Something interesting has been happening in the mainstream news over the previous three years, and especially the last six months. Christians should pay attention, as it may be one of the very last signs that we should expect to see before the Rapture.
What is it? A notable uptick in news stories about aliens, extraterrestrials, unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and other unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), all of which are being discussed by experts and high-level authorities of many sorts.
Just this past week, several mainstream news agencies reported on a dramatic sighting of ‘aliens,’ supposedly in a Las Vegas resident’s backyard, after a UFO was spotted nearby. Interviewers claim the family is sincere and are not trying to create a hoax. [1]
Over the last half-century or more, there have been many people who have told stories about their supposed encounters with aliens. What got my attention about this recent story was how it appears to have been taken seriously by both the police and the mainstream media. This ‘sighting’ also occurred in a major city where other eyewitnesses say they saw the UFO. The UFO was also supposedly recorded on a police officer’s bodycam, thus giving this story an appearance of credibility that many other sightings lack.
In my book, A Detailed Biblical Introduction To The End Times: The Pre-Tribulation Rapture, Seven-Year Tribulation, and Pre-Millennial Return of Jesus Christ, I included purported sightings of aliens and UFOs as one of the signs that I believe we can expect to see increase in frequency and intensity as the Rapture approaches. There, I also explain briefly why aliens do not fit into a Christian worldview, unless they are demons who are appearing as aliens and UFOs in order to deceive the people of the world.
Many Bible prophecy experts believe that a mass alien abduction is the most likely explanation that will be used by the world’s leaders to explain away the Rapture. I would have to agree with them. None of the other potential false explanations for the Rapture have nearly as much apparent ‘evidence’ supporting them as the alien-abduction excuse does, in order for it to be seen as a plausible explanation that most people might readily accept.
The setup for such a deception has been ongoing for over a hundred years now and has involved thousands of people. In addition to the individuals who claim to have had first-hand experiences with aliens or UFOs, there are scientists, academics, pilots, astronauts, military and intelligence experts, politicians, and even occult practitioners who have all testified to the likely existence of aliens.
All of the science fiction stories about aliens could also be seen as a key part of preparing the people of the world to be deceived after Jesus suddenly takes all true Christians to heaven, which will happen before the seven-year Tribulation begins on Earth (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, John 14:2-3, Matthew 24:36-44, Revelation 3:10).
When I was younger, I very much enjoyed watching science fiction television shows and movies. Many of the characters provide examples of courage, ingenuity, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, perseverance, and other positive virtues. They stand up for what is right and good, fight against injustice and tyranny, accept people despite their differences, make peace with their enemies, and so forth.
In many sci-fi stories, humanity is just one of dozens, if not thousands, of different intelligent species that inhabit the galaxy. In some stories, humanity is part of a larger organization of aliens who cooperate in a peaceful alliance, or who mutually defend each other from hostile aliens.
In some science fiction, advanced technology has done away with the concept of scarcity, such that humanity no longer needs capitalism or the concept of money. Limitless clean energy allows Earth and other planets to be transformed into utopian paradises where sleek futuristic buildings are interspersed with open green spaces and beautifully maintained gardens.
Technology is portrayed as enabling communications to be sent over vast distances, as well as breaking through the language barriers between humans and aliens. Sometimes, various forms of futuristic technology are imagined that would allow for ultra-realistic forms of virtual entertainment and recreation. Advanced medicine is depicted as curing almost all injuries and diseases.
Many sci-fi stories involve human-like robots and androids, sentient computer programs, genetically-modified people, half-human/half-alien individuals, and people with cybernetic implants that enhance or replace their natural abilities. All of these ideas ask us to reconsider what it means to be human.
As I outline in my book, I suspect that the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:11-17) may involve some sort of technology that merges people’s minds with AI, or it may be a technology that modifies their genes so that they are no longer fully human. In either case, those who accept the Mark of the Beast would become unredeemable, thus explaining the severe divine punishment that is in store for them (Revelation 14:9-11).
Furthermore, science fiction has familiarized most people today with the concept of technology that could instantly teleport people’s bodies from one location to another at the push of a button. Usually, this process is depicted as a person or a group of people being surrounded by a glowing beam or sparkles of light before they disappear into thin air. Alternatively, people are sometimes shown rising upward in a beam of light in order to be taken on board an alien spacecraft.
No one knows how the Rapture might appear to those who are left behind, but these are rather intriguing suggestions.
This fictional teleportation technology is significant, given that, before the invention of science-fiction, such abilities would have been seen as supernatural intervention. For example, see the instantaneous re-location of Philip (Acts 8:39-40), the disappearance of Enoch (Genesis 5:24), the ascension of Elijah to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11), the sudden appearance of Jesus inside a locked room (John 20:19, 20:26), and the ascension of Jesus to heaven (Acts 1:9). To a modern atheist, the idea that aliens with advanced technology were behind these events might seem far more acceptable than the truth that these were miracles done by the God of the Bible.
All of this is fascinating when we consider the claims of certain individuals and organizations in our world today who have openly stated their plans for humanity’s future. Often, these goals are to move humanity toward a technocratic, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive society of diverse individuals who are all equal and own nothing but still have all their basic needs met. However, given the general apathy and/or resistance that most people currently demonstrate toward this agenda, something dramatic will have to occur in order to make the majority of humanity come voluntarily on board with these goals.
In many sci-fi stories, it is the discovery that aliens exist which causes humanity to put aside our differences and unite into a one-world government, regardless of whether these aliens are benevolent or hostile. In some sci-fi series, after encountering aliens, humanity sets out on a peaceful future of scientific advancement, exploration, and human improvement. In a speech to the UN, former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world.” [2]
I believe that something like this could happen after the Rapture, if the Rapture were portrayed by the world’s leaders to have been a mass alien abduction. The final world empire with ten kings who will precede and rule along with the Antichrist (Daniel 7:24-27, 2:41-43, Revelation 17:12) could form rapidly out of the chaos that will be caused by the Rapture, especially if such unity is seen as necessary to deal with the ‘alien threat.’
Furthermore, whatever the false explanation for the Rapture will be, I believe it will slander Christians. This slander would enable the worldwide persecution of newly converted Christian believers that is described in the Fifth Seal judgment (Revelation 6:9-11). It would also convince the world to believe and go along with the Antichrist’s even-more intense blasphemy and war against these saints that he undertakes after he declares himself to be God halfway through the Tribulation (Revelation 13:1-10).
Yet before the deception of a mass alien abduction would be plausible to the majority of people, they must be convinced that aliens actually do exist. This is where contemporary news stories about aliens and UFOs come in.
Beginning in 1947 with the hype and speculation over the supposed alien UFO that crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, people have made claims that aliens and UFOs are a real-world phenomenon. Usually, these claims have been limited to those who identify as conspiracy theorists. Such people claim that the governments of the world know far more about aliens than they are telling us. It is occasionally suggested that recovered and reverse-engineered alien technology was partly behind the rapid advances in computer technology that have been made since World War II.
Even more unusual claims are made by many people who say they have actually been abducted by aliens, with either positive or terrifying results. New Age devotees also sometimes claim to have made spiritual contact with aliens from other dimensions who want to send messages to humanity to help us ‘ascend’ to higher ways of thinking or being. From a Christian perspective, though, there is persuasive evidence that demons are actually behind the alien abduction and UFO phenomenon. [3]
An additional requirement for the world to believe that aliens exist is the theory of biological evolution, which itself requires the unbiblical idea that Earth is billions of years old. Affirming the impossible idea that life evolved from non-living materials without the need for a divine creator has now become almost mandatory for anyone who wants a respectable career in the sciences. Creationists, on the other hand, are often ridiculed and marginalized for their alternative scientific interpretations of geology and biology that are more compatible with the biblical timeline in Genesis.
So, if most scientists believe that evolution occurred here on Earth, then it is not a stretch for them to believe that it could have occurred elsewhere in the universe, too. Thus, it is no longer uncommon for scientists to discuss the possibility of finding life on other planets. Yet usually, such discussion is limited to the theoretical conditions that would be necessary on these planets, how to locate said planets, how to detect signals coming from these planets, and what sort of technology would be needed to travel to/from these planets.
So already, at least some people from the above groups likely believe that aliens exist (i.e., scientists, conspiracy theorists, purported alien abductees, and perhaps sci-fi fans). But what about the general public?
A survey done in June of 2021 by the Pew Research Center discovered that 65% of Americans say that intelligent alien life probably exists on other planets. This opinion is stronger among Americans under 30, where it increases to 76%. [4] Religious Americans are more skeptical, particularly evangelicals, but even 40 to 44% of people in these groups believe that intelligent alien life may exist. [5]
In 2015, a survey said that a majority of people in Britain, Germany, and the USA believed in the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life, which makes it “the mainstream viewpoint across the Western world.” [6]
However, there is a difference between people saying they believe that intelligent alien life is a possibility somewhere in the universe and people saying they believe that aliens are actually visiting Earth and interacting with humanity.
In the same 2021 Pew survey, 51% of Americans agreed that the military reports of UFOs are likely evidence of intelligent aliens, but only 11% of Americans agreed that these incidents are “definitely” proof that aliens exist. Yet even as long ago as 2010, a survey claimed that 20% of people around the world believe that there may already be aliens on Earth disguised as humans. [7]
In doing research for this article, I was truly astounded by the progression that has occurred on the topic of aliens and UFOs over the past three years, and especially over the last six months.
What is even more interesting is that these articles are not only in tabloids or other fringe conspiracy publications. Now, officials at the highest levels of government and other organizations that are often seen as reputable are talking about aliens and UFOs, and they’re being reported on by mainstream journalists. I have included a timeline of notable news articles in the Appendix at the bottom of this article.
So, how might all of this fit together? I’m not saying I know for sure, but using my interest in science fiction, I would like to speculate about how aliens, UFOs, teleportation technology, and all the utopian ideas that are popular in science fiction might converge to create a truly stunning deception for all those who are left behind after the Rapture.
Let us imagine that hundreds of millions of people disappear in the Rapture, or perhaps even as many as a billion. Those who are gone include everyone who has ever put their faith in Jesus Christ by believing that his death on the cross has paid for their sins so that they can have eternal life (John 3:13-18, Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 10:11-14). Also gone are all of the world’s children and young teenagers who have not yet personally rejected this gospel message…
In the confusion and chaos that lasts from several weeks to months after the Great Disappearance, the world’s governments are reorganized under ten appointed leaders who manage to slowly return some sort of peace and stability to the world, in contrast to the lawlessness and disorder caused by the Great Disappearance. Then, a formerly unknown and highly charismatic man becomes world-famous by announcing that evil aliens were the reason that all of these people and children have disappeared.
Not only that, but this man explains that some of these evil aliens have been living among us for thousands of years, disguised as humans. Their goal was to impede humanity’s progress and keep us from reaching our divine potential, which the evil aliens are threatened by. This man says the evil aliens’ strategy was to create and promote the Judeo-Christian religion, which (as everyone knows) is inherently intolerant, bigoted, and opposed to the progress of science, morality, and freedom.
Fortunately, this man says, these evil aliens were being opposed by good aliens who have been striving to bring true enlightenment to humanity in order to help us reach our divine potential. The evil aliens knew they were losing, and so, using their teleportation technology that was installed on every spaceship in their UFO fleet, the evil aliens decided to evacuate all of their undercover alien operatives. At the same time, as a last attempt at destroying and hindering humanity, they also abducted all (or at least most) of humanity’s children.
Thankfully, after this heinous act, the good aliens drove away the bad aliens, although the good aliens were unable to rescue humanity’s children. The good aliens are now in direct contact with our government leaders. The good aliens will help humanity recover from this disaster by providing the technology necessary to save us from climate change, pollution, famine, nuclear war, and pandemics. Humanity will desperately desire solutions for all of these things after the terrible violence, famine, and disease that killed a quarter of what was left of humanity in the months following the Great Abduction before the ten leaders and this new world leader were able to fully restore law, order, and civilization.
Furthermore, the good aliens want to speed up humanity’s evolution into the higher lifeforms that we are destined to become, which may even surpass the good aliens themselves. Thus, as soon as it is feasible, everyone will have access to the DNA-upgrading Mark that will enable us to have greatly extended lifespans, immunity to diseases, and abilities that humans would formerly have considered to be almost God-like. In fact, our new world leader has already been hand-picked by the aliens to undergo such a treatment, making him the first of a new-and-improved, more highly-evolved form of humanity.
Yet, unfortunately, some people are still tainted by the brainwashing of the evil aliens. They are once again spreading outdated, dangerous, and repressive religious ideas that threaten all of the progress the good aliens want to bring to humanity.
Therefore, as a first step, anyone who refuses to evolve along with the rest of humanity is to be cut off from all ability to buy and sell. Then, if such individuals are identified and captured, they will be exterminated so that they cannot spread their ideas to anyone else. Thus, the most appropriate (and humane) solution is to round everyone up and give them a final choice as to whether they will follow our leader and take his DNA-upgrading Mark, or be beheaded.
Yet there are some particularly-subversive holdouts who are evading capture. But do not fear; they will be caught and exterminated sooner or later since they cannot hide forever.
Furthermore, the good aliens have informed our leaders that the evil aliens are regrouping. The evil aliens are intent on reconquering Earth and destroying the good aliens. If they succeed, the evil aliens will also destroy everyone who has had the audacity to evolve themselves into higher beings by taking the Mark. After repopulating the world with the un-genetically modified children they abducted, the evil aliens will be able to brainwash and enslave humanity forever.
Thus, a worldwide effort must now be undertaken to rapidly produce advanced weapons and create a massive army using all available means—genetic engineering, alien-human hybrids, AI, and cybernetic enhancement, in order to prepare to resist the return of these evil aliens. The good aliens believe that, in line with the evil aliens’ strategy of religious brainwashing, the evil aliens’ first target will be the city of Jerusalem. Therefore, all armies must be summoned to gather and prepare for this ultimate battle that will determine the fate of humanity once and for all…
Now, I’m not saying that this is definitely how the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast, the battle of Armageddon, and the Second Coming of Jesus with his heavenly armies will be portrayed to the world. Perhaps it will be some other form of a corrupt and pseudo-Christian religion that will emerge after the Rapture that will persecute new Christians who refuse to go along with the world’s new ultra-‘tolerant’ morality, until the Antichrist demands all worship for himself.
But however it will happen, I do believe that ‘aliens’ will play at least some role in the end-times events that will occur after the Rapture. Otherwise, there would be no need for interest in the topic to be ramping up, just as we are seeing all of the other signs of the end times also increasing and converging. There is also no better way to explain the sudden disappearance of millions of billions of people, all around the world, at the exact same moment in time.
Thus, I believe that Satan knows the Rapture is near, and so he is increasing the amount of demonic UFO and alien activity in order to lay the groundwork for a massive deception that may be used to explain away the Rapture.
As Christians today wait for the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, we should not be alarmed by these stories about aliens or UFOs, or be deceived by them into giving up a biblical worldview.
Instead, we should prepare those around us by sharing the gospel and telling them about the Rapture ahead of time, including warning them that the world will probably be told that it was caused by aliens. That way, if these people are left behind, they will hopefully know that, no, it wasn’t aliens—it was the Rapture, and they will put their faith in Jesus.
That way, even if these people end up being martyred for their faith during the Tribulation, they will join us in Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4) and after, the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation chapters 21 and 22). There, in perfected and immortal bodies, we will experience the absolutely incredible eternal future that awaits everyone who has trusted in Jesus as his or her personal Savior.
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If you are interested in reading an easy-to-understand introduction to what the Bible teaches about the end times and the gospel, check out Arden’s newest book, A Detailed Biblical Introduction To The End Times: The Pre-Tribulation Rapture, Seven-Year Tribulation, and Pre-Millennial Return of Jesus Christ. Links to Arden Kierce’s books and writings can be found at <a href= “https://ardenkierce.com/”>ardenkierce.com</a>.
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References:
[1] Chris Eberhart and Greg Wehner, ‘Crashed Las Vegas UFO’ witness ‘terrified’ by 8-foot creatures in his backyard: ‘100% not human.’ Fox News, June 10, 2023.
[2] Steve Hammons, Reagan’s 1987 UN speech on ‘alien threat’ resonates now. CultureReady, July 29, 2015.
[3] Gary Bates, Alien Intrusion: UFOs and the Evolution Connection (Updated and Expanded). Powder Springs, GA: Creation Book Publishers, 2010.
[4] Courtney Kennedy and Arnold Lau, Most Americans believe in intelligent life beyond Earth; few see UFOs as a major national security threat. Pew Research Center, June 30, 2021.
[5] Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Highly religious Americans are less likely to believe intelligent life exists on other planets, survey says. The Washington Post, August 19, 2021.
[6] Will Dahlgreen, You are not alone: most people believe that aliens exist. YouGov, September 24, 2015.
[7] Miral Fahmy, They walk among us: 1 in 5 believe in aliens. Reuters, April 8, 2010.
Appendix:
Here is a selection of some fascinating news stories that have come out about aliens in the last three years. I believe these headlines and articles reveal the stunning progression that is occurring on this topic.
2020:
– December 10, 2020: Aaron Reich, Former Israeli space security chief says aliens exist, humanity not ready. The Jerusalem Post.
2021:
– March 21, 2021: Tamar Lapin and Jackie Salo, Upcoming Pentagon report will detail ‘difficult to explain’ UFO sightings. New York Post, March 21, 2021.
– April 12, 2021: Yaron Steinbuch, Navy ships capture video of pyramid-shaped UFOs, orbs flying above. New York Post.
– April 30, 2021: Yaron Steinbuch, Pentagon whistleblower warns of UFO intelligence failure ‘on level of 9/11’. New York Post, April 30, 2021.
– June 4, 2021: Bill Chappell, How UFO Sightings Went From Conspiracy Theory To A Serious Government Inquiry. NPR.
– June 27, 2021: Jerry Dunleavy, UFOs display tech US doesn’t have and can’t defend against, ex-intelligence chief Ratcliffe. Washington Examiner.
– December 29, 2021: Stacy Liberatore, NASA ‘looks to the heavens’ for help: Agency enlisted 24 theologians to assess how the world would react to the discovery of alien life on distant planets and how it might change our perception of gods and creation. DailyMail.com.
2022:
– January 8, 2022: Alex Seitz-Wald, Disclosure or deception? New UFO Pentagon office divides believers. NBC News.
– January 21, 2022: Leonard David, 2022 could be a turning point in the study of UFOs. Space.com.
– February 5, 2022: Adam Gabbatt, ‘Something’scoming’: is America finally ready to take UFOs seriously? The Guardian.
– May 2, 2022: Bryan Bender, The UFO briefings on Capitol Hill have begun. Lawmakers aren’t impressed. Politico.
– June 9, 2022: Katie Hunt and Ashley Strickland, NASA is assembling a team to gather data on unidentifiable events in the sky. CNN.
– December 26, 2022: Robert Lea, 10 things we learned about UFOs and aliens (or the lack thereof) in 2022. Space.com.
2023:
This is when I’ve noticed the increase in articles involving aliens and UFOs have really increased in frequency and become more astounding.
– January 12, 2023: Brett Tingley, Pentagon releases its long-awaited 2022 UFO report. Space.com.
– January 31, 2023: Maariv Online, Alien expert: They don’t come in peace. The Jerusalem Post.
– February 13, 2023: Ian Sample, What do we know about the four flying objects shot down by the US? The Guardian.
– March 14, 2023: Greg Wehner, Pentagon officials suggest alien mothership in our solar system could send mini probes to Earth. Fox News.
– April 7, 2023: Jerusalem Post Staff, Possible UFO spotted near Russian nuclear power plant. The Jerusalem Post.
– April 29, 2023: Jerusalem Post Staff, Aaron Reich, Earth may receive alien communication sooner than expected – study. The Jerusalem Post.
– May 9, 2023: Aaron Reich, Can aliens find Earth by listening to your phone calls? – study. The Jerusalem Post.
– May 28, 2023: Aaron Reich, UFOs becoming increasingly attractive to US academics – study. The Jerusalem Post.
– May 31, 2023: Will Dunham, Scientists expand search for signs of intelligent alien life. Reuters.
– June 1, 2023: Joey Roulette and Steve Gorman, NASA UFO panel in first public meeting says better data needed. Reuters.
– June 1, 2023: Jacopo Prisco, Alien-like message sent to Earth in a test to prepare for the real thing. CNN.
– June 6, 2023: Danielle Wallace, Military whistleblower goes public with claims US has secret UFO retrieval program: ‘Terrestrial arms race’. Fox News.
– June 6, 2023: Adam Gabbatt, US urged to reveal UFO evidence after claim that it has intact alien vehicles. The Guardian.
– June 7, 2023: Chris Eberhart, Pentagon denies secret UFO retrieval program after whistleblower bombshell. Fox News.
– June 10, 2023: Chris Eberhart and Greg Wehner, Crashed Las Vegas UFO’ witness ‘terrified’ by 8-foot creatures in his backyard: ‘100% not human.’ Fox News.