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Table Talk
UFO Cults, Extraterrestials and the Bible
Just mentioning the subject of UFO's and extraterrestials with the average
person on the street usually illicites fascination and excitement as to
their reality yet outright confusion as to their true identity. In other
words, most people seem to acknowledge that UFO's exist but are not sure
what they are or who the occupants might be.
The objective of our discussion this evening is not to try to 'prove'
or 'disprove' the existence of UFO's and extraterrestials. Given the facts
and eye-witness reports presented over thousands of years seems to indicate
the phenomenon is not the invention of star-gazing, kooky individuals trying
to bring meaning and purpose in their lives. Whatever UFO's are, they are
not the products of the imagination of the mind. Far too many people claim
some kind of encounter whether visual in terms of seeing a UFO and describing
it in detail, or having literally been abducted by a UFO. This is why under
pressure from Congress to explain the growing number of UFO reports, the
Air Force commissioned a team of scientists from the University of Colorado,
lead by the physicist Edward Condon, to study the phenomenon in 1967. Of
course, that was thirty years ago and reports of UFO's continue to come
in at more than six per hour around the world!
If in fact one could prove that UFO's are nothing more than natural
phenomenon or hoaxes fabricated by disingenuous people for their own end,
then we really would have no reason to be concerned. However, if the Condon
Report (among others) is incomplete due to its denial of the supernatural
or metaphysical dimension of reality, there is indeed reason for concern.
If UFO's are not inventions of the mind or cruel tricks or cannot be explained
as natural phenomenon, they are something else! They must be in reality
either beings from other planets or worlds, or beings from another dimension!
Whatever the case, the theological implications for the existence of
UFO's and extraterrestials are far reaching. What does the Bible say regarding
the subject, if anything? Should Christians really be concerned as to their
existence? How do we, in our witness for Christ, explain to the unbeliever,
where UFO's fit in the grand scheme of things? We not only need to be informed
on the subject, we ought to also be prepared to share our faith and to
defend the gospel, the revelation of God to man, against all other's which
purport to be in accordance with Scripture. Before we discuss what or who
UFO's are, something needs to be said regarding the rise of UFO cults and
groups in this country.
The most obvious reference in recent times to UFO cults is the Heaven's
Gate cult in the San Diego area. We all saw first-hand the reports of those
who lost their lives due to their devotion to the teachings of Marshall
Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles. Applewhite believed that he and his wife
were humans inhabited by souls of extraterrestials from ?the Kingdom of
Heaven.' They also believed they were the two witnesses of the book of
Revelation and that they would lead their followers to the next level above
human via the spacecraft behind the Hale-Bopp comet. Of course the Heaven's
Gate Cult is one of a number of UFO cults in this country. There are other's
worth mentioning which have significant influence on a number of people.
Is life by chance possible in outer space?
The question of extraterrestials on other planets or in other parts of
the universe begs the question of the possiblity in the first place. If
in fact no life may originate by chance in outer space then it really is
futile to believe in extraterrestial life. Many scientists agree that if
we are speaking of life starting by chance on earth and evolving to where
it is today, the chances of the same thing happening somewhere else in
the universe is so remote that it is virtually impossible. Perhaps we should
ask whether it is probable that life exists under the same or similar conditions
as planet earth somewhere in our solar system. Again, the best scholarship
on the subject reveals the mathematical probability of the chance of life
evolving on just one planet, i.e., earth as virtually impossible!
While the evidence seems to indicate we are alone in the universe, the
search for extraterrestial intelligent life elsewhere in the universe continues.
In October of 1992, the US space agency NASA launched a major project to
do exactly that. The project was named SETI (Search for Extraterrestial
Intelligence) and employes radio telescopes around the world in hopes of
detecting radio signals of artificial origin.
Theological Implications of UFO's and Extraterrestials
While the Bible does not address life on other planets or worlds, it does
speak of man's unique place in God's creation and in the existence of other-dimensional
beings, i.e., angels, both good and evil. If in fact an alien signal came
to us from contact with extraterrestials, we would have to conclude that
intelligence exists independently elsewhere in the universe and that man
does not necessarily occupy a special place in the scheme of things. Yet,
the Bible clearly indicates that man is the crown of God's creation, unique
above all else and being made in the image of God possesses alone, moral
and spiritual characteristics (Gen. 1;26,27; Psalm 8). Further, if these
ET's are intelligent creatures, we would have to assume they too possess
souls. And if they do possess souls, are we to assume they too sinned and
are in need of redemption? The Bible again presents the truth that sin,
introduced by Lucifer (a fallen angel), in the universe led to the Fall
of our first parents as well (Ezekiel 37,38; Isa. 14; Gen. chapter 3).
Nowhere in the Scriptures does it speak of redemption outside of planet
earth. The very fact that the Incarnation of Christ, the intervention of
God in human history for the purpose of redemption, is considered a unique
event in salvation history, repudiates even the thought of a reenactment
of crucifixion on countless number of planets!
A Biblical View of UFO's and Extraterrestials
As we have discussed, the possibility or even the probability of life originating
by chance somewhere else in the universe is highly remote if not impossible.
Further, we have seen major conflict theologically with the idea of extraterrestial
beings on other planets. If UFO's exist and their occupants did not originate
by chance nor were created by God as we presume, what and who are they?
The answer is clearly given in Scripture! They are supernatural beings,
non- physical, neither earthly nor extraterrestial but demonic. The correlation
between occult phenomenon and UFO phenomenon is striking. Further, the
history of belief in UFO's demonstrates clearly the intimate association
between extraterrestial encounters and religious or supernatural experience.
Often those having the experience of abduction speak in terms almost identical
to those experiencing occult phenomenon such as cold experienced in exorcisms,
haunted houses or seances. It may be noted as well, communication or contacts
with UFO's are always established by occult mean such as Ouija boards,
mediums, channeling or automatic writing. There is no reference in the
messages received by contactees to Jesus Christ as Saviour of the world,
salvation by grace alone, through faith, no reference to the Lordship of
Christ over creation, no reference to the cross nor judgment, etc., only
messages of the coming of a new era of peace and the oneness of humanity,
etc.
Conclusion
To the student of Scripture, UFO's are clear indications of spiritual deception,
demonic activity, foisted on the world to turn souls away from God and
to themselves or to another savior. From the research gathered by respected
UFO investigators, we learn the following:
-
UFO's are not extraterrestial, but originate on this planet (actually from
another dimension).
-
UFO's have been with us throughout all of human history, although assuming
different guises.
-
UFO's are clearly capable of evil and deception.
-
UFO's operate on both the physical and psychic planes, primarily on the
latter.
-
UFO's are one and the same with occult phenomenon. Astrology and mediumship
is the classic example, and numerous parallels are found in the UFO contactee
phenomenon.
The world is being groomed for some great leader, perhaps a 'visitor' from
another planet or superior civilization who will help solve the problems
of this planet. Satan is a very clever being, capable of enormous influence
through deception and will use signs and wonders at every opportunity to
lead men from the truth of God's Word. He is a liar from the beginning
and does not stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him. Is
it any wonder that he is able to appear as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14)
to those who are seeking meaning and deliverance in the life to come!
Dan
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