Rephaim means fallen ones and is a description of the offspring of demons and humans. We first see them called Nephilim (mutants) prior to the Noahic flood, when the demons forcibly took the daughters of men and bore mutants (Genesis 6:1,4). These are the angels who left their first estate (Jude 6) and were put in chains as a result of their attempt to corrupt not only the seed of humans, but of all biological life (Genesis 6:12). Why would they do this? God had promised Satan that the seed of the woman would crush him, so some of the demons attempted to corrupt all seed so this could not come true (Genesis 3:15). Even after the Noahic flood they attempted it again, which is when they ended up in chains awaiting judgment (Nephilim on the earth in those days and also after – Genesis 6:3). After the flood they are known by different names, along with being referred to as Rephaim (fallen ones). The Moabites called them Emim (Deuteronomy 2:11). The Ammonites called them Samsummim (Deuteronomy 2:20). We see them in the time of Abraham when Chedorlaomer sacked Sodom and took his nephew (Genesis 14:5-16). As part of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, the land of the Rephaim was given (Genesis 15:18). They were in the promise land and caused the Israelites to fear taking the land (Numbers 13:33). Due to their fight with Moses, the kingdom of Og, one of the last remaining of the Rephaim until the time of King David, resided in Ashtaroth and Edrei (Joshua 13:12) and were destroyed by King David (Deuteronomy 3:11, 13; Joshua 12:4), bringing an end to the Rephaim upon the earth. The Philistines had a couple of Rephaim in their midst, one of which David defeated with a stone – Goliath (1 Chronicles 20:4).
Now they reside in Hades (Isaiah 14:9) and will not be resurrected (Isaiah 26:14) but cast directly into the lake of fire along with death and Hades because they are abominations of God’s creation (Revelation 20:14). They know of God and tremble because of Him (Job 26:5); however, they will not praise God (Psalm 88:10), for they are a corruption of His creation.
The way of the Rephaim is corruption and perversion of one’s nature. The seductress walks in this path (Proverbs 2:18), and it is the path unwise men are led down when following foolish women (Proverbs 9:13). Along with the seductress and foolish women, men who wander from the way of understanding rest with the Rephaim in Hades (Proverbs 21:16). Those who reject God and turn Him into the image of corrupt men (superheroes, false gods), turning to serve creation rather than the Creator go down the path of the Rephaim, while thinking they are wise (Romans 1:22-24). Just as the demons attempted to take what God had created and corrupt it, so do humans who walk down this same path of destruction that reject the truth also seek to pervert their nature.
