Who are the angels who sinned according to literally every commentary I own?
In my video Theopolis vs. Heiser: The Divine Council Debate Explained, I examined Christopher Kou's critique of Michael Heiser's Divine Council Worldview. One of their key disagreements concerns Genesis 6:1–4. Kou rejects the traditional angelic interpretation, arguing instead that the passage describes human cultic unions. I argued that the supernatural reading is the most natural interpretation of the text, fits the broader biblical and Second Temple context, and is reflected in the way Peter and Jude read Genesis 6. In response, a viewer commented, "angels who sinned is a reference to Genesis 6? Really? That's a stretch bro." Since this objection was not an argument from the text but an assertion that the connection is implausible or idiosyncratic, I decided to investigate how commentators from across a broad spectrum of Christian traditions understand 2 Peter 2:4 and whether they connect it to Genesis 6:1–4.
What Happened to the Divine Council?
The Biblical authors portray God as ruling from his throne in heaven, surrounded by a council of heavenly beings. This ‘divine council’ appears in multiple Old Testament passages, functioning as God’s heavenly court intended to mediate his governance to all the nations. But by the time of the New Testament, this council was removed from power due to rebellion against God and was replaced by the sole authority of Christ. To ask what happened to the divine council is to trace the story from creation to the consummation of God’s kingdom in the end.
Are demons real? (Where do they come from? And what do they do?)
Demons are real, and their origin traces back to the Nephilim—the giant offspring of rebellious divine beings and human women—whose disembodied spirits now roam the earth in defiance of God. These unclean spirits emerge from ancient cosmic rebellion and continue to corrupt, deceive, and oppose God’s purposes in the world. They promote false teachings, exploit human institutions, and wage spiritual war against humanity. Yet their influence is not ultimate; through Jesus, the Kingdom of God has broken in to confront and overcome their power.
3 Ways Demonic Powers Are at Work Today
The Bible repeatedly addresses the activities of demons, the devil, Satan, and the powers of darkness. Interpretations and beliefs about these entities may vary. Some believe the demonic powers are mere metaphors for speaking about things we don’t understand. Others believe the ancient people created the idea of spiritual beings to describe evils in the heart of humankind. However, the most natural reading of the scriptures would indicate that there are fallen and evil beings in unseen places that war against righteousness in the cosmos and on earth, potentially through intermediaries. Here are three things the Bible says about demonic activities pertinent to contemporary events. I’ll leave much of the analysis of current events to your imagination, as my intent here is merely to demonstrate ways demonic powers are still on the job.