The following study was initiated by Alyce Caughey (alyce@extremezone.com), a reader who was very curious about our position concerning extra-terrestrial phenomenon and its potential relationship to end-time Bible prophecy. This reader was somewhat pessimistic concerning our position of the Nephilim and their possible end-time involvement, but no ill feelings are held toward Ms. Caughey, as admittedly the subject of “aliens” in Scripture is one which the Bible is vague about. What follows is a listing of eleven questions we posed to her concerning this issue. You will see her response to these questions followed by those of TNN editor John McKee (editor@tnnonline.net). We encourage all readers to draw their own conclusions based on the answers, as you will be able to clearly see both sides of this issue, hopefully in balance.

1. Do you believe that “aliens are mentioned in the Bible?

Ms. Caughey: No.

Mr. McKee: I believe that there are many things that Scripture does not give us much detail about, hopefully with the intention that we will seek guidance by the Holy Sprit as well as “investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly” (Deuteronomy 13:14). I would not simply “dismiss” the view that “extra-terrestrials” are not mentioned in the Scriptures, although I do believe that such “aliens” would be demonic forces posing as “aliens” and not true “extra-terrestrial life.”

2. Do you believe Satanic forces (demons) can pose as extra-terrestrials or aliens?

Ms. Caughey: No. There is no precedent in the Scriptures where they have done so nor is it taught anywhere that they will do so.

Mr. McKee: I do not believe that it is beyond Satan’s control to pose as an extra-terrestrial, just as demons can pose as various terrestrial animal species. Think for a moment where the inspiration for all of the “alien species” of various science fiction shows come. From whose mind originates the Klingons, Romulans, or Borg of Star Trek? After all, who is the Prince of the Power of the Air (Ephesians 2:2)?

A strong warning comes from 2 Corinthians 11:4: “for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

3. Do you believe that “UFO’s” or extra-terrestrial craft are mentioned in the Bible?

Ms. Caughey: No. I find no Scriptural evidence of UFO phenomena. Many Christian UFO proponents use passages such as Ezekiel 1; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; and Revelation 9 to document their belief that we are being visited by “aliens.” I would challenge anyone to show me one passage of Scripture to say that UFO theories may be proven. Instead of handling Scripture objectively it is more often than naught treated with subjection, one example clearly being Matthew 24:36-38, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (KJV).

The above passage is often used to teach that since aliens/demons were visiting and having sexual relations with women during the time of Noah then surely this must be happening today. In the minds of our UFO friends this passage would have reference to the alleged UFO abduction case that is now so popular. But as often is the case their Biblical “proof” is lifted out of context (the verses that go with it). By putting the verse into the context of the next verse we can easily see just what is was that Jesus was teaching, that people would simply be doing “business as usual” with no thought of God at all: “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark” (Matthew 24:38, KJV).

Mr. McKee: I do not dismiss the possibility that Satanic forces might travel in some sort of “saucer shaped craft” to travel through the universe, but again, these Scriptures are not clear and to dogmatically state that it cannot be so or must be so is wrong.

Concerning 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness,” I would not readily dismiss the fact that such a “deluding influence” or “strong delusion” (KJV) could be involved with some sort of “extra-terrestrial” demonic activity, but then again Paul writes that YHVH sends this influence because “they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

All that the Apostle John records in Revelation 9:1 is “I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.” This is in reference to Satan being cast out of Heaven (Revelation 12:7-10) and the implication is that he will “thrown down to the earth” (vs. 9) in a UFO. Admittedly, this is speculation, but as these eschatological events have yet to occur, they are thus open for interpretation. As editor of TNN Online, I find it interesting but I wouldn’t necessarily say that it “must” happen because it really doesn’t matter to me “how” the Accuser will be cast down.

As far as Ms. Caughey’s implication that Yeshua’s commentary concerning the days of Noah soley is related to “business as usual,” according to the ancient historian Josephus Noah lived 300 years after the Flood. Noah was a witness to the building of the Tower of Babel, a potential type and shadow for today’s United Nations and the world government of antichrist. If we accept the interpretation that suggests that the Days of Noah include these phenomenon which most pre-millennial prophecy teachers will agree upon, could we not also accept the implication of the Nephilim of Genesis 6 having returned as well?

4. Do you believe that Ezekiel’s wheels are concerning the heavenly host of YHVH?

Ms. Caughey: Yes. Ezekiel 1 records for us a vision of heavenly beings carrying the throne of God from which God speaks to Ezekiel in the vision. The wheels and the cherubim work together as carriers of the throne, described for us in Ezekiel 10:1:

“Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, and the appearance of the likeness of a throne” (KJV).

Mr. McKee: I find no reason not to believe that the beings and wheels of Ezekiel’s vision are not of YHVH Elohim. But I also find no reason to discount the possibility that Satan, being the masterful counterfeit and copier of God that he is, could not concoct his own “wheels,” or perhaps better stated, “saucer shaped craft.”

5. Do you believe that the alien/UFO phenomenon has any significance concerning Bible prophecy?

Ms. Caughey: No. I do not see any significance at all. Those that possess basic hermeneutical skills can quickly determine even by a quick reading of the Christian websites that promote the UFO theme in connection with Bible prophecy that Scripture has been misinterpreted and misapplied. However, I may add I do not think it is intention in most case.

Mr. McKee: I believe we need to be cognizant and aware of all interpretational possibilities when dealing with the alien/UFO subject in relation to prophecy. As I have stated before, Scripture does not give us a clear answer to this subject, so we must keep and open mind. I do not believe that certain verses or passages have been “misinterpreted and misapplied” in the regard that Ms. Caughey is implying, although I will admit that many websites whose job it is to solely promote “aliens in the Bible” are quite “out there” and lack balance. All I would maintain is that we not quickly dismiss the possibility and realize that it is not a “core” issue.

6. Who do you believe the Nephilim are?

Ms. Caughey: They are not the offspring of alien/human relations. They are simply a race of tall people. The giant, the Nephiliim of Genesis 6, show up again in Numbers 13:33 which were the sons of Anak:

“And there we say the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, ands so we were in their sight” (KJV).

How could Nephilim be turning up again here in this passage of Scripture if they were human/alien beings? It is impossible because if they were half-breeds they would have been destroyed in the Flood. The Nephilim race came through the lineage of Noah, whom the Bible declares as righteous. There are many Old Testament references to “giants” that most certainly are not alien/demonic/human offspring. The Nephilim were a race of very large tall people, nothing more. There are other races of giants recorded in the Old Testament.

Mr. McKee: I believe that if we properly view the context of Genesis 6 we will come to the conclusion that the Nephilim are more than just “tall people” as Ms. Caughey would like us to believe.

“Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose” (Genesis 6:1-2).

There is a very broad context in Hebrew of what “the sons of God” means, especially in its Old Covenant context (as opposed to its New Covenant context whereas “sons of God” is in reference to born again Believers). The Hebrew b’nai elohim (~yhlah ynb) has been translated numerous different ways in Jewish bible versions, such as “the sons of the rulers” (ArtScroll Chumash), “the divine beings” (Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, A New Translation of the Holy Scriptures), or as it is in most Christian versions, “the sons of God” (Pentateuch & Haftorahs by J.H. Hertz; The Soncino Chumash). Perhaps what we need to understand is that elohim (~yhla), commonly translated as “God” (in reference to YHVH), can also mean “divine being” or “mighty one,” not necessarily the Lord. So the possibility that the “sons of God” are not “sons of YHVH,” but rather demonic entities has exegetical merit.

God destroyed the world with a flood in Genesis 6 clearly because the activity of the Nephilm and “that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (vs. 5). Certainly, the Nephilim that were on the earth at that time were destroyed but there is no reason that we should discount the possibility that they “came back” later as in Numbers 13:33. Such individuals, even if they were just “tall people,” would still in some way be demonic. For how would the beings of pagan mythology have been conjured up had there not been some precedent, if not actual creatures (i.e. the Pegasus, centaur) had not existed at some time?

If we only accept the claim that Nephilim are just “tall people,” then am I a Nephlim? I am six feet, six inches tall. I don’t believe so. I believe that the Nephilim are a hybrid human/demonic race which God had to destroy through the Flood. After all, Noah was “perfect in his generations” (Genesis 6:9, KJV), which some believe implies that he was genetically pure.

7. What do you think about “the angels who did not keep their own domain” of Jude 6?

Ms. Caughey: The angels which “kept not their first estate” (KJV) are a reference to angels that followed Satan in his original rebellion. Adherents to the alien/demon theory of fallen angels cohabitating with humans in Genesis 6 teach that the Jude passage is a reference to the event, believing that the b’nai elohim are “Sons of God” of Genesis 6:4.

It is important to establish here the identity of the Sons of God in Genesis 6.

Genesis 6 must be interpreted in the context of Genesis 4 and 5. Genesis 4 records for us the wicked linage of Cain, who rebelled against God in refusing to bring the appropriate offering. Even when given the opportunity to bring the correct offering he refuses and continues in his rebellion against the Lord (Genesis 4:6-7). Cain, wroth with his brother, murders him, recording for us the first murder of the Bible. Finally, Cain leaves the presence of the Lord and chooses to live in the land of Nod. There, Cain’s lineage continues as Lamech commits the second murder recorded in Scripture. In the Chapter 4 lineage of Cain, which would bring forth the daughters of men, there is not one righteous deed recorded, only wickedness.

The Sons of God lineage continues with God’s intervention as He blesses Adam and Eve with another son in the place of Abel. Here we see the testimonial to the righteousness of Seth and those that would come after him, Enoch, who walked with God, and then Noah and his family whom God spared from the Flood. Only righteousness is manifested in the linage of Abel/Seth. It is not remarkable that in the lineage of Can only deeds of wickedness are recorded. Compare with the manifested righteousness of Able and his descendants. Very clearly we have two ways: one righteous, the Sons of God, the other wicked, producing the Genesis 6 daughters of men.

Mr. McKee: I must admit that in seeing Ms. Caughey’s response to the questions posed in relation to Jude 4 did not even relate to the verse. They related to, in my opinion, a misappropriation of Genesis 4-6 making all descendants of Seth out to be “righteous, ‘Sons of God,’” with no Hebrew exegesis whatsoever concerning “Sons of God” in an attempt to avoid Jude 6:

“And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6).

I do believe that the angels that “did not keep their own domain,” or as the Greek more aptly puts it, arche (arch, Strong’s #G746), meaning “beginning” or “origin” relates to those that fell with Satan. Howerver, I also believe that this text can certainly imply that these “messengers” (aggelos: aggeloß, Strong’s #G32) did indeed have sexual relations with human females as Genesis 6 clearly states.

8. What is your position concerning the extra-Biblical book of Enoch quoted in Jude 14-15?

Ms. Caughey: Some of the apocalyptic writers endeavored to validate their message by naming their books after Old Testament saints, one of which is the noncanonical book of Enoch. The book contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture as to the identity of the “sons of God” and the giants in Genesis 6. Therefore, I reject it as being inspired.

Possibly under divine inspiration Jude recorded an oral tradition. This view does not affect the doctrine of inspiration. If Jude quoted the apocryphal book, he was only affirming the truth of that prophecy and not endorsing the book in its entirety. Paul’s quotation of the Cretan poet Epimenides in Titus 1:12 does not mean that Epimenides’ writings were inspired.

Mr. McKee: Certainly, none of us should have any problems with Enoch’s prophecy of “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 14-15), in reference to the Noadic Flood. I do not believe that this quotation necessarily implies an “endorsement” by Jude of the extra-Biblical book, but at the same time to dismiss the Book of Enoch as a valuable reference source outright is wrong and inconsistent with the Biblical mandate of truth being confirmed by the evidence of two or three.

9. Do you believe that modern films including UFO, extra-terrestrial, and other related phenomenon are being used by Satan for deception?

Ms. Caughey: The media is very persuasive in determining what people believe or don’t believe, in causing people to think and reason the way they do. People can surely be deceived into believing in UFO’s through the persuasiveness of the media. Case in point: how many programs have you seen on TV, how many books are promoted, how many movies are made from a skeptical point of view? The answer is virtually none. I do not believe that Satan is using the media to condition people into believing that UFO’s exist that may accept the false Christ that will supposedly make his appearance in a UFO.

Mr. McKee: I believe that if we can say that television shows such as Melrose Place or Sex In The City can have a great impact on the fruition of immorality and are clearly being used by Satan to do so, then we can most assuredly say that shows related to UFO’s or supposed alien encounters can certainly be used for Satanic deception.

10. Do you believe that sentient intelligence exists outside the human race?

Ms. Caughey: Yes, within the angelic realm. But I don’t see the Bible teaching that they are flying around or visiting our planet via UFO’s.

Mr. McKee: Absolutely. I believe that the Scriptures teach that outside of humanity there exists God (YHVH) and His angels, and Satan and his forces.

In response Ms. Caughey’s comments, I do not know how angels travel, but I do believe that Scripture teaches that they exist as higher beings than humans. I once heard one person state that He believed that “Jesus will return in a flying saucer,” which I think is total nonsense. But to dismiss the fact that Satan cannot use UFO’s to his advantage is to underestimate our Adversary’s ability at deception.

11. What is your greatest fear concerning the UFO/alien phenomenon/deception?

Ms. Caughey: My fear isn’t the unproven UFO/alien phenomena. My fear is the sensationalistic view itself and the harm that it does to the credibility of Christianity like the Y2k bomb that never exploded.

Mr. McKee: I have a great concern with the attitudes of those who highly promote UFO/alien-Bible teaching, and those who are highly against it. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:2 that “if I…know all mysteries and all knowledge…but do not have love, I am nothing.” But yet we are still commanded to investigate and search out the Scriptures and admittedly, the UFO/alien phenomenon is a “wild card” when it comes to Bible prophecy.

I would encourage all people to maintain balance on this issue and not get to divided over it. Let us consider all the possibilities and recognize that it is not a “core” issue, but at the same time not be deceived in the event that “extra-terrestrials” do one day make their presence known.
 

Resource : TNN ONLINE