The Giants: Mighty Men of Renown!

May 22, 2023

“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that. When the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, me of renown.” (Genesis 6:4). As stated here in the opening verses of the sixth chapter of the book of Genesis, we see something incredible and at the same time very difficult to comprehend. Is it true that giants did indeed walk the earth at one time? Could the sons of God who are mentioned as sleeping with women really be angels? These are just a couple of the mysteries surrounding the origins of the giants, the mighty men of renown.

It is believed by many and even some of the Church Fathers, that the sons of God mentioned in Genesis 6 were indeed fallen angels. Other schools of thought identify the sons of God as the descendants of Seth, the holy bloodline of antediluvian patriarchs. Conversely the daughters of men are identified as the descendants of Cain, who the holy sons of Seth were forbidden to mingle with. The sons of God were to separate themselves from the bloodline of Cain, so that through their righteous and holy bloodline the promised Messiah would one day be birthed. Since two distinct peoples who were not allowed to associate or have relations with one another ended up coming together anyway, then it would seem that a genetic abnormality took shape as a result of this forbidden love.

Now if it was indeed a group of fallen angels that mated with human women then these angels would need bodies, specifically male bodies. The Bible explains that man was created from the dust of the earth, but God makes His angels spirits and flames of fire (Hebrews 1:7). So here we see that man was created from something physical and material, whereas angels are created as spirits, something immaterial. Also in order for a child to be conceived the baby needs 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 chromosomes from the father. If angels are made of a different body than that of human men, wouldn’t they have a different chromosome count? So with a seed unlike human seed, the angels who left their first estate would of had a unique seed possibly causing a genetic abnormality in the offspring of their union with human women.

However, we see in the Old Testament that king Saul was tormented with an evil spirit (I Samuel 16:14), and in the New Testament we see people possessed with evil spirits. The evil angels do not breed with women, but the demons entered the bodies of both men and women. So why would fallen angels impregnate women at one time and just simply enter or possess men and women at another time? We know from scripture that giants were born even after the Flood, so would God of allowed more fallen angels to acquire bodies in order to mate with earthly women, or is there another explanation?

According to Orthodox Christian theology, Noah and his family were to remain celibate during the entire time they were in the ark. However, Noah’s son Ham violated this commandment and the child Canaan was born from Ham’s transgression. Now according to the Bible after the Flood while Noah lay drunk and naked in his tent, Ham saw his father’s nakedness and then went and told his two brothers. This uncovering of a father’s nakedness is explained in Leviticus 18 as sleeping with your father’s wife, one’s own mother. The Bible goes on to state that Noah cursed Canaan and not Ham, even though it was Ham that uncovered his father’s nakedness. Canaan could have possibly received the curse because he was the product of Ham’s sin with his father’s wife.

Whether Ham fathered a son by his own mother, or if he indeed impregnated his wife while on the ark one thing remains, Canaan the son of Ham received a curse. Another son of Ham was named Cush, And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. (Genesis 10:8). Interestingly the Greek Septuagint translates Nimrod not as a mighty one, but as a giant! So it would seem that the genetic abnormality of gigantism was passed on after the Flood by Noah’s son Ham. Also, many centuries later when the children of Israel went to possess the land God promised them, the report came back that there were giants inhabiting the land. On top of it all the name of this land filled with giants, which the Israelites were to inherit, was called Canaan the same name as the son of Ham whom Noah cursed.

In conclusion, it would be more realistic to hold to the belief that giants were initially born through human men and human women. What can also be seen is that giants were the offspring of two different bloodlines. Giants stemming from Ham would also have us recall how Canaan was born to Ham through a forbidden sex act. Whether the giants were birthed from fallen angels or human men, I believe it can be easily argued that the giants were the product of illicit sexual activity.

 

References:

Brenton. The Septuagint with Apocrypha: Greek and English. (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, Ltd., 1851).

Pitterson, R. Judgment of the Nephilim. (2018).

Porter, J.L. The Giant Cities of Bashan and Syria’s Holy places. (1865).

Rose, S. Genesis, Creation, and Early Man. (Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2011).

The Curse of a Prophet

May 22, 2023

According to its textbook definition, a prophet is one who utters divinely inspired revelations. However, as we shall see, a prophet is not merely a person who can predict the future, but rather a man or a woman that teaches God’s law, expresses God’s will, and reprimands God’s people when they deviate from the statutes of the Lord and violate God’s commandments. Simply stated, a prophet is a man of God. The scriptures go on to reveal that in addition to the various spiritual offices held by God’s holy vessels, a prophet even has the power and authority to curse someone. Therefore the focus of this presentation will be centered around the negative qualities and abilities of the servants of God, namely the curse of a prophet.

In God’s law nothing ever happens in this world without either God willing it or allowing it to happen. In the case of the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness, we see that a prophet (or more accurately a sorcerer) tried to curse God’s people, but was unable to because Israel was blessed by God, and as we shall see what God blesses no one can curse. The Bible tells us that when the children of Israel pitched in the plains of Moab, Balak the king of the Moabites was afraid of Israel for what they had done to the Amorites and because of the great number of the Israelites that were now encroaching into Moabite territory. Therefore, Balak called for the diviner Balaam son of Beor to curse the children of Israel. However, God did not allow Balaam to curse His people. For as God spoke unto Balaam, “…thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). So, here we see that when one is wrapped up in the favor of God no man, no matter how powerful can separate God’s servants from His holy protection.

Though God sent plagues upon the Egyptians and even punished His own people, the Lord’s initial intention concerning His creation is always that of blessings and not curses. As we see from scripture, before sending a judgment upon His people the God of Israel first sent forth prophets, putting a word in their mouth and instructing His servants to speak unto the congregation that which the Lord had commanded them to preach. For example, the prophet Isaiah saw that the Lord would indeed protect Jerusalem if the people in turn would keep the Covenant that God established with Israel on Mt. Sinai shortly after their Exodus from the bondage of Egypt. For the Lord speaking through Isaiah warned Judah by informing them thus: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it”(Isaiah 1:19-20). So here it is revealed that a curse is preceded by disobedience and rebellion, and not by the wishes of a solely vindictive God.

God is impartial, and according to the writings of St. Paul what we reap is what we sow (Galatians 6:7). If we do good, good will return to us and likewise if we do evil, evil will also come upon us. This teaching is echoed in the book of Deuteronomy, for as the Lord God spoke unto the children of Israel at Sinai saying, “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God…” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). So here we see that even if someone is called by God, one cannot trust in preserving God’s favor if that person strays from keeping God’s commandments and then later fails to repent for doing so. For according to scripture, if anyone would deny the Lord and then additionally reject the teachings of God, then those individuals will ultimately bring upon themselves the curse of God (John 3:36).

Shockingly, we also find in the Old Testament an instance where the curse of a prophet resulted in the death of young children. For the Bible informs us that when prophet Elisha was on his way to Bethel, “there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them” (2 Kings 2:23-24). As unbelievable as this story sounds, there is another case in the Bible where a prophet kills not one, not fifty, but four-hundred and fifty individuals who were classified as false prophets. For after the prophet Elijah challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal, the Bible relates how Elijah rounded up these false prophets, and slew all four-hundred and fifty of them there at the brook Kishon (1 Kings 18:29-40). As frightening as these passages appear, it is revealed how serious it is to mock a prophet: an action which could even bring a death sentence upon the guilty party.

In conclusion, from God’s creation of Adam to the incarnation of Jesus Christ, it is evident that God’s love for mankind is great and unmatched. Yet at the same time we see that the wickedness of mankind does indeed kindle God’s anger. For even though the Lord is slow to wrath, His judgment is sure. God is love, but it is also written that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). And just as God is due all glory and praise, so also do the prophets (the servants of God) deserve honor and respect. But even if the people reject the words of the prophets, the Lord Himself will protect His holy ones. For the great I AM has given us all a warning not to come against a man of God by testifying, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (1 Chronicles 16:22). From this it would seem that even though prophets do at times utter a curse, ultimately it is by the power and will of God that a curse is fulfilled. God wants us all to respect and love each other, for by doing so we prove our love for God by our obedience to His commandments. So from what has been outlined, I do believe that the Almighty would prefer humanity to live in harmony with one another, rather than God being provoked to come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6).

Moses and Christ: A Comparison

May 22, 2023

When Moses was born, Pharaoh king of Egypt, ordered the massacre of the Israelite newborns after hearing the prophecy of a deliverer to rise up among God’s people to free the Hebrew slaves. When Christ was born Herod king of Judea ordered the slaying of all the children in Bethlehem after hearing the Magi informing him that they came seeking the child who would be king of Israel.

Before Moses was called by God to be the instrument of salvation for the enslaved Hebrews, he was a shepherd. And before Christ preached the Gospel to the house of Israel He was a carpenter.

God hardened the heart of Pharaoh to the degree that even after seeing signs and wonders performed by the finger of God, the ruler of Egypt still did not believe in the God of Israel. Similarly, even though Jesus Christ performed many miracles and saved the souls of so many, the Jewish leaders’ hearts were hardened by not believing in the only begotten Son of God, even though they were witnesses to His miracles.

By Moses God freed the Hebrew slaves and by Christ Jesus set at liberty the spirits which were in prison. Just as Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the land of promise, so also the Lord Christ led captivity captive into Paradise.

Ancient Christianity in Ancient Georgia

May 22, 2023

Shortly after the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus instructed His disciples to spread the Gospel unto all the earth. Soon after the ascension of Christ and His enthronement at the right hand of God the Father, the disciples came together and tried to decide where each one of them would go. As a solution they decided to cast lots as to which countries they would go to and share the Good News. At this time the blessed Virgin Mary stepped forward and wanted to cast lots along with her Son’s disciples. In the beginning they didn’t want her to be troubled by this daunting task, but soon reasoned that she being the Lord’s mother had every right to spread the Gospel of her only begotten Son. When she cast her lot, it fell to the country of Iberia, the ancient name of the territory we know today as the country of Georgia.

Although she had every intention of making it to Iberia, the blessed Virgin did not reach the country that fell to her by lot. What did happen, was that she and the Apostle John were traveling by boat to reach the island of Cyprus, where their friend Lazarus (he whom Christ raised from the dead) was living at the time. However, the ship they were sailing in was blown off course and they did not arrive in Cyprus. Instead, the two holy ones came to the banks of a remote peninsula in northeastern Greece, which was crowned by a large mountain that protruded up from the Aegean Sea. As soon as the Virgin Mary set foot on the mountain’s shore, an idol that was perched at the top of the mountain fell over and the demon that lived behind it cried out in a shriek. Upon seeing these things the blessed Virgin made a prayer to her Son, that this place would be her garden for those who are seeking to be saved.

In the centuries that followed, monastic communities were established on the mountain. Subsequently the mountain would be called the Holy Mountain, and more commonly known as Mount Athos. And even though the blessed Virgin Mary did not have the opportunity to share the Gospel with the inhabitants of the country of Iberia, a Georgian monastery was built in the late 10th century close to the site where St. John and the Virgin landed on the mountain centuries before. This monastery is known as Iviron, the Georgian monastery of Mount Athos.

One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon the Zealot, did manage to plant some seeds of Christianity in Georgia, but it would not be until the 4th century that the conversion of Georgia took place. For in 323 AD a young virgin named Nino or Nina, who was also a relative of St. George, traveled to Georgia from Jerusalem in order to evangelize the country. For previously the Mother of God appeared to Nino in a dream and told her, “Depart to the land that I was sent to by lot, and preach the Gospel of my Son, and I will guide and protect you.” But Nino answered, “O’ Queen, how can I accomplish this task? For I am a worthless and ignorant woman.” Then the blessed Virgin Mary stretched out her hand upon a vine branch which grew close to Nino’s bed and cut it off and fashioned it into a cross and gave it to Nino saying, “Let this be your protection. By it, you may overcome all your foes and preach your message. I will be with you and will not abandon you.” After this vision, Nino awoke and found the cross in her hands.

Through the efforts of St. Nino, King Mirian (265-342) and Queen Nana received Christ and accepted baptism and proclaimed Christianity as the state religion in 326 AD. At this time the Byzantines had authority over the region, so St. Constantine the Great (306-337) sent a bishop and many priests in order to baptize the Georgians along with architects to build churches. Shortly after this the first bishop of Georgia was ordained at Antioch, establishing the birth of the Georgian Church under the See of Antioch. In 482, during the reign of the great Georgian king St. Vakhtang Gorgasali, Georgia received its first Catholicos (meaning head of an independent Church) whose new role signaled the independence of the Church. The Georgian Church now had its own hierarchy to manage internal affairs, ordinations, and the installation of bishops.

In pre-Christian times, several centuries before the birth of the Savior, tradition tells us that a group of Jews believed to descend from the royal house of David traveled to Iberia and settled in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. During the time of Christ some of the Jews of Mtskheta were present at Jesus’ crucifixion. The Jews of Georgia were invited to the crucifixion by the high-priest Annas. Annas’ invitation was thus written, “to my ancestor Elioz – He to whom the kings of Persia came to bring gifts has grown up to manhood. He calls Himself the son of God. Come here to be present at His execution, which will fulfill the law of God and Moses.” The Jews of Georgia did go, and brought back with them the Lord’s robe.

In modern times the Georgian Orthodox Church experienced hardships during the Communist regime. Only in the 1970’s did the Church go through a revival under the leadership of His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. Since his enthronement on December 25, 1977, he has restored many churches and monasteries, as well as theological academies and seminaries. And though Georgia is a small country, this sacred land has produced thousands of saints who’s memory bears witness to a rich history and a holy Orthodox spirituality.

 

References:

Lang, D.M. Lives and Legends of the Georgian Saints. (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1976).

Machitadze, Z. Lives of the Georgian Saints. (Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2006).

The First Resurrection & The Second Death

May 22, 2023

The following presentation is taken from St. Andrew of Caesarea’s commentary on the Apocalypse.

Revelation 20:5-6. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

From the writings of the holy Scriptures are we taught that there are two types of lives and two types of deaths. The first life is our current, transitory, and fleshly existence that we are experiencing here on earth as a result of the transgression of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But thankfully the second life is an eternal life promised to the saints after the heeding and following of the divine and life saving commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. And in like manner, there are two deaths: one being the death of the flesh in this age and the other through sins leading to the full payment of transgression in the age to come, which is the Gehenna of fire.

We also know that there is a difference among the dead. For on the one hand, there are those to be avoided concerning whom Isaiah says, “They are dead, they shall not live,” (Isaiah 26:14) that is, those bringing stench and death by their conduct, and on the other hand, those praiseworthy ones who in Christ “mortify the deeds of the body,” (Romans 8:13) who are crucified with Christ and are dead to the world. Therefore, those unacceptable dead, those not buried with and raised with Christ through baptism, but those remaining in a state of death by sins, will not live with Him until the completion of the one thousand years, that is, the perfect amount of time extending from Christ’s first coming until His second and glorious coming to judge both the living and the dead.

Since the sinful dead, which have been born from the earth only and not born by the Spirit, they in like manner will return to the earth. Their death becomes the beginning of their future punishment. Those who have a share in the first resurrection, that is, in the rising out of deadening thoughts and mortifying actions, these are the blessed. For the second death will have no power over them, that is, never-ending punishment, but instead, they will exercise priesthood and reign with Christ. As we see it, these things signify to us that from the one thousand years until the loosening of Satan and the deception of the nations, the blessed will not be deprived of the kingdom, but instead more certainly and very clearly will they possess it by the fading away of temporal things and by the ushering in of eternal things.

So then, since there are two deaths, it is necessary to understand that there are also two resurrections. First, then, physical death, which is the inherited penalty for mankind’s disobedience in Eden, whereas the second death is eternal punishment and damnation. The first resurrection is that of being brought to life out of “repentance from dead works,” (Hebrews 6:1) and the second resurrection is the transformation from bodily corruption into in-corruption: on such the second death hath no power.

 

References:

St. Andrew of Caesarea: Commentary on the Apocalypse. (Washington D.C., USA: The Catholic University of America Press, 2011).

Zondervan. The Holy Bible, King James Version. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009).