has a confusing reference to “when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them” and how this occurrence led to Yahweh flooding the earth. What does this mean?

Sometime around the 200s BC a Jewish document called “Book of Enoch” or 1 Enoch was produced. It gives all the details on how angelic beings copulated with human women and created a cosmic mess before the Flood. And here’s the interesting problem we have:

Saint Jude (Jude 1:14-15) directly quotes this non-biblical document known as “Book of Enoch” or 1 Enoch:

Jude 14–15

It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying:“Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment on all and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Compare with:

1 Enoch 1:9 Behold, he comes with ten thousand saints to execute judgment upon all, and he will destroy all the ungodly and convict all flesh of all the deeds of their ungodliness that they have ungodly committed in an ungodly way, and of all the arrogant and hard words which sinners have spoken against him.

It’s not only this direct quotation of 1 Enoch by Jude, but Jude (and 2 Peter) allude to the fantastical events of 1 Enoch, namely the sexual encounters of fallen angels with human women, which gives birth to the nephilim or “giants.” The birth of the giants, according to 1 Enoch, is the reason for the Noah’s Flood.

And this belief is also found in the non-canonical book of Wisdom:

“And from the beginning also when the proud giants (γιγάντων) perished, the hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, left to the world seed of generation.” (Wisdom 14:6)

The author of Wisdom clearly associates the flood to a divine genocide of the race of the giants (γιγάντων) to leave the world a “seed of generation.” (Saint Paul quotes from Wisdom about 7 times – so Saint Paul also likely hold this belief.)

In 1 Enoch, Yahweh sends 200 angels to guide and instruct humanity. These 200 angels are called “Irin” in Aramaic and “Egregoroi” in Greek. Both words mean “Watchers.” These Watchers corrupt humanity by teaching them evil arts such as cosmetology (sorry ladies), sorcery, astrology, and the arts of war.

These angels also seduce human women and copulate with them. The women give birth to nephilim or giants. God causes these giants to fight and die. Then the souls of the giants turn into demons that haunt and tempt humans for the rest of time.

So Yahweh binds these 200 evil angelic Watchers into “Tartarus.”

What is Tartarus? In the Homer’s Iliad, Zeus teaches that Tartarus is “as far beneath Hades as heaven is above earth.” Tartarus is the deepest part of the underworld, far below Hades.

It’s noteworthy that the term “tartarus” is used by Enoch and 2 Peter. This signals the blending of Hebrew history with Greek mythology since Greek myth depict Zeus (after 10 years of battle or titanomachy) sending the older primordial deities called Titans into the deep dungeon abyss of “tartarus.”

Notably 2 Peter explicitly uses Enoch’s word “Tartarus” for the condemnation of fallen “angels.” Jude and 2 Peter use almost the same words, but 2 Peter uses “Tartarus”:

Jude 6 - “And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day.”

Compare with 2 Peter 2:4a: “For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into Tartaros and committed them to chains of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgment;”

Compare this with what it says in 1 Enoch 7:2: “And when the angels, the sons of heaven, beheld them, they became enamored of them, saying to each other, Come, let us select for ourselves wives from the progeny of men, and let us beget children.” (1 Enoch 7:2)

The resulting children are called nephilim in Hebrew or gigantes (giants) in Latin and Greek. In 1 Enoch, the historical Enoch goes to God and seeks to make intercession for the forgiveness of the giants. God refuses and the giants are condemned. This part of the story is referred to in Sirach:

“He was not propitiated for the ancient giants who revolted in their might.” (Sirach 16:7)

The Dead Sea Scrolls contain 10 copies (!) of the Book of Giants – a work that describes in detail the conception of giants in Genesis 6 from the union of women and angelic watchers. The giants were warriors and cannibals. This theology was an important part of the theology of Second Temple Judaism.”

I just want to make it clear as I close; the book of Enoch is not part of the scripture nor do I think it needs to be. I see it as a part of a body of literature containing stories from the past that perhaps were passed down orally before being written out sometime during the second temple period. These were the accounts of history which most of the Jewish historians, scholars, and religious people of the day were aware of. These stories and accounts were known broadly enough that references to them were often made without any need for further explanation.

It is not necessary to accept the ideas here presented, I have only put this together to facilitate further understanding of some of the things I wrote in my earlier essay.

As in the Days of Noah (Revisited) — Part 1

Editor’s Note: This post has been substantially revised and expanded to reflect further study and clarity. It now serves as Part 1 of a two-part exploration of Jesus’ reference to “the days of Noah.” The original theme remains, but the argument has been sharpened and more carefully developed.
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Introduction: A Common Phrase, a Serious Question:

Lately, when people talk about current events and the times we are living in, I often hear the phrase “the days of Noah.” This expression is usually meant to describe troubling or dangerous times and often carries an apocalyptic tone. The phrase comes from Jesus and was spoken in response to a question from His disciples.

But does this comparison really fit what we see today? Are we truly living in “the days of Noah”?

Jesus’ Original Context:

The phrase comes from a conversation between Jesus and His disciples near the end of His ministry. As recorded in Matthew’s Gospel:

“Jesus left the temple and was walking away when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to its buildings.

‘Do you see all these things?’ He asked. ‘Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?’” (Matthew 24:1–3, NASB)

What Did Jesus Mean by “the Days of Noah”?

Jesus’ response to this question fills most of Matthew 24 and is well worth reading carefully. Within this teaching, He makes a direct comparison to the time of Noah:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:36–39, NASB)

Given the seriousness of this warning—both then and now—it is worth paying close attention to what Jesus meant by “the days of Noah.” What exactly was happening before Noah entered the ark? Jesus refers to a time just before a global catastrophe, one that destroyed nearly all life on the earth. He then says that conditions would be similar just before “the end of the age.”

Please note: In this discussion, we will not attempt to define exactly what Jesus meant by “the end of the age,” nor whether it refers to a past or future event.

Jesus used a well-known historical event to help His disciples understand what was coming. It is reasonable to assume that they understood the reference and its meaning. However, it is far less certain that we, today, fully understand what Jesus meant—or what He intended us to learn—from this comparison.

Misunderstanding the Comparison:

In the past, when I heard this passage discussed, the focus was usually on the words “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” As a young person, I was taught that this referred mainly to people giving themselves over to pleasure and sinful living. This view is reflected in older commentaries, which explain the passage as a warning against excess, indulgence, and moral corruption.

There is no question that the Bible describes Noah’s generation as deeply sinful. It is easy to draw parallels between their moral condition and much of what we see today. However, this explanation alone raises an important question: How is eating, drinking, and marrying anything other than normal human behaviour? These activities have always been part of everyday life.

Jesus also said something else that deserves attention:

“They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.”

This raises an obvious question:

Could they have known what was coming—and if so, why didn’t they?

Awareness Ignored:

Scripture tells us that Noah spent many decades building the ark, an enormous and very visible project. He is also described as a righteous man who warned others and called them to repentance. Other ancient Jewish writings suggest that Noah actively tried to alert the people to the coming judgment. Despite this, the people remained unprepared.

They had time. They had warnings. They had evidence all around them. Yet when the flood came, it caught them completely by surprise.

For this reason, I do not believe Jesus was criticizing ordinary activities like eating or marrying. Instead, He was pointing out how completely unaware the people were of what was happening around them. Life seemed normal right up until the end. They ignored the warnings, dismissed the signs, and continued as if nothing would ever change.

Moral Corruption Is Not the Whole Story:

When discussing the days of Noah, attention is often drawn to the extreme wickedness of humanity at that time. Scripture says that “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). There is little doubt that this description can feel uncomfortably familiar today. However, this condition of the human heart is not unique to Noah’s generation. Throughout history, human beings have repeatedly shown the same tendency toward corruption. Jeremiah reminds us of this when he writes, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Because of this, general human sinfulness alone cannot fully explain why Noah’s generation stands apart. While moral corruption is certainly part of the picture, it is only one factor among several that must be considered when studying the days of Noah.

Corruption Beyond Humanity: “All Flesh” in Genesis 6:

Before going further with this portion of this essay, I think it is important to look more closely at the phrase “all flesh” in Genesis 6. This particular detail deserves careful attention. It appears more than once in the flood account and is central to understanding why the judgment of the flood was so severe. It may have more significant ramifications for us these days than we realise.

Genesis 6:12 says, “God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” A few verses later, God tells Noah, “I am about to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them” (Genesis 6:13). Later still, God explains that the flood will destroy “all flesh in which is the breath of life” (Genesis 6:17).

At first glance, “all flesh” might seem to refer simply to humanity. However, the text consistently includes animals, birds, and creeping things alongside human beings. This is unusual. In most biblical judgments, God deals specifically with human sin. Here, the corruption appears to have spread beyond human society and into the created order itself.

The language suggests more than widespread bad behaviour. It points to a breakdown in the proper boundaries of creation. Something had gone wrong at a fundamental level. Life on the earth was no longer functioning as God had intended it to function.

This helps explain why the flood was not limited to human beings alone. If corruption had affected all flesh, then the remedy would also have to be comprehensive. The flood was not merely punishment—it was a kind of reset, preserving only what God declared “blameless” through Noah and those with him in the ark.

Importantly, Genesis makes a distinction. While all flesh was corrupted, Noah is described as “righteous” and “blameless in his generation” (Genesis 6:9). This contrast shows that God was not acting blindly or unjustly. Judgment came only after corruption had become total, and preservation was granted where faithfulness still existed.

If something had gone wrong at the level of creation itself—corrupting not just human society but all flesh—then the strange and often overlooked account of the Nephilim in Genesis 6 demands closer attention.

A Long Period of Warning:

In order to better understand what Jesus meant by “the days of Noah,” I think that we need to move beyond a narrow, distant view of the flood as simply a single moment in history. Instead, we should look at it within a much broader context—both in terms of time and what was happening during that time.

Genesis 7:6 tells us that Noah was 600 years old when he entered the ark and the flood began. That detail is important because 600 years represents an enormous span of time. Many people read the phrase “the days of Noah” without fully grasping how much could happen over such a long period.

To put this in perspective, if we looked back 600 years from today, we would be looking at the early 1400s. Think of how many major events, cultural shifts, wars, discoveries, and changes in human behaviour have taken place since then. A single phrase like “during that time” would hardly describe everything that occurred. In the same way, “the days of Noah” should not be understood as referring to only a short or simple period of time.

Although the Bible records real history and refers to specific historical events, it does not claim to be a complete history of everything that happened. The brief account found in Genesis 6:8 through 7:16 gives us a snapshot—not a full record—of the events leading up to the flood. It provides what we need to understand God’s actions and purposes, but not every detail of life during that long period.

There are also ancient writings outside the Bible that discuss this era. While these texts are not Scripture and must be treated carefully, they can help us understand how people in the ancient world viewed the flood and the events surrounding it. It is reasonable to believe that Jesus’ disciples were more familiar with these traditions than most people are today and likely had a broader understanding of what led up to this great catastrophe.

Warning Ignored Despite Clear Signs:

Another important point is that the coming disaster was not a secret—yet almost everyone was caught by surprise.

Genesis 6:3 is often understood as a warning that humanity had 120 years before judgment would come. This statement reflects God’s patience as well as His unwillingness to tolerate evil forever. Many biblical scholars interpret this verse as a countdown to the flood, a period of time given for repentance.

This idea is also reflected in the Book of Jasher, an ancient non-biblical text mentioned in Scripture (Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18). According to Jasher 5:6, Noah was 480 years old when God spoke to him and to Methuselah about the coming destruction if humanity did not turn from its wicked ways. The passage describes repeated warnings given over many years:

“God said unto Noah and Methuselah, saying, Speak ye, and proclaim to the sons of men… Return from your evil ways…
Behold I give you a period of one hundred and twenty years…
And Noah and Methuselah spoke all the words of the Lord to the sons of men, day after day…
But the sons of men would not listen, nor incline their ears to their words.”

Whether one accepts this account in full or not, it reflects a consistent theme also found in Scripture: the people of Noah’s day were warned repeatedly and given ample time to change.

Yet despite decades of warnings, visible signs, and the testimony of a righteous man, the people remained unmoved. When judgment finally came, it caught them unprepared—not because they lacked opportunity, but because they refused to pay attention.

A Pattern Jesus Expected His Listeners to Recognize:

However one looks at it, the outcome was the same. Despite a long period of grace and repeated warnings—despite clear calls to repentance—and despite many troubling events happening all around them, the world was still caught off guard when the floodwaters came.

This is striking when compared with the warning that Jesus tied to His Noah reference. Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour of His coming—yet He also said it would happen within that generation.

In Noah’s time, the flood came with a known time frame. According to Genesis, humanity was given many years of warning. Even so, knowing that judgment was coming—and roughly when—made no difference. The people did not change.

Ancient writings such as the Book of Jasher describe, in dramatic terms, this refusal to respond. While Jasher is not Scripture and must be read carefully, it reflects a tradition that emphasizes just how clear the warnings were. Jasher 6:11–12 describes terrifying natural signs meant to awaken the people:

“And on that day, the Lord caused the whole earth to shake, and the sun darkened, and the foundations of the world raged… and God did this mighty act, in order to terrify the sons of men, that there might be no more evil upon earth.

And still the sons of men would not return from their evil ways… and did not even direct their hearts to all this.”

Whether one accepts this description as literal or symbolic, the message is consistent with Scripture:

- the people ignored warning after warning.

- Even extraordinary signs failed to move them.

- Their attention remained fixed on everyday life.

- Judgment drew closer.

The Nephilim and the Corruption of Creation:

The Genesis account—and Jesus’ reference to it—points to something more serious than ordinary human wrongdoing. Something was happening that led God to make an unprecedented declaration: “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them” (Genesis 6:7). This judgment went beyond humanity alone and extended to all living creatures.

Genesis 6:12 further explains the reason: “God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” The language here suggests a corruption that had spread beyond individual choices and personal sin. It had become systemic and universal, affecting all flesh. This level of corruption sets Noah’s generation apart and signals that more was at work than the normal moral failings common to human history.

The Factor That Cannot Be Ignored

Yet there is another critical factor that should not be overlooked.

In addition to general moral corruption and human violence, a very specific and dangerous form of evil was spreading throughout the world. This corruption threatened not just society, but all flesh. This brings us to the subject of the Nephilim and their appearance in human history.

Too often, this aspect of the flood narrative is skipped over, misunderstood, or dismissed entirely. However, several biblical passages make either direct or indirect reference to the Nephilim and to the unusual conditions surrounding their emergence. These passages suggest that something deeply unnatural was taking place—something that went beyond ordinary human sin and played a role in bringing about the flood.

Understanding this background is essential if we want to grasp the full meaning of “the days of Noah” as Jesus used the phrase.

Shared Knowledge in the Ancient World

Several biblical passages point to unusual events connected to the days of Noah, even though they do not explain those events in full detail. Passages such as 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6, Numbers 13:30–33, and Genesis 6:1–4 seem to refer to something already known by their original audience.

At this point, an everyday example may help. If someone today mentions “9/11,” they usually do not need to explain the details. Most people already understand what happened and why it matters. In a similar way, these biblical writers appear to assume that their readers already knew what events were being referenced.

This brings us back to the Nephilim and their role in the days of Noah—especially in Genesis 6:1–4. This passage speaks of the “sons of God,” who took human women as wives and produced offspring called Nephilim. Many Jewish interpreters before and during the time of Jesus understood the “sons of God” to be fallen heavenly beings. In later Jewish writings, such as the book of Enoch, these beings are called “Watchers.” (This term [Watchers] can also be found in Daniel 4:13, 17, and 23.)

According to this understanding, certain of these Watchers crossed a forbidden boundary. Their actions were not only immoral but destructive. The resulting corruption affected humanity at a fundamental level and threatened the future of creation itself. In addition to this, these fallen beings were believed to have taught humans forbidden knowledge—methods of violence, deception, and self-destruction.

While these extra-biblical writings are not Scripture, they help explain how many people in Jesus’ day understood Genesis 6. The disciples would not have encountered these ideas as strange or new.

Conclusion

In the end, it was not ignorance caused by lack of opportunity—it was blindness caused by inattention. And that, I believe, is the true warning contained in Jesus’ reference to “the days of Noah.”
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Part 2 will continue this discussion by examining how Jesus’ warning applies to the events leading up to 70 AD—as well as how similar patterns have appeared and could continue to appear at other turning points in history. Part 2 of this article can be found here:

As in the Days of Noah – Part 2