When it comes to alien or “intelligent” life forms on other planets there has been much speculation happening on this planet concerning this topic. In fact, in the last several weeks scientists have posited the idea of an “alien superstructure” harvesting energy from a distant galaxy. A woman by the name of Sophie Wiener, in the magazine Popular Mechanics wrote this in an article that was published August 6, 2016:
Within our own galaxy, some astronomers believe there may be a massive piece of alien technology, built to harvest energy from a distant star. The star, KIC 8462852, also known as Tabby’s Star, exhibits strange behavior, flickering and dimming, that can’t be explained by any known astronomical phenomena…
Even the Roman Catholic Church had weighed in concerning alien life forms found on other planets. Joseph Funes, who was the director of the Vatican observatory in Rome at the time of this article, written for the Daily Mail on August 4, 2015 said this:
It is probably there was life and perhaps a form of intelligent life…I don’t think we’ll ever meet a Mr. Spock…The discovery of intelligent life does not mean there is another Jesus. The incarnation of the son of God is unique event in the history of the universe.
Joseph Fines even goes so far as to say that if there was extraterrestrial life in the universe, this would not contradict the Romans Catholic doctrine and the Sacred Scriptures.
Those who hold to a Biblical worldview, and believe that the Sacred Scriptures are sufficient and inerrant in all it teaches. The Bible does not teach extraterrestrial beings exist.
Now I have a confession to make: I am not a scientist or an astronomer. I have not charted the vast regions of space, or have seen every corner of the cosmos. However, I do believe God’s word is inspired, and authoritative. As a result I can write this blog as a theologian, with confidence the word of God does not teach the existence of extraterrestrials. There are several reasons listed below:
The creation account in Genesis chapter 1: Genesis chapter 1:1-2 is the thesis statement for the whole entire creation narrative, which says:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Notice the first verse God created the heavens (this is the universe) and the earth. Here the earth is particularly picked out by God in this passage. The earth was without any form and was empty. There was nothing in the earth. There was only water, and the Spirit of God (i.e., the Holy Spirit) was moving (or vibrating) over the waters. However read what God creates on the earth in six days:
Day one: Creates Light and Darkness (Day and night God called them) (vs. 3-5).
Day two: Creates sky (vs. 6-8).
Day three: Creates land, seas, and plant-life (vs. 9-13).
Day four: Creates sun, moon, and stars (vs. 14-19).
Day five: Creates a multitude of creatures in the seas and birds of all kinds (vs. 20-23).
Day six: Creates a multitude of creatures on the earth, and Adam and Eve (vs. 24-30/ Gen. 2:1-25).
Day seven: God rested from His work (vs. 31).
Observe all of the action of where God has created: It is on earth (with the exception of day four. However the creation of these “lights” in the sky benefits what is created on earth in many ways). The very same earth that was in chaos and empty, now had order, and structure with birds, fish, vegetation, and human beings. If there were an alien life form on some other planet this would be the place to tell mankind about these intelligent life forms: How God created them, what they eat, where they are, and what planet they reside on looks like. Yet, this information is absent in the Sacred Scriptures because extraterrestrial beings do not exist.
All of creation is cursed…what about extraterrestrial beings?: Due to Adam’s disobedience the earth was cursed (Gen. 3:17). Adam and Eve also paid the consequences of their sin with physical death (Gen. 3:19). As a result, every single person living on earth dies due to the sin of Adam (1 Cor. 15:22). So the result of this disobedience is as follows: Mankind is cursed, animals here are cursed, and the ground on the earth is cursed. What about extraterrestrial beings? They never came from Adam, nor are they found on earth itself. Reason being is they do not exist.
There is mention of the universe and planets, but no extraterrestrial beings, in the Psalms: The Psalms speak of the glory of God being proclaimed in the heavens (Ps. 19:1). The writer of Hebrews tells us that it is the Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, who created the universe (Heb. 1:1-2). Yet the Psalter, and the author of Hebrews, who are inspired by God to write Sacred Scripture, failed to mention the existence of those beings that are found outside of planet earth. Reason is because these aliens do not exist.
Human beings have the good news preached to them, not extraterrestrial beings: Jesus Christ told His disciples, before they became apostles, to go out and make disciples of all nations. They were also to baptize, teach, and instruct all things Jesus commanded the disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). Jesus was discussing disciplining nations on earth, not on other planets with other “intelligent life.” The reason why Jesus, God in human flesh, gave them the Great Commission to complete on earth was this is where all the action was to take place, not on other planets with other “intelligent life,” but on the earth itself.
Those who are “in Christ” are human beings, not extraterrestrial beings: Those who trust in Christ and have received salvation from Him are all human beings. The word of God does confess there are aliens, but the term is used to define believers in Christ (1 Pet. 1:1; 1 Pet.2:11), not extraterrestrial beings from another planet, or universe, because they are nonexistent.
The judgment of human beings by Jesus Christ, not extraterrestrial beings: Jesus is referred to as the Righteous Judge who is ready to judge both the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5). This means every human being that has ever lived will be either rewarded or condemned by Christ. To the believer, their judgment comes at the Bema throne, and they also will receive a glorified body (2 Cor. 5:1-10; 1 Cor. 15:50-58). To those who do not believe, their judgment comes at the Great White Throne, and are cast into the lake of fire for eternity (Rev. 20:11-15). Several questions to ponder: If there were alien life forms, how would they be judged by Jesus? In what manner would they be evaluated? Sacred Scripture is silent on this issue, because the existence of alien intelligent life forms on other planets are nonexistent.
The New Heaven and New Earth are made new, without extraterrestrial beings: Humans have sinned, humans are saved, humans are glorified, and there will come a time where the heavens and the earth will be completely renewed (Rev. 21:1-26). Where are the intelligent life forms found in this passage? They are nowhere to be found. Just like the creation account in Genesis chapter 1 gives no mention of extraterrestrials being created in the beginning, the Sacred Scriptures give no mention of these intelligent life forms when the heavens and the earth are made new.
The Bible speaks of no other creatures on other planets, except planet earth. If there were aliens on other planets the word of God would be insufficient, and therefore a lie because all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16). If it was discovered that aliens did exist on other planets, we would have to throw our Bibles away, because the message could not be trusted. Because there is no life on other planets human beings are very precious, unique, and rare in the entire universe. We are made in His image and likeness (Gen. 1:27), with a God who has indeed died for our sins, and has given those who believe the free gift of eternal life. Instead of looking in the far reaches of space for some intelligent forms of life, let us continue to explore the far reaches of the cosmos, and marvel, at the handiwork of our Lord and the universe He has created.
I will end with this portion from the Psalter, from Psalms 8:1-4:
1 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him… (NASB, emphasis mine).
Until Next time…
Soli Deo Gloria!
L.S.
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