Nephilim, Giants & Apocalyptic Beasts

Physical Characteristics

Size: 300-450 feet tall according to some texts, though others give more modest heights of 15-30 feet. Their appetites matched their size.

Strength: Capable of uprooting trees, slaying lions and dragons, and overwhelming armies of men.

Appearance: Generally humanoid but of terrifying aspect. Some traditions describe them with six fingers and toes.

Notable Nephilim

Ohya & Hahya: Sons of Shemihaza (leader of the Watchers), featured prominently in the Book of Giants. Had prophetic dreams predicting their destruction.

Mahway: Giant messenger who flew through the air to consult Enoch about the meaning of the giants' disturbing dreams.

Their Corruption

The Nephilim consumed all that humans produced - crops, livestock, and eventually humans themselves. They taught warfare and violence, spreading bloodshed across the earth. Their very blood corrupted the ground.

They sinned against birds, beasts, reptiles, and fish - possibly meaning bestiality or genetic manipulation of creatures.

The Flood & After

God sent the Flood specifically to destroy the Nephilim. Gabriel was commanded to turn them against each other, causing civil war among the giants.

When the Nephilim died, their spirits became demons - wandering the earth to lead humanity astray until the final judgment. These are the "evil spirits" that possess and torment humans.

The Book of Giants

Dead Sea Scroll fragments describe the Nephilim's prophetic dreams of their coming destruction. They saw visions of a great garden being uprooted, of fire and flood destroying the earth.

The giants begged Enoch to intercede with God on their behalf, but he brought only the message of their inevitable doom.

Later Giants

Anakim, Rephaim, Emim: Post-Flood giants mentioned in the Bible as inhabiting Canaan. Some traditions claim these were descendants of Nephilim who survived.

Og of Bashan: Last of the Rephaim, with an iron bed 13 feet long. Tradition says he survived the Flood by clinging to Noah's Ark.

Leviathan

Realm: Sea | Nature: Primordial Sea Serpent

A massive serpent or dragon dwelling in the depths of the ocean, so enormous that it could encircle the entire earth. Its scales form impenetrable armor, and fire pours from its mouth. When it churns the waters, the seas boil like a pot. No weapon made by humans can harm it.

Leviathan represents the chaos of the primordial waters that existed before creation. Some traditions speak of both male and female Leviathans - God killed the female to prevent them from breeding and overwhelming creation. The surviving male awaits the end times.

Apocalyptic Role: Will be slain by God at the end of days, its flesh served as feast for the righteous, its skin used to cover the Messianic pavilion.

Behemoth

Realm: Land | Nature: Primordial Land Beast

A creature of such enormous size that it drinks the entire flow of the Jordan River daily and eats a thousand mountains' worth of vegetation. Described as having bones like tubes of bronze, limbs like bars of iron, and a tail like a cedar tree. No force can approach it, and it fears nothing under heaven.

Dwells in an invisible desert called Dendain, east of Eden, awaiting the final days. Represents the wild, untamable power of the earth and land creatures. Some identify it with the hippopotamus or elephant, but its mythological proportions far exceed any natural animal.

Apocalyptic Role: Will battle Leviathan at the end times, both dying in cosmic combat to provide the Messianic feast.

Ziz (Bar Yokni)

Realm: Air | Nature: Primordial Sky Bird

A bird so gigantic that when it stands in the ocean, the water only reaches its ankles, yet it is so tall that its head touches heaven. Its wingspan can block out the sun, casting entire regions into shadow. When it spreads its wings, it can create winds strong enough to snap trees and capsize ships.

The name Ziz may derive from the variety of foods it provides, as in "ze va-ze" (this and that). Also called Bar Yokni, "son of the nest." Protects the earth from the winds of the south that would otherwise destroy all life. Its eggs, if dropped, could flood sixty cities.

Apocalyptic Role: Will join Leviathan and Behemoth at the Messianic banquet, providing sustenance for the righteous in the world to come.

The Four Beasts of Daniel

Lion with Eagle's Wings: First beast representing Babylon, majestic but transformed

Bear with Ribs: Second beast representing Media-Persia, raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth

Four-Headed Leopard: Third beast representing Greece, with four wings and four heads

Terrible Beast with Iron Teeth: Fourth beast with ten horns, representing Rome or future kingdom, crushing and devouring all

The Dragon (Satan)

Great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns. Sweeps a third of the stars from heaven with its tail. Pursues the woman clothed with the sun and makes war against her offspring. Cast down from heaven by Michael and the angels.

Identified with the ancient serpent, the Devil, Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. Awaits final judgment in chains.

The Beast from the Sea

Seven heads, ten horns, ten crowns. Like a leopard with bear's feet and lion's mouth. Receives power from the dragon. One head appears fatally wounded but healed. Blasphemes God and makes war against the saints. All who dwell on earth worship it.

Often interpreted as representing persecuting empires or the Antichrist.

The Beast from the Earth

Two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. Exercises all authority of the first beast. Performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven. Deceives earth's inhabitants, causes all to receive the mark (666) on hand or forehead.

Often called the False Prophet, working in concert with the first beast.

The Armies of Gog & Magog

Prophesied invading forces led by Gog, prince of Meshech and Tubal, from the land of Magog. Vast as the sand of the sea, they surround the camp of the saints before being consumed by fire from heaven.

Represent the final rebellion of nations against God's kingdom before the ultimate judgment.

Abaddon/Apollyon

The angel of the Abyss who leads locust-like creatures during the apocalypse. These locusts have faces like humans, hair like women, teeth like lions, breastplates of iron, and tails with stingers like scorpions. They torment those who lack God's seal for five months.

Name means "Destruction" in Hebrew (Abaddon) and Greek (Apollyon).

Nature of Demons

Disembodied spirits constantly seeking to possess humans or animals. They cause disease, madness, violence, and lead people into sin. Neither fully spiritual like angels nor fully material like humans, they exist in a liminal state.

One-tenth were allowed to remain active to test humanity; nine-tenths bound until judgment.

Classes of Demons

Shedim: General term for demons in Jewish tradition

Seirim: Goat-demons dwelling in deserts

Lilim: Night-demons led by Lilith

Mazikim: Injurious spirits causing harm

Ruchim: Wind spirits

Named Demons

Lilith: First wife of Adam (in some traditions), queen of demons, strangler of infants

Asmodeus: King of demons, demon of lust and anger, featured in Testament of Solomon

Belial: Spirit of wickedness and lawlessness

Mastema: Angel of hostility who tests the righteous

Protection Against Demons

Knowledge of angelic names and divine names provides power over demons. Amulets inscribed with angel names protect against demonic attack. Solomon's ring allowed him to command demons by knowing their true names.

Righteous living, prayer, and observance of divine law provide spiritual protection.

The Phoenix

Magnificent bird dwelling in Paradise (Third Heaven) or near the heavenly Temple. Dies in flames every thousand years and is reborn from its ashes. Symbol of resurrection and renewal. Sings beautifully, and at its song, all birds fall silent.

In some texts, it shields itself from the sun with its wings to prevent the earth from burning.

The Seraphim

Six-winged beings of pure fire surrounding God's throne, crying "Holy, Holy, Holy!" eternally. So brilliant that even angels cannot look upon them. With two wings they cover their faces, with two they cover their feet, with two they fly.

They purify those who approach God's presence, as one touched Isaiah's lips with a burning coal.

The Cherubim

Four-faced guardians: human, lion, ox, eagle. Four wings, hands beneath wings. They guard Eden after the expulsion, wielding flaming swords. Support God's throne and the Merkabah chariot. Covered with eyes, seeing all.

More than angels, they represent the fullness of creation before the throne.

The Ophanim (Wheels)

Living wheels covered entirely with eyes, moving in any direction without turning. Made of gleaming beryl or topaz. When the living creatures move, the wheels move with them. The spirit of the creatures is in the wheels.

Their sound is like thunder, like the voice of the Almighty.