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When Giants Were Upon the Earth: The Watchers, the Nephilim, and the Biblical Cosmic War of the Seed

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An Exploration of the Strange and Odd Supernatural Things in the Bible The Biblical fantasy novel series Chronicles of the Nephilim has changed the landscape of Evangelical imagination.

Now, author Brian Godawa shares the Biblical and ancient historical research that undergirds the novels.

For those who want serious study of the topics of Genesis 6, the Watchers, Nephilim, Sons of God, fallen angels, Spiritual Warfare, and the Biblical Cosmic War of the Seed.

The Book of Scripture, Heresy or What? Bonus Chapter. How influential the ancient book of Enoch has been on the Church and the New Testament.

Sons of God (Expanded) Are the Sons of God in Genesis 6 angels, Sethites or divine kings?

The Nephilim (Expanded) This chapter explores everywhere giants appear in the Bible.

Leviathan The notion of a sea dragon of chaos is universal in the ancient Near East and the Bible. What is its theological meaning?

Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography in the Bible Did the Bible writers assume the ancient Mesopotamian view of a flat earth supported by pillars over an Underworld with a solid dome overhead?

Retelling Bible Stories and Mythic Imagination Ancient Jewish writers retold Bible stories to bring meaning to their world.

Gilgamesh and the Bible A look at what the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh has in common with the Bible.

In Defense of Ancient Traditions The legends behind the Tower of Babel and Nimrod. The ancient book of Jasher.

Mythical Monsters in the Bible A look at mythical creatures in the Satyrs, centaurs, Lilith, winged fiery serpents, and Azazel. Famous Biblical giants.

Canaanite Baal and Old Testament Storytelling Polemics How Bible writers subverted Canaanite Baal to elevate Yahweh as the true God.

Goliath was Not Alone A closer look at Goliath. But there are five other giants who hunted David. And who were the Lion Men of Moab?

Jesus and the Cosmic War Satan as “god of this world.” Christ’s war on the Watchers. Christ’s descent into Sheol with victory over the Powers.

The Geography of Hades A look into the underworld as presented in pagan myths, and the Bible. Gehenna, Sheol.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2014

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About the author

Brian Godawa

110 books389 followers
Brian Godawa has been a professional filmmaker, writer, and designer for over 20 years. His creative versatility was born of a passion for both intellect and imagination, both left-brain and right-brain. The result: Brian is an artisan of word, image, and story that engages heart, mind, and soul. Just think, "Renaissance Man."

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5 stars
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102 (29%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Jacqueline Fletcher.
3 reviews
October 3, 2016
This is another in depth masterpiece by my favourite author Brian Godawa about Genesis chapter six of the Bible. this book is loaded with information about the nephilm that you do not hear about being preached in most churches today. this book will blow you away. It is a must read
Profile Image for Marco Santucci.
Author 3 books18 followers
February 15, 2023
I appreciate the deepest dive I have witnessed an author taking to give the reader the greatest understanding of some of the hardest scripture to understand. I have learned things from reading this book that I otherwise may have not figured out. Things that many Christians would rather not know the truth. The author pairs scripture to back up the craziest things that have been there the entire time. Though I have known that concept for a while, the deep dive is never ending.
Much of the problem of understanding scripture is faulty translation of many Greek or Hebrew words. No surprise there.

With my own background back to the days of my study of spirits through audio communication reading this book gave me answers and insight to some of the things I had recorded and in turn had written about. I never saw that coming! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a much greater understanding of scripture, even if the truth may make you uncomfortable. Lastly, The Bible is the greatest book ever written, along with what has been hidden for centuries.
Profile Image for Alan Fuller.
Author 6 books34 followers
February 25, 2016
This book says everything you want to know about Genesis 6:1-4. It also gives information on some of the strange beasts in the Bible. Actually, he could have given a little more information about how Philo of Alexandria viewed these things, but it's still a great book. I recommend it.
Profile Image for Steve Cran.
953 reviews104 followers
May 5, 2023
Brian Godawa is an author of biblical fantasy. The bible has plenty of material for a good yarn. There are mystical creatures, wise men , wizards, warriors and kings. Mind you he does take some creative license when writing his fiction but it is still based on research. His problem is that religious church goes take the bible without research and deeper knowledge. Others do not know anything and do or do not go to church. In the book he puts down all his research and findings.
When he writes his works not only does he consult the bible and other religious text but he also consult Ancient Near Eastern Mythology and puts the stories in a proper context. The thrust of his book is based on “The Book of Enoch” where in Azazel descend to earth after a rebellion against god. Him and 200 other angels fall to earth and live there. While there they fall in love with human women and from their union comes a race of giants. These Giants could be anywhere from 8 feet tall to 20 feet tall. They are violent and aggressive. The Sumerian mythos have a similar story. The Annunaki or Mesopotamian gods come to earth and create humans, after a bit the Gods fall in love with these women and create me of might, or mighty warriors.
These giants were considered an abomination. In the Bible we have the flood come down and it’s main reason was to clean up the polluted blood. It killed most of humanity and most of the giants but as we know that not all of them died. Some of them continued to live in Canaan. Remember the biblical frazes that describe the canaanites as giants and the Israelite were small like grasshopper compared to them. Yet there were the Anakim in Canaan and the might dead or Rephaim. The Anakim sounds a lot like Annunaki. The Rephaim were both sprits and giants who are both dead and still lving. They are giants. Joshua and other biblical greats were given the job of destroying them.
All over the world there are flood myths. The sumerians had gods who did the flood because the people were complaining to loud. So Enlil wanted to wipe them out but Enki intervened and had Ziasudra’s life saved. The enmity of different brother plays out In other near eastern mythos. There is Seth and Osiris, Cain and Abel and Enlil and Enki. In the near eastern mythologies there is always a hero who fights a great dragon to prevail over chaos. In bible it is Leviathan. In Canaanite mythos it is Yam the sea god. In Mesopotamian mythos it is Tiamat who is slain by Marduk.
Many parallels between the different mythos in fact it could be said that the bible got it’s inspiration from many of the earlier mythologies. Should prove an interesting read.
Profile Image for David Sanders.
93 reviews2 followers
January 17, 2019
Just an advertisement for his other books.

I managed to wade through this totally uninteresting and speculative book, hoping to actually gain some real knowledge concerning the title of the book. The facts were few and far between. I hadn't realized that the author has merely put his notes about his fantasy novels into book form and advertised it as as a scholarly book. A waste of time.
Profile Image for Katherine Coble.
1,365 reviews281 followers
August 9, 2022
This is actually a Bible Study of sorts. It feels like it’s got a chunk of it missing. I realized that’s because what he’s done is assembled the biblical footnotes from his fictionalized series based on the Bible. Each chapter of the study is actually the footnotes from a different book. As interesting as this was I’ve decided to just read the books themselves. Because he appears to not have written any summaries or conclusions for this compendium.
Profile Image for Nikki.
99 reviews5 followers
April 29, 2024
Amazing information! My Aunt has been talking about Enoch for years so I started here. Wow, we miss so much just reading the Bible and not actually studying it. The index to this appendix gave me a whole new reading/studying list!
Profile Image for Teresa Phillips.
28 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2018
I'm sort of a fan of Dr. Michael Heiser, who wrote the Foreword in this book, so I was very familiar with the subject matter. This book is written as the appendices of the Chronicles of the Nephilim, but can certainly stand alone as a book to enjoy. Actually, the author does an excellent job of not burdening the reader with too many details from the series of books that this book pertains to. When reading the Bible, there's so many fascinating details that are totally missed. It is a multi-dimensional and supernatural Book that is meant to be studied. The fallen angels and giants are never taught in Sunday School and only briefly mentioned in sermons (if at all). But what happened in the beginning opens our eyes to the whole big picture of the sources of evil AND it paves the way to understanding the Bible as a whole. I highly recommend When Giants Were Upon The Earth by Brian Godawa. It provides over 600 notes in the back of the book for further study and references. Have a highlighter handy (or get ready to highlight a lot on your kindle) because you will want to go back and study some things in greater detail.
213 reviews4 followers
November 30, 2018
An eye opening book!

A brief reference in Genesis to "giants" that inhabited Earth in Noah's time. Who or what were these giants? Where are they now? Where do demons come from? This and many more ancient Biblical mysteries are explained by referencing the apocryphal scriptures. In researching his Biblical novels the author explains the ancient scriptures in great detail that bring life to the Biblical stories we all learned as children. I recommend highly!
85 reviews2 followers
December 25, 2017
Very interesting with lots of Biblical references, which I enjoyed rereading. if you're a Bible scholar, like me, you'll enjoy it very much. The book is about the Watchers and Nephilim that are briefly mentioned in chapters, but never explains who they are. Many thanks to the author for tackling this delicate subject in the church.
Profile Image for Samuel Garcia.
Author 3 books8 followers
February 1, 2020
A good overview of the Nephilim giants. I do disagree with some interpretations, such as interpreting the Leviathan to mean something else rather than the void in Genesis 1:2, but overall, pretty okay. It touches on the speculative side with giants bones discovered but not in the conspiratorial sense, which is a breath of fresh air.
Profile Image for Alethea Robertson.
Author 4 books4 followers
August 28, 2017
This is easier to get through than The Book of Enoch, and with some very interesting perspectives. A good read if you're interested in getting to the bottom of things. This will at least get you closer.
Profile Image for robert  wendorf.
7 reviews
May 12, 2018
Giants in Bible

It is obvious that he has spent a great deal of time studying and sitting through his research to get to truth. Enjoyed the read.
Profile Image for Zdenek Sykora.
435 reviews22 followers
May 22, 2024
When Giants Were Upon the Earth by Brian Godawa is a compelling exploration of biblical mythology, focusing on the ancient narratives of the Watchers, Nephilim, and their impact on human history. Godawa blends historical fiction with meticulous research, offering readers a deep dive into the realms of ancient civilizations, mythologies, and spiritual warfare. The book presents a thought-provoking perspective on biblical texts, weaving together theological insights with speculative interpretations of ancient events.

Godawa's narrative style is captivating, drawing readers into the epic stories of giants and cosmic battles described in ancient texts. His thorough research and attention to detail provide a rich tapestry of historical and mythological contexts, making complex biblical narratives accessible to a wide audience. However, readers should approach the book with an open mind and critical thinking, as it delves into realms where historical fact and interpretation often blur.

Overall, When Giants Were Upon the Earth is recommended for readers interested in biblical studies, ancient civilizations, and the intersection of mythology and history.

Ten Main Points from When Giants Were Upon the Earth

1. The Watchers: Exploration of the biblical Watchers, angelic beings who descended to Earth and interacted with humanity according to ancient texts.
2. The Nephilim: Analysis of the Nephilim, offspring of the Watchers and human women, described as giants in biblical and extra-biblical literature.
3. Biblical Cosmology: Discussion of biblical cosmology and the spiritual realms, including interpretations of angels, demons, and divine interventions in human affairs.
4. Genesis 6 Narrative: Examination of Genesis 6, interpreting the "sons of God" and their offspring within the broader context of ancient Near Eastern mythologies.
5. Cultural Impact: Exploration of how the stories of the Watchers and Nephilim influenced ancient cultures, religions, and mythologies worldwide.
6. Historical Context: Godawa places biblical narratives within their historical context, drawing parallels with contemporary texts and archaeological findings.
7. Spiritual Warfare: The book discusses themes of spiritual warfare and cosmic battles depicted in ancient texts, including their relevance to modern theology.
8. End-Times Prophecy: Interpretations of biblical prophecies related to the return of the Nephilim or similar beings in eschatological literature.
9. Archaeological Evidence: Godawa considers archaeological evidence and ancient artifacts that may support or challenge interpretations of the Watchers and Nephilim.
10. Literary Analysis: The author provides literary analysis of biblical texts and apocryphal literature, examining themes of divine judgment, redemption, and the human condition.

Critical Questions Regarding Their Theories

1. How do Brian Godawa's interpretations of the Watchers and Nephilim align with mainstream biblical scholarship and historical analysis?
2. What archaeological evidence supports the existence of giants (Nephilim) as described in ancient texts, beyond literary references?
3. Can the concept of the Watchers and Nephilim be understood within the cultural and mythological contexts of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt?
4. How does Godawa reconcile the supernatural elements of his interpretations with scientific explanations and understanding of natural phenomena?
5. What are the alternative scholarly interpretations of Genesis 6 and related biblical passages that differ from Godawa's narrative?

In conclusion, When Giants Were Upon the Earth by Brian Godawa offers a captivating exploration of biblical mythology and ancient history, blending scholarly research with speculative interpretations. While the book provides an engaging narrative and thought-provoking insights, readers should approach its theories with a critical mindset, considering the complex interplay between mythology, theology, and historical fact. It is a valuable read for anyone interested in delving deeper into the mysteries of biblical cosmology and the ancient narratives of giants and divine beings.
Profile Image for Jemini Willis.
153 reviews2 followers
digital
February 6, 2023

The Appendices of All 8 Chronicles of the Nephilim Together in One Book.



The bestselling Biblical fantasy novel series Chronicles of the Nephilim has opened a door for Christian imagination and theology like none other. But many have appreciated the appendices of each novel as much as the novels. Author Brian Godawa shares the Biblical and ancient historical and mythical research that undergirds the fiction. Now all those appendices have been placed together in one book for those who want serious study of the topics of the Watchers, Nephilim, and the Biblical Cosmic War of the Seed.



This book has the special bonus of a previously unpublished chapter on the Book of Enoch, as well as newly expanded chapters. But it also contains the appendices of the last two Chronicles, David Ascendant and Jesus Triumphant before their release!The Book of Enoch: Scripture, Heresy or What?Bonus Chapter. How influential the ancient book of Enoch has been on the Church and the New Testament both directly and indirectly.



Sons of God (Newly expanded from Noah Primeval)Noah Primeval Appendix. Introduction to the Divine Council in the Bible. Are the Sons of God in Genesis 6 angels, Sethites or divine kings?The Nephilim (Newly expanded from Noah Primeval)Noah Primeval Appendix. The Nephilim in the Bible is controversial. But Genesis 6 is not the only place they show up. This chapter explores everywhere giants appear in the Bible, and there are many of them.



LeviathanNoah Primeval Appendix. The notion of a sea dragon of chaos is universal in the ancient Near East and the Bible. What is its theological meaning? Dinosaur? Whale? Sea Dragon? The Bible may surprise you.



Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography in the BibleNoah Primeval Appendix. Did the Bible writers assume the ancient Mesopotamian view of a flat earth supported by pillars over an Underworld with a solid dome overhead? This chapter lets the Bible speak for itself.



Retelling Bible Stories and Mythic ImaginationEnoch Primordial Appendix. Ancient Jewish writers retold Bible stories to bring meaning to their world. Jewish legends and Biblical creatures in Enoch Primordial: Cain as a vampire, Lilith the demon, Rahab the sea dragon, Behemoth, Cherubim, Seraphim, Rephaim, and Satan.



Gilgamesh and the BibleGilgamesh Immortal Appendix. A look at what the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh has in common with the Bible: A lot. What was "Noah's nakedness"? A look at the various theories of who Gilgamesh really was in history and the Bible.



In Defense of Ancient TraditionsAbraham Allegiant Appendix. Why are there multiple names for God in the Bible? The legends behind the Tower of Babel and who Nimrod really was in history. The ancient book of Jasher quoted in the Bible. What does it mean that the Sons of God inherited the nations at Babel?Mythical Monsters in the BibleJoshua Valiant Appendix. A look at mythical creatures in the Bible: Satyrs, centaurs, Lilith, winged fiery serpents, and Azazel. A close look at famous Biblical giants: Og of Bashan and the Anakim giants; Ahiman, Talmai, and Sheshai.



Canaanite Baal and Old Testament Storytelling PolemicsCaleb Vigilant Appendix. A closer look at the many parallels between the Canaanite stories of Baal the storm god and the polemical Israelite poetry of Yahweh. How Bible writers used Canaanite notions subversively to undermine Baal and elevate Yahweh as the true God.



Goliath was Not AloneDavid Ascendant Appendix. A closer look at the most famous Biblical giant, Goliath. But there are five other giants spoken of as going after David in 1 and 2 Samuel. Were they a part of a secret pact to kill the messiah king? And who were the Lion Men of Moab?Jesus and the Cosmic WarJesus Triumphant Appendix. Nephilim and demons. Satan's place as "god...

Profile Image for David.
57 reviews
January 9, 2020
This book appears to be a compilation of the appendices of the author's Chronicles of Nephilim series. It reads, however, as a scholarly seamless narrative and exegesis of the entire bible in the context of the Mesopotamian and Roman world of the biblical authors. So the reader enjoys the story, and at the same time is taught about the earthly and heavenly realm meta-narrative of the bible. Mr. Godawa exposes the "Tolkien" in the bible that most Christians were never taught. Replete with scriptural proof texts, and understandable explanations of Mesopotamian beliefs and thinking, the biblical story is unearthed from the well-meaning but misguided fundamentalist sect. The paradigms revealed, especially the "War of the Seed" theme (Gen 3:15) is most helpful to hang texts on as one reads through the bible, from creation and Noah to the triumphant Jesus. I stumbled on Mr. Godawa by a circuitous route. My pastor recommended the Bible Project to me (Tim Mackie & Jon Collins), which led me to Micahel Heiser, which led me to Mr. Godawa. A consensus appears to be building among scholars who are leading and teaching the everyday Christian, that the bible needs to be understood as a divine/human book that uncovers the ongoing dynamic parallel of the earthly and spiritual realms within the ancient context and cultures of which it was written. This is solid biblical material from believing scholars which results in a theological feast that will equip God's holy ones, his saints, his children, to resist the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, and ultimately assist in rescuing souls for God's kingdom. I couldn't recommend it more for both Christians and seekers. This is the first Godawa novel I have read. I can't wait to begin the series.
Profile Image for Bruce.
103 reviews2 followers
April 21, 2025
I have tried numerous times to review When Giants Were Upon the Earth. Each time, I end up with a word salad that takes way too many detours as I ponder the book and Michael Heiser's works on the same subject. Godwa quotes Heiser more than a few times, and I've read several of Heiser's works.

I have not read the Chronicles of the Nephilim, but I wanted to see Godwa's explanations of his origins in the various appendices first. Godwa's research is outstanding, as is his rationale for the Chronicles.

I'm undecided about following up with the Chronicles, although I think he probably writes a good story. Perhaps I hesitate since works of fiction often go well beyond what Scripture teaches, hence the reaction to popular series like The Chosen.

My hesitation comes from the reliance on 1 Enoch. I understand the book informed Jude, Peter, and 2 Temple Judaism, but I am perplexed why it did not make it into the Canon of Scripture and hence goes beyond what the Canon of Scripture would accept..

For now, that's where I am at.






28 reviews
December 18, 2019
Thank you for this book!

I just found the Books of Enoch and am so excited to read them. I believe the Hebrew community kept a good record of all their profits so because of the judgement. If the told one that didn't come to pass they had to kill then, unless they had an out as in Jonah. So I can't imagine that it's too far off the mark of at all. But I also found this book. It really helps explain a lot more in depth. And yes I do double check the things I read. But you even help with that. I'm so excited about the books I'm on chapter 49 Enoch (he and Moses have always been my hero's from the Bible because of the way they loved God) and just thought I'd check out this one and I'm having trouble putting them down. Thank you!
Profile Image for Dawn Colclasure.
100 reviews
September 4, 2021
Very interesting and thought-provoking!

I sincerely enjoyed reading this book. It is not often that I come across an author’s notes or research materials used in the creation and writing of their novels. Granted, with novels being fiction, it is understandable that certain liberties and creative license are taken, but given that his novels are based on passages from the Bible, it is understandable that he defended why he wrote what he wrote in this books, and how he reached certain conclusions that sparked his ideas. I am grateful he took the time to document the sources of his writing and go into detail about how he was able to make it all work. As to if his conclusions have any fact or proof to support his claims, that is up to the reader to decide.
Profile Image for James.
19 reviews
December 25, 2018
I got this book as a christmas gift from my cousin, and the moment it was delivered to my door I started reading. Being familiar with Godawa's work from Hollywood Worldviews (which I also own) & from his work on his website godawa.com, I was eager to read the various sources used to write every entry into Chronicles of the Nephilim. I have to say that this book is a must read for those curious about the various research materials that Brian Godawa used, while also gaining further insight into his creative process as well. That is all I will say as continuing on would risk giving spoilers, and I will keep this spoiler-free!!!!
Profile Image for Michael Wells.
1,087 reviews6 followers
May 6, 2021
The book of Enoch

The author goes into an explanation of the books of Enoch. The author goes back to the Bible and what is written in the book of Enoch. The author explains where the giant people came from, the great sea serpents, and what we don’t see in the Bible. The book of Enoch is left out of the Bible Because the author cannot be found no roots age certified. I recommend this book for those who want to know more about the book of Enoch and its meaning.
5 reviews
December 12, 2022
Shameless hawking and narcissistic arrogance

This book started out with some promise but degenerated into shameless relentless hawking of the authors previous works. His presumptive arrogance that his single argument streams had 'debunked' past arguments of others was narcissistically nauseating. The book content was scattered and repetitive. Could have been edited down by at least 30%.
Profile Image for Natalie Westbrook.
77 reviews
June 11, 2025
The book was clearly well-researched, and I really enjoyed it overall. However, the author kept referencing his other works without providing enough context, which left me scratching my head in certain chapters. He tended to go on at length about certain topics, only to pivot back to previous books, which made parts of the narrative feel a bit fractured and confusing for us readers who aren’t already familiar with his other material
17 reviews
April 18, 2019
Lots of information!

I love the research, the ideas and some of the beliefs. Grab your cup of coffee or tea and delve into this book...it certainly will make you consider many aspects not thought of when reading God's word.

The only reason I rated the book with 4 stars is because I'm an Unitarian believer , (not an universal one though).

Profile Image for Peter Younghusband.
368 reviews51 followers
November 16, 2018
An excellent resource that gives the background to the characters, plot lines from the biblical and extra-biblical texts, other texts and mythology that show the depth of research and its application that Godawa has used and adds credibility and plausability to this series.
Profile Image for Patrick Morris.
10 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2019
A very readable summary of the same topic/material covered in The Unseen Realm by Dr. Michael Heiser. If you're looking for a good explanation of this topic without the heavier, scholarly material found in The Unseen Realm then I highly recommend this book.
1 review
July 19, 2020
Author very biased in their presentation. This bias is built around biblical text and an orthodox interpretation of their meaning. No other sources of information was researched. This limits the effectiveness of his argument and this book.
Profile Image for Nicole.
16 reviews
October 11, 2020
Not good

The only thing I found useful about this book was the difference references to other authors and books. Reads like a college essay and not in a good way. The book might be useful for someone that has not heard of the subject.
Profile Image for Donnie larrabee.
33 reviews
July 31, 2021
Fantastic Read! So informative and paradigm shifting

If you want a deeper understanding of the Old Testament and its intricacies, this is the book for you. This is very well written and researched.
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