Days of Noah

“For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough … And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

[2 Corinthians 11:4, 14-15]

Although the belief in extraterrestrial life on other planets historically is tied to Darwinian evolution, advocates of the trending ancient-alien movement see these beings as much more than little gray men from Mars. They actually see them as the ancient “gods” of the universe, who first created life on earth and provided mankind with transcendent knowledge and advanced technology. Although rooted more in fantasy than fact, a variety of ancient alien and ancient astronaut theories abound, and they have made their way into every facet of culture, including the church.

In an attempt to reject the dogma of institutional religion but at the same explain the complexities of intelligent design, the ancient-alien theory has gained significant traction, especially among millennials and Gen-Z. A growing number of intelligent people are becoming more convinced that these transcendent aliens hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of advanced ancient civilizations and also provide the solution for the future of mankind. One will find that progressive movements like transhumanism, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, biogenetic engineering and even climate change are almost always connected to ancient alien ideology.

Combine this obsession with the reality of thousands of UFO sightings around the world each year, abounding alien abduction accounts, multi-million dollar Hollywood productions, endless YouTube conspiracies, NASA expeditions and the cultish nature of it all, and one can easily see how Ufology and the belief in ancient aliens is here to stay.

Although many theologians and pastors have chosen to take the “head-in-the-sand” approach to this cultural obsession, some in the community of faith see this phenomenon as more than a passing trend but rather as a legitimate spiritual issue captivating the hearts and minds of millions. I for one believe that if the church doesn’t get ahead of this movement and provide a Biblical response and explanation, millions more will get swept away into one of the most dangerous deceptions of our day.

So what does the Bible say about aliens and UFOs? How can we explain and reconcile the possibility of life on other planets from a Biblical worldview?

UFO Sightings

I would like to begin by addressing the reality of regular UFO sightings all over the world. To be clear, UFO simply stands for unidentified flying objects. It is estimated that over 30% of the population have seen a flying object that could not be clearly identified. With today’s smart phone technology and instant video uploads, we are being exposed to more UFO sightings than ever before.

Just because something is unidentifiable does not automatically make it alien in nature. The overwhelming majority of these sightings can be explained by natural phenomena, such as meteors, comets, ball lightening, obscure aircraft, or even technologically advanced aircraft.

There are some UFO sightings, however, that cannot be explained by natural means, which creates an entirely new set of problems. There have been a significant amount of legitimate testimonies from among many military pilots, air traffic controllers, and others over the last 75 years that describe UFOs traveling at enormous speeds and defying the laws of physics. These crafts are never seen entering earth’s atmosphere from “outer space,” but rather instantly appearing and just as quickly disappearing as if crossing over from another dimension.

Although I unequivocally reject the notion that aliens could travel from other star systems hundreds of millions of light years away from earth, I am more inclined to believe that these rare unexplained UFO sightings are inter-dimensional manifestations of a supernatural nature. We must begin looking at the alien and UFO phenomenon through spiritual, supernatural lenses, knowing that even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.

Because of the complex nature of these phenomena, I have provided a link to a more in-depth article from Creation Ministries International. https://creation.com/ufos-not-extraterrestrial

Alien Abductions

How do we explain alien abductions from a Biblical worldview? It is not wise to comprehensively reject these experiences as nonsense. Clearly some apparent abductee stories are fabricated for attention or to create shock and awe. But many of these abductees are normal people who have nothing to gain from coming forward and sharing their experiences.

Interestingly, when comparing these abduction encounters, many similar details begin to emerge. Dr. Gary Bates from Creation Ministries International is one of the leading experts on alien abductions, personally interviewing hundreds who claim to have been personally invaded by these “alien” beings. Almost all of these experiences are negative in nature and even physically and psychologically abusive. Many of the common markers of these abductions include but aren’t limited to …

1. Invoking fear and paralysis
2. Time lapses
3. Telepathic communication
4. Painful experimentation, cutting and probing
5. Abuse sexual in nature
6. Challenges to the nature and person of Jesus Christ
7. Expressions of the New Age and the Occult
8. Offering a different gospel of origins and salvation

For fascinating testimony on this subject, watch the following interview with Gary Bates by clicking below.

https://youtu.be/w5m6MUkWh5w

The Name of Jesus

The most amazing correlation between many of these abduction testimonies, however, is that when abductees were paralyzed and gripped with fear, being held against their will, the only way they could be set free is by invoking the name of Jesus! In other words, whatever kind of supernatural beings are terrorizing people in these abduction scenarios, they are powerless against the name of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

[Philippians 2:9-11]

I believe that what we are dealing with is more than science fiction and more than pure delusion. I believe the alien and UFO phenomenon is a real, supernatural issue with serious spiritual implications. I believe we are dealing with spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places that are masquerading as extraterrestrial beings, whose entire mission is to deceive millions into believing that the future salvation of mankind is in their hands.

In Part Three of this installment, I will begin to break down the theological and eschatological implications of this growing movement, and how the church must wake up and provide a Biblical response.