What Does the Bible Say About Aliens and UFOs/UAPs?
- Chad Lee
- Nov 14, 2024
- 10 min read
Type of Doctrine: Debated but probably tertiary (though it could have some significant theological implications)
"For by him all things were created, 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."
-Colossians 1:16 ESV
Why Does It Matter?
Are there nonhuman beings living among us? Today Congress held another hearing about UFOs (or UAPs as they are often called now) with various whistleblowers claiming that nonhuman aircraft and biologics were discovered by the United States decades ago. Are they extraterrestrials? Are they demonic? What does the Bible say?
While this topic is not discussed much in theological textbooks (understandably), it may be a debated topic concerning whether it's a primary, secondary, or tertiary issue. However, since the Bible is silent on this subject and it doesn't seem to affect a primary or secondary issue, I think it should probably be considered a tertiary issue.
What Is It?
I never thought I would say this, but the subject of extraterrestrials and UFOs (or UAPs) has moved out of the conspiracy theory circles and tin-foil hat wearers into the mainstream with some highly credible whistleblowers giving sworn testimonies before Congress. First, let's trace some of the significant UFO sightings. Then, we will examine the bizarre events from the last decade, and last, we'll look at some biblical texts.
Ken Ham has an article which helpfully outlines some of the most significant UFO sightings since 1947 (article link is below),
UFO Sightings
The Roswell Incident—July 1947
Military officials checked out debris from a supposed UFO crash outside of Roswell, New Mexico. The government initially announced that they had captured a flying saucer. A few hours later they changed the story and said it was a weather balloon.
Washington, D.C., Sightings—July 1952
One of the largest number of reported sightings (in the hundreds) occurred in the Washington, D.C., area. According to reports, the blips on the radar were traveling close to 100 m.p.h. and could gain speeds up to 7,200 m.p.h.
Officials said these sightings were a result of “temperature inversions,” which caused ground lights to bounce from the clouds and give the appearance of lighted objects in the sky.
Swamp Gas Sightings—October 1966
Local officials reported fast-moving, disc-shaped objects in southeastern Michigan. A UFO expert investigated the sighting and dismissed it as “swamp gas.”
Phoenix Lights—March 13, 1997
Thousands of eyewitnesses reported seeing UFO’s flying over Phoenix. Referred to as the “Phoenix Lights,” these objects were also witnessed in at least five other cities. An investigation by U.S. Air Force personnel said the UFOs were a result of flares being dropped from an A-10 “Warthog.”
Turkey—2007–2009
Over two years, many people reported strange objects over the Sea of Marmara, an inland sea between the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. The chief witness was a night watchman who videoed objects on several nights between May and September 2008. Many people consider these the most significant recordings ever of a UFO. There is yet no agreed-upon explanation.
(Ken Ham, "Do I Believe in UFOs? Absolutely!")However, things have gotten even more strange recently. Here is the bizarre history from the past decade or so.
Dr. Matthew Halstead explains the catalytic event in 2017 which revived the UFO fascination in his article titled, "Evidence for UFOs is mounting. But some Christians worry they’re demonic. How can we discern the truth?" He writes,
It all began with an extraordinary and riveting New York Times article in 2017 which uncovered “The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program.” The official name is the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which was led by Luis “Lue” Elizondo, a counterintelligence officer who was tapped to investigate the phenomena of UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena). Just three years after that article, in 2020, NBC reported that a former Israeli space security official claimed that "earthlings have been in contact with extraterrestrials from a 'galactic federation'" (click here for the article).
Two years ago, in 2022, Congress held the first hearing on UFOs in about fifty years (see this article from the New York Times titled, "Congress Holds First U.F.O. Hearing in Half a Century").
Last year, in 2023, Congress held a hearing with various whistleblowers which produced some shocking allegations such as recovered nonhuman vehicles and the phrase "nonhuman biologics." This phrase indicated some type of nonhuman material (perhaps either a body or something else) was discovered (click here for the article).
Today, in 2024, Congress held another hearing with more whistleblowers which further confirmed the bizarre allegations from last year. Some of the sources this year included former high ranking officials and a former director of the government unit which studied UFOs (click here for the article). Nevertheless, there still seems to be more questions than answers at this point.
It's possible that there is nothing to this story. It could be a hoax. However, it is possible it is a government military strategy to give some cryptic signal to another country. Perhaps it is just natural phenomena, or even a secret device that our own government has created. It could be a secret device that another government has created. However, the whistleblowers seem to suggest that it is of nonhuman origin and employs technology unknown to humans. Of course, as Christians we may theorize that it is demonic.
What Does the Bible Say?
The Bible seems to be silent on the topic of UFOs and extraterrestrials. Some have argued that Ezekiel 1:4-6 is a biblical reference to a UFO. Here I will quote it and make a few comments on why I think this is unlikely.
4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.
-Ezekiel 1:4-6 ESVHere are a few reasons that I think this is not likely to be a reference to UFOs. First, this is a vision that Ezekiel was given as "the heavens were opened," not an actual earthly event (Ezek. 1:1). Second, the vision is meant to depict the incredible coming of the glory of God, not extraterrestrial beings. Third, Ezekiel is desperately trying to find words to describe the indescribable greatness of God. As such, he is likely using the best language he can to depict what he saw. The authors of the ESV Study Bible make this comment on verse four: "The phrase as it were translates the Hebrew preposition ke-, "like," which is used 18 times in this description; half of those are in Ezek. 1:24-28. Clearly Ezekiel is groping for language to describe the vision" (1502).
Since there are no direct texts in Scripture which explicitly either confirm or deny extraterrestrial life, we must use some indirect Scriptures to make some theologically relevant conclusions.
Key Scriptures:
God has created everything and everyone. Nothing exists apart from him. If something is out there, God created it.
[Gen 1:1 ESV] 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Everything exists for Jesus. If something is out there, somehow it exists to bring glory to Jesus.
[Col 1:16 ESV] 16 For by him all things were created, 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.
Sin has affected all of creation, not just earth. If something is out there, it is affected by sin.
[Rom 8:22 ESV] 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
This means that if beings exist on another planet somewhere, they also live in a fallen universe affected by sin (but, perhaps, with no Savior).
Depending on one's eschatological (end times) view, a strong delusion will come and deceive many people. Perhaps UFOs and extraterrestrials could be a strong delusion that would deceive many?
[2Th 2:9-12 ESV] 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Satan and the demons are what we wrestle against. They deceive people, and they disguise themselves as angels of light. Perhaps it is demonic?
[Eph 6:12 ESV] 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
[Rev 12:9 ESV] 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
[2Co 11:14-15 ESV] 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Angelic beings can appear as humans (and perhaps other beings as well). Demons are fallen angels and would likely have this same capability.
[Heb 13:2 ESV] 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Note: Remember that demons are fallen angels.
[Jde 1:6 ESV] 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day--
[2Pe 2:4 ESV] 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
Many theologians take the view that these beings, if real, are likely demons. Matthew Halsted adds helpful commentary on the hypothesis that these beings are demons,
Religious concerns (specifically, the demon hypothesis) have increasingly made their way into the core part of the UFO narrative - not just, allegedly, at the Pentagon, but also in the public. For example, former astronaut Charlie Duke (the 10th man to walk on the moon) says UAPs are “real,” but they are “demonic beings.” He adds that, “Nothing human can make a 90-degree turn at 3,000 miles an hour and survive.” The purpose behind showing off their extraordinary capabilities is “to draw [people] away from the real God.” Tucker Carlson recently made similar claims. ("Evidence for UFOs is mounting. But some Christians worry they’re demonic. How can we discern the truth?")Likewise, the astrophysicist and apologist, Dr. Hugh Ross, claims that while most of these reports are natural phenomena some of these UFO sightings are likely demonic. Why? Many of these stories include the person going into a trance, automatic writing, and other occult practices. He comments that the stories from these beings has changed over the years concerning their origins and a book produced by automatic writing that functions like Scripture for UFO cults (with much of it denying the deity of Christ). Moreover, he points out that they are likely not extraterrestrials from another planet because the math doesn't work out for these small objects to fly across the universe. As an astrophysicist, he argues that the small flying craft would be destroyed if they flew that far (watch this video for more).
Thus, Scripture is silent. Nevertheless, no major doctrine is affected if nonhuman beings are discovered. If they are not spiritual beings, then serious questions may come up concerning their salvation (since Christ became a human to save humans). Nevertheless, it seems likely that they would be demonic (that is, if in fact any evidence ever comes out proving that these allegations are even authentic).
Application
You can rest. You don't have to worry. Assuming these reports are true, the discovery of nonhuman beings doesn't affect any core doctrine in Christianity. Therefore, your faith doesn't need to be shaken at all. In fact, if it is demonic in origin, it may actually confirm a doctrine (i.e., the doctrine of Satan and demons).
Instead, this discovery (if it is one!) could be highly problematic for many with a Western worldview which seems to assume there is no spiritual realm. Many seem to only believe what they can put into a science experiment and test. Science is helpful in studying some things, but it cannot help us study everything. How do we measure love scientifically? How about happiness? Yet we know these things are real. Likewise, how do we use the scientific method on a spiritual realm that we cannot see or fully understand? If demonic beings start operating more visibly in the West, as they frequently do in other parts of the world, then this worldview will crumble. Consequently, it will present an opportunity for the church to share the gospel and advance the kingdom of Christ.
Moreover, we can trust in God's providential, wise, and sovereign purposes. God is all-knowing, and he is present everywhere. Time is created--that is, he lives outside of time. Since God lives outside of time, knows everything, and is present everywhere, none of this news about UFOs surprises him at all. He is still patiently executing his sovereign plan with a smile.
Let these things encourage you today when you read the alarming news of UFOs.
Where Can I Learn More?
Bibliography:
Books:
-ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.
Articles:
-Check out this article published August 21, 2024, by Matthew Halstead on the Premier Christianity website titled, "Evidence for UFOs is mounting. But some Christians worry they’re demonic. How can we discern the truth?"
-Check out this article published December 8, 2020, by Adela Suliman and Paul Goldman on the NBC News website titled, "Former Israeli space security chief says extraterrestrials exist, and Trump knows about it"
-Check out this article published December 5, 2007, by Ken Ham on the Answers In Genesis website titled, "Do I Believe in UFOs? Absolutely!"
-Check out this article published June 22, 2009, by Nicholas Birch in the Irish Times titled, "UFO-spotting Turkish night-watchman regards aliens as 'the world's policemen'"
-Check out these articles covering the UFO/UAP congressional hearings:
-Check out this article published September 4, 2023, by Sam Storms on the Enjoying God Blog titled, "UFO’s (or UAP’s) and the Question of Alien Life"
-Check out these two articles from GotQuestions:
Videos: