Are aliens real?
The Bible doesn’t say.
But there are many things the Bible doesn’t talk about, such as cars and cell phones and pianos.
There have been many reported sightings of UFOs or UAPs. Recently, Navy fighter jet pilots have even reported strange encounters with flying objects that maneuvered at seemingly impossible speeds. Additionally, the U.S government has acknowledged the existence of its Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Task Force, showing that it takes these sightings seriously. According to its latest findings, the UAP Task Force admits there are 143 cases that cannot be explained.
So for the sake of argument, let’s say a more technologically advanced civilization exists. After all, there are more than 100 billion planets in the Milky Way galaxy alone. And that is a tiny fraction of all that exists: hundreds of billions of galaxies, each filled with billions of planets. Perhaps there is life, even intelligent life, somewhere in this vast universe.
If so, how would extraterrestrial life fit into Christian theology?
First, we shouldn’t be completely surprised if there are more creatures than we are aware of. We can only observe a small part of the visible universe. In fact, we are still finding new creatures on Earth. Moreover, the Bible talks about invisible beings, which we could never observe with our physical eyes unless God wanted to reveal them to us. These beings include angels, demons, seraphim, cherubim, and living creatures with four faces.
Second, like every other creature, aliens would belong to God because “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). In particular, a Christian view of aliens must highlight Christ, God’s agent of creation. Consider these statements about Christ.
- John says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (Jn. 1:3).
- Paul writes, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Col. 1:16). Incidentally, if aliens can be found in Scripture, this is as good a place as any: “thrones or powers or rulers or authorities.”
- The author of Hebrews declares, “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (Heb. 1:3).
Moreover, these creatures would owe their continued existence to Christ: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17)
Third, from a distance we wouldn’t know if aliens are innocent or fallen. C. S. Lewis writes,
We might, for example, find a race which was, like us, rational but, unlike us, innocent—no wars nor any other wickedness among them; all peace and good fellowship. I don’t think any Christian would be puzzled to find that they knew no story of an Incarnation or Redemption, and might even find our story hard to understand or accept if we told it to them. There would have been no Redemption in such a world because it would not have needed redeeming. ‘They that are whole need not the physician.’ The sheep that has never strayed need not be sought for. We should have much to learn from such people and nothing to teach them. (Quoted in Alien Theology: The God of Two Trillion Galaxies! by Jamin Bradley)
Presumably, as Jesus said, we would know whether they were good or bad by their fruit (Matt. 7:20).
Fourth, even if they did not willfully disobey their Creator, they are still in a state of groaning, frustration, and bondage to decay.
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:19-23)
Fifth, if they are fallen, they have the hope of redemption in Christ because Christ’s redemption was cosmic in scope.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col. 1:19-20)
Of course, we don’t know how the good news would be or could be communicated to them. And we don’t know if Christ visited their planet like he visited Earth.
Sixth, since Jesus is Lord of all, he is Lord of the aliens. Before ascending, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18). And Paul declares,
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:9-11)
Seventh, no matter how powerful they are, they will never be able to separate us from God’s love. Paul says,
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)
So even if they began to settle on Earth and harm humans, God would still keep his promise to us:
Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)
Eighth, our hope is in the appearance of our Lord and Savior not the appearance of aliens.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Phil. 3:20-21)
Ninth, no matter how impressive alien stories may be, they can never touch the greatness of the gospel of Christ—the Son of God who left heaven, became a human baby, grew up, preached good news to the poor, healed the sick, rebuked religious hypocrites, walked on water, raised the dead, was beaten, crucified and killed, then to everyone’s surprise he rose from the dead and appeared to his followers during a forty-day period before ascending to heaven.
In sum, these words written two thousand years ago remain relevant whether or not we discover alien life:
For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Cor. 8:5-6)
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.
Relevant thoughts here Les, thanks for taking the plunge into murky waters. I have a couple questions and maybe sometime you could address your thoughts… fallen Angels and their interaction with earthly women producing a hybrid race, thus potentially corrupting the lineage. Gods protection of Noah and his family, the Bible describes Noah as being “pure” … is this possibly in a DNA sense, thus preserving Christ’s lineage?
In the same vain, since there is only one Savior, one Christ, can we extrapolate to think this implies one earth for which he died?
Just to be transparent, I believe there are creatures seen and unseen, here on/ under the earth and off planet, but my own personal feelings are that they not Human, they don’t have souls, and they are instruments of the Evil one…
Good stuff Les… thanks!
Hi Martin,
Good question. The idea of fallen angels having sexual relations with women resulting in a race of giants comes from an ancient Jewish interpretation of Genesis 6, which says:
In this interpretation, “the sons of God” are viewed as angels and the Nephilim or giants are the offspring of this hybrid union. In addition, the giants are eventually cursed and become evil spirits on earth. (For more details on this view see 1 Enoch , which was probably written around the first century.)
However, the text in Genesis doesn’t actually say that the Nephilim are the offspring. It only asserts that “they were on the earth in those days.” Of course, that doesn’t mean that 1 Enoch is wrong in this view. Perhaps fallen angels did reproduce with women, but I don’t see direct evidence to support that idea in Genesis. Further, while there are NT statements about angels who abandoned their proper dwelling (Jude 6), they don’t provide any details of this event. In other words, the only place in Scripture where this idea can find possible support is Genesis 6 but a closer look at Genesis 6 reveals that it also cannot bear that weight.
It’s also hard to understand how this race of giants continued after the flood since only Noah and his family were saved. As 3 Maccabees 2 (written around the same time as 1 Enoch) says:
Finally, the OT narrative does not highlight this hybrid race as a problem. If there is a problematic race it is the Canaanites, but they are consistently described as typical human beings.
Again, I’m not saying that this idea is not possible; I just don’t think we have enough biblical evidence to run with it. On the other hand, Michael Heiser is a Christian scholar who argues the opposite case.
Regarding alien sightings being evil spirits, I think that is also a possibility, especially when the message people receive contradicts the gospel. However, the majority of sightings are of highly unusual aircraft and I don’t know how that would tie in with evil spirits.
It is an interesting , but difficult discussion for me to fully comprehend and accept .
I know my father did talk about aliens in other galaxies . It is possible , but I still think as the Bible says ,Christ died once and for all for our salvation. He created man in His image to reflect His glory . Aliens are not made in His image , from pictorial representations of them .
However, I have not thought much on this topic . All will be revealed to us when we get to heaven !
Chithi,
I agree, the concept of aliens is difficult to accept. The more you listen to reports from eyewitnesses, however, the more you will probably wonder about the possibility of their existence. An excellent documentary on the subject is The Phenomenon, which came out last year. To be sure, most reports are only about unusual aircraft and not descriptions of alien bodies. Also, getting to know the sheer enormity of the universe has made many people consider this possibility. Finally, the U.S. government has made conflicting statements on the topic, causing people to suspect that it is hiding something. For example, the first report of the crash at Roswell in 1947 said that a “flying disc” was discovered, but the next day another report was issued that said it was only a weather balloon. And the army major who was pictured with the debris said the photographs were staged. The real debris, which he did not believe was of this world, was quickly removed from the site.