The
Antediluvians
The First Civilization
The antediluvians were the descendents of Adam who inhabited
the earth before the Flood. The Book of Genesis contains only
a brief overview about them. The vast majority of information
is contained in the first eight chapters of Genesis. A few bits
and pieces of additional information are scattered around in
other Scriptures. Genesis chapters 4 and 5 reveal details about
this ancient civilization. These Scriptures give the family
tree from Adam to Noah. We see the first city, Enoch built by
Cain (this is not named after Enoch the 7th descendent of Adam,
but named after Cain's son). We are told of man's inventions
such as agriculture, metallurgy, music, government and animal
husbandry. We are also told how men had multiplied and lived
long life-spans of around 900 years (see time
line chart). Mathematical models have revealed that this
society could have reached a very large population.
Their civilization perished because they turned away from following
God's principles. Their society turned to violence and evil
rather than obeying God. By the time the Flood occurred, they
had long since closed their eyes to truth and justice. A master-race
of super-beings ruled their world and probably eliminated a
large portion of the human population. No one worshiped God
any longer. They sought violence and evil rather than Him. God
destroyed their world and saved the only eight people who were
obedient to Him: Noah and his family, a total of eight survivors.
Climatic Conditions
The climatic conditions of the antediluvian world may have
been very different from our world today. Global climatic conditions
may not have varied significantly. Possibly, a water vapor canopy
encircled the earth resulting in stable temperatures throughout
much of the world. It perhaps acted as a radiation filter, thus
filtering out the harmful effects of ultraviolet and cosmic
radiation.
Rainfall may have been very rare. Scriptures tell us (Gen 2:5),
that rain had not come upon the earth at that time, no rainbow
had appeared (Gen 9:13) and it was difficult to grow crops (Gen
3:17). Perhaps the earth was still one major continent (Pangaea).
The barometric pressure may have been much greater than today.
The combined results of these conditions could have been one
of the reasons the antediluvians lived such long life spans.
The Book of Enoch
In addition to what is presented in the Bible, there are accounts
of the antediluvians given in ancient Jewish literature. The
most popular, is the "Book of Enoch" (also known as
1 Enoch). It is composed of stories that lead up to the Flood
and also contains various revelations given to Enoch, the seventh
descendent from Adam ( Gen 5:21-24). The main theme is about
a group of angels who descend from heaven and corrupted the
earth. The story empathizes God’s judgment upon these angels.
Enoch, who found favor with God and walked so closely with
Him that after 365 years he was "Translated". That is Enoch
didn't die, but was taken up by God, body and all.
The "Book of Enoch" is divided into 5 separate documents
or books that consists of 108 chapters. The first of which is
"The Book of Watchers". This comprises the first 36 chapters,
devoted to an introduction, the descent of 200 angels from heaven
and Enoch's journeys back and forth to visit God. The "Book
of Parables" (chapters 37 - 71) is a description of the last
days and uncovering the heavenly mysteries. It is also the account
of Enoch's "translation" into heaven. The third book "The Astronomical
Book" (chapters 72 - 82) describes the revolution of heavenly
bodies (angels). The fourth book is the "Book of Dreams" (chapters
83 - 90) which includes the history of the world to the destruction
of the earth. Chapters 91 - 98 deal with the Apocalypse of the
Ten Weeks in this last book, "The Epistle of Enoch". It also
contains the Last Judgment and the creation of the new heavens.
The Book of Enoch can now be traced back before the time of
Christ. An Ethiopian version contains the composite works. There
is also a Greek version, found in Akhimin in 1886 (actually
two extensive fragments of the texts). However, it wasn’t until
the late 19th and early 20th century that the "Book of
Enoch" was carefully studied by great scholars such as
Charles and Fleming. The New Testament books, Jude and 2 Peter,
both quote from Enoch, suggesting that it was very popular among
the Jews at the time of Christ. It was never canonized in the
Bible due to the numerous uncertainties about it. In 1947, a
number of Aramaic fragments were discovered with the Dead Sea
Scrolls. The Books are now traceable to at least the time of
Christ and most likely, 200 or 300 BC. It is not surprising
that Peter and Jude would have been taught from these books,
even from the time of their childhood. Although the Dead Sea
Scroll discoveries have broadened knowledge about the Book of
Enoch, there are still problems in obtaining an uncorrupted
early manuscript. What is currently known has been pieced together
by working from all the remaining and various copies. This brings
up the issue of finding an uncorrupted manuscript and preferably
one in Hebrew. Many of the scholars who have studied the Enoch
literature believe that what exists today came from a much earlier
manuscript. Perhaps it was this earlier version that Moses used
to compose the antediluvian account in the Book of Genesis.
The Nephilim
One of the most fascinating and controversial passages in the
Bible is Genesis 6:1-4. We are told that *Angels (bene elohim
- translated as angels or angelic beings) came to the earth
and took wives from among the humans. These bene elohim were
a group of renegade angels who had turned away from God, and
decided to make earth their home and live among the humans.
The Book of Enoch tells us that there were 200 of them and they
had 20 leaders.
The progeny which resulted from the relationship between the
sons of God and humans were called the "Nephilim".
The Nephilim were genetically superior when compared with humans.
They were part human and part angel. The word "Nephilim" means
"giant" and they are referred to as giants in the Bible, but
we would better interpret it today to mean "super human". In
other words, the typical Nephilim was approximately 12 foot
tall, very muscular, very strong and obviously made a very good
warrior (as told in post flood accounts in the Bible such as
David and Goliath). It is entirely possible that the legends
of mythical gods such as the Greek and Roman gods, may have
included the bene elohim and the Nephilim. Perhaps, the bene
elohim and the Nephilim demanded that humans worship them as
gods. Moses even makes the comment in Genesis 6:4 that "They
were the heroes of old, men of renown". This implies that there
were great legends about the Nephilim. According to the Book
of Enoch, the Nephilim made war against the humans and intended
to completely wipe out the human race so only their race would
inherit the earth. It was God's direct intervention that stopped
the Nephilim and all of the violence and evil that had come
upon the earth, by bringing the Flood.
Angels or Men
It has been debated as to whether the Scriptures describe the
sexual relations of humans (sons of Seth and daughters of Cain)
or with angels from heaven. There is no doubt that the story
in the Book of Watchers is about angels. This book is very consistent
with Genesis chapter 6 and as we now know today, it was very
popular with the Jews at the time of Christ (even as far back
as 200 to 300 BC). The term used for angels in Genesis 6 "bene
elohim" (translated as angels) can be verified in other scriptures
such as Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7 and also consistent with 1 Pet. 3:18-22,
2 Pet. 2:4-5 and Jude 1:6-7. It is also verified in other ancient
Jewish writings including the writings of Josephus, who was
a Jewish scholar and historian, during the 1st century AD. Dr.
Henry M. Morris provides an excellent discussion in his book
"The Genesis Record" pp 164 - 170.
The Watchers
Of particular interest in the Book of Enoch is the Book of
Watchers. This document provides us with more information about
what went on in this society that led up to the Flood.
Rather than printing out the entire translation of The Watchers,
a synopses is presented outlining chapters 6 through 16. Below,
is the story of events that led up to the Flood. Chapter references
are included. The references at the end, list the source of
the Book of Enoch that was used.
"The Book of Enoch" (From Chap 6)
A band of Angels (referred to as "The Watchers") decided to
leave heaven and make earth their home. There were 200 of these
angels and they had 20 leaders. Their leader’s name was Semhazah.
They observed that women of the earth were very beautiful and
lusted after them. Their sexual relationship with women produced
a genetic offspring, the Nephilim, who were part human and part
angelic. The Nephilim considered themselves to be a superior
race and turned against the humans, launching a holocaust against
mankind. These angels eventually became concerned about what
they had done (probably fearing intervention by God) and decided
to help the humans build weapons to defend themselves. Therefore,
they provided advanced knowledge to the humans permitting them
to build weapons powerful enough to kill the Nephilim. When
God judged these angels, He singled out that they brought knowledge
to the humans that they weren’t suppose to have. Apparently,
the humans didn’t just use these weapons against the Nephilim,
but also against each other. This plunged the entire world into
a state of war with humans fighting the Nephilim, the humans
fighting humans and the Nephilim fighting the humans and each
other as well. Finally, God directly intervened into this situation
by bringing the Flood. Violence and evil had gotten so far out
of hand, that as we are told in Chap 10, the Flood was the only
option. Apparently, only Noah and his family were the only ones
left who sought after God and observed his principles in that
day.
Chapters 8 and 9
Asael was one of the 20 leaders of the angels. It was Asael
who had given advanced knowledge to the humans. He taught the
humans how to make weapons of war. In Chapters 9 and 10 he is
accused by God of revealing eternal mysteries that were not
to be known by the humans (that is until the appointed time
- refer to Daniel 12:4). Chapter 8 list all sorts of knowledge
including areas of physics and mathematics. They also taught
them astrophysics, earth sciences, electricity as well as astrology
and witchcraft.
Chapter 10
It was Asael that God singled out to get even an extra dose
of His punishment for what he had done. God says (speaking of
what He is going to do) "...announce the healing of the earth,
that I shall heal its wounds and that the children of men shall
not all together perish on account of the mysteries which the
watchers have disclosed and taught to the children of men. The
whole earth has been devastated by the works of the teaching
of Asael".
Chapter 13
God told Enoch to tell the Angels that He would pronounce
judgment upon them. They were afraid and fear and trembling
seized them. They asked Enoch to draw up a petition asking that
God forgive them. Enoch took the petition before God.
Chapters 14 and 15
God told Enoch to tell them that He has cast judgment upon
them. That they shall be bound for eternity (see Jude 1:6 and
2 Peter 2:4-5).
Jude 1:6 - "And the angels which kept not their first
estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day"
2 Peter 2:4-5 - For if God spared not the angels that sinned,
but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains
of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5And spared not the
old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
God told Enoch to tell the angels "It is you who should be
petitioning on the behalf of men and not men on your behalf.
Why have you left the high heaven and eternal Holy One, and
lain with women, and defiled yourselves with the daughters of
men and taken to yourselves wives, and acted like the children
of earth and begotten giants for sons. But you were holy, spirits
that live forever, yet you defiled yourselves with the blood
of women and have begotten children by the blood of flesh; and
you lusted after the daughters of men and have produced flesh
and blood, just as they do who die and perish. It was for this
reason I gave them females that they might impregnate them and
thus produce children by them, that pregnancy should never fail
them upon the earth. But as for you, you were formerly spirits
that live forever and do not die for all generations forever.
And for this reason I did not provide wives for you, because
for celestial spirits heaven is their dwelling place."
Chapter 16
Deals with the angels giving knowledge to the humans. God
addressing the angels, "You were in heaven, and there was no
secret that was not revealed to you; and unspeakable secrets
you know, and these you made known to women in your hardness
of heart; and by these secrets females and mankind multiplied
evils upon the earth."
For further reading - The
Book of Enoch
The Antediluvian Population - A Forgotten
Society
The story of the antediluvians still rank among the greatest
mysteries in the Bible. Unfortunately, we are still at loss
when it comes to documented proof of the existence of this lost
society. To date, the Bible has proven to be incredibly accurate
in its account of history and we continue to learn more from
it. With a new generation of 21st century archeological research
tools, documented evidence of the antediluvian society may be
headlines in tomorrows newspaper. Should artifacts of this society
be discovered, it would truly rank among the greatest discoveries
ever made and would definitely change the world we live in today.
The most obvious candidate would be the discovery of physical
remains of Noah's Ark.
Many have asked the question, "how large was the antediluvian
population"? Population studies have revealed (mathematically
speaking) that populations in the billions were possible (perhaps
as large as today's population)! Unfortunately, no one knows
how large their population really was. Most likely, with all
the of evil in the world of that day, it probably took its toll
on the antediluvian population. World
Population Since Creation
Who were the Sons of God and Nephilim in Genesis chapter
6?
We see all kinds of weird things throughout our history. Is
there a connection between the antediluvian society and UFO's?
Who were the Sons of God and the Nephilim? Is there a connection
between the ancient mythical gods and the Bible? Why do we see
hints of lost technologies such as the Great Pyramid and many
other mysteries of our past. If man's knowledge started at the
"caveman" level, how were the ancients able to accomplish
such great achievements?
Ancient Technologies
UFOs and Aliens
Sons
of Seth or Angels -Chuck Missler
References
