{A note to my readers: This blog entry is the first of several entries answering my reader’s questions. I trust they will be of interest to all of you. I enjoy answering your questions and reading your comments… keep them coming! Finally, thanks to everyone who is reading my blog, you are a blessing to me. }
With the increased number of reports of UFO sightings, comes increased curiosity concerning the legitimacy of those reports. Google “UFO sightings” and you will see a list of over half a million websites, recording multiplied thousands of UFO sighting reports.
We are constantly bombarded with the opinions of scientists and other researchers attempting to prove or disprove alien’s existence. So let’s go to the final Authority, our God.
What does the Lord have to say about the existence of UFO’s and aliens from outer space? I will share with you some of the Biblical teachings on this subject.
(Note for an in-depth scientific answer from a Bible believing scientist please refer to the following link Institute for Creation Research) Dr Henry Morris is director of the Institute for Creation research. He is a dedicated Christian scientist who has contributed to many different areas of scientific thought. I encourage you to make use of his website for Biblically based research.
THE SCRIPTURE:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2Pe 3:10-13)
THE STUDY:
There are several Biblical principles that help us to understand the Lord’s teachings concerning the existence of aliens….
Principle #1 – In all the creation accounts, the Bible never describes God creating life on other planets.
Man is the jewel of God’s creation… God gave man the dominion of all creation - Gen 1:26-28; God made man exalted over all earthly creation - Psa 8:5-9. The earth was given to man, all the rest is possessed by God - Psa 115:16. He gave none of the other parts of creation to alien beings. There is nothing mentioned about aliens or any role that God has given to them to fulfill in His creation scenario.
Principle #2 - Gen 6:17 – describes the flood as destroying “all flesh under heaven”…
in other words, the only flesh that exists “under heaven” (ie the third heaven see 2 Cor 12:2) is the flesh which is on the earth, that was capable of being destroyed in the flood of Noah’s day.
Principle #3 – There is no reason to believe that the Bible records any alien sighting by man.
Every supposed account of men seeing alien beings in the Bible is better interpreted as …
God revealing Himself to man in a vision (Isa 6:1 etc etc) or God symbolically revealing creatures that live in heaven with God (the third heaven see 2 Cor 12:2) (Isa 6:2, Ezek 1:1-28, Rev 1:12-17, Rev 9:3-5 etc etc ) There is NOT ONE account that, due to context, must be interpreted as a man seeing an alien being.
Principle #4 – God’s earthly creation is the central theme of His Word and His eternal plan laid before the foundation of creation itself.
God sent His Son to die on the cross to redeem human beings from their sin. Earth and human beings are in the center of God’s attention and workings. It is extremely difficult to conclude God has other worlds filled with life when everything in His Word points to the earth, and the earth alone, as the cradle of life. (John 3:16-18 – “world” is speaking of this earth, the center of His orderly creation.)
In our text, 2 Pet 3:10-13, the entire creation, including the special universe, are connected to God’s plan for man. As a part of His second coming to earth, all the universe will be remade for His followers to dwell in. Once again, we see how mankind is dominate in the plan and ways of God. All creation (including the heavens) fall under that plan.
Roms 8:18-22 – When Adam fell “all creation” was affected. The sin of one man dictated the state of the entire universe. Once again, we see man as the dominate created being in all the universe.
Gen 1:14-15 - He made the lights in the heavens to give light to man on earth, no where is it said He made the heavens to house other beings.
All 4 of these principles point to man as being at the center of God’s attention and workings in the universe. With no mention of aliens in God’s creative or redemptive plan for the universe.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
For those who are saved, understanding the central role of earth and it’s inhabitants in God’s eternal plan is very reassuring…. we can fully trust in the principle that God’s redemptive attention is on those He has chosen to save. He physically made us, He chose to save us, He sent His Son to die for us, and He secures our salvation through His workings in our heart (Rom 8:14-39)
For those who have never accepted Christ as Lord and Savior; understanding His great love and workings on behalf of His people, magnifies the need to look to Him for salvation. If God Himself has sacrificed so greatly for His people, how can we neglect the salvation He so graciously offers? (Hebs 2:1-10)
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: …(Gen 16:13)
His attention is always upon us… for the saved, it is a great comforting blessing; for the lost, it is an important reminder of the certainty of no escaping judgment apart from His forgiveness of our sins.
If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com. I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.
May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”
In my blog about God's purpose for space in this age and the next I wrote that I believe that even if there were aliens God may not allow us to discover them. We are pretty ruthless with discovering new lands and people on our own planet, can we really be good stewards in discovering alien races? Imagine the potential danger it could pose and the distraction that would flood the masses for decades or centuries after.
ReplyDeleteAlthough to the Atheist it may pose some problems as to how intelligent life evolved somewhat beside our own, I don't think it would phase them much seeing that they don't care to listen as to how improbable there fantastical theories are.
I do wonder though if aliens were created elsewhere if they had to opportunity to sin or not and in either direction what their fate was. Perhaps similar to those of Noah's day... I feel a good Christian SciFi plot developing!
What do you think about the teaching that says in eternity Christians will rule or steward over their own planet(s)?
Yes, if there were aliens in existance, it would gender many many different theological questions... especially in the areas of sin, redemption and judgment and the silence of Scripture about such creation. It is obvious to me, that the earth, and it's inhabitants, are in the very center of God's attention and His workings... there is a deafening silence as to any other creation. This leads me, along with several other reasons, to believe no aliens exist.
ReplyDeleteYou asked about the teachings concerning Christians ruling and reigning in eternity...
I'm sorry, but off the top of my head I know of nothing in scripture that says we will each reign over a planet(s). If you have any specific verses in mind, please let me know.
Perhaps you are speaking of the Mormon belief about Mormons, in eternity, becoming as God and ruling over a planet? My limited understanding on the subject is that they do not claim to find this teaching in the Bible... it stems from Orson Pratt's writing entitled "The Seer". Their false teaching has NO scriptural basis to it. Since the Bible should be the ONLY basis for our beliefs, without Biblical evidence, I have to reject this teaching as heretical.
My understanding of Scripture tells me that during the thousand year reign. we will reign with Christ over the purified world much like Adam and Eve was given dominion over the earth before the fall of man. (Rev 20:4). Also, we are told that this reign will take place on the earth (Rev 5:10). We will have a position of authority during the final judgment (Matt 19:28-29) which is a part of our reward for faithfulness on earth now.
Thanks alot for your comment and your interesting points. May the Lord bless your service to Him.