The Nephilim: An Investigation and Analysis Part 7

Posted on August 18, 2026 by Don Merritt

WHAT WE CAN KNOW, WHAT WE CAN INFER, AND WHAT WE MUST CONFESS

After all the evidence we’ve gathered, all the witnesses we’ve interviewed, and all the trails we’ve followed from Genesis to Revelation, we arrive at a simple but important truth:

The Scriptures do not give us a definitive answer to the Nephilim Question.

And that is not a failure of Scripture. It is a reminder of how Scripture works.

1. Scripture Gives Revelation, Not Exhaustive Explanation

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. It is not God’s revelation of everything to humanity.

There are places where the text gives us:

  • clear statements,
  • firm doctrines,
  • and necessary truths.

And there are places where the text gives us:

  • hints,
  • shadows,
  • patterns,
  • and partial glimpses.

Genesis 6:1–4 is one of those places.

It gives us enough to know that something happened — something significant, something dark, something that shaped the biblical worldview — but not enough to reconstruct the entire event with certainty.

And that is where hermeneutics comes in.

2. Necessary Inferences vs. Possible Inferences

Nearly all methods of interpretation agree that Scripture gives us truth in three ways:

  1. Direct statements from God
  2. Approved apostolic teaching or example
  3. Necessary inference — truths that follow logically from what Scripture says

In our investigation of the Nephilim Question, we discovered neither a clear statement from God nor a clear apostolic explanation. That leaves us with inference — and in this case, the inferences are possible, not necessary.

There are several theories we can consider. Each has strengths and weaknesses. None is conclusive, at least in my view. What all of this really comes down to is that we trust God to guide us, and we draw the most reasonable conclusion we can — always with humility.

Others may disagree with our view, and that is perfectly fine. Because in cases like this, we can disagree.

The Nephilim Question is not an essential of the Faith.

To put this another way, we can say with confidence:

  • The “sons of God” did something that crossed a divine boundary.
  • Their actions produced a violent, corrupting effect on humanity.
  • The event was serious enough to be linked to divine judgment.
  • Later biblical writers assume a supernatural worldview shaped by this story.

These are necessary conclusions.

But when we ask:

  • Who exactly were the “sons of God”?
  • What exactly happened?
  • How do the Nephilim relate to later giant clans?
  • How much of the Second Temple interpretation reflects historical reality?

We move into the realm of possible conclusions.

Faithful Christians may disagree here — and always have.

3. The Center of the Story Is Not the Nephilim — It Is Jesus

This entire investigation has shown us something wonderful:

The deeper we dig into the Nephilim Question, the more the trail leads us to Christ.

  • Christ confronts the powers.
  • Christ binds the strong man.
  • Christ disarms the rulers and authorities.
  • Christ defeats death.
  • Christ ascends in victory.
  • Christ reigns over every realm.

The Nephilim may be mysterious. The rebellious sons of God may be debated. The giant clans may be shadowy.

But Christ is not.

He is the Light that exposes the darkness. He is the King who conquers the powers. He is the Lamb who wins the war. He is the One the entire story points toward.

4. The Proper Posture: Humility, Curiosity, and Confidence

A faithful conclusion to the Nephilim Question requires three things:

Humility

We admit what we do not know. We refuse to force the text to say more than it says.

Curiosity

We explore the clues Scripture gives us. We learn from history, language, and tradition. We follow the evidence where it leads.

Confidence

We rest in what Scripture makes absolutely clear:

  • God is in control.
  • Christ is victorious.
  • Evil is defeated.
  • The Church stands secure.
  • The story ends in glory.

The Nephilim Question may remain unresolved. But the Christian hope does not.

Final Word

I’ve been doing this for a very long time, and I still cannot tell you with certainty who the Nephilim were. And neither can anyone else.

But I can tell you this with absolute certainty:

Christ has triumphed over every power, every principality, every rebellion, every darkness, and every enemy — including the ones we do not fully understand. And that is enough.

The investigation ends here  …and maybe humans just can’t handle the whole truth in this life.

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Strength for the Storm

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Don Merritt

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Two deep red roses in full bloom surrounded by green leaves, with the words “My grace is sufficient for you” written in elegant script, symbolizing God’s sustaining love and beauty.

Provision is not always rescue. Sometimes it is strength to endure.

Sustaining grace provides presence, steadiness, and strength to carry us through storms.

Paul prayed for removal; God provided resilience. Paul asked for escape; God provided endurance. Paul wanted relief; God provided Himself.

The roses — deep red, layered, resilient — are a picture of this kind of provision. Beauty that grows in soil, weather, and seasons. Strength that is not loud but steady.

God’s provision in hardship is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ. He gives courage, patience, perseverance, and hope — the quiet provisions that carry us through the days we never expected to face.

Posted in Devotional Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Daily Bread, Daily Grace

Posted on August 16, 2026 by Don Merritt

Give us today our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11

Jesus teaches us to ask for daily bread — not weekly, not monthly, not “enough to feel secure for the next year.” Daily. It’s a rhythm of trust, not a stockpile of certainty.

Seeking God first displaces worry about food, money, and status.

Daily bread is not simply food; it is the grace God gives for this day. Not tomorrow’s burdens. Not yesterday’s regrets. Today’s portion.

The yellow tulip — bright, open, receiving sunlight — embodies this posture. It doesn’t store light. It receives what is given. It opens to what is offered. It trusts the rhythm of morning.

God’s provision is not merely enough; it is timely. He gives what we need when we need it. And He teaches us to live in the freedom of “today.”

Posted in Devotional Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The God Who Sees

Posted on August 15, 2026 by Don Merritt

Hagar gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me.

Genesis 16:13

Close-up of sunlit fern frond symbolizing growth and divine love

Provision begins long before supply. It begins with sight — God’s attentive, compassionate awareness of His children. Hagar’s story is the first time in Scripture someone names God, and she names Him not for His power, but for His attention. She was alone, pregnant, mistreated, and running into the wilderness. Yet God found her. He spoke to her. He directed her. He promised her a future.

God meets people in crisis: Provision is not merely God giving us what we need; it is God finding us where we are. Before He provides bread, He provides presence. Before He provides direction, He provides reassurance. Before He provides strength, He provides compassion.

The fern image — translucent green, lit from behind, spores ready to release — is a perfect metaphor. God sees us with that same clarity. Nothing is hidden. Nothing is overlooked. His provision begins with His gaze.

Posted in Devotional Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thanks for God’s Salvation

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Don Merritt

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Salvation is the greatest reason for thanksgiving. Everything else God gives is wonderful — provision, protection, comfort, guidance — but salvation is the gift that changes everything. It changes your past, your present, your future, your eternity.

A prayer of Thanksgiving morphs into a prayer of praise.

That’s what salvation does. It turns thanksgiving into worship. It turns gratitude into joy. It turns ordinary days into holy ground.

“This is the day the LORD has made.” Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Today. This day — with its challenges, its surprises, its imperfections — is a gift from God. And because He has redeemed you, every day becomes a reason to rejoice.

Even hard days. Even weary days. Even uncertain days.

Because salvation is bigger than circumstances.

Rejoice today. Give thanks today. Celebrate today. Not because everything is perfect, but because God’s salvation is perfect. Because Christ has redeemed you. Because grace has found you. Because mercy has carried you. Because hope is yours.

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the first post in this series: PART 1

Posted in Christian living | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Nephilim: An Investigation and Analysis Part 6

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Don Merritt

THE AFTERMATH OF VICTORY: Rebellion in Retreat

I closed the file on the Cross and sat quietly for a moment, letting the weight of it settle. We had followed the trail from Genesis to the Gospels, from the rebellious sons of God to the wilderness, from the Nephilim to the Nazarene. And now, after all the twists and turns, the evidence has led us to the same place every thread of Scripture eventually leads:

The Cross was not just forgiveness. It was a battlefield. And Christ won.

But every investigator knows that a decisive victory doesn’t end the story. It changes the battlefield.

When a king wins a war, the world doesn’t instantly snap into peace. There are pockets of resistance, scattered strongholds, defeated enemies still trying to cause damage on their way out. The war is won, but the cleanup has begun.

That is exactly where the New Testament takes us next.

The Cross broke the back of the powers. The Resurrection shattered the final weapon of the Enemy. The Ascension enthroned the King over every realm.

And yet—the New Testament still speaks of rulers, authorities, powers, dominions, thrones, principalities, and spiritual forces of wickedness. Not as victors. Not as equals. But as defeated enemies still active in a world that has not yet reached its final renewal.

Section 6 is where our investigation turns to this strange in‑between time—the time between D‑Day and V‑Day, between the decisive victory and the final consummation. A time when the powers have been judged, disarmed, and exposed… yet still lash out in desperation.

A time when the Church is called to stand, not in fear, but in the strength of a victory already won.

A time when the spiritual realm is no longer a mystery to be solved, but a battlefield to be understood.

So I opened the next folder in the case—the one marked “The Powers and the Present Age.” Inside were the passages that describe the world after the Cross: the defeated rulers, the disarmed authorities, the universal geography reclaimed, the armor given to the saints, and the mission entrusted to the Church.

The investigation continues—but now the terrain has changed.

We are no longer tracing the origins of evil. We are tracing the aftermath of its defeat.

Let’s step into the next phase of the story.

THE ENTHRONEMENT: THE ASCENSION AND THE EVIL ONE

The Ascension Is Not Departure; It Is Coronation

The ascension is often misunderstood as Jesus “leaving,” but the New Testament presents it as enthronement.

Peter declares:

“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”

Acts 2:33

Paul says:

“He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

Ephesians 1:20–21

The ascension is Christ’s enthronement over:

  • angels,
  • authorities,
  • powers,
  • dominions,
  • Satan,
  • and every name that is named.

Spiritual warfare is the Church living under the reign of the ascended Christ.

Christ’s Authority Is Universal and Uncontested

Jesus declares:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matthew 28:18

This is not hyperbole. It is the theological foundation of the Great Commission.

The Church does not advance into enemy territory alone. It advances under the authority of the enthroned King.

THE CHURCH’S PARTICIPATION: STANDING IN CHRIST’S VICTORY

The Church Is Seated With Christ

Paul makes a stunning claim:

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2:6

This is not future tense. It is present.

The Church participates in Christ’s authority—not by triumphalism, but by union with Him.

The Armor of God Is Christ Himself

Ephesians 6 is often treated as a manual for mystical techniques. But Paul’s imagery is deeply Christological.

  • Truth — Christ is the truth (John 14:6).
  • Righteousness — Christ is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).
  • Peace — Christ is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).
  • Faith — faith unites us to Christ.
  • Salvation — Christ is our salvation.
  • The Word — Christ speaks through Scripture.

To “put on the armor” is to put on Christ (Romans 13:14).

Spiritual warfare is fundamentally Christ‑dependence, not demon‑awareness.

The Spirit Empowers the Church for Warfare

The Spirit is the presence of the age to come in the present age.

He:

  • exposes deception (John 16:13),
  • strengthens believers (Ephesians 3:16),
  • intercedes against the accuser (Romans 8:26–27),
  • empowers witness (Acts 1:8),
  • produces holiness (Galatians 5:16–25).

The Spirit is not a weapon we wield. He is the power of Christ at work in us.

THE END OF THE STORY: THE FINAL DEFEAT OF THE POWER OF EVIL

Revelation’s Vision of Spiritual Warfare

Revelation portrays the powers symbolically:

  • the dragon (Satan),
  • the beasts (anti‑creation empires),
  • the false prophet (deception),
  • Babylon (idolatrous culture).

These are not new enemies. They are the final expressions of the powers Christ has already defeated.

The Lamb Conquers

The central image of Revelation is not a warrior on a horse—it is a Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:6).

The Lamb conquers:

  • not by violence,
  • not by coercion,
  • but by sacrificial victory.

The Church conquers the same way:

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

Revelation 12:11

The Final Judgment of the Enemies of God

Revelation ends with:

  • the dragon cast down,
  • the beasts destroyed,
  • Babylon fallen,
  • death and Hades thrown into the lake of fire.

The powers that once enslaved humanity are finally and forever defeated.

Christ reigns. The saints reign with Him. The new creation dawns.

Conclusion: Spiritual Warfare Is the Outworking of Christ’s Victory

The New Testament’s vision of spiritual warfare is not fear‑based, sensational, or speculative. It is Christ‑centered, Scripture‑saturated, and hope‑filled.

Spiritual warfare is:

  • Christ‑initiated — He invades the darkness.
  • Christ‑centered — He disarms the Enemy.
  • Christ‑empowered — He equips His people.
  • Christ‑secured — He guarantees the outcome.
  • Christ‑completed — He will finish what He began.

The Church does not fight to win the war. The Church fights because the war has already been won.

Christ is the Victor. Christ is the King. Christ is the center of spiritual warfare.

And in Him, the people of God stand firm.

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thanks for God’s Daily Mercies

Posted on August 12, 2026 by Don Merritt

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22–23

Every morning is a reminder of mercy. The sunrise is a sermon. The quiet light breaking over the horizon is a testimony that God has not given up on you, not grown weary of you, not withdrawn His compassion.

Why not take a little time today… and thank God for His great faithfulness that He is demonstrating all over with the change of seasons.

Exactly. Nature is God’s visual reminder that mercy renews. Seasons change. Leaves fall and return. Flowers bloom again. The fern uncurls. The rose opens. The tulip lifts its face to the sun.

Every morning, God gives you a fresh supply of mercy — not leftovers, not scraps, not recycled grace. New mercies. New patience. New strength. New compassion.

Thanksgiving grows when we stop rushing long enough to notice the mercies right in front of us.

Today, pause. Look around. Notice the small gifts — the breath you take, the light you see, the people you love, the hope you carry. These are mercies. And they are new every morning.

Give thanks for the God who never runs out of mercy.

This is the first post in this series: PART 1

Posted in Christian living | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Nephilim: An Investigation and Analysis Part 5

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Don Merritt

THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE HOSTILE SPIRITUAL REALM

IIf you stop and think about it, our investigation into the Nephilim Question was always going to lead us here. We’ve reached the front lines of a spiritual war.

Spiritual Warfare Begins with Christ, Not the Devil

When Christians hear the phrase spiritual warfare, many imagine a world filled with demons lurking behind every bush, dramatic confrontations, or sensational stories of deliverance. Others, wary of excess, avoid the topic altogether. But the New Testament offers neither sensationalism nor silence. Instead, it gives us a Christ‑centered, Scripture‑rooted, hope‑filled vision of spiritual warfare—one that is far more profound, far more beautiful, and far more stabilizing than the fear‑based approaches that often dominate popular imagination.

The New Testament does not begin with the devil. It begins with Christ—His arrival, His authority, His kingdom, His cross, His resurrection, His ascension, and His reign. Spiritual warfare is not a cosmic tug‑of‑war between equal forces. It is the story of the Light entering the darkness, and the darkness failing to overcome it (John 1:5).

This investigation traces the New Testament’s portrayal of spiritual warfare as a biblical‑theological narrative, moving from the Gospels to the Cross, to the Resurrection, to the Ascension, to the Church, and finally to the Consummation. Along the way, we will correct misunderstandings, anchor our thinking in Scripture, and see how Christ stands at the center of every battle.

The World Christ Entered: “This Present Evil Age”

The New Testament describes the world into which Christ came as “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). It is a world:

  • under the sway of “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31),
  • filled with “principalities and powers” (Ephesians 6:12),
  • blinded by “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4),
  • enslaved to “the elemental spirits of the world” (Galatians 4:3),
  • and marked by death, deception, and despair.

This is not dualism. The powers are not equal to God; they are real, active, and destructive.

Into this world, Christ came—not as a neutral observer, but as a conquering King.

The Demonic Powers Recognize Jesus Before the People Do

One of the most striking features of the Gospel accounts is that demons recognize Jesus before the crowds or even the disciples.

“I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24) “Have You come to destroy us?” (Mark 1:24) “What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:7)

The demons understand what the crowds do not: the arrival of Jesus marks the beginning of their end.

This is the first major theme of New Testament spiritual conflict: Christ’s presence is itself an act of war.

Exorcism as a Sign of the Kingdom

Jesus’ first public act in Mark’s Gospel is an exorcism (Mark 1:21–28). This is not incidental; it is theological.

Jesus Himself explains:

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28

Exorcism is not a sideshow. It is the visible sign that God’s reign has invaded enemy territory. Where Christ is present, the powers of darkness retreat.

The Stronger Man Has Arrived

Jesus describes His ministry in terms of binding the strong man:

“In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.” Mark 3:27

The “strong man” is Satan. The “goods” are human beings held in bondage. The “stronger man” is Christ.

Spiritual warfare begins with Christ’s invasion, not with human effort.

THE DECISIVE BATTLE: THE CROSS AS ULTIMATE VICTORY

The Cross Is Not Only Atonement; It Is Warfare

Many Christians think of the cross primarily in terms of forgiveness—and rightly so. But the New Testament also presents the cross as the decisive defeat of the powers of evil.

Paul writes:

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15

The language is military. Christ:

  • disarms,
  • exposes,
  • and triumphs over the powers.

The cross is not the powers’ victory—it is their undoing.

How the Cross Disarms the Powers of Evil

The Devil wields three weapons:

  1. Accusation
  2. Deception
  3. Death

At the cross, Christ destroys all three.

A. Accusation is silenced

Satan accuses humanity before God (Revelation 12:10). But Christ cancels the record of debt (Colossians 2:14). The accuser loses his case.

B. Deception is exposed

The cross reveals the true nature of evil: it is murderous, unjust, and self‑destructive.

C. Death is defeated

Satan wields death as the ultimate weapon (Hebrews 2:14). But Christ enters death and breaks it from the inside.

The cross is the moment when the Enemy loses his authority.

The Cross as the Turning Point of the Ages

Jesus Himself says:

“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” John 12:31

The cross is the judgment of the Devil. The resurrection is the vindication of Christ. The ascension is the enthronement of the King.

Spiritual warfare is not a battle for victory—it is the outworking of a victory already won.

I suspect many readers began this investigation expecting something strange or sensational. But the “weird stuff” is not where the evidence leads — it leads to Jesus Christ. We couldn’t cover the story without following the evidence to the New Testament to see how Jesus and the Apostles treated the Nephilim Question. We saw that they taught in a way that assumed it as a given without further comment. Then the trail goes straight to the cross and the defeat of the forces of Evil—amazing! We’ve come a long way, but there is still more to uncover. I’ll look forward to seeing you next time as our Quest continues.

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thanks for God’s Protection and Help

Posted on August 10, 2026 by Don Merritt

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1–2

Where do we turn for help when things aren’t going our way?

We turn to many places — friends, experts, Google, professionals. And God often uses those people. But beneath all of that, deeper than all of that, is the truth that our help comes from the Lord.

The Maker of heaven and earth.

Not a consultant. Not an advisor. Not a temporary fix. The One who spoke galaxies into existence. The One who carved mountains and filled oceans. The One who designed the seasons and set the stars in place.

If He can do all that, He can help you.

Thanksgiving grows when we recognize how often God has protected us — sometimes in ways we saw, often in ways we didn’t. How many times has God kept you from harm you never knew was coming? How many times has He sustained you through a storm you didn’t think you could weather? How many times has He carried you when your strength ran out?

Thank Him for His protection. Thank Him for His help. Thank Him that He sees what you cannot see and guards you in ways you cannot measure.

Your help comes from the Lord. And that is a reason to give thanks.

This is the first post in this series: PART 1

Posted in Christian living | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thanks for God’s Faithfulness

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Don Merritt

The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.

Psalm 116:5–7

Some passages need to be read slowly. Psalm 116:5–7 is one of them. In fact, this little passage needs to be a prayer, more than just read.

Thanksgiving begins with remembering — remembering what God has done, remembering where He has met you, remembering the moments when His compassion carried you farther than your strength ever could.

“The Lord has been good to you.” Let that settle in.

Think back over your life. Think of the times when you were “brought low,” and He saved you. Think of the moments when you didn’t know what to do, and somehow the right door opened. Think of the seasons when you felt alone, and yet you were sustained. Think of the prayers you whispered that God answered quietly, faithfully, in ways you didn’t expect.

Thanksgiving grows in the soil of remembrance.

The psalmist says, “Return to your rest, my soul.” Rest comes when we remember. Rest comes when we stop long enough to acknowledge God’s goodness. Rest comes when we let gratitude quiet the noise of fear and worry.

Today, let your soul return to its rest. Let thanksgiving rise as you recall God’s faithfulness. Let your heart whisper, “Lord, You have been good to me.”

And watch how thanksgiving becomes praise.

This is the first post in this series: PART 1

Posted in Christian living | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment