Is the Final Return of Jesus, the Resurrection and Final Judgment Already Past? (Preterism)

Did The Final Coming Of Jesus And The Resurrection Already Happen?? (Preterism)

Some in the Lord's church have moved away from simple teaching of the New Testament and are causing much confusion.  Their teachings create doubt about the very resurrection of the dead and the final return of Jesus to judge all mankind.  They teach that all the final prophecies of the Bible were fulfilled (figuratively) in 70AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. Does the Bible tell us there will be a yet future resurrection of all the dead and a final judgment day?? The answer is yes.  But what about this other teaching often called "preterism."  I have found an article written by Olan Hicks which does a great job addressing this subject.  It is simple and cuts right to the heart of the matter.  I believe it should be made available to any who might be struggling with this particular subject.  Hope you enjoy it and it points you to the TRUTH of the scriptures.  Robert

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE "AD 70 THEORY"OF LAST THINGS   By Olan Hicks (reformatted by Robert Johnson)

     The first time a preacher friend said to me that the world had ended back in AD 70, I said, "Wait a minute! I am looking out the window and it is still out there! What do you mean, it ended? He then explained that he did not mean the literal earth, the grass, trees, rocks, and dirt. He meant the Jewish age had ended, or "world," as some translations have it in Mat. 24. To that I had no objection. It was my understanding that we all believe that "the end" referred to in Mat. 24:14 was the end of Judaism, destruction of Jerusalem, especially the temple, in AD 70.

      When the same brother said to me that the second coming of Christ had occurred at the same time, I asked, "Have you seen Him?" Again he said "No" and explained that it was not the literal Jesus in the flesh who had returned, but that He had come in a  symbolic sense, visiting Jerusalem with destruction. Again I said I did not disagree with that.  I wondered why this theory was being set forth as a radical change, something very different to what we had always believed. I wondered why it was being met with hostility by several brethren. I soon found out.

 HERE IS THE PROBLEM

         I learned that not only do they say this particular "end" came (of the Jewish age) and that a symbolic"coming of Christ" occurred in that event, they also say this was the  final "end,"  the  last coming

of the Lord that is to be. Jesus is never to actually return physically! That is the part that is a radical change,  different to what has been a standard belief among us. Some advocates of that theory charge that because it is different to what we have always believed, we are "formatted" against it and reject it for that reason, that we have been taught to apply the prophecies differently. ("Freedom's Ring"July. 1998, Cecil Hook. Pg. 5).That begs the question. I can tell you exactly why I reject it, because it contradicts all of the explicit inspired statements to the contrary in the New Testament. To me that seems like a pretty good reason. This part of it is alarming because so many Bible passages graphically describe a day God has appointed in which Jesus will descend with a shout, the heavens and earth will pass away and be replaced with a new

heaven and earth, the dead will be raised, and all men will be judged, not just the Jewish nation. This theory says that will not happen in actuality. The reasons why they say that are interesting and we need to look at them.

 MY OWN IN DEPTH STUDY OF THE THEORY

      In 1982 I preached  at Warren, Ohio in a weekend meeting. Max King, the chief introducer of the AD 70 theory,  was serving as an elder there. He and the preacher, Terry Siverd, wanted me to consider their theory and they tried to explain it to me as much as time permitted. But it was a  busy schedule and we had but little time.  So I grasped as much of it as I could and promised to study it more later. They gave me a considerable amount of material, books, etc. and I agreed to reserve any decision about it until I could be reasonably sure that I was understanding what was being said. I wanted to do that because  I feel strongly that drawing hasty conclusions about any brother is very wrong.

     It took a long time, actually several years, to get the studying done, as fully as I wanted to, because I was very busy with things I felt were more demanding. But over a period of several years I did spend a lot of time working through it. Later, on a trip to Arkansas, Max graciously came by my home and gave me a copy of his largest book, "The Cross and the Parousia of Christ." It is a book of 759 pages plus bibliography and index. He also continued to send me his monthly publication, "The  Living Presence," and Ed Stevens, also of that group, has continued to send me his publication,  "Kingdom Council." A couple of other friends who accepted that theory also sent me materials they wrote. So, as you see, they supplied me with much resource material on the subject. These are friends who have been courteous to me. This composition is not intended to be an ugly expose against them nor anyone who holds that theory. I believe they are sincere people. But I also believe they are mistaken in some ways that can have serious consequences.

       I tried to be  as objective as I could and I studied patiently. But the farther I went in study of it the more I became convinced that serious mistakes lie at the base of it. Here are five of them. 1. The hermeneutic they employ is not sound. 2. There seems to be a strong pre-disposition toward the theory, a lack of objectivity. They do a lot of what I call "reaching." 3. Their argumentation is often inconsistent. 4. They draw conclusions and hold them even though they contradict explicit Bible statements. 5. Many of their basic premises are purely theoretical, with absolutely no scripture statement to confirm them. I will give specific examples of this shortly, but first let's be sure we understand a couple of things.

        Mark this down: They do start with scripture statements. As we have already said, the first part of what they say is correct. They read it in the text of Matthew 24. Jesus did say a "coming" of some kind would occur within that generation of time. But from there they quickly go astray and take a quantum leap into what Jesus did not say, namely that this was the only "coming" there would be. The speculation gets worse as they continue to theorize and branch out. By placing arbitrary interpretations on certain prophecies in Daniel and Revelation, they build a huge pyramid of error, starting with an untenable misuse of Matthew 24.

       Advocates of this theory agree that the "coming" in AD 70 was "a symbolic coming in judgment upon Israel," not a literal coming of the Lord in person. The scripture supports that. But scripture also declares another fact, that "The hour is coming in which all who are in their graves shall hear His voice and come forth. . ." (John 5:28-29).  To say that this was fulfilled when a few people were raised at the time of the crucifixion, or perhaps a few were raised later in connection with the destruction of the temple, is to dispute

what the Lord said. It is an observable fact that "ALL" the dead did not come forth at that time. All people of the world were not judged at that time. To say there is no such "day" coming when all the dead will come forth, no such day as God has appointed in which He will judge the world in righteousness, is to advance a premise which challenges the integrity of Jesus in John 5:28-29, of Paul in Acts 17:31, and many others such as 1 Thess, 4:16-17 and Rev. 21:2-5.

       The reader needs to understand going in that this is the part of the theory that is disputed. That an "end" occurred in AD 70 is not disputed and that a "coming" of Christ occurred in a symbolic sense is not questioned. But the idea that this was the "end" and the "coming" referred to in all the promises about the Lord's second coming, that it was the only end and second coming that will occur, flies in the face of a host of explicit Bible statements to the contrary. Cecil Hook wrote that ". . .all the prophecies concerning the coming of Christ have been fulfilled. . ." (Ibid, pg. 5).  Can this be justified in the text?Advocates of this theory claim that it is the real teaching of the Bible over all, that the scriptures I refer to as explicit statements to the contrary have been misunderstood. Is there any substance to that?

 HERMENEUTICS AND THE "IMMINENCY PASSAGES"

         One of the primary reasons they think that seems to be what they call the "imminency passages." Evidently they see these as absolute statements that the time of the return of Christ and the end of the world was very close in terms of years when they were spoken and could not have been 2,000 years or more in the future. If the apostle Peter were here I think he would say to them, "But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Pet. 3:8).

Ironically, Peter, in that third chapter, was discussing this very thing, the delay in the coming of the final day and the fact that some in later times would not understand it. He explains in the next verse (9) that the reason for the delay is not that God is slack concerning these promises, but that He is "longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." So He continues to wait. But they deny that the delay exists.

      This points to another mistake in the AD 70 theory, the idea that the opportunity to get into the kingdom extends beyond the final day of judgment. Jesus indicated that the opportunity to repent is extended to mankind only until that day. When once He has risen up and shut the door, those who stand without and knock and plead for admission, will not get in. (Luke 13:25).  God knows that and so He continues to wait and keep the door open. But these brethren insist that the judgment day has occurred, but the door remains open and anyone can still come in. The truth is people who would respond to God must do so "while it is today." There will not be people in God's eternal city being baptized into Christ. That must be done before the city of God descends from heaven.

 WHAT ABOUT THE EXPRESSIONS "NEAR" "AT HAND" ETC.?

      In most of these passages the translation is from the Greek word "mello." So called "preterists" make three mistakes in usage of this word. First, they assume that all passages where such words occur in reference to an "end," refer to the same event. Second, they make the mistake of thinking that God looks at time the same way we do, and third, they misdefine the word "mello." In addition they also ignore all of the "delay" passages in the scriptures, and there are several, and consider only the "imminency" passages.

 THE DELAY PASSAGES

      The word "mello" is usually defined as "about to happen." But it is a mistake to think that it cannot refer to something that is a long way into the future. In fact, in Acts 22:16, this word is actually used to mean delay, as Ananias asks Saul, "Why are you waiting? (from mello). Arise and be baptized. . ." Here are some instances in the Bible in which it refers to long periods of time:

Nearly 400 years:  In Mat.11:14 this word is used to say of John the Baptist, "This is Elias which was for to come." (about to come). Malachi said this nearly 400 years earlier.

1500 years:  In Acts 26:22-23 this word occurs twice in reference to things then happening "which Moses and the prophets did say should come." (were about to come - mello). And again that Christ "should show light unto the people." (was about to show light unto the people - mello). This prediction took 1500 years to fulfill.

4,000 years:  In Romans 5:4 this word is used to say that Adam was"the figure of him that was to come." (was about to come - mello). From Adam to Christ was at least 4,000 years.

      Looking at these scriptural facts, how can one say that "about to come" cannot refer to something 2,000 years in the future? Obviously it is a mistake to think that every passage in which "mello" occurs necessarily refers to something immediately imminent in terms of earthly time.

       Many scholars recognize that this word is not just a designation of something imminent, but is a designation of something that is certain. Thayer, for example, sees it as denoting "those things which will come to pass by fixed necessity or divine appointment." (Lexicon, page 397).

      Mat. 24 itself has statements indicating delay in reference to the event referred to after verse 34, which is not the same event as is discussed in the verses prior to 34. The first event was not delayed and had signs by which its approach could be recognized. The second event will come "in a time when you think not." (Verses 44 & 50). No signs signalling its approach. But concerning the second event, when "heaven and earth shall pass away," an example of a delay passage occurs at verse 48 where Jesus said that if a servant says, "My Lord delays his coming," and begins to mistreat his fellow servants, he will be punished for it. How could he be convinced that a delay was occurring or convince anyone else of it unless there was some sort of delay in that coming?

      Paul also speaks of this delay in reference to the "day of Christ," in 2 Thess. 2:2-3, and told them not to be deceived into thinking that it was just at hand. He said "that day will not come except there come a falling away first." (Verse 3).

      Peter, as we have already mentioned, states that this delay exists and predicts that people will begin to scoff because of it. (2 Pet. 3:3-4). He even explains why the delay is necessary. Ironically, he applies it to the very event we are discussing here and on which we differ, the passing away of the heavens and the earth. The destruction of Jerusalem was not delayed. Clearly the other event referred to in Mat. 24, the passing of the heavens and the earth, was delayed and still is being delayed.

      At verse 7 Peter says that the present heavens and earth are "kept in store" by the same word that created them in the first place, "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of unGodly men." In these verses he uses the same words as did Jesus in Mat. 24:35, "euranos," and "ge." These are not words meaning an "age," as in verse 3 and verse 14 of Mat. 24. These words mean the physical heavens and the physical earth, the grass, the rocks, the trees, the atmosphere, and even the sun, moon, and stars. In that third chapter Peter describes in graphic terms the destruction that is waiting for this world. Again here Preterists have to reject these explicit statements in favor of their theory.

      At first exposure I did not see the AD 70 theory as anything having to do with fellowship or salvation. To me it seemed to be pretty much a harmless exercise in speculation about prophecies that men have speculated upon for centuries.  But two factors are making it into much more than that. First, it ends up in a type of scripture denial that the Bible speaks of as spiritually fatal, denial of a coming resurrection. Second, it has in recent years developed an aggressiveness that was not there originally and this has made it a troublesome "issue," capable of dividing churches. Paul wrote that to deny a coming resurrection is to reduce faith to vanity and leave people yet in their sins. (1 Cor. 15:12-17). He also said that when Hymenaeus and Phyletus taught that the resurrection was past already, they overthrew the faith of some. (2 Tim. 2:17-18). These brethren are saying these two things, that no general resurrection is yet to come and that the resurrection has past already. So it is (1) destructive of vital elements of the faith and (2) in recent years has come to be divisive. So it is a consequential mistake.

 THE SCOPE OF OUR STUDY

      This is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of all the arguments offered on behalf of that theory. It would take a large book to analyze in detail each of the many avenues of thought which grow out of that basic concept, and it isn't needed. Getting tangled up in a lot of irrelevant argumentation about possible

interpretations of certain prophecies would not clarify the central questions involved. Anyone can guess about fulfillments of any prophecy and likely there will be many varying opinions. But the issues at stake here are basic, relatively simple questions, on which we have explicit Bible statements with which to make comparisons.

      The thing wrong with their arguments based on prophecies is not that the words in a given prophecy could not mean what they say they mean. Usually the application they make is one possible meaning, as far as the words in the text are concerned. But the  fact that a certain meaning is one of several possible meanings does not prove that it is the right one. The answer to each of their arguments on prophecy is that their interpretation is in conflict with specific Bible statements to the contrary. No human theory about prophetic interpretation can be as reliable as the inspired statements of the Bible on the matter in question. What we need to do is go to the  core of that teaching, look at its foundation stones, and see the picture it sets forth of "last things," and then compare these with Biblical facts. You could strive about words to no profit for an awful long time if you tried to dissect every prophecy they cite  and argue the limits of its possibilities. To cut to the chase, so to speak, it is simply that any interpretation which directly contradicts express Bible statements is not within the realm of possibility. It fails the first test of any interpretation, the matter of over all Bible harmony.

      A paper that used to be published among them carried this caption: "Resolved: The scriptures teach that the second coming of Christ, including the establishment of the eternal kingdom, the day of judgment, the end of the world, and the resurrection of the dead, occurred with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70."

      Now, if by "the end of the world," they mean the end of the Jewish age, they are right. If by "the return of Christ," they mean the symbolic return in judgment upon Israel, they are right. If by "the resurrection" they mean that some individuals were resurrected, again they are right. But if they mean the end of the physical cosmos, the resurrection of all the dead, and the final judgment, they are wrong. If by "the return of Jesus" they mean His triumphant return in glory to raise all the dead, judge the world, and reward His servants, they are guilty of an error that all eyes can observe for themselves. They are simply arguing with facts.

    God made a covenant with Noah, the sign of which is the rainbow, that "While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease." (Gen. 8:22). We can all see that the rainbow has not ceased to appear in the sky. Therefore the earth still remains. When the time comes that God sees fit to discontinue it, He will stop hanging out the sign that says it is still here and intact. How can a Bible believer observe the rainbow in the sky and still say, "The world ended 1900 years ago."

 THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM

      The symbolic "coming in judgment upon Jerusalem" is a long way from being the final and ultimate redemption God has in mind for His people. In that day He will "make all things new." According to the AD 70 theory that day  has already occurred, the Holy city has come down, but things are still precisely as they were. Instead of there being "no more death nor sorrow nor crying and no more pain, for the former things are passed away," (Rev.21:4), we still have cancer, an AIDS epidemic, death for every one eventually, and crying, and none of these have passed away.

      But they argue that these are destined to be only in a spiritual sense. But these are not spiritual ailments. No one ever got cancer of the spirit. No one gets AIDS in his spirit. If it is only the spirit that is exempt from these things then nothing has changed. It has always been that way on earth. But God said, "Behold I make all things new." The truth is, as Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:50, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption." This mortal must put on immortality and this corruptible must put on incorruption. (Vs. 52-53). In Max King's largest book he spends over 250 pages trying to explain away this entire chapter. When it takes that much "explaining" to support a theory, you know that theory has serious problems.

      But their problem is not just with 1 Cor. 15. It is with the whole bible. When you conclude that there is no general resurrection day to come, no such scene as that in which all the dead are raised to stand before the throne of God for judgment, no time to come when people will exist in spiritual form apart from all of the sorrows that plague earthly life, you have gotten completely out of touch with the whole Bible perspective. You can scarcely find a page anywhere in the Bible that does not disagree with you. You have a totally different concept than what is pictured there. If the apostle Paul were here I suspect he would say, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Cor. 15:19).

      In fairness it should be said that they do believe that people are being taken to heaven in spiritual form as  each one dies. I asked one of them about that one time and that is what he said. It is a little hard to see then, why they would deny the features John saw in Rev. 21. They say to me, "Don't you believe in figurative language in the Bible?" Sure  I do. But when the word "figurative" is used to deny the teaching of an entire chapter, such as Rev. 21, or 1 Cor. 15, that is too much "figurativism."

 HOW DID BELIEVERS WHO LIVED AT THE TIME PERCEIVE THE EVENTS OF AD 70?

       A few of the apostles yet lived at this time, as did many folks whom they had personally taught. Inspiration of the Holy Spirit was still there. So they knew what was going on. Thus the matter of how believers living at the time saw these events is important. What was their understanding of the matter?

      When the smoke cleared and all the dust settled, did they believe that the second coming of Christ had occurred, as well as the judgment and the final resurrection? Did they believe the holy city John described in Revelation 21 had come down and they were now in it? Did they  believe the eternal kingdom of God had come to complete fruition and all of God's promises about things to occur in the last days had been fulfilled? Did AD 70 change anything at all as concerns what they were looking forward to?

      In all the information available from that time period there is not to be found a single shred of evidence that anyone living at the time saw it the way the AD 70 brethren do today. There are writings extant which were written by believers at that time and soon there after, but all of them say the same things precisely about their faith that were written prior to that time. They were, without exception, still looking forward to the second advent of Jesus yet to come, admonishing one another to be prepared at all times as Jesus had instructed, and holding the hope of a better world to come in a spiritual realm when this world would eventually perish.

      A very large book would be filled if all such writings were quoted. Of course we will not try to do that here but we will give  a 10 couple of "samples" which are typical of what was said in them all. These are not inspired writings, of course, and are offered here simply to indicate what was the viewpoint of eye witnesses, believers who lived at the time and had been taught personally by the apostles.

      Ignatius was born in AD 50 and so was 20 years old in AD 70. He was martyred in the year 107. He was said to have been a personal disciple of the apostle John. Early in the second century he wrote, exhorting brethren in various places to continue holding to the hope they had always had. To the Ephesians, for example, he wrote, "Have a firm belief in the incarnation, the passion, the resurrection of Christ. These things are no delusive phantoms, but real facts. Let no one divert you from your hope."

       Polycarp lived a few years later but was also said to have been a disciple of John personally. His writings likewise speak of all these things as yet to come in the future. In his epistle to the Phillipians he exhorted them to do faithful service to him "who cometh as judge of quick and dead; whose blood God will require of them that are disobedient to him. Now he that raised Him from the dead will raise us also; if we do his will and walk in his commandments and love the things which he loved..." In the same epistle he said, "For if we be well pleasing unto him in this present world, we shall receive the future world also,  according as He has promised us, to raise us from the dead." Polycarp said very pointedly, "Whosoever shall pervert the words of the Lord to his own lust and say there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the first born of Satan."

    AD 70 advocates claim John's writings, especially the book of Revelation,  as much of their evidence. But these disciples of John, along with Barnabas, Clement, and all others who lived in the writings that they continued to look forward to all that the Christian hoped for as something yet to come and that it was to occur in another world, spiritual in nature.  If it happened in AD 70, all the personal pupils of John who ever wrote, misunderstood it.

 THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD'S OWN FAMILY

     A piece of historic information that may have been providentially preserved to shed light on this question is the testimony of the next generation of Jesus' own fleshly family. Historian Eusebius records that a few years after AD 70 emperor Domitian decreed that all descendents of David were to be executed. Jesus and his brothers and sisters were descendents of David. The grandchildren of Jesus' brother Judas were taken  before the emperor for questioning. Eusebius says that during this questioning, "When asked also respecting Christ and his kingdom, what was its nature and when and where it was to appear, they replied that it was not a temporal nor an earthly kingdom, but celestial and angelic; that it would appear at the end of the world, when in glory He would judge the quick and dead and give to everyone according to his works..." Upon which Domitian despising them, made no reply, but treating them with contempt, as simpletons, commanded them to be dismissed, and by decree, ordered the persecution to cease. (Eusebius Eccl.Hist.- pg 103).

      Regardless of how appealing this theory may seem to be, it is groundless. There are too many parts of it that directly contradict explicit scriptures. We do not deny that the Bible sometimes uses figurative language. But that does not justify this kind of abuse. The bottom line is the AD 70 theory is incompatible with the Bible. We have only touched the hem of the garment here. Paul said, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:26). Since death is as common to the race of man now as it ever was, one cannot rationally believe the AD 70 theory that "all the prophecies concerning the second coming of Christ have been fulfilled."

      It is not our purpose to judge, convict, or defeat anyone. This is simply an appeal to God fearing people to hold fast to the word of God and be not led away by human theories that contradict it. There is nothing to be gained in the AD 70 theory, no land of promise in the direction in which it points. It would take away the beautiful hope described in the Bible and put nothing in its place. The Bible warns that there is a definite spiritual danger in denying the coming of the day of God, for in that day things will occur exactly as He has decreed. We must plan on that. Think about it!

Ancient Aliens: Do You Believe?

Ancient Aliens: Do You Believe? 

Is God an Alien? Are We Being Visited By Advanced Physical Beings From Across the Universe? The Truth Will Surprise You. There Is Some Evidence That More People Believe In Aliens Than Believe In God.

Introduction: When men choose not to retain God in their knowledge they will replace Him with something God has created or something they have conceived in their imaginations:

Rom 1:18-25 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

A. Back in 1968, Erich von Däniken published a book called "Chariots of the Gods: Unsolved Ancient Mysteries".
1. It proposes that just about everything we cannot explain from the study of history was due to visitation and intervention of advanced alien races from other planets:

2. He is now a popular guest on many "alien" TV programs.
3. Our so called "history" and "science" channels are full of "UFO", "Alien" and "Abduction" "documentaries."
4. These programs present what they call the "facts" of evidence that not only are we being visited by non human beings from other planets, but often that they actually created human life on this planet and in ancient times were considered gods by humanity.
5. Just about any time of the day or night a channel surfer can watch these people speaking of their theories and imaginations as if they are undeniable and provable facts (not true).
6. Whether it is the stories of supernatural events of the Bible or the amazing creations of past humans, these guys give all the credit to "ancient aliens" or "ancient astronauts". Some propose that even Jesus was an alien from another planet.
7. SETI: (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) has been sending messages and listening for messages from outer space aliens for more than 50 years (no evidence yet).
8. Since around the 1950s (HG Wells, War of the Worlds) "ET" "information" has been growing in popularity along with the popularity of science fiction programming like "Star Trek", "Flash Gordon", "Star Wars", etc.

B. Question: Why do you think this would even be worthy of mention in the church assembly where we are gathered to study the Word of God and honor the One True God??
1. An interesting survey from Great Britian: More people believe in Aliens than believe in God:
2. Ripley's Believe it or Not (by OnePoll, Date??): 1,500 Adults, 500 children.
a. Adults who believe in: Ghosts (55%), Aliens (51%), UFOs (42%), Angels (27%), God (25%).
b. Children who believe in: Ghosts (64%), Aliens (64%), UFOs (50%), God (33%), Angels (27%).
3. It would not surprise me if people in America would be the same or even worse for God's sake.

C. When Satan and the imaginations of man get together the result is always the same: A Lie, that God is not the Creator, that we evolved ourselves or were created by (non god) advance physical beings.
1. From entertainment to pseudo history and science programs: The truth of God is under attack!!
2. Like a slow moving disease of misinformation, quietly numbing people's minds to the truth of God!!
3. As the Bible says, this is nothing new: That is "wise" men forgetting God and truth in general.

Rom 1:25  "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature (what is created)  more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

D. History tells us this is nothing new: Mankind has always worshipped God's creation more than God.
1. "Ra" the sun "god", "Zeus", "Baal", "Molech", cats, snakes, cows, dead ancestors, the earth
(mother nature), the sea (Poseidon, Neptune), hundreds of gods in all cultures.
2. From the beginning Satan has even proposed and worked to make man think that even he himself can be God with the right information!

Gen 3:4-7  "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."
a. The knowledge they received revealed Satan had lied, they had sinned, they were now naked and needed to hide from the true God.

E. God is to be set apart in our hearts as the only true God and Creator of all things:

1 Pet 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

F. **Before I proceed, I want to concede that I believe that life on this Earth is of Alien origin:
1. If: "Alien" means not of this world and not human then life here came from an "Alien".
2. I believe a non human "Alien" has always been at work here since ancient times.
3. This (non human) Ancient Alien has given us His guidance and knowledge about physical life and what happens after physical life is over. (This non human gets little air time for what He has done and revealed to us humans). (SETI: Are you listening??).
4. This Ancient Alien loves His creation wants them to be with Him forever. (He does not probe, abduct or need to study us, He just wants what is best for us).
5. Neither God nor Jesus are like us or are of this world:

Psa 113:2-6 "Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. (3) From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. (4) The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. (5) Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, (6) Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!"

John 8:23  "And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world."

John 17:15-17  "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

I. Do (Aliens) Extraterrestrials Exist And Are They Visiting Earth?
A. Now listen carefully and I will share with you everything the Bible (God) has to say about the existence of physical intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. ..................Silence.
B. Now listen as I share with you all the absolute, scientifically verified evidence that there is alien life on other planets and they have been visiting us since ancient times. .............. Silence.
1. Eyewitness accounts put aliens right up there with Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, etc.
2. Are people seeing something? Probably, but are they interpreting what they see accurately??

C. Aliens always go hand in hand with evolution (they are more evolved): I never hear anyone asking, where did aliens come from?? (No one is answering the origin question with any verifiable evidence here or in space!)
1. Evolution is a scientifically unproven and impossible hypothesis of the origin of life and how all living things have come to be as they are now.
2. Note: Aliens are almost unanimously believed to be the products of evolution occurring in some other location millions of years before life on earth and thus are advanced beyond us (they are believed by many to even be responsible for the beginning of life here on Earth).
3. Thus we have a theory of life not supported by facts explaining the existence of beings not supported by the facts. (Note: Communication from supposed aliens most always supports evolution and not the Biblical account of creation of Earth and the universe.)

D. Real Science and Space Travel: True Science gives evidence against ET visitors: Alien Visitation from across the universe is impossible according to the facts of science and the laws and principles of the universe.
Speed, Distance and Time:
1. -Einstein: Fastest speed possible= Light Speed (186,000 miles per second- could circle the Earth seven times in one second).
a. This is over 11 million miles an hour (Earth is 93 million miles from the Sun- It takes light over 8 minutes to travel from the Sun to the Earth).
2. The Universe is vast in size and distance:
a. Closest star: Proxima Centauri: 4.2 years traveling at light speed.
b. It would take 100,000 years to cross the Milky Way Galaxy.(our galaxy is just one of 100 billion estimated in the observable universe).
c. The nearest Galaxy to us (Andromeda) is 2,300,000 light years away. (Do "aliens" live to be 2 million years old?? "Honey, I have to go to Earth to study some lower life forms, should be back in about 4 million years. Don't wait up for me?")
Energy Shortage:
1. The energy force required to travel at light speed would make it impossible (without science fiction).
a. Energy required to move a one pound object to even half of light speed: (Energy of 98 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs. (energy required to stop would be the same).
b. To propel the space shuttle at half the speed of light it would take the energy of 23 million atomic bombs. (Theory says antimatter engine could do this, but it takes known science 1 year to make enough antimatter to power a light bulb for a few seconds; antimatter is rare in space).
NOTE:  Warp Speed (faster than light) does not exist in observable science. Worm holes (short cuts through space) are also only imagined, not proven. (Science Fiction).
Talk About Road Hazards and Known Laws of Motion and Impact:
1. Space is full of dust particles (100,000 per cubic kilometer of space). This is a peril for all space travel today, even at relatively lower speeds in orbit).
a. Hitting a speck of dust moving at one tenth the speed of light would be an impact equivalent to 10 tons of TNT.
b. Hitting a pea sized object moving at half the speed of light would be equivalent to 2.2 atomic bombs. (Our space equipment has received damage from small objects moving much slower).
c. How do you scan and avoid objects ahead of you if you are traveling at the speed of light?
G Forces Beyond Imagination:
1. The G Force Problem: At 5 G’s a pilot passes out; At 9 G’s a pilot dies in seconds. Making even a slight turn (to avoid obstacles??) at light speed would exert millions of G’s on a ship and its passengers.
2. But, despite this known science of kinetics, many believe in aliens zipping about the universe like we fly around the world (Science fiction is no longer fiction in the minds of those who want to believe—They have evolved and advanced beyond what we know!!).
3. This “science” is often more a faith or personal belief than a fact, especially when its hypothesis’ stand in direct contradiction to know, applied science. ("universal laws" applies to the whole universe or it is not universal).

E. We have no solid evidence that ETs exist. If other beings exist and are interacting with mankind, the evidence tells us they are not from a “galaxy far far away.” (Also note exclusive characteristics of the Earth and Solar System allowing life to exist).

Known science and facts tell us it is not possible for "physical aliens" to visit us from across the universe.

II. Are There Other Non Human Beings From Another Realm / Dimension?
A. If these “Aliens” are not from space, then where are they from? Some speak of another dimension where various kinds of beings exist and can move in and out of our world.
1. Example: Reptilians who feed off of bad human emotions and are attempting to enslave mankind.
2. They enter our dimension with their vehicles through portals, or so it is believed by many (Bermuda Triangle?).
3. They are thought by some to be spiritual or “Psychic” beings who can sometimes take physical form. etc. etc.

B. A Biblical Reality we may not like to talk about: Part of God’s Creation.
1. There are other realms in which even humans can be conscious, other than the world we live in:
Hades: (grave, sheol OT). Lazarus, Elijah, Abraham, even Jesus Visited.
Tartarus: Place where angels who sinned are reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of God. (2 Pet 2:4)
Heaven: Place where God, Jesus, Good angels and dead saints will dwell forever.
Hell: Place where evil spiritual beings the spirits of evil humans will dwell forever.
2. There are other beings which have been created by God which exist out of the sight of most human experience: Angels, demons and devils.
Psa 148:1-5: "Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. {2} Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. {3} Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. {4} Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. {5} Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created."
3. Man was made a little lower than these angels and give dominion of God’s creation:
Psa 8:4-6: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? {5} For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. {6} Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:"
Heb 1:13-14: "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? {14} Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

C. One particular fallen angel is revealed to be the enemy of God and all who would seek to believe and follow God: Satan (the Accuser), The Devil (False accuser, slanderer), Beelzebub.
1. His revealed purpose and characteristics: Lies, deception, illusions, murder, death: the spiritual separation from mankind from God.
2. He is revealed to be an ever present enemy of those who would live by faith: In the past, present and future, until the end. (He even tempted Jesus while He was on the Earth).
3. He has “his angels”, “his ministers” and the ability to transform (??) (Matt 25:41; Rev 12:7).

2 Cor 11:14-15: "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. {15} Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

4. He is capable of producing lying signs and wonders:

2 Th 2:9-12: "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

D. Are we or are we not constantly warned about the potential deceptive and destructive work of these beings?

1 Pet 5:8-9: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: {9} Whom resist stedfast in the faith…”

Mark 4:15: "And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."

Acts 5:3: "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

1 Cor 7:5: "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."

2 Cor 2:10-11: "To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; {11} Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

1 Th 2:18: "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us."

1 Tim 5:15: "For some are already turned aside after Satan."

Rev 2:9: "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."

D. There are beings who exist and are involved in what happens in this world, but their main power is deceit and false teachings: They are always defeated by the TRUTH!
(Note: It is kind of hard to find scientific, undeniable evidence for a lie. The way to defend a lie is to prop it up with more lies.  Right??)

2 Cor 4:3-4: "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: {4} In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

1 Tim 4:1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times (from Pentecost till now) some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

E. The Worship or Exaltation of angels, imaginary gods or aliens from the heavens is foolish, but an age old path:

2 Ki 21:3-6: "For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. {4} And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. {5} And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. {6} And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."

III. The Gospel According To ET: Satan
A. I cannot confirm or deny the many experience people claim, but I can say with biblical confidence that I am confident of the source and purpose of the many “messages from aliens.” SATAN!
B. Let us take note of the similarity and differences between “Alien” Guidance and the messages of Satan:
1. According to alien (New age teaching) we are all moving toward a highly evolved existence eventually to be like gods:

Gen 3:4-5: "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: {5} For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
a. Note: Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism) claims teachings from an “angel” which if studied, claims men can become like God and rule over their own “terrestrial” planets.
b. Mohammed claims insight and revelation from the Angel Gabriel which inspired him to create the nation of Islam, which denies Jesus as the Messiah and Savior, even that He died.
c. Heaven’s gate cult (38 in 1997) committed suicide so they could be ready to move on to the next level (no space ship showed to take them away)
d. Paul said if even an “angel” gives a gospel different from the original, let him be accursed!

Gal 1:8: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."

2. According to the ET Gospel, Aliens are coming to save us from ourselves and help us save our planet as if this is all we have: We should be good stewards of our planet, but no matter how well we take care if it, it will not last.

2 Pet 3:9-10: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

1 John 2:14-17: "I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. {15} Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {16} For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

3. Many who claim contact with Aliens say they have met Jesus and that there are many different ways to the eternal peaceful existence:

Mat 24:23-26: "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. {24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. {25} Behold, I have told you before. {26} Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not."

John 14:6: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Conclusion: Aliens or Angels may be responsible for many spiritual deaths and great deception, but there is only ONE LORD Who we must Worship and Obey: Jesus.

Col 2:18-19: "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, {19} And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."

A. When the stories of other beings, cause you to question the truth of the Word of God, believe GOD!

Rom 3:3-4: "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? {4} God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."

*Non human beings exist, but could not come from "far, far away."
*God is Eternal, the True "Ancient Alien" (Non human).
*Could Paul be warning us about other "created" beings who are deceiving the masses so they will not believe in the True God?? I Wonder!

Acts 26:16-18: "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; {17} Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, {18} To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."