Extracts and comments from Revelation Chp. 14:1(b)
And I saw, lo, (a)The Lamb standing on the (b)Mount Sion, and (a)with Him an (a)hundred forty and four thousand, (c)having His name and (c)His Father's name written (c)on their foreheads.
(b) "Mount Sion"; Sion, or Zion (both spellings are used) is synonymous for or with Jerusalem, (one definition of "Zion" is "Stronghold"). There is dispute as to the actual location of Zion. In the Old Testament, it is the easternmost of the two hills of ancient Jerusalem, the site of the Jebusite city captured by David in the 10th century B.C. (2Sam. 5:6-9). Also probably refers to "the stronghold of Zion", (2Sam. 5:7) taken by David and established as his royal capital.
Josephus possibly mistakenly, identified Zion as the western hill (first cent. A.D.), this opinion remained until 19th/20th century, when the eastern hill was re-established (modern Ophel). It was not included in the 16th century fortifications, and is still covered in fields and vineyards (Ency. Brit. 1977).
The actual site has huge significance for the future, as is seen from this verse alone. It is the true site of the "shining forth in Glory", (HEB. YAPHA) of the Promised One (Deut. 33:2) which corresponds with "Maranatha" (1 Cor. 16:22). The Law was given by God Almighty on Mt. Sinai ("HOREB"), the Law and the Prophets will be fulfilled by Messiah/Christ Jesus at His return (Deut. 33:2).
The antithesis to this from Satan was/is Sion (Deut. 4:48), (Mt. Hermon) which was/is a sacred site to Satanic paganism, propagated by Canaanites (Nephilim), (Num. 21:33 & Deut. 3:1-13). The Nephilim were of large stature, 9' to 13' or more tall, and the tomb size is shown in Deut. 3:11, and testified in Deut. 3:13, "the land of the giants". The certain fact that they had spread from Babylon is shown by the tombs of the Marduk kings in Babylon, which were of the same size as Deut. 3:11. Babylon as is well known was founded by Nimrod, whose father was Cush and grandfather Ham! Nimrod was "great in rebellion against God", (Gen. 10:9), (the word "before", Str. Hebrew 6440 can be either; "the face that turns", is from the number 6437, "to turn", "to face up to", "to turn aside / away", "turn the back", "turn the face", "turn the self", or as chosen by the translators, "before". Both are prepositional, but the context of Nimrod's story gives the sense, i.e., he was a great rebel against Jehovah, and in great sin in his life in the face of Jehovah. He and his mother were founders of false "religion" in Babylon). (Nimrod's mother is reputed to have altered the "Heavenly message", and created the Zodiac/Nimrod/Nephilim & Connections: Rev. Chp. 14:1(b), of which there is a copy in the temple at Dendera in Egypt. She is also reputed to have treated Nimrod as her husband sexually)! Babylon became the fountainhead of Satanic opposition to Jehovah God, until its destruction, and the removal of its priests to Pergamos (Antolia).
It was inevitable that the Nephilim/giants would resist the children of Israel (Jacob), when they started their conquest of "the promised land". By that time the Nephilim had blended into other tribes and peoples, and a thorough mix had been established. For that reason Jehovah forbad Israel any inter-marriage with the Canaanite tribes (Canaan was the son of Ham and uncle to Nimrod Gen. 10:6), which would have thwarted the Messiah line from Genesis.
Nephilim are the fruit of "the sons of God", (ha-Elohim = the Creator), or fallen angels (Gen. 6:4) & (Rev. 12:4 & 9) which have mated with "the daughters of men", (Gen. 6:2), and had they succeeded in spreading their seed totally in men/Israel, the promise of Messiah (Gen. 3:15) could not have happened, and Satan would have had the victory. (There is much debate and varied opinion, as to whether the resultant Nephilim/giants are of "sons of God", or fallen angels. The Interlinear Hebrew uses the word "God", in the delegated sense [Str. 430], which should be spelt with a small g (god), which can mean an "authority," lower than Elohim [God], which brings in to play; angel, created being, etc. The Interlinear Hebrew for "the son", (Str. 1121) (BEN) is the word "family builder", which implies just that possibility in these "sons of God")! See: Babylon.
However, the result is evil. Therefore is not of the will of Almighty God, but does show the fact of the free-will of the created being, whether "sons" or angels. In the view of the writers the Hebrew Interlinear "son", which is followed by most of the translations, except Moffatt (James) is certainly correct; as they were not led by the Holy Spirit in their act of procreation but by the spirit of the Enemy of God, Satan! That is in contrast to Rom. 8:14, which confirms that those led by the Holy Spirit "Spirit of God"," are "the sons of God"; so that God in Christ has created a pathway contrary to that of the fallen sons of Gen. 6!, which allows fallen human beings to become "sons of God", by their own will, in the acceptance of Christ, as Saviour, (Jn. 1:12), (Rom. 8:4 & 19), (Phil. 2:15) & (1Jn. 3:1 & 2).
Genesis 6:4 shows clearly that after the flood destroyed all the Nephilim infiltrated humans, leaving Noah and his family only; there was at a later date a further eruption of Nephilim “and also after the flood”. These are described in detail in Num. 13:33, and in the book of Joshua.
It is notable that on a number of occasions the Divinely ordered task of annihilating the Nephilim was not completed i.e. Josh. 11:22, 13:13, 16:10 & 17:12 and elsewhere. That the task was probably never completed is implicit in the renewed warning to Israel regarding the forbidding of intermarriage with the local tribes, Josh. 23. It is almost certain that both King Saul and King David also did not eradicate Nephilim, as both failed to obey the commands of Jehovah. Although David’s heart was directed correctly, as Scripture records as he slew Goliath (a Nephilim), which is probably symbolic and prophetic regarding The Son of David’s action when He (Christ) returns to Earth.
Whether or not physical Nephilim survive until this day in smaller form is unknown, and probably impossible to determine at the present time. However, when we recognise that the Nephilim purpose was to thwart Jehovah’s plan of Salvation for Israel and the world, the fact that “great David’s greater Son", "the second Adam”, Christ has appeared, died the death of the cross (Gal. 3:13), and risen, shows the utter failure of the physical Nephilim.
We know now that in this Age (of Grace), the battle is spiritual (Eph. 6:1). Those who truly wish to embrace God and Redemption can only do so through Christ (Acts 4:12) and that through faith only (Gal. 2:20) & (Gal. 3).
The Nephilim were/are the Satanically inspired fruit of fallen beings, who attempted to thwart the physical birth of Christ/Messiah. The current attempt of Satan is twofold;
1) To thwart the spiritual birth of the Body of Christ (Christians true), which Body must be complete prior to the Lord’s return (and, in the opinion of the writers, probably during Israel’s Lo-Ammi state), which confirms that now is a spiritual warfare.
2) To thwart the promises of Jehovah Zebaoth to Israel.
To that end spiritual forces are arrayed against mankind (Eph. 6:12) (particularly Gentiles since Acts 28:28). These Satanic forces are the equivalent of the physical Nephilim, and at least as deadly. As the Nephilim were/are a mixture of human flesh and Satanic spirit, the same applies today, and are described in the Gospels and other parts of the New Testament (Matt. 10:1, Mk. 1:27, Mk. 3:11, 5:13, Mk. 6:7, Lk. 4:36, Acts 5:16, 8:7 & Rev. 16:13).
It is a sad fact that people generally speaking have high regard for wizards, mediums etc., (Acts 8:11 and Acts 8:9-24), but as the Holy Spirit shows in Acts 8:21-24, there is only one way of escape for such people, Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9:24) had to acknowledge his error, repent of it, and request prayer for release by his will. That was prior to Acts 28:28, and as shown below, there is a change.
Therefore, it is incumbent on Christians to be wary of all humans, to attempt to determine their condition, many people are difficult to assess as regards their true position re. our Great Enemy, whether they are his by default or decision.
The definitive text on this subject is Leviticus 19:31, "regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them": Dr Bullinger's comments on this verse is crucial. "Familiar spirits are evil spirits personating dead humans, and attach themselves to mediums or those that give their wills to them". Once that exposure takes place, the only way of escape for the individual is:
1) acknowledgement of the fact of possession,
2) a genuine desire for release,
3) their own prayer for the power of Jesus The Christ to remove the possessing spirits. People who take these steps are often ill, disturbed, and sometimes violent, or a combination of these expressions, but the result is wonderful release.
There are groups in the world that say they can do the releasing for a person, this is certainly false, and puts the subject person into greater bondage, human and Satanic. That particular power ceased at Acts 28:28, when the Administration (Age) changed, due to the final rejection of Christ by the Jewish hierarchy.
The great danger and tragedy with young people and children, is that Satan can begin the ensnarement and possession by various means (such as Ouija Boards, drugs, people etc.), which/who are empowered by Satan. These people then go on into the world, taking their places in society, and by their own problem backgrounds create and expand the problems mentioned.
Others are cognisant agents of Satan, who can rally others when required.
The last verse of the book of Zechariah is conclusive, "there shall be no more Canaanite in the house of Jehovah Zebaoth; that at the beginning of the “Kingdom on Earth, the Millennial Kingdom”.
Also, in Zech. 13:2 idols, prophets and unclean spirits are banished (presumably to the same abyss as Satan). This takes place after the return of Christ/Jehovah, and as the Millennial Kingdom is established.
It is considered (Ency. Brit. N. p. 232) that Christ the "Nazarene", is also under a Nazarene/Nazarite vow, yet to be completed when the Canaanite is eliminated.
The Holy Spirit through John is lucid on the Anti-Christ, and particularly 1Jn. 2:18-28, see also (2Thess. 2:3-12), (1Jn. 4:2-3), (1Jn. 4:6), (1Jn. 5:19) & (2Jn. 7), where "the last time", (i.e. this last Age time) is described in detail. In both 1 and 2 John, the conditions described are recognisable now by true Christians. The spirit of Anti-Christ is in every part of human life, and its profanity is evident continually around us, in all media, communications and contact, and unfortunately in false christian teaching worldwide, in Churches, groups and Sects!
The conditions prophesied by Paul, Peter and others in the N.T. are evident all around us.
Special Note:
It is a curious fact that many Christian teachers are not aware of, or find the subject of fallen angels/Nephilim a difficult subject to discuss or teach. Scripture however must be taken as it is written, and not taught in selected sections. One can only imagine that is because of personal problems/blocks, as Scripture is clear that one third of Heaven's angels follow Satan! (Rev. 12:4-9).
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