When UFOs Arrive

www.popularmechanics.com ^ | February 2004 | BY JIM WILSON

[realpatriot71]

"For we do not struggle against mere flesh and blood, but against demonic Principalities, against satanic Powers, against the celestial Rulers of the Darkness of this Present Age; --against Evil Spirits in the Interplanetary Spaces."

I like that translation, although, personally I like to stick the KJ version (for my own reasons, that could start another whole debate). Interestingly enough, there is nothing in that particular translation that changes the meaning, only clarifies that the conflict is not happening in a complete vaccum on this planet, but is in actuality a conflict taking place on a scale effecting the entire universe.

[realpatriot71]

Or 3) Were all running even at this point

another reasonable conclusion

[realpatriot71]

Are any of the aliens GOOD, or from God? If we reject them all, do we run the risk of turning away ANGELS, who some, like Abraham, have "entertained unawares"?

Gotcha. The Bible is clear about testing the "spirit" of an messenger. Are there Good angels? Of course, but I expect them to manifest themselves in a similar manner to how they have always manifested themselves to man, giving all Glory to the Creator, speaking not in contradiction to the Word.

[goldilucky]

Very fascinating, indeed!

[Chris Talk]

"Principalities" and "Powers" are, of course, two different levels of angels in the Kabbalah, I think there are about 7 different levels in the pecking order IIRC.

Not the whole Universe, though, just the area that is in the Solar System, or to be more liberal, let us say the area that is nearer to our Sun, than to any other Star.

[goldilucky]

I thought so. Thank you!

[Chris Talk]

And also not "spiritual wickedness," that is just another KJV/ English language abstraction or abstract non-tangible noun.

Let's be very clear, the meaning is "EVIL SPIRITS."

[realpatriot71]

"Principalities" and "Powers" are, of course, two different levels of angels in the Kabbalah, I think there are about 7 different levels in the pecking order IIRC.

Look, you see it again and again - you go searching for "secret mysteries" and the devil is more than happy to show up and hand them to you on a silver platter. The Kabbalah came about after the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, where many jewish priests dabbled in the Babylonian religion. After the captivity the apostate esoteric tradition was brought back with the Jews. It's not from God.

[Chris Talk]

Waaaal, I don't know if I were "searching for secret mysteries," ...It is only in recent years I have learned anything of Zohar, and the Saucers we have had with us from childhood.

and of course, Paul himself was very well versed in the Kabbalah, especially the Lore of Creation...otherwise how does HE know so much about it, and this is just one of many dozens of places where we can see he was a Kabbalist of the first rank. So surely, what HE can study, EYE can study... Right?

Actually, Shimon bar-Yokhai, the author of Zohar and the Greatest Kabbalist, was both a contemporary and a kinsman of Jesus. I am not sure I find anything anti-Christian or non-Scriptural in it, but there is indeed a lot of esoterica...It isn't a big deal of mine.

[x]

Seems like interest in UFOs started to fall off a few years ago -- about the time Kennedy Assassination theories began to fade. Doubtless strange and unexpected things happen in the world, but over fifty years of UFO theories sort of wore out the interest. Theories of dark forces and mysterious conspiracies thrive in the darkness, but put them front and center on the Internet or TV's X Files, and the interest dies out. For a little while, there's intense interest, then it just becomes yesterday's thing (I've been watching Taken, and while the first few episodes were interesting, it all seems like an fad that's long since passed its heyday). Maybe the conspiracy fans have moved on to something else...

[Cvengr]

Don't discount the doctrines regarding familiar spirits too lightly.

Antediluvian demons are described in the Old Testament in Gen 6 as having offspring with women, of bodily form, producing half angelic, half human species. This continued for 120 years upon which time the Great Flood occured, purifying the species once again. The first civilization began with Adam and ended with the Flood and a small group of believers.

The post Flood civilization began with Noah and His family yielding the racial species of believers and spiritually alive man, with the Jews. It will end in the Second Coming and the Great Tribulation.

The third civilization will be the Millenial Reign of Christ and will terminate man's time with the Gog and Magog revolt.

In each of these civilizations, God begins with believers and ends the civilazation in a conflagration. Then will come the Great White Throne Judgment.

Consider how previous bodily demons raped women and had offspring. Upon the Flood, those anomalies were wiped out. The demons who had encroached beyond their domain were then bound in the Abyss and other demons who lost in other conflicts were sent to Tarturus.

It's interesting to note that during our time, demons are disembodied spirits. There are two types of demonic attacks today. Demonic possession wherein the demon invades the body of an unbeliever and demon influence, wherein the demon invades the soul through satanic thought or activity. Anybody residing outside of God's system of grace becomes susceptible to falling under demonic influence, eiher for believers or unbelievers.

The bodily demonic forces are mentioned in Revelation as well as their king, Abaddon or Apollyon who is now in the Abyss and will bring forth the first great demon army attacking man during the Tribulation.

The posts and reports of encounters during dreams are important to consider. In many reports the abductions are associated with spiritual encounters. To understand this a bit further, study the discernible differences between tricotomous and dicotomous anthroplogy of man in Scripture.

Man, after Adam, except for Christ, is dead in the spirit upon our first birth. Faith in God through Jesus Christ is associated with the rebirth of man in the spirit by God the Holy Spirit.

Note also the discernment between the first, second and third heavens in Scripture, and the significance of the curtain in the Temple being rent from bottom to top upon the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

The reports of dream like encounters as well as being frozen, unable to move are all very consistent with the description of how God has created things. For example, there is no temptaiton too great than that which may be resisted. In most of our daily lives we are exposed to different situations where we always have an opportunity to decide to act within God's will and obey Him. It's interesting to note, that in certain spiritually dangerous situations, man will freeze up, unable to move or act, or sometimes even think unless reminaing in fellowship with God through Christ.

This reveals several things, one of which His immense love and grace for man, and also how we are also a spiritual species, able to become members of His royal family through faith in Jesus Christ. While faithful, we are endowed with tremendous authority and power, as well as a love from Him from which we will not be separated while we remain faithful to Him.

Whenever exposed to such an encounter, first priority should be to immediately confess any past known sins and place oneself in simple devoted faith with God through Christ. The confession is to nobody other than God through Christ. Secondly, place all faith and devotion to God through Christ. Let Him handle the authority and power of the situation. Compared to demons, man alone isn't very competent. They've been around for millenia, they know man's character and tendencies better than we know our own.

However, they also are persons and have distinct character,...in all cases almost to a incredible fault.

They might be perceived during waking or sleeping periods as they are spiritual beings. If during a waking state, they won't be a embodied person, unless they have possessed the body of another person by invasion.

It might be the case that the 'aliens' encountered are a clone or replication of an animal for the demonic spirit to inhabit.

One thing definitely doesn't make sense, if one takes the atheistic response. If they are ETs, from far far away with highly advanced skills, ...why would they bother mutilating cattle and abducting men in stealth to study biological functions? We're supposedly considerably less advanced, yet can develop ways to study other species and phenomenon without invading their privacy or cause bodily destruction. If destruction is no issue, why mutilate at night or in stealth? If impact on humans is no issue, why are these abductions in unseen situations?

These perspectives are much more indicative of beings who lack bodies, seek to learn how we function, in order to replicate bodies, and perform their actions in malevolent deception. Interesting how fallen angels are also described as being 'malevolent deceivers'.

Best way to study about them, is first to receive salvation and then study Scripture about what God has for man. The rest is merely a tangeantial issue, provided one remian s faithful through Christ.

[Chris Talk]

Which doesn't change the fact that from 200 to 500 intelligent American Internetters see unexplainable UFO's every month, and both know about, and post to, nuforc.org...and tell about what they saw and where and when.

The actual number of sightings must be HUGE.

[realpatriot71]

Paul himself was very well versed in the Kabbalah, especially the Lore of Creation...otherwise how does HE know so much about it, and this is just one of many dozens of places where we can see he was a Kabbalist of the first rank.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm curious as to where you get your support for this statement.

Actually, Shimon bar-Yokhai, the author of Zohar and the Greatest Kabbalist, was both a contemporary and a kinsman of Jesus.

There has always been false prophets and teachers. I am not surprised that one of them was a contemporary of the Lord.

[Consort]

The Angelic Hierarchy.

[Chris Talk]

Well, the very fact he says "Principalities and Powers" shows he has been reading kabbalistic angelology. There is very much else, the idea of 7 heavens, and being caught up into the 3rd one, where he saw things too wonderful for human speech, whether he was in or out of the body he couldn't tell, etc. I once had a list of 52 or so such instances of Paul's kabbalism.

Also thanks, Consort, for the lists of types of angels. Interestingly, one of those lists gives the Shinnanim, which literally means "copies" or "clones" in Hebrew. Send in the clones. Must be a lower grade of angel. I know I have seen the Shinnanim in the Psalms, not just QBLH, and I am going to look it up.

[Cvengr]

FWIW, I believe I may have astually seen my first UFO this last weekend in Palm Springs. I was looking up at two jet aircraft both moving in synchronous motion, about 5000AGL, when I realized they were crossing over airspace they generally shouldn't be crossing and they were fairly close together, maybe 800 ft between aircraft.

Then I realized one aircraft had a pronounced fuselage, wings, tail, exhaust, etc, while the other was a luminscent yellowish green glow but no wings or tail.

The more I studied them for about 20 seconds, it became more obvious that the winged aircraft was slightly varying it's course, but the other craft stayed with it, running parallel, side by side, nose to nose by about a 800 ft constant distance between them with almost synchronized action.

They were headed west, so I figured they must be headed to Neverland Ranch or Hollyweird Hills,..no story here,..move along.

[Chris Talk]

Psalm 68:17 says: The vehicles of the celestials are twenty thousand, and each with thousands of clones in it [Heb. shinnaniim; KJV "angels"]; YHWH is one of them; just as he was in Sinai, so he now is in the Holy Place [i.e. the Temple].

How bout THAT? Not only the clones, but more saucers as well!

[realpatriot71]

I once had a list of 52 or so such instances of Paul's kabbalism.

Interesting, considering Paul's place in the Jewish hierarchy of the day, perhaps he was knowledgable about Kabbala. However, Paul was also clear that God is not a God of confusion and that the mysteries of God have been revealed. There is no place for esotericism in the worship of God, for God has made himself plainly known in His Word. Paul may have known about jewish mysticism, but he never advocated it in any of his writings.

[Chris Talk]

He also said, what you have seen in secret, what you have heard whispered in the ear, that shout from the housetops. What had been esoteric or private, he was all in favour of making Public.

Too bad he didn't have the Internet, but then he has me to put it up here for him.

[Cvengr]

Thanks, good link.