Some of the most vicious attacks against the Christian faith in recent years have come from outer space. Perhaps I should put it this way: the attacks have come from people who believe in UFOs from outer space. We are living in the space age and those who despise the Christian faith have certainly kept up with the times.
In the 1970s Erich Von Daniken wrote the books Chariots of the gods and Gold of the gods and a few others. These books made the claim that UFOs brought life to Earth and directed civilization over a period of hundreds of years. Von Daniken made very bold and extravagant inferences based on very limited archaeological and historical evidence.
In response to these weakly based claims Clifford Wilson wrote a book called Crash Go the Chariots that refuted Von Daniken point by point. I have heard a rumor to the effect that Von Daniken himself has repudiated his own theory.
In the decades since the 70s most serious UFO researchers of all creeds have abandoned the notion that UFOs are literal, physical, metal spacecraft piloted by aliens from other planets. Hardly anyone believes in steel or titanium "flying saucers" anymore. To confirm this view many observers point to the fact that the California based S.E.T.I. (Search for Extra-terrestial Intelligence Institute) has never found a pattern of radio or other electromagnetic transmissions from deep space. Such transmissions would be expected to be found if there were indeed any "starships" out there. S.E.T.I. has searched for such signals for decades.
The current wisdom now largely maintains that UFOs come from a different dimension other than the physical/space/time dimension in which we now live. We could call UFOs not extra-terrestial but rather extra-dimensional life. In this shift of opinions we see UFO researchers coming around to the Bible's view that there is indeed a supernatural (extra-dimensional) realm.
The Bible teaches that there is a dimension of spirit, a supernatural realm that contains both good and evil beings. There are angels and there are demons. The Bible records angelic appearances to people in ancient times. In our own day there are people who have witnessed angelic manifestations.
Now consider the fact that demons also contact people and give messages. The Bible in Deuteronomy chapter 18 mentions mediums, spiritists, sorcerers and necromancers. UFO abductees and contactees have reported that the beings they encountered have promoted an unbiblical syncretistic New Age type religion.
This UFO promoted faith is similar, if not identical with the pantheistic religion that is being touted by many influential people to be the global, universal faith to replace all other faiths. This global faith could indeed be the one-world faith of the antichrist who is spoken of in the Bible in Revelation chapter 13.
People who are contacted or "abducted" by UFOs are almost always occultists or New Age believers. Crop circles and other mischief (alleged to be done by UFOs) are similar to poltergeist phenomena (ghost mischief in haunted houses).
Alleged UFO "abductions" and contacts have increased since the 70s but they are nothing new. Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) claimed to have journeyed to several planets and encountered extra-terrestial beings. Swedenborg was a prominent occultist. Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) spoke of encounters with extra-terrestial entities. Blavatsky founded the influential occult religion called Theosophy.
Valuable explanations and answers to UFO phenomena can be obtained in the book LIGHTS IN THE SKY & LITTLE GREEN MEN: A Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestials by Ross, Samples and Clark; Navpress, Colorado Springs, 2002. This book provides a compelling biblical perspective.
It has also come to my attention that some people who were in the process of being "abducted" or confronted by extra-terrestials have stopped the encounter by calling out the name of Jesus. (See Charisma magazine April 2001 p. 46) Jesus is the promised Messiah and He is more powerful than demons. The Bible says that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow" (Phil. 2:10). The extra-terrestials are demons and they must flee when we command them to go in the name of Jesus.
The Bible is scientifically accurate! Find the evidence at www.icr.org.
Steps to salvation:
Jesus said "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)
- Believe that God created you and loves you and sent the Messiah (Messiah is Hebrew for Christ) to redeem you.
- Believe that Jesus the Messiah came in fulfillment of over 300 Bible prophecies to die for you to take upon Himself the penalty for your sins. (Isaiah 53:5-6, John 6:29, Romans 4:5, First Peter 3:18)
- Turn from sin and call on the name of Jesus to receive forgiveness. (Romans 10:13)
- Receive Jesus as Savior and experience the new birth. (John 1:12, Acts 2:38)
- Follow Him as Lord. (John 14:21)
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)
To receive the salvation that Jesus purchased for us at the terrible cost of His suffering and death on our behalf I invite you to pray this simple prayer:
"Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, the promised Messiah, to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit to empower me to serve you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Amen."
If you prayed that prayer in the humble sincerity of your heart then you have received everlasting life, which includes power to live right in this life and entrance into heaven in the afterlife!
Bill Nugent, Overcomer Ministries of West Harrison, New York, USA
(C) 2010 William P. Nugent, permission granted to email or republish if credit given
Read Bill Nugent's award winning Christian book, Lawful or Legalistic: How New Testament Believers Must Understand Old Testament Laws. For more information and to order click here.
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DEFENDING THE FAITH
APOLOGETIC ARTICLES
Bill Nugent currently writes a series of articles called "Defending the Faith" which, as the title suggests, defend the Christian faith from the many attacks leveled against it in our postmodern world.
The articles deal with such topics as evolution, UFOs, cults, modern/postmodern philosophy, liberal theology and popular culture. At the end of each article is an invitation to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. These articles are sent out over the Internet to several opt-in email lists. People who receive these articles are encouraged to resend them to their own lists and in this way reach their own unsaved relatives and friends with the Gospel.
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