UFOs and Extraterrestrial Beings: What does the Bible Say?
- 22 hours ago
- 13 min read
Colossians 1:15-20 (BSB)
Have you ever given much thought to the existence of extraterrestrial beings? If you haven’t, I don’t blame you. There is so much to be discovered and to ponder just on Earth, it’s understandable not to bother with the unknown. But if you have, you are also in good company. Even noted scholar C.S. Lewis wrote a book series called The Space Trilogy, in which he explores the possibilities and ramifications of discovering other worlds. Even though this work is pure fiction and imaginative speculation, it proves he considered the possibilities and gave thought to life on other planets.
In America, there has been a lot of talk lately about UFOs and extraterrestrial beings—or aliens, as they are sometimes called. The government has hinted at their existence and has released files that seemingly give evidence of unidentified flying objects. In addition to that, there is a new movie out called Disclosure Day, which explores the idea of what would happen if someone were to release government files that undeniably prove aliens exist. In an interview about it, the director, who also wrote the film, said that if there were to be a disclosure day in real life, it would create all sorts of theological problems. He gave as an example a scene where a character in his movie says, “I was raised to believe in a Supreme Being and now you’re going to show us ACTUAL supreme beings?” He thinks, like a lot of people think apparently, that if we all learned that aliens exist, then it would bring about a crisis of faith for people who believe in God.
What do you think about that? If you learned that aliens do in fact exist, would it alter your theology? Do you think there would there be a crisis of faith, specifically for people who believe in God?
My guess is that the director, like the character he wrote, was raised to believe in a God, but he doesn’t actually believe. I say that because there is a huge difference between being raised to believe something and actual belief. If his character truly believed, they would not have said now they’ll see an ACTUAL supreme being. If a person doesn’t have a relationship with the one true God who actually exists, then they could be persuaded to think that some newly disclosed alien is a “supreme being.” So, in that situation, I agree that an “alien disclosure” would bring about a crisis of faith for a lot of people.
But what’s interesting to me, is that same director also said in another interview: “When the Great Unknown is actually known by some, but not known by all of us, it’s that inequity that got me to write the story for ‘Disclosure Day.’”[1]
The thing is, there actually is an “inequality” as that director said: the Great Unknown is known by only some of us. But He has already disclosed all the information; He has made Himself known. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.” That’s why Jesus said to His disciple Philip, in John 14:9, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
We Christians know who the Great Unknown is because we have heard, seen with our own eyes, and gazed upon and touched with our hands the Word of life, as 1 John 1:1 says. We know who the Supreme Being/Great Unknown/Creator of the Universe is, and so because of that, we won’t suffer any crisis of faith if other beings are “disclosed” to us, because our faith goes beyond mere mental assent. As verse 2 continues, “And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.” That Word of life is none other than Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, the very Son of God. For those of us who believe in Jesus, we believe because we have encountered the living God and He has changed our lives. We can testify that He is real.
Sadly, that is not the case for most people in this world, so any people who haven’t met Jesus Christ and given their life to Him would probably experience a crisis of faith. Some people don’t believe in God at all, and others believe that gods or a God exists, but they do not believe in Jesus Christ. As I said, they may think they believe in a supreme being, but those of us who are Christians know that they are not believing in the ACTUAL Supreme Being. For unless someone has faith in Jesus Christ, they do not know God, and that inequality does exist, but not for a lack of us trying to make Him known.
All are invited and welcomed to believe in Him, repent of their sins, find forgiveness and receive Him as their Savior, becoming a child of God. However, Jesus makes it clear that there is no way to God except through faith in Him. He proclaims in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
But the questions that I want us to explore today are these: Is it possible that alien life exists? And if it does, what should our response be? Like all important questions, in order to answer this, we simply need to look at what the Bible says.
To begin, we need to answer the first question: is it possible that other (alien) life exists elsewhere in the universe? Does the Bible give us any clues? I think it does.
In Job 38:31-33, God speaks to Job and asks him:
“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades,
Or loose the cords of Orion?
Can you lead forth a constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her satellites?
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens,
Or fix their rule over the earth?”
God is infinitely greater than we are. We cannot do any of the things God has done. Even with all our technology, we still don’t know the “ordinances of the heavens.” For as powerful as our satellites are, none have yet to even leave our solar system. They’ve traveled vast distances and have been launched decades ago, and yet they are nowhere near the edges of our solar system. Scientists speak about them being near the edges of space, but then they admit it will still take the most distant satellites anywhere from 40,000 to 300,000 more years of travel until they even reach the next star.[2] Space is so indescribably enormous that travel is measured by millenniums instead of miles. We don’t even have any real way of knowing, beyond those stars, how much farther still our solar system stretches. Scientists can do nothing more than guess.
Because we don’t know the ordinance of the heavens, we don’t know what else God has created. It’s as Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says. He writes: “No one can demonstrate that the work of creation may not now be going on in some remote part of the universe, nor that God may not yet form many more worlds to be the monuments of his wisdom and goodness, and to give occasion for augmented praise. Who can tell but that this process may be carried on forever, and that new worlds and systems may continue to start into being, and there be continually new displays of this inexhaustible goodness and wisdom of the Creator?”
But if there were to be alien life outside of our solar system, God is the Creator of those beings as well. Look at what Colossians 1:15-20 says:
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
When Colossians tells us that God has created all things, it means all things. It’s just as Genesis 1:1 tells us: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” He created all the heavens. This means all of the entire universe, not just our solar system.
Hebrews 11:3 backs this up and says, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” The universe was created supernaturally. It was not formed over millions or billions of years through evolutionary processes. It was spoken into existence at God’s command.
Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says about this verse: “The phrase which the apostle uses denotes a plurality of worlds, and is proof that he supposed there were other worlds besides our earth. How far his knowledge extended on this point, we have no means of ascertaining, but there is no reason to doubt that he regarded the stars as “worlds” in some respects like our own. On the meaning of the Greek word used here, see the notes on Hebrews 1:2. The plural form is used there also, and in both cases, it seems to me, not without design.”
The verse Barnes references is Hebrews 1:2, which says, “But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.”
If there are other universes, those worlds and their inhabitants would still be subject to the rule and authority of God, just as our universe is, because they would have also been created by the One true God.
The One true God, made known to us through Jesus Christ, has appointed Jesus to be heir of all things. That goes beyond the things that we can see or know about. He is ruler over all things, both things temporal or eternal, physical or spiritual. And we know from Scripture that the spiritual things that God rules over have existed before our world. We know this because the Bible tells us that God was not alone at the creation of our world. Back to Job 38, in verses 4-7, God says to Job:
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know!
Or who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its foundations set,
or who laid its cornerstone,
while the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
Barnes’ Notes says that “the sons of God” are angels, “called the sons of God from their resemblance to him, or their being created by him.” He also says that they shouted in joy, “That is, they joined in praise for so glorious a work as the creation of a new world. They saw that it was an event which was fitted to honor God. It was a new manifestation of his goodness and power; it was an enlargement of his empire; it was an exhibition of benevolence that claimed their gratitude. The expression in this verse is one of uncommon, perhaps of unequalled beauty. The time referred to is at the close of the creation of the earth, for the whole account relates to the formation of this world, and not of the stars. At that period, it is clear that other worlds had been made, and that there were holy beings then in existence who were of such a rank as appropriately to be called “morning-stars” and “sons of God.” It is a fair inference therefore, that the “whole” of the universe was not made at once.”
So, all that to say, if extraterrestrial beings somehow journeyed to our solar system, there should be no crisis of faith for those of us who know the Lord, for those beings would have been created by the same Creator who made us; in the same way our same God created all the angels who existed before our world was created.
With no hyperbole or metaphor intended, our world is inhabited by extraterrestrial beings. We simply cannot see them, but the Bible is clear that they are all around us.
And because that is so, if governments of the world were to make any announcements or disclose any information to us about extraterrestrial beings, we would be wise to doubt the authenticity of it. Because rather than this “disclosure” being true, I think it would be far more likely they are working in concert with the devil, hoping to deceive the masses.
The devil and his army of fellow fallen angels, known simply as demons, are active on our earth. We know they can pose as people and create illusions. In the same way that “sons of God” or God’s angels have and do appear to people, so do demons.
The simple reason I think it would be the work of demons and not real aliens from another solar system is because the Bible does not give us any indications of this happening, but it does give us ample warnings not to be deceived.
However, even if “aliens” were to arrive, and they were to announce that God created them too, then this too would still call for discernment. For we must still hold to what the Bible has said. It addresses all situations, including this one. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 tells us to be on guard against the deceptions we will face. It says, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
As Paul warns in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!” Just because someone claims to speak for God does not mean they are telling the truth.
In fact, we see that God has warned us about a great deception that will happen near the end of this age. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 tells us, “The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.”
This passage might be a little confusing at first reading, but I like what Barnes’ says about this verse: “This does not affirm that God wished them to believe a lie; nor that He would not have preferred that they should believe the truth; nor that He exerted any direct agency to cause them to believe a lie. It means merely that He left them, because they did not love the truth, to believe what was false, and what would end in their destruction. Can anyone doubt that this constantly occurs in the world?”
Now, whether this deception has already occurred, which seems probable because a great many people are already believing a great many theological deceptions, or this has yet to occur, we don’t know for sure. But we should apply it to all situations. Therefore, we must be on guard to hold to the truth of what Scripture tells us. In it, we find the anchor for our souls. Our anchor is Jesus our Savior, as Hebrews 6:19-20 explains, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. [This hope] enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
No matter what deceptions are presented to us, we must hold to the anchor who is Jesus Christ, and the truth we find in God’s Word.
God knows that humans are prone to worshiping false gods, and He knows that He has created such an amazing place for us to live in that we could be drawn to worship His creation instead of worshiping Him. Because of that, He has cautioned us not to do that. Reading from the Berean Literal Bible translation, Deuteronomy 4:19 warns us, “And lest you lift up your eyes to the heavens and you see the sun and the moon and the stars—all the host of the heavens—and you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which YHWH your God has given as a heritage to all the peoples under the whole heavens.” Do not do that, He warns.
We are not to worship anything in God’s creation, and why would we want to when we can worship the One who created all things? He not only created the whole world, our entire universe and all that we have yet to know about, but He also created each of us. And as if that weren’t enough, He has made Himself known to us through Jesus Christ, His one and only Son who, with the Holy Spirit, encompasses the one and only true God. There are no supreme beings who can match the glory and splendor of our God. For all things in all universes are subject to Him.
So, while it’s interesting to consider if there could be extraterrestrial life in outer space, I agree with something C.S. Lewis said in his essay, “The Worlds Last Night,” in which, among other things, he considers “what we may expect if we ever do discover animal life (vegetable does not matter) on another planet.” He said, “If I remember rightly, St. Augustine raised a question about the theological position of satyrs, monopods, and other semi-human creatures. He decided it could wait till we knew there were any. So can this.”
We don’t know what tomorrow holds or what might be “disclosed” or presented as a means to deceive us. But instead of worrying about what might happen, Jesus tells us to trust in Him. In Matthew 6:33-34, He says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”
The God who reigns supreme not only created us, but He loves and cares for us. So if extraterrestrial beings exist and make contact, or if they only appear to be aliens but are really demons, we do not need to be afraid. And we most certainly are not to worship them. We are to continue on, worshiping the One who rules over all things, spiritual and physical. We do not need to fear. No matter what trouble we face, and Jesus says we will face trouble, He also makes us a promise. In John 16:33 He says, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” He promises us peace if we will simply have faith and trust in Him. So let us place our faith and trust in Him and let nothing dissuade us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we bow our hearts to You and proclaim with all the Heavenly Hosts that You are God over all the universes. All that You have made was created to praise You and give You glory. Thank You that You loved Your creation so much that You sent us Jesus to come to our earth and die on the Cross for our sins, triumphing over death and the devil. Thank You for leaving us Your Holy Spirit to dwell in us so we can be empowered to overcome any schemes of the devil. Please give us wisdom to withstand any deception, whether they are from governments or devils. Equip us with Your power to stand firm and cling to the anchor of our soul, who is Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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