Sometimes when we read about the stars, we are not reading about a sphere of thermonuclear fusion reactions, we are reading about angels. Angels are defined according to context. When we look at the word for stars we will notice something interesting. As we studied a few weeks ago Astarte is a feminine false deity who is sometimes symbolized with a star and a circle around the star over her head, while she is wearing horns which symbolize the crescent moon. Sometimes she is thought of as the planet Venus which also looks like a star. With this in mind we will explore one more ancient legend regarding the religion of the giants, and we will consider the religion of the Angels.
We recognize that angels sing, but we may not have understood that part of the definition for the word star is euphon. This tells us that not only do the stars sing, they have a certain type of voice. As we dive into this study regarding stars let’s start with the dragon who uses his tail to throw some stars to earth.
Revelation 12:3 G2532 And G3708 appeared G243 another G4592 sign G1722 in G3588 the G3772 heaven. G2532 And G2400 behold, G1404 [3dragon G3173 1 there was a great G4450 2fiery] G2192 having G2776 [2heads G2033 1seven], G2532 and G2768 [2horns G1176 1ten]; G2532 and G1909 upon G3588 G2776 his heads G1473 G2033 seven G1238 diadems.
4 G2532 And G3588 G3769 his tail G1473 G4951 drags G3588 the G5154 third G3588 of the G792 stars G3588 of the G3772 heaven, G2532 and G906 he casts G1473 them G1519 to G3588 the G1093 earth.
792 LSJ Gloss:ἀστήρ euphon.
Dodson:ἀστήρ a star.
TBESG:ἀστήρ star
G:N-M
ἀστήρ, -έρος, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for כּוֹכָב ;]
a star:
Refs Mat.2:2, 7-10 :, Mrk.13:25, 1Co.15:41, Rev.6:13 8:10-12 9:1 12:1, 4; metaph., ὁ ἀ. ὁ πρωϊνός
Refs Rev.2:28 22:16; ἀ. πλαῆται, Ju 13; ἀ. ἑπτά, symbolizing the angels of the seven churches,
Refs Rev.1:16, 20 2:1 3:1
(cf. ἄστρον, and see DCG, ii, 674 f.; MM, see word).†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a star
ἀστήρ
astēr as-tare' Probably from the base of G4766; a star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively KJV Usage: star.
The word euphon has an interesting set of definitions. It is a “glass harmonica”, a musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin, which has a set of rotating glass bowls. It is also known as a glass armonica. One can listen to a glass armonica being played on line. The sound is probably what one would imagine angels singing sounds like. Euphony is “harmonious sounds pleasing to the ear”, like poetry or music. Euphony is also lower toned valved brass instruments. This might sound strange as a definition for the word astēr until we consider this:
1 G3588 The G3772 heavens G1334 describe G1391 the glory G2316 of God, G4162 [5 the making G1161 1and G5495 6of his hands G1473 G312 4announces G3588 2the G4733 3firmament].
2 G2250 Day G3588 to G2250 day G2044 bubbles up G4487 a saying; G2532 and G3571 night unto G3571 night G312 announces G1108 knowledge.
3 G3756 There are no G1510.2.6 G2981 speeches G3761 nor G3056 words G3739 which G3780 [2are not G191 3heard G3588 G5456 1their voices]. G1473
4 G1519 Into G3956 all G3588 the G1093 earth G1831 went forth G3588 G5353 their knell; G1473 G2532 and G1519 unto G3588 the G4009 ends G3588 of the G3611 inhabitable world G3588 G4487 their words. G1473
Job 38:7 G3753 When G1096 [2came to pass G798 1 the stars], G134 [3praised G1473 4me G5456 6a great voice G3173 5with G3956 1all G32 2my angels]. G1473
How do the heavens declare? They pour forth speech. There are no speeches or words that are not heard. The stars praised the Lord. We know that at the time that Jesus was born the angels sang as well. So the idea of euphony is that there are spiritual sons of God, called stars, who declare, sing, praise, and announce the glory of the Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Heavenly Father. The angels are messengers, but of the angel class there are watchers, stars, hosts, ministering spirits, and archangels. The star class of angels seem to be singers, praisers, and announcers.
The devil will drag one third of the stars of heaven and throw them to earth. What does this mean? The devil will take one third of the stars to earth for judgment. The word drag, surō, also means “to force away as to a judge or to prison or punishment”. This may be against the stars’ free will as they are being thrown. Who are these stars? Are these the stars that Jude speaks of, wandering stars? Somehow there are stars which were disobedient and come under the judgment of the devil.
Notice the word star is astēr, similar to Astarte. In Job 38:7 the word for stars is astron, derived from astēr, meaning constellation, a group of stars. Astēr comes from strōnnumi, meaning strewn over the sky, or spread out like a carpet. What do we learn from this? There are stars which are part of the angelic class, that are spiritual sons of God, who sing and declare throughout the heavens. The devil has influenced one third of these stars and will cast one third of them down to earth. The devil/dragon has angels.
Revelation 12:7-9 (KJV)
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
There will be a point during the tribulation when the devil and the satan will be thrown out of heaven. This will be at the time the seven thunders speak and Jesus is crowned, and the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ. At that time there will be no place for the devil and the satan in the heavens along with the devil’s angels. Today we are still accused before the throne of God day and night. Enoch gives us more details about angel stars.
Secrets of Enoch 4:1 They brought before my face the elders and rulers of the stellar orders, and showed me two hundred angels, who rule the stars and (their) services to the heavens, and fly with their wings and come round all those who sail.
Anonime. The Book of the Secrets of Enoch . Axioma. Kindle Edition.
Enoch meets the elders and rulers of the stars. There are angels who rule the stars and their services to the heavens. There is a hierarchy of the stars.
Secrets of Enoch 11:3 Its circle and the wheels on which it goes always, like the wind going past with very marvellous speed, and day and night it has no rest. 4 Its passage and return (are accompanied by) four great stars, (and) each star has under it a thousand stars, to the right of the sun’s wheel, (and by) four to the left, each having under it a thousand stars, altogether eight thousand, issuing with the sun continually.
Anonime. The Book of the Secrets of Enoch . Axioma. Kindle Edition.
As we know the wheels are the Ophanim. The Ophanim are transporters and revolve, possibly creating wormholes. Eight thousand stars under the rule of eight stars attend to the sun. We think that the sun and planets attend to themselves, but Enoch suggests that the angels tend to the cosmos, ensuring the sun and planets do what they are supposed to do to support human life on the earth.
Enoch 18:12 And beyond that abyss I saw a place which had no firmament of heaven above, and no firmly founded earth beneath it: there was no water on it, and no birds, 13 But it was a desert and a horrible place. I saw there seven stars like great burning mountains, 14 And an angel questioned me regarding them. The angel said: 'This place is the end of heaven and earth. 15 This has become a prison for the stars and the host of heaven. And the stars which roll over the fire are they which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord in the beginning of their rising, because they did not come out at their proper times. 16 And He was angry with them, and bound them until the time when their guilt should be consummated even for ten thousand years.'
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 30). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
There seemed to be a cosmic irregularity that the stars were responsible for. The stars did not maintain the commands of the Lord. Some of the stars transgressed the commandment of the Lord. This suggests they intentionally set something off course. There is a prison for the stars and the host of heaven. These stars are punished for ten thousand years. There are seven stars bound together. Because they did not keep the prescribed order they are bound in a chaotic place, also for ten thousand years.
Enoch 21:[Chapter 21] 1 Then, I proceeded to where things were chaotic and void. 2 And I saw there something horrible: I saw neither a heaven above nor a firmly founded earth, but a place chaotic and horrible. 3 And there I saw seven stars of heaven bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire. 4 Then I said: 'For what sin are they bound, and on why have they been cast in here?' 5 Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them: 'Enoch, why do you ask, and why are you eager for the truth? 6 These are some of the stars of heaven, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here until ten thousand years, the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.'
There are seven stars bound in this chaotic place for ten thousand years because the seven stars transgressed the commandment of the Lord. “Ten-thousand years” suggests this took place before the time of Enoch. There must have been another civilization of some type to have transgressed the commands of the Lord. Consider how many sons of God we see in the Bible and recognize that each type of being probably had a civilization. Enoch wanted to know the truth.
Enoch 21:7 And I went out from there to another place, which was still more horrible than the former, and I saw a terrible thing: a great fire there which burned and blazed, and the place was cleft as far as the abyss, full of great falling columns of fire: 8 Neither its width or breadth could I see, nor could I see its source. 9 Then I said: 'I am afraid of this place and cannot stand to look at it.!' Then Uriel, one of the holy angels who was with me, answered and said to me: 'Enoch, why are you so afraid?' 10 And I answered: 'Because of this fearful place, and because of the spectacle of the pain.' And he said to me: 'This place is the prison of the angels, and here they will be imprisoned forever.'
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 31). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
It seems the angels are punished with fire just like humans who end up in hades. From Enoch we learn that there are several different places of punishment. This would suggest that depending on the transgressions and the being, there is a place for punishment. Enoch saw a star fall from heaven. Then many stars followed the first star.
Enoch 86 [Chapter 86] 1 And again I looked with my eyes as I slept, and I saw the heaven above, and behold a star fell from heaven, and it arose and ate and pastured among those oxen (bulls). 2 And after that I saw the large and the black oxen (bulls), and behold they all changed their stalls and pastures and their heifers (cattle) , and began to live with each other. 3 And again I saw in the vision, and looked towards heaven, and behold I saw many stars descend and cast themselves down from heaven to that first star, and they became bulls among those cattle and pastured with them. 4 And I looked at them and saw they all let out their private (sexual) members, like horses, and began to mount the cows of the bulls (oxen), and they all became pregnant and bore elephants, camels, and asses.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 74). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Enoch says the first star was was thrown into the abyss. Then there were four angels who gathered the great stars, bound them, and threw them into the abyss.
[Chapter 88] 1 And I saw one of those four who had come out first, and he seized that first star which had fallen from heaven, and bound it hand and foot and cast it into an abyss; now that abyss was narrow and deep, and horrible and dark. 2 And one of them drew a sword, and gave it to those elephants and camels and asses then they began to smite each other, and the whole earth shook because of them. 3 And as I was beholding in the vision one of those four who had come out stoned them from heaven, and gathered and took all the great stars whose private (sexual) members were like those of horses, and bound them all hand and foot, and threw them in an abyss of the earth.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 74-75). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
As we know, there are some of the angels who will be judged on the day of the white throne judgment.
Enoch 90:21 And the Lord called those men, the seven first white ones, and commanded that they should bring before Him, beginning with the first star which led the way, all the stars whose private members were like those of horses, and they brought them all before Him. 22 And He said to that man who wrote before Him, being one of those seven white ones, and said to him: 'Take those seventy shepherds to whom I delivered the sheep, and who taking them on their own authority slew more than I commanded them.'
23 And behold they were all bound, I saw, and they all stood before Him. 24 And the judgment was held first over the stars, and they were judged and found guilty, and went to the place of condemnation, and they were cast into an abyss, full of fire and flaming, and full of pillars of fire. 25 And those seventy shepherds were judged and found guilty, and they were cast into that fiery abyss.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 82). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Again there are places for punishment for the angels/stars who corrupted mankind. In the Song of Deborah, they sing that the stars out from their rank were deployed against Sisera.
Judges 5:20 G1537 From G3588 the G3772 heaven G3904.4 they deployed; G3588 the G792 stars G1537 from G3588 G5010 their order G1473 G3904.4 deployed G3326 against G* Sisera
This suggests that the stars have positions, posts, and a particular order, just as Enoch told us. If the stars breach their order will they be court-martialed? It seems so, as in Enoch 18. If the stars have a rank (and Enoch told us that after one star came to earth others followed), then it makes sense that some higher ranking angels influenced their subordinates. And as we noted, there are stars bound in punishment from a previous age. Meanwhile, in the future there will be some stars thrown to earth for the devil’s judgment. Jude may explain this.
Jude 13 G2949 [2waves G66 1wild] G2281 of the sea G1890 foaming up G3588 their own G1438 G152 shame; G792 [2stars G4107 1wandering], G3739 ones to whom G3588 the G2217 infernal region G3588 G4655 of darkness G1519 [2into G3588 3the G165 4eon G5083 1 is being kept].
4107 LSJ Gloss:πλανήτης wandering, roaming
Dodson:πλανήτης a wanderer.
TBESG:πλανήτης wandering
G:A
πλανήτης, -ου, ὁ (< πλανάω), [in LXX: Hos.9:17 (נָדַד) * ;]
= πλάνης, a wanderer: ἀστέρες π. (cl. planets), wandering stars, Ju 13 (WH, mg., -τες).†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a wanderer: wandering stars
πλανήτης
planētēs plan-ay'-tace From G4108; a rover (“planet”), that is, (figuratively) an erratic teacher KJV Usage: wandering.
4108 LSJ Gloss:πλάνος leading astray, cheating, deceiving
Dodson:πλάνος misleading, a deceiver adj: misleading, deceiving, wandering; as subst: a deceiver, imposter.
TBESG:πλάνος deceiving
G:A
πλάνος, -ον
[in LXX: Job.19:4 (מְשׁוּגָה), Jer.23:32 * ;]
__1. wandering.
__2. leading astray, deceiving: πνεύματα π., 1Ti.4:1. As subst., ὁ π., a deceiver, impostor:
Refs Mat.27:63, 2Co.6:8 6:1-18 2Jn.1:7.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) wandering, roving
2) misleading, leading into error
2a) a vagabond, "tramp", imposter
2b) corrupter, deceiver
πλάνος
planos plan'-os Of uncertain affinity; roving (as a tramp), that is, (by implication) an impostor or misleader KJV Usage: deceiver, seducing.
The idea of a wandering star is a rover who leads astray, or an impostor, deceiver, or seducer. These are seducing spirits, who lead humans astray. One third of the stars will be thrown out of heaven for judgment. This would suggest that there are many more deceiving stars that were not part of the corruption before the flood, who are also in rebellion against the Creator. Remember the fallen leader angels are in one place of punishment and their fallen subordinates, the Grigori, are in another place of punishment. Therefore these seducing stars are separate or different from the Nephilim and the giants. The suggestion from Revelation 12 is that these stars are forced to earth. Jude suggests that the infernal region is waiting for these wandering stars. This is obvious because they are not in the infernal regions yet. Remember, the angels sport with the devil. However, it would seem that one third of the angels led humans astray. So not only do humans have to contend with demons, we have to contend with seducing star angels. I Timothy 4:1 says that in the latter times people will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. Both seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach.
We know that there are two thirds of the stars that are not thrown to earth. Some of these stars have jobs among the churches. Jesus tells us that the mystery of the seven stars are seven angels of the seven churches.
Revelation 1:20 G3588 The G3466 mystery G3588 of the G2033 seven G792 stars G3739 which G1492 you saw G1909 upon G3588 G1188 my right, G1473 G2532 and G3588 the G2033 seven G3087 [2lamp-stands G3588 G5552 1golden]. G3588 The G2033 seven G792 stars G32 [2angels G3588 3of the G2033 4seven G1577 5assemblies G1510.2.6 1are]. G2532 And G3588 the G2033 seven G3087 lamp-stands G3739 which G1492 you saw G2033 [2seven G1577 3assemblies G1510.2.6 1are].
When the sixth seal is opened, the sky rolls back as a scroll and everyone sees the one who sits on the throne, the Almighty Living Father, and the wrath of the Lamb. The angels/stars will see what humans see. The stars of heaven fall prostrate, they alight.
Revelation 6:13 G2532 and G3588 the G792 stars G3588 of the G3772 heaven G4098 fell G1519 unto G3588 the G1093 earth, G5613 as G4808 a fig-tree G906 casts G3588 G3653 its immature figs G1473 G5259 [2by G3173 3a great G417 4wind G4579 1being shaken].
4098 LSJ Gloss:πίπτω to fall, fall down
Dodson:πίπτω I fall, fall under I fall, fall under (as under condemnation), fall prostrate.
TBESG:πίπτω to collapse
G:V
πίπτω
[in LXX chiefly for נָפַל ;]
to fall;
__1. of descent, to fall, fall down or from: before ἐπί, with accusative loc., Mat.10:29, al.; εἰς, Mat.15:14, al.; ἐς μέσῳ, with genitive, Luk.8:7; παρὰ τ. ὁδόν,
Refs Mat.13:4, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5; before ἀπό, Mat.15:27, al.; ἐκ,
Refs Mrk.13:25, Luk.10:18, Rev.8:10 9:1. Metaph.: ὁ ἥλιος, before ἐπί, Rev.7:16; ἀχλὺς κ. σκότος, Act.13:11; ὁ κλῆρος, Act.1:26; ὑπὸ κρίσιν, Jas.5:12.
__2. Of prostration,
__(a) of persons, to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself: χαμαί Jhn.18:6; before ἐπί, with accusative,
Refs Mat.17:6, Act.9:4; id. with genitive, Mrk.9:20; πρὸς τ. πόδας,
Refs
Act.5:10, Rev.1:17; πεσὼν ἐξέψυξε, Act.5:5; of supplication, homage or worship: πρὸς (παρὰ, ἐπὶ) τ. πὸδας,
Refs Mrk.5:22, Luk.8:41, Act.10:25, al.; π. καὶ προσκυνεῖν,
Refs Rev.5:14 19:4; ptcp. with προσκυνεῖν, Mat.2:11, al.; ἐνώπιον,
Refs Rev.4:10 5:8; ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, Mat.26:39, al.;
__(b) of things, to fall, fall down:
Refs Mat.21:44, Luk.23:30; of falling to ruin and destruction,
Refs Mat.7:25, Act.15:16, Heb.11:30; ἔπεσε (timeless aorist; M, Pr.,134), Rev.18:2. Metaph.: Rom.11:11; πόθεν πέπτωκας, Rev.2:5; opp. to ἑστόναι, 1Co.10:12; to στήκειν, Rom.14:4; of virtues, 1Co.13:8; of precepts, Luk.16:17.
(cf. ἀνα-, ἀντι-, ἀπο-, ἐκ-, ἐπι-, κατα-, παρα-, περι-, προσ-, συν-πίπτω.)
συν-πίπτω (Rec. συμπ-),
[in LXX for נָפַל, etc. ;]
to fall together, fall in, etc.: of a house (cf. MM, xxiv), Luk.6:49.†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) to descend from a higher place to a lower
1a) to fall (either from or upon)
1a1) to be thrust down
1b) metaph. to fall under judgment, came under condemnation
2) to descend from an erect to a prostrate position
2a) to fall down
2a1) to be prostrated, f
πίπτω, πέτω
piptō petō pip'-to, pet'-o The first is a reduplicated and contracted form of the second (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); probably akin to G4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally of figuratively) KJV Usage: fail, fall (down), light on.
How do the stars fall? It may be that the stars fall prostrate at the sight of the Lord. We tend to think that the angels are all gathered around the throne of the Father, but we see from Enoch that the stars have ranks, and positions. It is more probable that the angels don’t see the Father all the time, which is why it was easy to follow a bad leader and come to the earth. When the heavens roll back as a scroll, the angels bow. Isaiah says the same thing as Revelation, but this usage of stars in Isaiah is astron, constellations. This tells us that as the powers, dunamis, of the heavens liquify, roll up, the constellations, groups of stars, shall fall, piptō petō.
Isaiah 34:4 G2532 And G5080 [6shall melt away G3956 1all G3588 2the G1411 3powers G3588 4of the G3772 5heavens]. G2532 And G1667 [3shall coil up G3588 1the G3772 2heaven] G5613 as G975 a scroll, G2532 and G3956 all G3588 the G798 stars G4098 shall fall G5613 as G5444 leaves G1537 fall from G288 a grapevine, G2532 and G5613 as G4098 [2fall G5444 1leaves] G575 from G4808 a fig-tree.
798 LSJ Gloss:ἄστρον the stars
Dodson:ἄστρον a star.
Thayer:
1) a group of stars, a constellation
2) a star
ἄστρον
astron as'-tron Neuter from G792; properly a constellation; put for a single star (natural or artificial) KJV Usage: star.
Isaiah and John both note that the stars fall. The people of the earth are so frightened by the sight of the Father on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb, that they hide and cry. It seems clear that the stars are doing the things they are assigned to do but when they see the Father on His throne and the Son, they bow. The liquefaction of the dunamis of the heavens gives us the idea that what we see above us is an image. What we see are clouds, stars, constellations, planets, and our moon. That image melts and folds up. Then those on earth see what is beyond that image. Before the fall, the adam saw the workings of the angels, but we don’t see them. What would it be like to see what the angels are doing all the time? The humans on the earth will see for a portion of time, long enough for them to hide themselves and cry out. They see the Father on the throne, and the wrath of the Lamb. The other sons of God are not always in the presence of the Father. So when the dunamis of the heavens liquify, they prostrate themselves as subjects honoring the King who walks by. Isaiah prophecies of Cyrus and mentions that he gave charge to the stars.
Isaiah 45:12 G1473 I G4160 made G1093 the earth, G2532 and G444 man G1909 upon G1473 it. G1473 I G3588 [4 by G5495 5my hand G1473 G4732 1solidified G3588 2the G3772 3heaven]. G1473 I G3956 [2to all G3588 3the G798 4stars G1781 1gave charge].
The Lord gives charge to the stars, entellomai, which means commands or orders as a military, injunctions, instructions, enjoin. The stars take orders from the Lord, and as we saw there are some stars that are roving, seducing, stars who transgressed the commands of the Lord. With this in mind, we can understand how humans came to worship angels, or stars. The distortion the devil promotes is that there are spiritual beings that will “help” us if we worship them. The reality is that these spiritual beings do not have supreme power. They are created beings just like us. Why would someone want to worship a created being instead of the Creator? Technically, we were created as life givers and are life giving beings, which is why the devil tries to get us to kill each other and our unborn. Is it possible that the devil and his fallen angels are simply jealous?
As we studied Astarte/Ashteroth/Ashtaroth/Ishtar and the groves we want to look at a legend that may have been the reason the heirs of the Nephilim, the giants worshipped this false deity. We find in the Haggada (also known as Legends of the Jews) the story of Istehar.
When the angels came to earth, and beheld the daughters of men in all their grace and beauty, they could not restrain their passion. Shemhazai saw a maiden named Istehar, and he lost his heart to her. She promised to surrender herself to him, if first he taught her the Ineffable Name, by means of which he raised himself to heaven. He assented to her condition. But once she knew it, she pronounced the Name, and herself ascended to heaven, without fulfilling her promise to the angel. God said, "Because she kept herself aloof from sin, we will place her among the seven stars, that men may never forget her," and she was put in the constellation of the Pleiades. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/loj/loj106.htm
While this may have been a prominent legend at one time it does not seem to be associated with the various star names of the Pleiades. If Astarte is the same as Ishtar/Istehar it should be evident to us in the star names of the Pleiades. I would consider that there may have been a female before the flood named Istehar, and a story was made in her honor, but for Enoch who names the leaders of the Nephil, not to have mentioned Istehar, tells us the story of Istehar post dates this time. It may have been that this Istehar was a mother of giants, and worshipped as such. Or another idea is that Istehar was a seducing angel/star, and humans and giants were tricked into worship of an astēr they named Istehar. We know that people did worship angels and astēr and astrons, and since Astarte was symbolized with an encircled star over her, it is not unlikely the Canaanites and Philistines, as well as the other heirs of the fallen angels, worshipped angels/stars, as this was their kinship. Paul suggests this:
Colossians 2:18 G3367 [2no one G1473 4you G2603 1Let 3deprive] of due reward, G2309 wanting G1722 by G5012 deprivation G2532 and G2356 following a religion G3588 G32 of angels, G3739 [2things which G3361 3he has not G3708 4seen G1687 1entering into], G1500 vainly G5448 being inflated G5259 by G3588 the G3563 mind G3588 G4561 of his flesh, G1473
What is the religion of angels, thrēskeia? The religion of angels could be worship of the devil, worship of the satan, or worship of the Father. But the religion of man is the worship of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Christ the Messiah came to redeem humans, not angels. Angels are not saved, redeemed, washed in the blood for remission of sins, or given eternal life through Christ. Jesus is the redeemer of humans and not a redeemer for any other sons of God. Paul says, do not let any human or any spiritual being defraud your reward by forced humility or a ceremonial observance of the angels. The idea Paul implies is that this religion is one that is not earthly, but becomes a vain ritual. The vain religion is without purpose and inflated or puffed up by the mind of the flesh. It becomes a made-up ritual service overemphasized by pride. For example people become prideful over their religious beliefs, thinking they are better than others for those useless, vain, observances and practices, that they inflated in their own minds. Humans are not saved by a religion of angels. Whatever salvation or eternal life angels might be granted it is not the same as the salvation for men.
We see that there are many different beings around the throne of God in Revelation. There are beasts, elders, spirits, eyes, rainbows, cherubim, etc. They have their own path to the Father. Jesus is the path for humans to meet the Almighty, Most High, Eternal, Living Father. We don’t know how other beings attain to the throne room, we only have been told how we can attain to the throne room. Our path is salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t worship created spiritual sons of God like angels to get to heaven. We also do not practice the religion of the angels, as some angels worship the devil, and some the satan, and some the Eternal Father. We accept the sacrifice offering of Jesus the Son of the Living God.
What we have learned is that there were watcher angels that came to earth, cohabitated with earth-women, and created a race of giants. We also know that the flood did not wipe out all the giants, and that after the flood there were giants in the land. Of the giants that died in the flood, their spirits became demons on the earth, craving warm bodies, trying to ingraft themselves into humans. We see that Nimrod was a giant hunter. Joshua was supposed to eradicate the giants from Canaan, the land promised to Seth, and Abraham, the Semites and Israelites, but Joshua and the people of that generation did not eliminate all the giants. David was greatly beloved of God and he too was a giant hunter. Unlike others, David asked the Lord for direction upon every battle. When David was older, his mighty men took over the fight. The giants were not completely eliminated, but their numbers were greatly diminished. After the time of David there were less outbursts from the Philistines, whereas before the time of David, there were constant battles with the Philistines.
We learned that there is one fallen angel in particular named Azazel, who all the sins of humans are attributed to. The Lord gave instructions via Moses for a scapegoat offering. We also saw that many angels were punished already, and that many more angels will be judged at the end of the age. All the sins of humanity are attributed to Azazel and the fallen angels wronged humanity; they corrupted humanity.
We learned that the giants had their own religion, and they brutalized humans. We know from Sodom that human trafficking, rape, and the potential of sexual relations with angels who came to warn Lot, were the regular practices of the giants. During the time of the judges, the religion of the giants infiltrated Israel. After Solomon’s death, and the kingdom split, the temple became a house of worship to many different false deities, along with booths for the male and female temple prostitutes. We know that at the time of Ezekiel the Glory left the temple. Ezekiel saw the Cherubim and the Ophanim take the Glory away. Then Israel went into captivity.
By the time we get to the first century, we learned that the bones of the giants were still on display for people to see. It was a common knowledge among the people that giants had inhabited the earth and the first century writers wrote about them, and the imprisoned spirits that Enoch wrote about. We see a rebuke of the devil delivered by the apostle Andrew during this time of the first century and Andrew brings up the giants.
The Acts of Andrew and Matthias 19 They entered the city, unseen, and went to the prison. The seven guards fell dead at his prayer: at the sign of the cross the doors opened. He found Matthias and they greeted each other. 20 Andrew looked at the victims, who were naked and eating grass, and smote his breast and reproached the devil: How long warrest thou with men thou didst cause Adam to be cast out of paradise: thou didst cause his bread that was on the table to be turned to stones. Again, thou didst enter into the mind of the angels and cause them to be defiled with women and madest their savage sons the giants to devour men on the earth, so that God sent the flood . . . . 21 Then they both prayed, and they laid their hands on the prisoners and restored first their sight and then their sense, and Andrew bade them go out of the city and remain under a fig-tree and await him: there were 270 men and 49 women. And Andrew commanded a cloud, and it took Matthias and the disciples and brethren to the mount where Peter was teaching and there they remained. http://gnosis.org/library/actanm.htm
While the Romans tried to get away from the mythology of the time period, they also tried to hide the knowledge of the Nephilim. The Romans and the Masoretes both attempted to bury this knowledge. Yet, by hiding the truth of our history we have a distorted perspective of our own lives. The heavenly sons of God are not all good. There were some rebelling from the Father and aligning with the devil before humanity was created six thousand years ago. This is a far more ancient story than we recognize. How many civilizations were in existence before mankind? We can identify the existence of the sons of God, there is the Cherubim, the Seraphim, the Ophanim, and the age of the Angels, just for starters. Each being had an existence before humans. There are more, but for quick understanding, we see several ages of the sons of God. Jesus told us that in the resurrection we would be like the angels and not marry. So for those who are resurrected, there is an afterlife. Our cycle is an eight-thousand year age. The earth’s cycle is a nine to eleven-thousand year age. Science tells us that the earth goes though a cataclysm and an ice age every nine to eleven-thousand years.
We do not know much about previous ages other than the idea that Rahab was broken due to pride. We know that the satan had sanctuaries and merchandized his people. We know that the satan also wanted to judge the sons of God who gather regularly in the mount of the congregation, putting his own throne in the sides of the north. Instead, he was cast down from the upper heavens and joins with the devil, the dragon, to subvert humanity.
While we look at Job’s friends as miserable comforters, we do have to take note of something Eliphaz said.
Eliphaz speaks:
Job 4:18 (DRV)
18 Behold they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he found wickedness:
Job 4:18 G1487 If G2596 [2even G3816 4his servants G1473 G3756 1he does not G4100 3trust], G2596 and even G1161 G32 considers his angels G1473 G4646 as crooked G5100 in what G1962.1 he thinks about,
While Eliphaz’s words are not a comfort in a chaotic time, they are interesting. There was something crooked found in his angels. This tells us that every age and every being has freedom to choose who they will serve. We have created mystical ideas of heaven, as if everything is wonderful and sin free among the angels and other sons of God. It is not. This fantasy leaves us with misunderstandings. All created beings have freedom to choose. Some created beings chose to follow the dragon and then corrupted humanity. Once we understand this, we can open our eyes to the spiritual realm and recognize what we are battling every day. Some people blame the Father for bad things on the earth, but if we understand who usurped the adam’s authority, we will understand who the god of this world is. We then understand that at least one third of the angels/stars have been corrupted, to our detriment. We are the victims of the devils’ goading and pricking of the other sons of God until they fall away from the Father. Jesus ben Sirach writes that a fire will be kindled in the congregation of the ungodly.
Sirach 16:6 In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire be kindled; and in a rebellious nation wrath is set on fire. 7 He was not pacified toward the old giants, who fell away in the strength of their foolishness. 8 Neither spared he the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred them for their pride. 9 He pitied not the people of perdition, who were taken away in their sins:
The fire is a consuming fire. The ungodly will be consumed and eventually extinguished, just as he destroyed Sodom. This is what we are to look forward to. Our Creator has a plan for the righteous. Baruch mentions the giants, that they were not chosen. Chosen as compared to who?
Baruch 3:24-28 (DRV)
24 O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the place of his possession!
25 It is great, and hath no end: it is high and immense.
26 There were the giants, those renowned men that were from the beginning, of great stature, expert in war.
27 The Lord chose not them, neither did they find the way of knowledge: therefore did they perish.
28 And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their folly.
24 O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the place of his possession!
25 It is great, and hath no end: it is high and immense.
26 There were the giants, those renowned men that were from the beginning, of great stature, expert in war.
27 The Lord chose not them, neither did they find the way of knowledge: therefore did they perish.
28 And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their folly.
The mighty giants, the halfbreed men of renown, were not chosen to make Him known. Israel was chosen to make the Creator known to the world. Israel was chosen because of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men who learned about the Creator and served Him. This is our mission as well. We are to search out the Creator, find the way of knowledge, and teach others.
Some may want to sympathize with the giants, as they didn’t ask to be born; they were the product of unrighteous angels. But as we saw in our studies, some of the nations of giants were spared because they served Yahweh. Isaiah tells us that the giants are in Hades waiting to meet the satan.
Isaiah 14:9 Hades from beneath was in uproar to meet thee; for thee were roused all the giants who had ruled the earth. Having roused from their thrones all the kings of nations https://studybible.info/Thomson/Isaiah%2014
Isaiah 14:9 G3588 G86 Hades G2736.3 from below G4087 was embittered G4876 meeting with G1473 you; G4891 [7were risen up together G1473 8against you G3956 1all G3588 2the G1095.2 3giants G3588 G756 4ruling G3588 5the G1093 6earth], G3588 the ones G1453 rising G1537 from G3588 G2362 their thrones, G1473 G3956 all G935 the kings G1484 of the nations
The satan will be bound for one thousand years and the giants cannot wait to meet him. That is not a good thing for the satan. The satan deceived the angels who fell, then the satan deceived the giants. We can assume that the satan is not going to enjoy his one thousand years in hades hanging out with the giants.
We will close with the text of the Book of Giants. This text doesn’t give us much enlightenment, but it is interesting to read. It was found among the texts at Qumran, and was read in the first century. As we consider the history of the giants we should recognize that our story is part of a larger story. On days when the world seems crazy and chaotic, we can recognize that humanity was infiltrated by evil long ago, and evil will have its day of judgment. Meanwhile, Jesus is still our Lord and Savior and he has prepared a place for us.
Book of Giants -- Reconstructed Texts
A summary statement of the descent of the wicked angels, bringing both knowledge and havoc. Compare Genesis 6:1-2, 4.
1Q23 Frag. 9 + 14 + 15 2[ . . . ] they knew the secrets of [ . . . ] 3[ . . . si]n was great in the earth [ . . . ] 4[ . . . ] and they killed manY [ . . ] 5[ . . . they begat] giants [ . . . ]
The angels exploit the fruifulness of the earth.
4Q531 Frag. 3 2[ . . . everything that the] earth produced [ . . . ] [ . . . ] the great fish [ . . . ] 14[ . . . ] the sky with all that grew [ . . . ] 15[ . . . fruit of] the earth and all kinds of grain and all the trees [ . . . ] 16[ . . . ] beasts and reptiles . . . [al]l creeping things of the earth and they observed all [ . . . ] |8[ . . . eve]ry harsh deed and [ . . . ] utterance [ . . . ] l9[ . . . ] male and female, and among humans [ . . . ]
The two hundred angels choose animals on which to perform unnatural acts, including, presumably, humans.
1Q23 Frag. 1 + 6 [ . . . two hundred] 2donkeys, two hundred asses, two hundred . . . rams of the] 3flock, two hundred goats, two hundred [ . . . beast of the] 4field from every animal, from every [bird . . . ] 5[ . . . ] for miscegenation [ . . . ]
The outcome of the demonic corruption was violence, perversion, and a brood of monstrous beings. Compare Genesis 6:4.
4Q531 Frag. 2 [ . . . ] they defiled [ . . . ] 2[ . . . they begot] giants and monsters [ . . . ] 3[ . . . ] they begot, and, behold, all [the earth was corrupted . . . ] 4[ . . . ] with its blood and by the hand of [ . . . ] 5[giant's] which did not suffice for them and [ . . . ] 6[ . . . ] and they were seeking to devour many [ . . . ] 7[ . . . ] 8[ . . . ] the monsters attacked it.
4Q532 Col. 2 Frags. 1 - 6 2[ . . . ] flesh [ . . . ] 3al[l . . . ] monsters [ . . . ] will be [ . . . ] 4[ . . . ] they would arise [ . . . ] lacking in true knowledge [ . . . ] because [ . . . ] 5[ . . . ] the earth [grew corrupt . . . ] mighty [ . . . ] 6[ . . . ] they were considering [ . . . ] 7[ . . . ] from the angels upon [ . . . ] 8[ . . . ] in the end it will perish and die [ . . . ] 9[ . . . ] they caused great corruption in the [earth . . . ] [ . . . this did not] suffice to [ . . . ] "they will be [ . . . ]
The giants begin to be troubled by a series of dreams and visions. Mahway, the titan son of the angel Barakel, reports the first of these dreams to his fellow giants. He sees a tablet being immersed in water. When it emerges, all but three names have been washed away. The dream evidently symbolizes the destruction of all but Noah and his sons by the Flood.
2Q26 [ . . . ] they drenched the tablet in the wa[ter . . . ] 2[ . . . ] the waters went up over the [tablet . . . ] 3[ . . . ] they lifted out the tablet from the water of [ . . . ]
The giant goes to the others and they discuss the dream.
4Q530 Frag.7 [ . . . this vision] is for cursing and sorrow. I am the one who confessed 2[ . . . ] the whole group of the castaways that I shall go to [ . . . ] 3[ . . . the spirits of the sl]ain complaining about their killers and crying out 4[ . . . ] that we shall die together and be made an end of [ . . . ] much and I will be sleeping, and bread 6[ . . . ] for my dwelling; the vision and also [ . . . ] entered into the gathering of the giants 8[ . . . ]
6Q8 [ . . . ] Ohya and he said to Mahway [ . . . ] 2[ . . . ] without trembling. Who showed you all this vision, [my] brother? 3[ . . . ] Barakel, my father, was with me. 4[ . . . ] Before Mahway had finished telling what [he had seen . . . ] 5[ . . . said] to him, Now I have heard wonders! If a barren woman gives birth [ . . . ]
4Q530 Frag. 4 3[There]upon Ohya said to Ha[hya . . . ] 4[ . . . to be destroyed] from upon the earth and [ . . . ] 5[ . . . the ea]rth. When 6[ . . . ] they wept before [the giants . . . ]
4Q530 Frag. 7 3[ . . . ] your strength [ . . . ] 4[ . . . ] 5Thereupon Ohya [said] to Hahya [ . . . ] Then he answered, It is not for 6us, but for Azaiel, for he did [ . . . the children of] angels 7are the giants, and they would not let all their poved ones] be neglected [. . . we have] not been cast down; you have strength [ . . . ]
The giants realize the futility of fighting against the forces of heaven. The first speaker may be Gilgamesh.
4Q531 Frag. 1 3[ . . . I am a] giant, and by the mighty strength of my arm and my own great strength 4[ . . . any]one mortal, and I have made war against them; but I am not [ . . . ] able to stand against them, for my opponents 6[ . . . ] reside in [Heav]en, and they dwell in the holy places. And not 7[ . . . they] are stronger than I. 8[ . . . ] of the wild beast has come, and the wild man they call [me].
9[ . . . ] Then Ohya said to him, I have been forced to have a dream [ . . . ] the sleep of my eyes [vanished], to let me see a vision. Now I know that on [ . . . ] 11-12[ . . . ] Gilgamesh [ . . . ]
Ohya's dream vision is of a tree that is uprooted except for three of its roots; the vision's import is the same as that of the first dream.
6Q8 Frag. 2 1three of its roots [ . . . ] [while] I was [watching,] there came [ . . . they moved the roots into] 3this garden, all of them, and not [ . . . ]
Ohya tries to avoid the implications of the visions. Above he stated that it referred only to the demon Azazel; here he suggests that the destruction is for the earthly rulers alone.
4Q530 Col. 2 1concerns the death of our souls [ . . . ] and all his comrades, [and Oh]ya told them what Gilgamesh said to him 2[ . . . ] and it was said [ . . . ] "concerning [ . . . ] the leader has cursed the potentates" 3and the giants were glad at his words. Then he turned and left [ . . . ]
More dreams afflict the giants. The details of this vision are obscure, but it bodes ill for the giants. The dreamers speak first to the monsters, then to the giants.
Thereupon two of them had dreams 4and the sleep of their eye, fled from them, and they arose and came to [ . . . and told] their dreams, and said in the assembly of [their comrades] the monsters 6[ . . . In] my dream I was watching this very night 7[and there was a garden . . . ] gardeners and they were watering 8[ . . . two hundred trees and] large shoots came out of their root 9[ . . . ] all the water, and the fire burned all 10[the garden . . . ] They found the giants to tell them 11[the dream . . . ]
Someone suggests that Enoch be found to interpret the vision.
[ . . . to Enoch] the noted scribe, and he will interpret for us 12the dream. Thereupon his fellow Ohya declared and said to the giants, 13I too had a dream this night, O giants, and, behold, the Ruler of Heaven came down to earth 14[ . . . ] and such is the end of the dream. [Thereupon] all the giants [and monsters! grew afraid 15and called Mahway. He came to them and the giants pleaded with him and sent him to Enoch 16[the noted scribe]. They said to him, Go [ . . . ] to you that 17[ . . . ] you have heard his voice. And he said to him, He wil1 [ . . . and] interpret the dreams [ . . . ] Col. 3 3[ . . . ] how long the giants have to live. [ . . . ]
After a cosmic journey Mahway comes to Enoch and makes his request.
[ . . . he mounted up in the air] 4like strong winds, and flew with his hands like ea[gles . . . he left behind] 5the inhabited world and passed over Desolation, the great desert [ . . . ] 6and Enoch saw him and hailed him, and Mahway said to him [ . . . ] 7hither and thither a second time to Mahway [ . . . The giants await 8your words, and all the monsters of the earth. If [ . . . ] has been carried [ . . . ] 9from the days of [ . . . ] their [ . . . ] and they will be added [ . . . ] 10[ . . . ] we would know from you their meaning [ . . . ] 11[ . . . two hundred tr]ees that from heaven [came down . . . ]
Enoch sends back a tablet with its grim message of judgment, but with hope for repentance.
4Q530 Frag. 2 The scribe [Enoch . . . ] 2[ . . . ] 3a copy of the second tablet that [Epoch] se[nt . . . ] 4in the very handwriting of Enoch the noted scribe [ . . . In the name of God the great] 5and holy one, to Shemihaza and all [his companions . . . ] 6Let it be known to you that not [ . . . ] 7and the things you have done, and that your wives [ . . . ] 8they and their sons and the wives of [their sons . . . ] 9by your licentiousness on the earth, and there has been upon you [ . . . and the land is crying out] 10and complaining about you and the deeds of your children [ . . . ] 11the harm that you have done to it. [ . . . ] 12until Raphael arrives, behold, destruction [is coming, a great flood, and it will destroy all living things] 13and whatever is in the deserts and the seas. And the meaning of the matter [ . . . ] 14upon you for evil. But now, loosen the bonds bi[nding you to evil . . . ] l5and pray.
A fragment apparently detailing a vision that Enoch saw.
4Q531 Frag. 7 3[ . . . great fear] seized me and I fell on my face; I heard his voice [ . . . ] 4[ . . . ] he dwelt among human beings but he did not learn from them [ . . . ]
