- [Narrator] The most
mysterious beings in the Bible. Number one, the Ophanim. There are 108 different mentions of angels throughout the Old Testament. Angels are shown as playing a role in the stories told in
the Book of Genesis, specifically in the lives
of Abraham and Jacob. So who are these mysterious angels? The Ophanim. What are the Ophanim? In ancient Hebrew, Ophanim
literally means wheels. The word in its solitary form is Ophan. Wheels are mentioned multiple
times in the Old Testament and Ophanim can refer
to conventional wheels on a cart or chariot. Who was this prophet that saw this vision? During Nebuchadnezzar's
conquest in 597 BC, Ezekiel was one of 10,000
prisoners captured from Jerusalem and most likely he prophesied in Babylon to the exiles in settlement of
Tel Abib on the River Kebar. Ezekiel sees the Ophanim. Ezekiel hadn't been in exile
when God appeared to him. God used this encounter to start Ezekiel's ministry as a prophet by showing him an astounding vision. It is hard to define the Ophanim depicted in Ezekiel's vision without considering the
entirety of the revelation. God chooses to open the heavens in front of Ezekiel's temporal eyes. The description of
Ezekiel's inaugural vision is one of the most difficult passages to translate in the Old Testament. Ezekiel first tells where he
was when he saw the vision. Ezekiel chapter 1 verses 1 through 4. "Now it came about when I
was in my 30th year of life. On the fifth day of the fourth month while I was among the exiles
beside the River Kebar in Babylonia. The heavens were open
and I saw visions of God. On the fifth of the month, which was in the fifth year
of King Jehoiakim's captivity, the word of the Lord came
expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the
land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And the hand of the Lord
came upon him there. As I looked, I saw a stormy
wind coming out of the north, a great cloud with fire
flashing continually from it and a brightness was around it. And in its core, there was something like
glowing amber colored metal in the the midst of the fire." He tried to put into words something that couldn't be explained clearly. He used similes to describe it, comparing it to other things to give an idea of what it was like. Ezekiel observes what appears to be a fearsome cloud of lightning and fire moving in from the north. Four luminous entities are
hidden within the cloud, each emitting a brilliant light. Although the beings appear like humans, they are not human in any way. Each possesses four different faces, one human face, one
lion face, one ox face, and one eagle face. The prophet doesn't record
these creatures by name in Ezekiel 1 where the
recounting of his vision begins. But by chapter 10, they're
identified as Cherubim. After seeing the Cherubim, Ezekiel saw the wheels,
like the chariot wheels. A gyroscope is the most helpful equipment for visualizing what Ezekiel witnessed. Ezekiel was describing
something that could move in any direction without turning. Keep in mind that Ezekiel was
describing the indescribable. Ezekiel chapter 1 verses 15 through 21. "Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature
with its four faces. The appearance of the
wheels and the workings was like the color of beryl and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of the workings
was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they moved, they went toward any
one of four directions. They did not turn aside when they went. As for their rims, they were
so high, they were awesome, and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them. When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them. And when the living creatures
were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit
wanted to go, they went because there the spirit went and the wheels were
lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living
creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went. When those stood, these stood. And when those were
lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted
up together with them. For the spirit of the living
creatures was in the wheels." Ezekiel continued to explain
the constant interaction between the wheels and the Cherubim. The wheels traveled in the
same direction as the Cherubim. He said that the manifestation
of the Spirit of God could be seen in all
that was taking place. Ezekiel was also seeing God's omniscience. The multiple eyes he saw represented God's complete awareness. He sees and knows everything. This great book begins with a vision. Ezekiel receives a revelation from God of four angelic figures. In this vision, God calls the prophet to be his spokesman and
watchman to the Hebrew exiles. This vision is the first
of four in the book. Ezekiel describes this first
vision in vivid detail. Ezekiel used analogies to
provide visionary insight. Altogether, the huge wheels,
the living creatures, the enfolding fire, and the
eyes in the rims of the wheels made for a very terrifying image. What a compelling illustration
of the providence of God, which is constantly at
work, intricately designed, never wrong and never late. What Ezekiel saw or
described in this passage is difficult to visualize. It is presumably an image
of a magnificent chariot with four wheels that is
bringing the throne of God. Everything in this image, from the living beings to God's throne, seems to be in constant
motion and activity. The wheels and their mechanisms may have been free to
travel in any direction, yet their motions did not
indicate disorder or confusion. The description of full of eyes was how John described
the Cherubim themselves. The sense is of excellent
knowledge and intelligence. Ophanim are also mentioned
similarly in Ezekiel 10. Ezekiel was meant to
understand that God's chariot or chariot throne was on the move. In the passages, the throne
of God is set on wheels, Ophanim, and then pushed by four angels. There are wheels inside
of wheels at cross angles with the effect that the throne
can move in any direction without having to turn. The Ophanim has been a point
of fascination for many and later Jewish apocalyptic writers gave them a life of their own. The wheels were eventually recognized as a separate type of
angel known as the Ophanim. Why do some refer to
the Ophanim as angels? There is not a single
mention of the Ophanim in the scriptures being angelic creatures, but apocryphal Jewish writers branded them as a class of angels and list them in their
hierarchy of angels, along with the Seraphim and Cherubim. Because of the Ophanim's
unique life likeness, their supernatural power, and their proximity to God's throne, not to mention the multitude of eyes, whether or not the
Ophanim are angelic beings or merely a divinely powered mechanism of multidimensional
transport doesn't matter. What does matter is the Ophanim's function in displaying God's glory to Ezekiel and every other believer who
would one day read his account and gain a renewed
vision of God's kingship. What do the Ophanim reveal about God? Both in appearance and function, the Ophanim that appear
in Ezekiel's vision shows God's complete dominion
over the entire cosmos. As the Spirit of God guides the Cherubim, that same spirit indwells the Ophanim and the eyes covering the
wheels and the Cherubim symbolize God's omniscience. He is all-seeing, all-knowing. God consistently provided
Ezekiel with unusual visions that drove him to speak in unusual ways, from hands and scrolls
descending from heaven, to four abominations
committed in the temple, to vines, eagles, lions,
dry bones and fires, Ezekiel trafficked in strange
but memorable pictures. It reminded them of His holiness and power as the Lord of all creation. The message was clear. Though His people were in exile and their nation was
about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and able to handle every situation. Number two, Behemoth. The Behemoth. The Behemoth is a beast
that God Himself speaks of. We see this great beast
in the Book of Job. It all started with a
prosperous man named Job who lived in Uz with his large family and numerous herds of sheep. He is blameless and upright and he makes it a point to
always do the right thing. His devotion to God was
steadfast and unwavering. God extols Job's virtues to Satan, but Satan counters that
Job was only righteous because God has lavished him with favor. Satan dares God that Job
will change and curse God if approved to inflict suffering. God allows Satan to torment
Job to test this bold claim, yet he stops Satan from taking Job's life. Job receives four reports within one day, each informing him that a
sheep, servants, and 10 children have all perished due to being
stolen by invading thieves or being slammed by natural disasters. Job tears his garments and shaves his head in response to the pain
that he is experiencing, but he never stops praising
God throughout his prayers. Satan reappears in heaven and God gives him yet another chance to prove Job's worth by testing him. This time around, Job is
suffering from severe skin rashes that are bothersome. Job's wife tries to
convince him to curse God, give up, and end his life, but he fights her and strives
to bear his pains instead. Job is driven to his
breaking point by the ordeal and as a result, he becomes resentful, anxious, and terrified. He laments the injustice that
God lets evil people thrive while he and many other
honest people suffer. Job wants to face God and protest, but cannot physically find God. In the end, God decides to intervene. In 36 instances, Job prayed
to God to converse with him. His wish has been granted at this point. God communicates with Job in the middle of a
storm on both occasions. The way God speaks to him with much humor. God tells Job He is the
one who made the universe and everything in it. He runs through His excellent activity of creating and sustaining the world, asking Job whether he
could match this work. He finishes by asking
whether Job is able to judge, telling him that it is
impertinent for Job to believe that God should explain Himself to him. Job is made to feel very small. In the second round, God doesn't talk about Himself as Creator, but about His creatures. Job chapter 40 verses 15 through 24. "Look now at the Behemoth,
which I made along with you. He eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze. His ribs like bars of iron. He is the first of the ways of God. Only he who made him can
bring near his sword. Surely the mountains yield food for him, and all the beasts of
the field play there. He lies under the lotus trees in a covert of reeds and marsh. The lotus trees cover
him with their shade. The willows by the brook surround him. Indeed, the river may rage,
yet he is not disturbed. He is confident, though the
Jordan gushes into his mouth, though he takes it in his eyes or one pierces his nose with a snare." Previously, the focus was more on the mystery of the animal creation. However, now the focus
has shifted to the fear and yet the magnificence
of God's creations. The Behemoth was first
among the works of God. The Behemoth is a creature
that has been the subject of much debate among historians. While there is still no consensus on many aspects of this
creature, two things are certain. It was massive in size and
possessed a belly button. The evidence of a belly button shows that it is not an
animal that lays eggs. We read, "He eats grass like an ox. His power is in his stomach muscles." God seems to take great pleasure in describing the marvel of
this extraordinary creature, pointing out its size, appetite, and behaviors along the way. The picture is clear. If Job cannot contend
with his fellow creature, how could he ever contend with the God who created the Behemoth? The word Behemoth in Hebrew has the same structure
as the plural of behema, which means beast, suggesting an augmentative,
meaning great beast. The Word of God makes it very clear who created this great beast. John chapter 1 verse 3. "All things were made through Him and without Him, nothing
was made that was made." There can be no possible exception. If a thing was made, He made it. As Creator, He is of course superior to anything He has created. All three persons of the Godhead were involved in the work of creation. Is it possible that such a beast used to roam the earth with people? Some believe that the
Behemoth is a hippopotamus. Many people think God had in mind what we would call the hippopotamus, one of the world's largest, most powerful, and most dangerous land creatures. The hippopotamus was definitely
known in biblical times, particularly in Egypt. The Romans reduced their population due to the harm they caused to crops. Or was Behemoth an elephant? According to most Bible apologists, Behemoth in Hebrew refers
to a four-legged beast, which they believed to be an elephant. Those who favor hippopotamuses do so because Job chapter 40 verse 23 talks about the Behemoth's huge mouth drinking up the gushing Jordan River. However, there are two
concerns with this theory. First, the Book of Job
describes the Behemoth as having a big tail
that moves like a cedar. Elephants have small weak pig-like tails. Second, Job characterizes the Behemoth as an incredibly huge creature that even humans cannot tame. "Can anyone capture
him when he is on watch or pierce his nose with
barbs to trap him?" Based on verse 19, it seems that the creature
described in Job's story was too large for the people
living during his time to defeat. When the Book of Job
described the Behemoth as the chief of the ways of God so powerful that only he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him, it was no exaggeration. After discussing the frightening Behemoth, God urged Job to consider
another terrifying creature. Number three, Leviathan. Man's pride and grandeur
paled in comparison to the terrifying and
unconquerable strength of the Leviathan. How much more humble is
man in God's presence? And that's the point. Neither Job nor anyone else has the right to criticize God's work. The one who created Leviathan
is worthy of our reverence, awe, and worship. The Leviathan is a large
aquatic creature of some kind. The Bible describes it as a fearsome beast with monstrous ferocity and great power. The Hebrew word for Leviathan has the root meaning of coiled or twisted. Isaiah chapter 27 verse 1
speaks of the Leviathan. "In that day, the Lord
with his severe sword, great and strong, will punish
Leviathan the fleeing serpent. Leviathan that twisted serpent and he will slay the
reptile that is in the sea." Whatever this monster
of the sea is or was, its strength and wild
nature were well known. The Old Testament
contained several mentions of the Leviathan. According to most of these passages, the Leviathan is a real
creature that people knew of, although they kept their distance and only knew of it by
reputation rather than sight. In Psalm 104 verses 25 through 26, God is praised as the one who created the habitat for the Leviathan. "This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teaming things, living things both small and great. There the ship's sail about. There is that Leviathan, which
you have made to play there." Only a great God could
have created Leviathan and then made a home big
enough to frolic safely. What was the purpose behind God's creation of such a magnificent animal? And what was the lesson
he intended to teach Job and subsequently all of us? The lesson was one of humility. God utilized the first and largest and most powerful land mammal to help crush Job's self-righteousness. God created this giant of
mammals to humble people, who like Job, let vanity swell their sense of greatness and importance. Job 41 gives the most
detail about Leviathan as an actual sea creature. In that chapter, God describes Leviathan, emphasizing the animal size,
strength, and viciousness. Job chapter 41 verses 1 through 8. "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook or snare his tongue with
a line which you lower? Can you put a reed through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you? Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird or will you leash him for your maidens? Will your companions
make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him
among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle. Never do it again." This creature was first mentioned
in Job chapter 3 verse 8. "May those curse it who curse the day, those who are ready to arouse Leviathan." In that context, Job refers
to how sailors and fishermen would curse the menacing
creature known as Leviathan. Similarly, with intense emotion, Job cursed the day he was born. Usually, a Leviathan is considered to be a mythical sea monster or dragon that terrorized sailors and fishermen. Yet in the context of Job 41, God does not seem to consider Leviathan to be mythical at all. There are differing opinions regarding the description of Leviathan. Some suggest that it could
be an ancient dinosaur similar to a dragon that may have survived until the time of Job or remained
in the memory of humanity, serving as an example for God to refer to. On the other hand, some
believe that Leviathan is simply a powerful
crocodile in this context. The term Leviathan
signifies a twisting one and is also referenced in other intriguing
contexts within scripture. Psalm 89 verses 8 through 10 also tells of a serpent that
was connected with a sea and that God defeated as a
show of His immense strength. This serpent is given the name Rahab, which means proud one in the verses. Psalm 89 verses 8 through 10. "O Lord God of Hosts, who
is like you, O Mighty Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds You as an intrinsic unchangeable
part of your very being. You rule the swelling of the sea. When its waves rise, you still them. You have crushed Rahab,
Egypt, like one who is slain. You have scattered your
enemies with your mighty arm." If mankind can't overpower Leviathan, it can't hope to overpower God. There is a second also important point that God himself was
master over Leviathan. "Everything under heaven is mine." By telling of his dominion
over Behemoth and Leviathan, the author and reader have
a complete understanding of the situation that Job is unaware of. Job chapter 41 verses 12 through 17. "I will not be silent about his limbs, or his mighty strength,
or his graceful frame. Who can strip off his outer covering? Who can pierce his double armor? Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth there is terror. His strong scales are his pride, locked as with a tight seal. One is so close to another that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another. They clasp each other
and cannot be separated." Some people believe that
the description of Leviathan with its rough armor-like scaly skin and numerous terrifying teeth suggests that in this biblical context, God was envisioning a powerful crocodile. However, this description of Leviathan seems definitely beyond
that of a crocodile. Job chapter 41 verses 18 through 21. "His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the
eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lights, sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke goes out of his nostrils as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. His breath kindles coals and a
flame goes out of his mouth." Job chapter 41 verses 22 through 34. "In his neck dwells strength
and dismay leaps before him. The folds of his flesh
are joined together, firm and immovable on him. His heart is as firm as a stone and as firm as a lower millstone. When he rises up, the mighty are afraid, because of the crashing
they are bewildered. The sword that reaches him cannot prevail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. He regards iron as straw,
bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee, sling stones are turned
into stubble for him. Clubs are regarded as stubble. He laughs at the rattling of the javelin. His underparts are like
sharp pieces of pottery. He spreads out like a
threshing sledge on the mud. He makes the depths boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a jar of ointment. Behind him, he illuminates a pathway. One would think the
deep to be gray-haired. Nothing on earth is like him. One made without fear. He looks on everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride." In the final detailed
description of Leviathan, God used language that closely linked the idea of Leviathan with Satan. Job was instructed by God to think about these
unconquerable creatures. God completes his remarks to Job without ever telling him
the story behind the story. Job was left unaware of the situation that prompted his whole crisis. Though Job did not know the entire story, God did tell him of his great
victory over Leviathan Satan, giving Job assurance for the past, the present, and for the future. A Leviathan was a dangerous creature that caused seasoned
warriors to turn and run. Leviathan is no myth, but rather,
a real creature of the sea subject only to its creator. All nature glorifies God, and
these two beasts honor God. Isaiah chapter 43 verse 20. "The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen." The strength of this
creature or any creature is derived from God, who therefore is the ultimate power source whose arm we cannot contend with. God is able to instruct
us and communicate with us through the natural world. Number four, Nephilim. Angels' origins are distinct
from those of humans. They were made on different
times and for different reasons. However, scripture indicates a portion of Satan's fallen angels failed to keep their proper domain by materializing and
interacting with humans in ways angels were never meant to do. This interaction is depicted in Genesis chapter 6 verses 1 through 4. "Now it came about when
mankind began to multiply on the face of the land and
daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw
that the daughters of mankind were beautiful and they
took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the Lord said, 'My spirit will not
remain with man forever because he is also flesh. Nevertheless, his days
shall be 120 years.' The Nephilim were on
the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came
into the daughters of mankind and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who
were of old, men of renown." This refers to the unnatural progeny of the partnership between the sons of God and the daughters of men. However, there were individuals of distinctive size on
the earth both before and after the flood. The individuals who lived before the flood were noteworthy due to
their demonic lineage. They were known as the
powerful and famous men of ancient times. At first glance, there is no indication of angelic or demonic involvement. A passage in Job on the other hand, provides a better understanding. God explains to Job his omnipotence by recounting his power over creation. Job chapter 38 verses 4 through 7. "Where were you when I laid
the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding, who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the
measuring line over it? On what were the bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sing together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" The morning stars are best
interpreted as angels. We also know that mankind
had not yet been created when God laid the foundation of the earth, so the reference to sons of God is another reference to angels, implying that the sons of God
in Genesis 6 are also angels. The context implies that the Nephilim were the resulting offspring
of spirit beings and humans. The Nephilim or fallen ones
in Genesis chapter 6 verse 4 are mysterious personalities, the mighty men who were
of old, the men of renown. The text does not explain
how the Nephilim arrived. It simply states the Nephilim were on
the earth in those days and also afterward when the sons of God came into the daughters of
man and bore children to them. Jude likely understands Genesis
chapter 6 verses 1 through 4 to refer to the intermarriage between spirit beings and humans. Jude 6 tells of angels who did not stay within their position of authority, but left their proper dwelling. God did not intend for the human race to stay in this defiant
state indefinitely. This means that our rejection of God has reached a point of no return. God will not woo us indefinitely. There will come a time
when he says no more. The Nephilim were one
of the primary reasons for the great flood in Noah's time. Immediately after the mention of Nephilim, God's Word says, "The Lord
saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become
and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil all the time." It saddened the Lord deeply that He had created humans on earth and His heart was heavy with sorrow. God then flooded the entire earth, destroying everything except Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark. Everything else perished,
including the Nephilim. But why were men suddenly so violent? Was it because the godly line
mixed with the ungodly line, or was it, at least in part, because humanity had
mixed with spirit beings? I would like to argue for the latter. Were there Nephilim after the flood? It appears that the fallen angels committed their sin again after the flood. However, it is likely that it occurred to a much lesser extent
than before the flood. The Israelites returned to Moses with the following information after scouting the Land of Canaan. Numbers chapter 13 verse 33. "We also saw the Nephilim there, the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim, and we were like grasshoppers
in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." It's also possible that after the flood, the demons mated with human females again, resulting in more Nephilim. It's even possible that some
Nephilim characteristics were passed down through the lineage of one of Noah's daughters-in-law. In any case, the Israelites
destroyed these giants during their invasion of Canaan.
