When the Lord divided the nations at the time of the Tower of Babel ( Deuteronomy 32:8). And claimed (the as yet future) Israel as His own ( Deuteronomy 32:9). He assigned other Elohim, members of the Divine Council, (congregation of the mighty), ie created intelligences, (angels) as stewards over the other nations.
Those lesser gods, (because there is only ONE Most High God), did not fulfill their purpose in protecting and preserving the knowledge of the one true God and leading men back to Himself. But rebelled instead, by leading the people of the nations into idolatry and the worship of themselves. Thereby forcing God to judge and condemn them to die like men.
It is those Elohim that God is speaking to in Psalm 82. Not human judges or rulers.
That is my opinion which is based upon the teachings of the late and highly respected biblical scholar Dr. Michael S Heiser.
"Dr. Heiser attained an MA in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA and PhD in the Hebrew Bible and Semitic Languages from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he minored in Classical studies. Dr. Heiser received his Bachelor's degree from Bob Jones University and also attended Bible college for three years."
There is no doubt that God has allowed fallen angels to rule over nations as the book of Daniel makes clear regarding Persia and Greece specifically; with the angel Michael.
My question specifically would be WHEN these angels fell. The story of the watchers is in extrabiblical literature. I would tend more to think that they were part of the spiritual order and society that existed sometime AFTER Lucifer fell and took the angels with him; which clearly happened BEFORE Adam fell after the serpent incident in Genesis. The period between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 where the ORIGINAL creation occurred and then in verse 2 it was void and in a chaotic state probably was when there was an original flood or disaster in the earth because of the trade with violence; etc mentioned in Ezekiel 28.
Satan himself has been given the role as a usurper; temporarily squatting as it were on territory that originally was to be under God's total rule and delegated to man in the garden to take care of. Apparently it is in the Divine plan to allow him and his henchmen to control nations and regions concurrently and to ultimately bring about the Messiah and end in Armageddon where the appointed time and judgment occurs.
As for reasoning here it is likely to test men; to see if they will follow their own judgments and imaginations and continue therefore in spiritual blindness or believe through a supernatural move of the Spirit the Gospel truth which is revealed only to those predetermined in His plan ( Deut 29:29). Overcoming therefore is the flesh; world and the Devil; all three are conquered through Christ's atonement. Some things in the interim before Christ comes back are delegated to the church in this time period and to those of faith previous to that and in the Tribulation. Prayer is a major key in holding back evil and the Lord temporarily holds back judgment until the fullness of times; as Romans states regarding the Gentiles.
Those lesser gods, (because there is only ONE Most High God), did not fulfill their purpose in protecting and preserving the knowledge of the one true God and leading men back to Himself. But rebelled instead, by leading the people of the nations into idolatry and the worship of themselves. Thereby forcing God to judge and condemn them to die like men.
It is those Elohim that God is speaking to in Psalm 82. Not human judges or rulers.
That is my opinion which is based upon the teachings of the late and highly respected biblical scholar Dr. Michael S Heiser.
"Dr. Heiser attained an MA in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA and PhD in the Hebrew Bible and Semitic Languages from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he minored in Classical studies. Dr. Heiser received his Bachelor's degree from Bob Jones University and also attended Bible college for three years."
My question specifically would be WHEN these angels fell. The story of the watchers is in extrabiblical literature. I would tend more to think that they were part of the spiritual order and society that existed sometime AFTER Lucifer fell and took the angels with him; which clearly happened BEFORE Adam fell after the serpent incident in Genesis. The period between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 where the ORIGINAL creation occurred and then in verse 2 it was void and in a chaotic state probably was when there was an original flood or disaster in the earth because of the trade with violence; etc mentioned in Ezekiel 28.
Satan himself has been given the role as a usurper; temporarily squatting as it were on territory that originally was to be under God's total rule and delegated to man in the garden to take care of. Apparently it is in the Divine plan to allow him and his henchmen to control nations and regions concurrently and to ultimately bring about the Messiah and end in Armageddon where the appointed time and judgment occurs.
As for reasoning here it is likely to test men; to see if they will follow their own judgments and imaginations and continue therefore in spiritual blindness or believe through a supernatural move of the Spirit the Gospel truth which is revealed only to those predetermined in His plan ( Deut 29:29). Overcoming therefore is the flesh; world and the Devil; all three are conquered through Christ's atonement. Some things in the interim before Christ comes back are delegated to the church in this time period and to those of faith previous to that and in the Tribulation. Prayer is a major key in holding back evil and the Lord temporarily holds back judgment until the fullness of times; as Romans states regarding the Gentiles.
So I'd say "watchers" fell before Eden
I see no reason to dispute that.
Whenever it was that they rebelled against The Most High, it seems that they are still on the job of deceiving the nations.
Please come quickly Lord Jesus! And soon!
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