DEFENDING THE FAITH

Small Group Summary for “Aliens”

 10/15/13

Ever since Erich Von Daniken produced the movie “Chariots of the Gods” in 1970, people are beginning to believe that all Ezekiel saw was a UFO and aliens rather than something supernatural. The cable History Channel has also jumped on his theories and have brought more “evidence” to support their claims that aliens have created all the DNA in our bio systems and are monitoring our progress perhaps as part of an experiment gone bad or a major part in their future breeding. All these programs present only parts of the Biblical accounts that make their ideas look credible. They have spent much time describing what Ezekiel saw, all peppered with their interpretations. They always omit, however, things that do not make sense to their thinking. In this case, they totally neglect to describe what Ezekiel saw ABOVE the supposed UFO. He saw something that looked like a throne with a man sitting on it radiating with light. Ezekiel says it was the “glory of the Lord” and he proceeded to fall on his face. Then he heard a voice that would give him specific instructions!

Evolutionary thinking permeates the alien theories. The theory of evolution, which cannot be scientifically demonstrated, contradicts both Old and New Testament statements. Advocates assume that ancient man was too ignorant to build monuments with astronomical accuracy or to make the pyramids without sophisticated intelligence outside our realm. The Biblical perspective maintains that humans have always been made intelligent by their Creator and there was never a slow change from ape-like creatures to human. God said plainly that each life form was made after their kind (Gen.1:21, 24, 25) and that “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish” (1Cor. 15:39). There is no Scripture that even remotely implies that species (or kinds) gradually transformed themselves into other or new species.

Alien theorists also jump to the conclusion that people in Biblical times were so ignorant that they mistook aliens for God or angels. There seems to be an element of pride permeating this kind of thought as if to say, “We know more now because we are smarter.” In truth, Adam and Eve had the best intellect in the history of mankind because God saw that everything He made on earth was good. I assume that Adam and Eve used 100% of the brain that God before sin’s curse took hold and had detrimental effects farther and deeper than we realize. Still, humans have shown throughout history to be very intelligent. Just because technology has increased, which God predicted would happen in the Last Days (Daniel 12:4), it does not mean that human IQs have increased. This is a huge difference that often gets lost in discussions today.

Anytime God speaks to humans in the Biblical records, the content is good, never evil. So if God (and His angels) are nothing more than aliens with higher intelligence than humans (which I do not believe), then should we not obey the messages?!  But this is never the theme promoted by these programs and movies.  They will not comment on what God said to prophets. This is not important to these theorists. The spirit behind these people has a two-fold purpose:  1) to further undermine the authority of God’s Word to mankind and  2) to get people away from the belief in an all-powerful, all-loving, great sacrificing Creator, Someone who is worthy of our worship.

When these programs do present an alleged Christian perspective, it’s usually a liberal member of the clergy who is expressing his/her own interpretations. I have yet to see or read any of these programs include a formidable Biblical rebuttal to theories of ancient aliens. While most UFO sitings are easily explained away, some are not.  These credible ones can be divided into these possible categories:

1) real craft, not from earth

2) real craft made by man in military secrecy

3) real craft made by man with assistance from extraterrestrials

4) real craft made by extraterrestrials

5) totally demonic activity or demonic illusion.

The case for the existence of at least some real UFO aircraft (as opposed to demonic illusions) is a strong one. They have been observed in recent times by credible people such as fighter pilots from several countries, astronauts, commercial airline pilots, military security personnel, and even a group of 62 school children in Africa.  One example of an alleged flying saucer created by a human is that of famous inventor Nicola Tesla’s flying saucer. He apparently possessed scientific knowledge far in advance of his time. At times he would have instant revelations, but he also suffered from hallucinations and tormenting thoughts. Some other people have claimed to have instantaneous ability to read and write hieroglyphics, but also had been in contact with eight so-called “spirit guides.” Alien researcher Guy Malone has concluded that after working for 13 years on this issue, involvement always has led to “bad fruit and New Age cult thinking.”

Alleged alien abductions rarely if ever occur with strong Christians and there appears to be a frequent correlation between people who claim to have had abduction experiences with occult activities. If not them, it may be family members. However, this is not true in every case which does make me wonder what “in the world” is going on.

If demons are involved, they are totally evil, although they can appear to be good (2 Cor. 11:14-15). They are not aliens from other planets. They have been here on earth from the beginning. They will always get uncomfortable if a person speaks of Jesus Christ, and if they are commanded to go away in His name, they go. Consider this Scripture concerning the Last Days, “Woe to the inhabitors of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12). Also this one, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9).

In summation, there is much reading and research to be studied about this issue. I confess that mine was not exhaustive, therefore there are probably many things left out in this brief essay. I tend to judge things by their fruit, and the fruit of Ufology is not good according to Biblical standards. If “greys” exist, I do not think they are friends of our Lord, and I reject the notion that Jesus was simply a powerful grey (and even if He is, He is still worth obeying and dying for!). Maybe for some people it all comes down to who or what they trust, a longlasting Bible which has turned millions of bad people into much better people by a wonderful, unchanging message to humankind, or some latest theory perpetuated by folks who really are not interested in what God has said to us. Jesus said it best (as usual), “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:27-28). Not even the greys? Not even the greys. My advice to you if you ever are confronted by one is to not fear and rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ….and enjoy what follows.

For a more in depth Christian response, go to    http://creationists.org/ancient-alien-history-channel-rebuttal.html

I. Summary of several claims by ancient alien theorists.

A. God is just a more evolved physical being.

B. Alien beings are called “greys” because so many people have similar descriptions of what they encountered.

C. Many people claim to have been abducted by aliens

1. Most had terrifying and sometimes painful experiences.

2. Some report that greys are good and are trying to help humanity.

3. Many became literally paralyzed so greys could “work” on them.

D. Ancient man has been periodically visited by aliens who gave them super advanced technology.

E. UFO connections and descriptions are in the Bible and ancient man did not know enough to describe them in a way that would fit our knowledge of aliens.

1. Ezekiel’s wheel, Noah’s Ark (was a space ships that saved humans and animals while earth flooded), pyramid construction, Ark of the Covenant (was a radio transmitter that not only communicated with Moses, but emitted deadly voltage to anyone who touched it), Mt. Sinai and Moses (UFO landed and an alien talked with him), the pillar of fire and cloud during the exodus, “the sons of god“ in Genesis 6, Elijah taken up in the sky by a chariot.

2. Scripture References used include: Ezek 1:1-28; Genesis 6:1-22; Exodus 13:21; 2 Kings 2:11; Numbers 9:15-22; Exodus 19:16-18; Exodus 14:19-25.

F. Etchings of alien beings from many years ago.

II. The Christian Response

A. Claims by ufologists should not be quickly dismissed by Christians

1. There are too many “normal” people making claims

2. Descriptions have many similarities

3. Christians use the same reasons cited above to “prove” the resurrection so it is not fair or consistent for us to reject those reasons.

4. Ufologists’ claims are becoming widely spread in our culture today, so to ignore them or quickly brush them off, makes it appear like we are the “blind, ignorant, close-minded ones.”

B. The “Discernment Key” = The “Common Thread” – after all the facts and data are in, look for common themes, claims, or effects the experiences produce on people.

C. “Threads” I’ve perceived over the years

1. Many people who connect with “aliens” have been involved with the Occult and/or New Age.

2. Strong Christians are rarely involved.

3. When a strong Christian is involved, uttering the name of Jesus stops or interferes with alien activity.

4. According to former member of MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) and now Christian Joe Gordon, this kind of information has been censored by other ufologists.

5. Claims tend to make people doubt the Scriptures.

6. Makes Christianity appear like an out-dated, ignorant superstitious belief system.

7. Huge promotion of evolution (this spirit asserts that humans will eventually become gods; its root comes from Genesis 3:5 which was Satan‘s second lie to mankind).

8. So-called alien statements contradict the Bible

9. Masks the essential communication between Creator and mankind – ignores what this being or beings are saying – be humble, be kind, can’t be good enough to have life so there is a provision for us (Jesus as the sacrificial lamb). So even if Jesus was an “advanced grey” (which I do not believe), shouldn’t we still follow Him? No one else in history was better! Alien theorists will never say this.

D. The Ignored Message Needs to be Told – alien theorists are obsessed with convincing others that there is no supernatural, all-knowing, all-loving God that created us. It was these aliens who did this and if we learn their knowledge, we too will evolve into a superior race. This sounds like Satan’s lie to Eve – “You shall not die…in fact you’ll become like God.” Jesus described Satan as the father of all lies. I guess it comes down to whose words will we trust – Jesus’ or some ufologist?