Will Reality of Extraterrestrial Life Shatter Religion?

In the words of physicist and author Paul Davies, “The existence of extraterrestrial intelligences would have a profound impact on religion, shattering completely the traditional perspective of God’s special relationship with man. The difficulties are particularly acute for Christianity, which postulates that Jesus Christ was God incarnate whose mission was to provide salvation for man on Earth. The prospect of a host of ‘alien Christs’ systematically visiting every inhabited planet in the physical form of the local creatures has a rather absurd aspect.”¹

Most Christians don’t give much thought to the existence of extraterrestrial life, and if pressed for an answer, they usually either deny their existence, or suggest that there is an underlying deception that links them with fallen angels. According to Tariq Malik, staff writer for Space.com, a telephone poll, which questioned one thousand Americans, revealed that regular churchgoers were less likely to believe in extraterrestrial life (about 46 percent) than non-churchgoers (about 70 percent) …”²

Additionally, in May of 2005, a survey conducted by the National Institute for Discovery Science was given to pastors, priests, and rabbis across the United States, asking basic questions relating to extraterrestrial life.³ Out of all of the comments posted in the survey, not a single one formed the basic conclusion that angels, by definition, are intelligent beings whose origins are not from Earth. All of these people have been reading and studying the Bible most of their lives, and couldn’t see the basic fact that one of the primary themes of the Bible is God’s intervention in the affairs of humanity through extraterrestrial beings.

Furthermore, of the 42 percent that gave positive responses, most of them had theological questions they thought might be a struggle to deal with, reminiscent of Paul Davies statement above. My question is, WHY?

According to the Bible, God picked Earth to initiate his great plan of attack against Satan and to save all the casualties of sin who want to be saved. To do this, God undertook a two-part mission, which is still in progress: come to Earth in the form of a human being (Jesus) and die for everyone’s sins—then after conquering death, ensure the spreading of the Gospel of repentance and salvation.

Concerning the first part of his mission, scripture states that Jesus suffered death on the cross once and for all (Hebrews 10:10).⁴ I personally see no reason he should have to suffer a similar fate anywhere else. Why would Jesus’ dealing with sin and death be any different as another species on another planet? God defines sin and death with absolute definitions that pertain to all life. Therefore the cross is sufficient for all of it, even if it extends into the cosmos.

Hebrews 10:10 (bold emphasis added)

By thee which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Concerning the second part of Jesus’ mission, Hebrews 2:16–18 indicates that salvation is not for angels, but for the descendants of Abraham.

Hebrews 2:16–18 (bold emphasis added)

For verily He took not on him the nature of angels; but He took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.

Does this confine salvation to the inhabitants of Earth? The true descendants of Abraham are not defined as biological descendants. This definition, based on one’s DNA rather than the grace of God, would disqualify a large, faithful portion of even the human race; rather, the descendants of Abraham are those who belong to Christ (Galatians 3:26–29).

Galatians 3:26–29 (bold emphasis added)

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

No word is mentioned about what species they are, or what planet or dimension they come from. Scripture only states that salvation is not for the angels, and even that statement is somewhat vague. What defines an angel? Better yet, who defines an angel?

Jesus defined angels as beings who neither marry nor are given in marriage. He also said that humans who are saved would one day be translated into this new nature (Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:35; Revelation 21:16–17; 22:8–9).

Matthew 22:30 (bold emphasis added)

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Mark 12:25 (bold emphasis added)

For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Luke 20:35–36 (bold emphasis added)

But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Revelation 22:8–9 is a primary example of this glorified state, where scripture refers to a glorified saint (a man, one of the brethren) as being an angel (this is most clearly seen in the King James Version of the Bible).

Considering these details, one may easily deduce from the Bible that the angels weren’t always angels. They were most likely like us: created to reproduce after their own kind, just as Adam and Eve were until they reached a certain point in their existence where God predetermined to translate them into a new, higher level of existence. This theory explains a great deal about some of the behavior of angels, such as the fact that they are apparently physically attracted to humans (Genesis 6). Such attraction would be a very odd thing if reproduction were completely foreign to them.

According to the Bible, Adam and Eve were never angels, because they sexually reproduced. If Adam and Eve had never sinned, Earth would’ve eventually become fully populated. What then? One might postulate that the next level of existence for humanity would have then commenced. At the proper time, God would have translated different people at different times into a new, nonreproductive nature, as the Bible states that he still plans to do, despite the fall. One might also surmise that that this is how God designed most, if not all, higher life-forms created in his image. Initially there is a reproductive stage, but then a translation takes place that mutates beings into an eternally glorified existence that no longer entails reproduction. In a sense, we are like butterflies—designed to go through a metamorphosis. This is where humanity has come from, where it is going, and—from what it looks like—where the angels, both faithful and fallen, have been. In essence to be an angel is to be translated by God into the highest form of existence, rather than to be made into an angel fresh from the start, as most Bible students think for some strange reason.

Putting all this together, it stands to reason that salvation may not be for the angels because they are closer to God than any other being, and they have the highest level of accountability. There are probably countless numbers who aren’t angels, however, who aren’t from Earth or our current dimension. If they are in the same boat as the humans of Earth, then why aren’t they candidates for salvation as well? What would Paul Davies say to this?

I personally believe that the second part of Jesus’ mission spans even beyond Earth (Acts 2:39; Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 3:10), and Jesus may have been referring to this mission field when he spoke of reaching sheep from another fold (John 10:16).

Acts 2:39 (bold emphasis added)

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

Colossians 1:20 (bold emphasis added)

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Ephesians 3:10–11 (bold emphasis added)

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord …

John 10:16 (bold emphasis added)

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring,and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The eternal purpose of God accomplished through Jesus Christ takes on new meaning when we read Acts 2:39, Colossians 1:20, and Ephesians 3:10 with this perspective. Without understanding how salvation extends beyond Earth, it’s difficult to interpret Colossians 1:20, which states that there is life in the heavens that requires reconciliation with God.

The few Christians who write about extraterrestrials usually link them with the Antichrist, myself included (my latest book is Aliens and the Antichrist), however, there is another side to this coin. While I believe fallen angels are indeed extraterrestrials, I also believe that faithful angels are extraterrestrials as well. All angels are extraterrestrials, but not all extraterrestrials are angels (because the definition of angels is more stringent than the definition for extraterrestrials). There are other beings in the heavens that the Bible speaks of that might be just like us; beings cursed with mortality, and in dire need of salvation, as suggested by Colossians 1:20.

In relation to the topic of cosmic salvation, I have discovered that Israel in particular stands alone for both the quantity and variety of UFO and alien-related phenomena.⁵ Sightings of UFOs in Israel include every size and shape, and aliens range from humans to grays to giants and everything else imaginable. These sightings are sometimes reported not by a few people, but by hundreds of people in mass sightings. Barry Chamish, Israel’s leading UFOlogist, (who emailed me just the other day), has documented a large number of UFO incidents that have occurred in a UFO wave engulfing Israel beginning in 1993.⁶ In Barry’s book, Return of the Giants, Barry describes one such incident that occurred in 1996 that had the government up in arms, thinking they were being invaded by high-tech terrorists. The reported incident included a large gathering of police officers and military personnel that actually fired everything they had, including shoulder-harnessed anti-aircraft missiles, at a UFO hovering about one hundred fifty feet above the ground. The UFO just sat there for over two hours, unaffected, then disappeared.⁷

I suspect the reasoning behind the quantity and uniqueness of UFO and alien-related phenomenon in Israel comes from the fact that UFO and alien-related phenomenon always has proliferated the region, dating back to biblical times. Israel is a focal point not only for the inhabitants of the Earth, but even for the entire universe. Concerning beings who are faithful to God, or they are seeking him out, they are here to either help us (Hebrews 1:14) or learn from us (1 Peter 1:12; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 4:9). They’re searching in Israel for more information about salvation (this is especially the case with those who are mortal like us, searching for a hope of salvation). It could even be that angels are giving tours of Israel to visitors from elsewhere, both learning and teaching the Gospel and fulfilling their task of ministering to the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14; Ephesians 3:10), whoever and wherever those heirs may be.

1 Peter 1:12 (bold emphasis added)

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

1 Corinthians 4:9 (bold emphasis added)

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.

Indeed, there is more I have to say on this subject, but I will sum up this article with one simple statement; there is no reason for any Christian to conclude that the existence of extraterrestrial life pose any threat to one’s faith. The mere existence of extraterrestrial life is not in conflict with the Bible, but rather complimented by it. For those wanting to know more, I recommend my website, http://www.AliensAndTheAntichrist.com, where all my books are posted for free reading.

1. Paul Davies, God & the New Physics, (New York, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1983), 71.

2. Tariq Malik, “Most Americans Believe Alien Life is Possible, Study Shows,” Space.com, http://www.space.com/news/050531_alienlife_survey.html (accessed January 3, 2006).

3. John B. Alexander, “The Alexander UFO Religious Crisis Survey: The Impact of UFOs and their Occupants on Religion,” National Institute for Discovery Science, http://www.nidsci.org/articles/alexander/response_analysis.html (accessed January 2, 2006).

4. Rick Meyers, “Equipping Ministries Foundation, e-Sword Bible software,” April 7, 2000, http://www.e-sword.net/bibles.html; Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems Inc., 1995).

5. Brenda Flynn, “UFOS AND THE BIBLE, Aliens: The Angelic Conspiracy,” Watcher’s Website, http://www.mt.net/~watcher/ufos.html (accessed April 14, 2007); Gil Bar and Barry Chamish, Israeli UFO Research, http://members.tripod.com/~ufoisrael/index.html (accessed April 15, 2007); UFOs: The Best Evidence Ever Caught on Tape Part Two, TV, directed by Robert Kiviat and Tom Seligson (USA: Kiviat Productions Inc., 28 July 1997).

6. Barry Chamish, “UFO Wave in Israel,” Great Dreams Website, http://www.greatdreams.com/chamish.htm (accessed December 16, 2005).

7. Barry Chamish, “Chapter 5, Israel Awakens to the Invasion,” Return of the Giants (Sun Lakes, Arizona: Book World Inc./Blue Star, July 1, 2000).