Friday, December 10, 2021

Guest Post: Could Anyone Be Messiah?

 




Tom: Well, here we go again, Dave. We’re dealing with salvation. Seems we never run out of things to discuss with regard to the gospel and salvation. I hope the people who are listening are edified by this—encouraged. I know it’s a blessing to me!

Dave: It’s a very important topic, and it’s the difference between heaven and hell!

Tom: Yeah. Now, one of the things that we’ve been talking about, or, sort of the line we’re going down, is Jesus, the Savior. And we’ve been talking about the qualifications that the Savior of humanity has to fulfill. And one of the ways we’re encouraged about God’s Word is because much of it is prophecy, and much of it has already been fulfilled to the letter!

Dave: Right.

Tom: If there was a prophecy that wasn’t fulfilled, we’d throw the book out!

Dave: Absolutely!

Tom: That’s how important prophecy is, and what an encouragement it is to us who believe God’s Word. It gives us confidence in what He’s saying.

Dave: Well, it’s the foundation, it is the basis of the gospel we preach. And Paul, in Romans 1, said he was an apostle “separated unto the gospel of God.” This is God’s gospel. This is not the gospel of some church. After all, the problem is between God and man, and it’s up to God to tell us how to be reconciled with Him. You don’t negotiate!

So, the gospel was foretold in the past! And if Jesus Christ…you know, who the Messiah would be; when He would come, where He would be born, what would happen to Him? That He would be crucified—even before crucifixion was even known, that prophecy was there…

Tom: Dave, we’re going to cover some of this.

Dave: …all the details! Now, if Jesus Christ did not fulfill what the prophets said, he’s not the Messiah! And, as you mentioned, this is the great proof! Why do I have such confidence that Jesus is the Savior of sinners, the only hope of this world. Well, you could say, “Well, I opened my heart to Him, He came in.…” I mean, I can remember…60 years ago, Tom, I can remember it like it was today! A fantastic transformation in my life! I literally felt Christ come into my heart, into my life, and change me! I’m not saying that anybody else has to have that experience. We don’t go by feelings….

Tom: We go by faith…right.

Dave: …but nevertheless, that’s not what I base it on. Somebody says, “Well, one of the favorite songs we love to sing: “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives in me. Ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.” Well, I can tell you, I know that! His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we’re the children of God. We have that with us in the Holy Spirit. But we also have the proof—prophecy…

Tom: You had a subjective experience, now you’re talking about something objective here.

Dave: …absolute proof, Tom! I can prove that Jesus Christ is the Savior of sinners, who He claims to be, because of the prophecies that were laid out thousands of years ago. You can’t tamper with them! Not just one. Jesus said it Himself, Matthew 24: “All things that were written in the prophets, the psalms, concerning Me must be fulfilled.” And they were!

Tom: Now, Dave, we went over some of the qualifications. I’m not going to…I’m just going to go down a line without going to the scriptures, but then I want to pick up where we left off. But we said the Messiah, the Savior, the Christ, has to be God, has to be a perfect human, physically and morally. He has to be sinless. He has to be both God and man in order to pay the full penalty for our sins.

Dave: Now, that’s even…logic would tell you that.

Tom: Right.

Dave: But the scripture also says it.

Tom: Mm-hmm, and as we’ve been saying, He has to fulfill all the biblical prophecies with regard to the Savior of humanity. Now, one of those prophecies has to do with the virgin birth, which is kind of being pushed around today. People are saying, “Well, that’s not important. But let me read from Isaiah:7:14
: “Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.”

Now, some people are saying, “Well, you know, it’s not really important that Jesus was born of a virgin, you know. What’s the big deal?”

Dave: Well, they will say, of course, that the—the Hebrew word there is “alma.” It doesn’t mean “virgin,” it means “young woman,” a young unmarried woman. Well, if you were a young unmarried woman in Israel, and you were not a virgin, you would be stoned. It’s that simple.

But the New Testament, of course, makes it very clear: Matthew chapter one quotes that. And the word there, in the Greek, is “virgin.” So, this is what the Bible said. Now, again…

Tom: Well, let me add to that. We have Luke:1:34-35
: “Then said Mary unto the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man.’” She’s not just talking about being a young woman here!

Dave: Right. She’s claiming to be a virgin, and she herself is puzzled. How am I going to have a child?

Tom: And the angel responds! Gives us the answer here: “And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.’” This is virgin birth.

Dave: Well, it had to be.

Tom: But why is that important?

Dave: Well, if it was not a virgin birth, then Jesus would be just an ordinary human being. Being an ordinary human being, He would be a sinner. That’s true of all of us! The scripture says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” There is no human being—ordinary human being—who is not a sinner. So, he would have to die for his own sins. He couldn’t die for the sins of the world. Furthermore, to pay the penalty for mankind, for all of the human race—and this is an infinite penalty—we would be separated from God forever, for eternity! God is infinite. His justice is infinite. We’re finite beings. We couldn’t possibly. So, no finite human being, even if he were sinless, which is impossible—but even if he were, a human being could not pay the infinite penalty for the sins of the world!

Only God could do that. It wouldn’t be just for God to do that, because He’s not one of us. So, God became a man through the virgin birth. He didn’t cease to be God, He’ll never cease to be man, He’s the one-and-only God-man. That’s why He’s called “the only-begotten of the Father.” Jesus Christ is absolutely unique.

And so, because of who He is, He was able to pay the penalty. And, Tom, we’ve gone over this before, but it bears going over it again. You know, God himself couldn’t just make a bookkeeping entry in heaven. This is a matter of justice. I use the illustration…well, let’s try to use a little different variety here…that…whatever it is—I got a ticket, whether it’s a parking…let’s take even just a parking ticket. The ticket has been written out. It has to be paid. Or, I get a speeding ticket. It has to be paid. And to suggest that… “Well, the court can just…the judge can just make some kind of an allowance for me.” That’s not justice. Or, “I know the judge’s mother, and she’ll get me off.” That’s not justice. Or, “I promised the judge that if he will let me off this time, I’ll never, ever break the law again. That’s not justice! Because I can’t make up for having broken the law in the past by keeping the law in the future. So, only God himself, as a man…

Tom: The perfect, sinless…

Dave: …perfect, sinless man…

Tom: Not under any condemnation…

Dave: …representing the entire human race, took the penalty that the entire human race had imposed upon it by God’s infinite justice—and He paid it! And only because that penalty was paid can God forgive us. And once again, it’s powerful scripture when you get to Romans 3. Paul raises the question: “How can God be just, and at the same time justify sinners?” And he lays it out: It’s only because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins. So this is the requirement!

Tom: So, if Jesus isn’t born of a virgin, He’s not qualified.

You know, earlier we were talking about the…you know, we’ve been talking about the Antichrist. The Antichrist is the one who’s going to deceive the world into believing that he is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Now, he may have a different rational, or a different understanding or promotion of himself as to who he is, but nevertheless, for a Christian, it would seem you’d just have to check his genealogy. Does he have a father and mother?

Dave: Tom, one of the things that I think is missing—not just from the secular world, but I think from the church, from the professing church, even from people who call themselves evangelicals—I watch some of these people on television, or you go to some church service—I don’t see the fear of God! The…Tom, it just overwhelms me more and more—I have an awesome sense of reverence, and a fear of God, a godly fear. God is the…no beginning! No end! The Creator of the universe! He’s infinite, He is perfect in holiness and purity! And that I would just go on through life and think that somehow, you know, He’s going to accept my good deeds, or whatever—that I can just push aside the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and I can say, “I don’t need that!” And Jesus wept in the Garden, and pleaded, “If there’s any other way, don’t make Me go through this!” That I could brush this aside—or I could excuse myself somehow, when this is offered to me as a free gift, and I reject that gift. And, by the way, if I try to pay for a gift, I am rejecting the gift! I think there’s a sense of the awesomeness of God that is missing today, in the church and in the world, and we need to get back to that. And, Tom, there’s only one way, and this is the gospel of God. This is what He says, and we’d better accept it.

Tom: Yeah. See, it’s a matter of getting to know—as you’ve mentioned time and time again on this program—getting to know Him! That’s why we’re going over all of these qualifications, criteria, whatever you want to call it. To know Him is to be in awe of who He is and what He’s done!

Dave: And then, how wonderful that He offers salvation as a free gift. Why not accept it? Believe in Him!

Tom: Amen.

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Guest Post: Made Perfect Together With Us


The following excerpt is taken from Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible, on Hebrews, Chapter 11.


That they without us should not be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40b) - That is, complete. 

They are like the two parts of a tally. The fathers had one part in the promises, and we the other in the fulfillment, and neither would have been complete without the other. The “better things” then referred to here as possessed by Christians, are the privilege of seeing those promises fulfilled in the Messiah; the blessings resulting from the atonement; the more expanded views which they have under the gospel; the brighter hopes of heaven itself, and the clearer apprehension of what heaven will be, which they are permitted to enjoy. This, therefore, accords entirely with the argument which the apostle is pursuing - which is, to show that the Christians whom he addressed should not apostatize from their religion. The argument is, that in numerous instances, as specified, the saints of ancient times, even under fiery trials, were sustained by faith in God, and that too when they had not seen the fulfillment of the promises, and when they had much more obscure views than we are permitted to enjoy. If they, under the influence of the mere promise of future blessings, were enabled thus to persevere, how much more reason is there for us to persevere who have been permitted, by the coming of the Messiah, to witness the perfection of the system!

There is no part of the New Testament of more value than this chapter; none which deserves to be more patiently studied, or which may be more frequently applied to the circumstances of Christians. These invaluable records are adapted to sustain us in times of trial, temptation, and persecution; to show us what faith has done in days that are past, and what it may do still in similar circumstances. Nothing can better show the value and the power of faith, or of true religion, than the records in this chapter. It has done what nothing else could do. It has enabled people to endure what nothing else would enable them to bear, and it has shown its power in inducing them to give up, at the command of God, what the human heart holds most dear. And among the lessons which we may derive from the study of this portion of divine truth, let us learn from the example of Abel to continue to offer to God the sacrifice of true piety which he requires, though we may be taunted or opposed by our nearest kindred; from that of Enoch to walk with God, though surrounded by a wicked world, and to look to the blessed translation to heaven which awaits all the righteous; from that of Noah to comply with all the directions of God, and to make all needful preparations for the future events which he has predicted, in which we are to be interested - as death, judgment, and eternity - though the events may seem to be remote, and though there may be no visible indications of their coming, and though the world may deride our faith and our fears; from that of Abraham to leave country, and home, and kindred, if God calls us to, and to go just where he commands, through deserts and wilds, and among strange people, and like him also to be ready to give up the dearest objects of our earthly affection, even when attended with all that can try or torture our feelings of affection - feeling that God who gave has a right to require their removal in his own way, and that however much we may fix our hopes on a dear child, he can fulfil all his purposes and promises to us though such a child should be removed by death; from that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to regard ourselves as strangers and pilgrims on earth, having here no permanent home. and seeking a better country; from that of Moses to be willing to leave all the pomp and splendour of the world, all our brilliant prospects and hopes, and to welcome poverty, reproach, and suffering, that we may identify ourselves with the people of God; by the remembrance of the host of worthies who met danger, and encountered mighty foes, and vanquished them, let us learn to go forth in our spiritual conflicts against the enemies of our souls and of the church, assured of victory; and from the example of those who were driven from the abodes of human beings, and exposed to the storms of persecution, let us learn to bear every trial, and to be ready at any moment to lay down our lives in the cause of truth and of God. Of all those holy men who made these sacrifices, which of them ever regretted it, when he came calmly to look over his life, and to review it on the borders of the eternal world?

None. Not one of them ever expressed regret that he had given up the world; or that he had obeyed the Lord too early, too faithfully, or too long. Not Abraham who left his country and kindred; not Moses who abandoned his brilliant prospects in Egypt; not Noah who subjected himself to ridicule and scorn for an hundred and twenty years; and not one of those who were exposed to lions, to fire, to the edge of the sword, or who were driven away from society as outcasts to wander in pathless deserts or to take up their abodes in caverns, ever regretted the course which they had chosen. And who of them all now regrets it? Who, of these worthies, now looks from heaven and feels that he suffered one privation too much, or that he has not had an ample recompense for all the ills he experienced in the cause of religion? So we shall feel when from the bed of death we look over the present life, and look out on eternity.

Whatever our religion may have cost us, we shall not feel that we began to serve God too early, or served him too faithfully. Whatever pleasure, gain, or splendid prospects we gave up in order to become Christians, we shall feel that it was the way of wisdom, and shall rejoice that we were able to do it. Whatever sacrifices, trials, persecution, and pain, we may meet with, we shall feel that there has been more than a compensation in the consolations of religion, and in the hope of heaven, and that by every sacrifice we have been the gainers. When we reach heaven, we shall see that we have not endured one pain too much, and that through whatever trials we may have passed, the result is worth all which it has cost. Strengthened then in our trials by the remembrance of what faith has done in times that are past; recalling the example of those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises, let us go cheerfully on our way. Soon the journey of trials will be ended, and soon what are now objects of faith will become objects of fruition, and in their enjoyment, how trifling and brief will seem all the sorrows of our pilgrimage below!




Sunday, October 17, 2021

Eternal Life is a Certainty in Jesus Alone


Throughout the gospels, Jesus taught that you may know for certain that you are going to Heaven when you die. But He said there is only one way to enter Heaven. Do you know of His promise of eternal life for all who trust in Him? Have you believed in Jesus?


Here are just four examples in Jesus’ own words, from the Gospel of John, confirming that a person can only come to God through faith in Jesus. There are plenty of other examples throughout the New Testament, but these four clearly substantiate this truth.


“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6)

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6)

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” (John 11:25)



Clearly Jesus taught that He is the only way to God and to eternal life in Heaven with Him. Sadly though, many do not know that we can have absolute assurance that we will go to Heaven when we die.


If you believe the gospel (the good news) about Jesus, then you believe that He is the eternal God that came into the world as a man, willingly set aside His eternal glory temporarily, who died for your sin on the cross and then rose again three days later to give all who believe in Him life everlasting. And, according to Jesus, we may know for certain that we who belong to Him are no longer under the judgment of God and have passed from eternal death to eternal life by faith in Him.


“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. ... This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” (John 6:37, 39)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.” (John 10:27-29)



Once we have put our faith in Jesus we are born from above by the Spirit of God (John 3). This is a supernatural, one-time event that cannot be undone. At that moment we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, kept and guarded by God (1 Peter 1) to be delivered safely to Heaven when our time comes.


“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)



There are many more verses throughout the Bible to confirm that a person’s salvation is a gift of God (Ephesians 2) and that nothing and no one can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8) once we’ve been born from above, born again by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus alone. Think on these things, pray about them, and rest secure only and fully in the finished work of our Savior, our Messiah, Jesus.


“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6)

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1 :24) “who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)



Brian Farrell is a follower of Jesus, saved by God's amazing grace through faith in Christ. Brian is a Bible teacher and the founder of Walking With Jesus Ministries. He lives with his wife Dana in Temecula, California.






Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Alien Encounters by Chuck Missler: Chapters 13 & 14


Chapters 13 & 14 from Chuck Missler's and Mark Eastman's classic book 
"Alien Encounters" which should be found on the website: 
https://store.khouse.org/pages/alien-encounters


CHAPTER THIRTEEN

COSMIC DECEPTION

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false

prophets, and shall chew great signs and wonders;

insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall

deceive the very elect."

MATTHEW 24:24

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of

Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders."

2 THESSALONIANS 2:9


A deception of cosmic proportions is coming. It won't be just a false doctrine, a defective world-view, or one of the tragic "isms" so prevalent today. It will include a compre-hensive global leadership backed by supernatural powers and capabilities that will overwhelm the imagination of the world at large. And it will be authenticated by miracles—great signs and lying wonders.

The Bible has more to say about this coming period than it does about any other period of history, including the time when Jesus walked the shores of Galilee and climbed the mountains of Judea. Much has been written, from many view-points, about the conditions which will be pending at the "end times" as predicted in the Bible. Few things are as controversial. But if one considers the texts seriously, some clear perspectives emerge. We believe that the arrival and involvement of "aliens" will likely play a key role.

THE INTIMATE BRIEFING

Four disciples approached Jesus privately to inquire about his Second Coming, and this resulted in a detailed answer which is so important that it is recorded in three of the four Gospels.33' Jesus opened this famous discourse with the admonition,

"Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:4).

The first thing Jesus wanted the disciples to understand is that the primary sign that will accompany the days before he comes is DECEPTION. Jesus went on to give the signs that would precede his coming:

"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not

troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earth-quakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:5-8).

It's important to note that Jesus said that many would be coming in his name and that they "shall deceive many" It is often assumed that a single individual, the "Antichrist," will come on the scene to deceive the world. However, in this text Jesus points out that there will be many coming in his name, claiming to be "a Christ," and will undertake a deception of unimaginable proportions. The Coming World Leader will likely be the leader of those who, claiming to be a Christ, will deceive the world with supernatural power.

In 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul amplified the nature of the coming deception:

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

Paul was attempting to comfort the Christians in Thessalonica because they had heard a rumor that Jesus had already come a second time. In the letter he tells them that Jesus will not come until two things occur. First there is to be a great "falling away" This falling away (apostasia in the Greek), according to the structure of the language, seems to suggest a sudden forsaking or defection from the Biblical world-view

Regarding the coming apostasy Hal Lindsey states,

"The first event which precedes the Day of the Lord is `the apostasy' This word (apostasia in Greek) means to deliberately forsake and rebel against known truth from and about God. The definite article before the term `apostasy' clearly indicates that it is a definite event, not just a progressive rebellion. The article also points out that this fact had been taught to them before. There are many New Testament warnings about a progressive apostasy in the last days which would grow in intensity within professing Christendom.... But `the apostasy' is a reference to a climactic event when the professing church will completely revolt against the Bible and all of its historical truths.

"This ultimate act of apostasy on the part of professing Christendom sets the stage for the second great sign, which apparently happens almost simul-taneously . . . the unveiling of the Antichrist."332

While the exact nature of this event is not revealed by the Apostle Paul, the result is that millions of ostensible Christians will be deceived into believing that the Biblical world-view is wrong. They will forsake God, the Bible, and faith in Jesus Christ.

The second event that must occur before the return of Jesus Christ is the coming of the "man of sin ... the son of perdition." This Coming World Leader will be so powerful and so cunning that he will exalt himself above all that is worshiped. This is a remarkable statement. This includes Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, and Krishna, etc. Incredibly, he will be received and worshiped by the world as the savior–the one that is able to bridge the gulf that has separated religions, science, and philosophy for thousands of years. How will he accomplish the feat?

After the great falling away, Paul tells us, the Coming World Leader will accomplish the deception with lying signs and wonders:

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).

The effects of the signs and wonders are catastrophic. For those who would not receive the love of the truth, Jesus Christ, God will send them a "strong delusion" so that they would believe a lie. The effect of the lie is discussed by Paul in the book of Romans:

"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. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the

glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 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" (Romans 1:21-25).

The effect of believing the lie is that men will worship the creation ("the creature") rather than the Creator.

Finally, regarding the coming deception Jesus said that it would be so powerful that even his elect (believers in Jesus Christ) would be deceived for a while.

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before" (Matthew 24:23-25).

Again we see that Jesus wants us to understand that there will be many false Christs who will perform signs and wonders.

The fact that Biblically literate followers of Jesus Christ will potentially be deceived is very disturbing. What kind of deception could deceive even the very elect? For reasons that will become evident, the widespread deception associated with the forthcoming climax will be more than simply philosophical or theological deviations promulgated on the unsuspecting masses. Every belief system that has ever existed or could exist is here now; and yet, God's elect are not led astray by these mere "isms." We believe that it will take a powerful display ofvisible, even palpable supernatural signs and wonders. In effect, we believe that the deception will involve a worldwide series of physical manifestations by Satanic forces in a convincing display that will persuade the five senses that what one is seeing is indeed true.

We believe that one's five senses will not help in discerning whether the events are a Satanic deception or a benevolent God-ordained revelation. Only spiritual discernment will betray the true nature of the lying signs and wonders that will come upon Earth in those days.

Ultimately, the deception will involve the entire world-view of the planet Earth—even to bringing the nations of Earth into a climactic, ostensibly interplanetary war! And the armies of the world will be gathered by specific spirit beings established for that very purpose.


THE RUSH TOWARD GLOBALISM

Earlier we highlighted the emergence of a major global empire as the time of "end" approaches. It would seem that the tide toward a socialistic, centralized, "New World Order" is setting the stage. It has become fashionable—especially in the U.S. and in Europe—to deem the sovereign "nation-state" as obsolete, to promote multiculturalism over any traditional heritage, and to assume that the ultimate destiny of the planet Earth is for a unified global governance.

The reader will recall that one of the primary messages given to alien contactees is that mankind must unify into a one world government. While the Bible is clear that this global unity will ultimately be brought about by the Coming World Leader, all over the world hundreds of millions of people look to the arrival of highly advanced benevolent alien entities to accomplish this goal. Could there be a connection here?

KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S

REMARKABLE DREAM

In Daniel 2, Daniel interprets a troubling dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. (Fortunately, the interpretation of this strange dream is quite explicitly laid out for us in the text. The reader is encouraged to review this very readable chapter for himself.)

In this dream there was a large, shiny metallic image with a head of gold, arms and chest of silver, belly and thighs of brass, and legs and feet of iron. The feet were further notable in that there the iron was mixed with "miry clay"

A stone "cut without hands" struck the image at its feet, it crumbled, and then the stone grew into a mountain which filled the whole earth. Strange dream, indeed.

Fortunately, Daniel interprets this for us. In fact, later in Daniel's life, he received another series of visions (recorded in Daniel 7) which, although using entirely different idioms, covered the same subject matter. These visions yield much of the essential background which illuminates the book of Revelation.333

The large metal image turns out to be a time line of the sequence of four major empires which will dominate the planet Earth until the time when God sets up his own government. The era covered is referred to as "the times of the Gentiles."'"

The head of gold represented Babylon under the rulership of Nebuchadnezzar.33' This was the empire extant at that time.

The silver portion of the image referred to the empire which would conquer Babylon, that is, the Persians.336 The fall of Babylon is detailed in Daniel 5. (Daniel himself rose to prominence in the Persian Empire. The magi visiting Bethlehem some centuries later would reflect Daniel's tutelage.)

The brass portion of the image represented the empire that would subsequently conquer the Persians, namely the Greeks.337 (Alexander the Great's career was so detailed in Daniel 8 that when that passage was presented to him upon entering Jerusalem, he spared the city.338)

The iron of the image represented the empire which would ultimately conquer the Greeks, namely the Romans.339 It is interesting that the Roman Empire ultimately split into two (two legs of the image?). More significantly, who conquered the Romans? The answer: no one.



About A.D. 476, the Roman Empire broke into pieces. Throughout subsequent European history, each piece has made a bid for global dominion without fully succeeding. The Dutch, the French (under Charlemagne and later Napoleon), the Germans (under Bismarck and later Hitler), the Spanish with their Armada, the English as "mistress of the seas," all have had their day in the sun. But none of them really estab-lished suzerainty in the sense that the Romans did.

Daniel's portrayal suggests that these "pieces" will ultimately recombine before the end.340 This theme is echoed in many other passages and is one of the reasons that some Bible commentators have, for centuries, looked for an ultimate "revival" of the Roman Empire, in some form, at "the time of the end." (Some suggest that the current moves within the European Union may be setting the stage for this final government.341)

This final empire—represented by the ten toes of iron mixed with miry clay—is the subject of many passages dealing with the final climax.342 It will be in the days of the ten toes that the "stone cut without hands" will smite the image and set up God's own government upon the earth.343 This "stone" will be reviewed in chapter 14.

THE RETURN OF THE NEPHILIM?

Even our common expression "the idol has feet of clay" apparently comes to us from this classic passage. But what is represented by the "miry clay?" It seems to be strangely mixed—but not completely—with the iron in the dream. The term "miry clay" refers to clay made from dust,344 a Biblical idiom which suggests death. (The Rephaim, a tribal term for some of the giants, is also a term often translated "death."345) What makes this famous prophecy especially suggestive for our exploration here is the strange allusion in verse 43:

"And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay" (Daniel 2:43).

Switching to a personal pronoun, they "shall mingle them-selves with the seed of men. . . ." This is extremely suggestive when viewed in the light of the warning of our Lord heading this chapter, ostensibly directing us to look more closely at Genesis 6. Just what (or who) are "mingling with the seed of men?" Who are these Non-seed? It staggers the mind to con-template the potential significance of Daniel's passage and its implications for the future global governance.

Could this be a hint of a return to the mischief of Genesis 6? Are "aliens" and their hybrid offspring part of the political makeup of this emergent world empire? Are the UFO incidents part of a carefully orchestrated program to lead us toward a political agenda?

Or has it started already? Are the UFOs and increasingly widespread abductions part of the preparations for this scenario? Is the alleged "hybridization program" on which John Mack and others expound part of a Satanic plan to infiltrate the coming global government with "alien" Satanic forces? Are these aliens or their offspring part of the move toward a global government that we already see in motion, both here in the U.S. and in Europe?

THE COMING WORLD LEADER

The centralized global government, not surprisingly, will ultimately be taken over by a dictator the likes of which the world has never seen. He apparently will be the most attractive, commanding, winsome presence ever to command the world stage. He is alluded to by 33 different appellations in the Old Testament and 13 in the New Testament.

Unfortunately, he is commonly called by one of the most misleading of these labels, "the Antichrist." This is widely misunderstood as it would focus on the idea that he is "against Christ," which he, indeed, will be. However, the Greek term antichrist really means "pseudo-Christ" or "in place of" Christ. He will be an impostor, posing as Christ.

THE GENEALOGY OF

THE ANTICHRIST

History is littered with speculations as to the identity of this final Coming World Leader. There are numerous justifications to assume he will be a Gentile. There are also many reasons to view him as Jewish. Others have suggested that he will be Judas Iscariot resurrected from the dead. Some have even promoted President John Kennedy or Henry Kissinger. Surprisingly, a number of prominent Bible teachers—Hal Lindsey and Dave Hunt as examples—have publicly stated their view is that this leader will either be an alien or he will boast of alien connections! Remarkably, in addition to Daniel 2:43 there are many startling clues in the Bible that seem to connect the Coming World Leader to Satan and his "alien" forces.

THE SEED OF THE SERPENT

In the first book of the Bible we find an intriguing clue to the possible lineage of the coming Antichrist. In Genesis 3 we find the story of the fall of man. The setting is the garden of Eden, where God had placed a tree called "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God had placed Adam in the garden and told him that he could eat of the fruit of every tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). However, one day Satan (the serpent) came to Eve and tempted her to eat of the forbidden tree.

It's interesting to note that the first thing Satan said to Eve was, "Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the gar-den?" This is the first tactic of the enemy—to question the word of God. Satan went on to promise Eve that if she would eat of the tree she would not "surely die." Instead, she would be like God; she would have incredible knowledge, "knowing good and evil." Immortality, deity, and incredible knowledge. What a deal Satan promised Eve! So, she ate of the forbidden fruit and so began the fall of mankind.

In Genesis 3:14–15 we read the response of God as he, so to speak, takes Satan to the woodshed:

"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:14-15).

This is one of the most pivotal portions of scripture in the entire Bible. It sets up the battle between the seed of the woman (a prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ) and the seed of Satan. A casual reading of this text will miss a disturbing textual insight. The Hebrew word translated seed is the word zera, meaning "offspring, descendants, posterity, and children." Satan is going to have seed! Who is the seed of Satan and what is his future destiny? We get another hint in the New Testament.

THE SON OF PERDITION

We saw earlier, in Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians, a description of the Coming World Leader:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

After the falling away Paul states that "the man of sin . . . the son of perdition" will be revealed. This is a fascinating insight that may relate to the very parentage of the Antichrist himself. The word translated "son" is the Greek word huios, which is used in a general sense to mean "a male offspring." In a wider sense it means "descendant, posterity, child." The word translated "perdition" is the Greek word apoleia, meaning "utter destruction, destroy" This word comes from the same Greek root from which we get "Apollyon," one of the names of Satan found in Revelation 9:11.

"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon" (Revelation 9:11).

According to Greek scholars this one called Destroyer, Abaddon, and Apollyon is the "minister of death and the author of havoc on the earth"—none other than Satan himself!

The composite we can draw from these verses is disturbing indeed. We have examined in detail the intrigues of Genesis 6, where the fallen angels consorted with the "daughters of men" and produced supernatural offspring, the "mighty men which were of old, men of renown." If the fallen angel interpretation is indeed a valid description of the state of affairs in Genesis 6, then it is likely that Satan, as a fallen angel himself, must also have the ability to cohabit with a human female. By definition any offspring produced by such an ungodly union would be the seed of the serpent and the son of perdition!

While this scenario may seem farfetched, it is neither unique nor without additional Biblical support.

DEMONIALITY

The notion that the Antichrist would be born by the union of an incubus and a human female dates back at least several hundreds of years to the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages there were hundreds of recorded accounts of men and women who had allegedly consorted with demonic forces. This fact is even confirmed by St. Augustine of Canterbury (b.?-d.604), founder of the church in southern England.346

"It is a widespread opinion, confirmed by direct or indirect testimony of trustworthy persons, that the Sylvans and Fauns, commonly called Incubi, have often tormented women, solicited and obtained intercourse with them. There are even Demons, which are called Duses [i.e., lutins] by the Gauls, who are quite frequently using such impure practices: this is vouched for by so numerous and so high authorities that it would be impudent to deny it."34'

Such unions, called demoniality, were forbidden by the Church and frequently resulted in excommunication, witch trials, and being burned at a stake.

At the end of the 17th century, Fr. Ludovicus Maria Sinistrari de Ameno (1622–1701) of the Franciscan Order wrote a lengthy treatise on the copulation of demonic entities with human beings. In the manuscript De Daemonialitate, et Incubis, et Succubi he discussed the historical fact of such unions and showed that a number of Early Church fathers supported the. view that the "sons of God" in Genesis 6 were indeed fallen angels. Regarding the parentage of the Antichrist Fr. Sinistrari states:

"To theologians and philosophers, it is a fact, that from the copulation of humans (man or woman) with the demon, human beings are sometimes born. It is by this process that Antichrist must be born, according to a number of doctors [theologians] : Bellarmin, Suarez, Maluende, etc

..........................................................................the children generated in this manner by the incubi are tall, very strong, very daring, very magnificent and very wicked...."348

In Passport to Magonia, Vallee points out a fascinating statement by the 18th-century theologian R. P le Brun regarding the offspring of such unions (Nephilim) and the origin of the Antichrist:

"If the body of these children is thus different from the bodies of other children, their soul will certainly have qualities that will not be in common to others: that is why Cardinal Bellarmin thinks Antichrist will be born of a woman having had intercourse with an incubus.”

The notion that fallen angels can consort with a human female and produce viable offspring is quite startling and indeed foreign to most of us in the 20th century However, in the Middle Ages it was a common-enough occurrence that there was much discussion among theologians regarding the physical mechanism employed by such spirit entities.

There will no doubt be many who will find the entire thesis (that angels can manifest physically and consort with humans) presented herein impossible to believe. The skeptic will likely argue that "angels are spirit beings that have no physical bodies, so the entire thesis is absurd." While we don't know how it is done, we should not underestimate the power of Satan and his minions. If Satan and his minions were capable of this in the days of Noah, there is every reason to believe that they still are.

The fact is that angels do manifest themselves in physical form throughout the Bible and the annals of history How they do it is not explained. However, angels, including fallen ones, do have the power to manipulate matter and reshape it into a multitude of forms, including life! (We will discuss this in detail in the next chapter.) Suffice it to say that if angels can appear physically; take men by the hand; fight with men; and form eyes, ears, skin, etc., then the manifestation of reproductive organs is also within their capabilities.

THE RETURN OF THE NEPHILIM

If the Antichrist does arise from such a union, then from a Biblical perspective, he would be a Nephilim ("fallen one"). While this notion may seem radical, it turns out that there is additional Biblical evidence that the Nephilim will play a major role in the end-times scenario.

In the book of Isaiah, chapters 13 and 14, we read of the destruction of the city of Babylon in the context of the last days of planet Earth. During the time of Daniel and Ezekiel (6th century B.C.) the city of Babylon was the greatest city on Earth. Its walls were reportedly over 200 feet tall and so thick that the Babylonians conducted chariot races on the top of the city walls.

Over a hundred years before the Babylonian empire was replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire, the prophet Isaiah fore-told that the city of Babylon would be destroyed. It is commonly assumed that the destruction of Babylon occurred centuries before Christ by the Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. However, this was not the case. The city was never destroyed; it simply decayed into ruin over many centuries. One of the major prophetic themes of the end times involves the sudden destruction of the rebuilt city of Babylon.

Regarding those days the prophet Isaiah wrote,

"The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see. Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness" (Isaiah 13:1-3).

The term "mighty ones" is the Hebrew word gibborim and is the same term used in Genesis 6 for the Nephilim. It was understood by ancient scholars to be a synonym for the giants (Nephilim) of old.

This is evident in the Greek translation of Isaiah 13:

"The vision which Esaias [Isaiah] son of Amos saw against Babylon. Lift up a standard on the mountain of the plain, exalt the voice to them, beckon with the hand, open the gates, ye ruler. I give command and I bring them: giants are coming to fulfill my wrath, rejoicing at the same time and insulting. . . . For behold! the day of the Lord is coming which cannot be escaped, a day of wrath and anger, to make the world desolate, and to destroy sinners out of it .... And Babylon, which is called glorious by the king of, the Chaldeans, shall be as when God overthrew Sodoma and Gomorrah. . . . It shall never be inhabited, neither shall any enter into it for many generations: neither shall the Arabians pass through it—nor shall shepherds at all rest in it. But wild beasts shall rest there; and the houses shall be filled with howling; and monsters shall rest there, and devils shall dance there and satyrs shall dwell there; and hedgehogs shall make their nests in their houses. It will come soon, and will not tarry" (Isaiah 13:1-3, 9, 19-22, Septuagint Version).

If the ancient translators' understanding of the Hebrew text of Isaiah is correct, then it seems to follow that the Nephilim will be returning in the last days of planet Earth and the city of Babylon will become the habitation of "monsters, devils and satyrs!" These are terms which for centuries have been under-stood to be synonymous with physical manifestations of fallen angels!

This disturbing look at the future of Babylon is echoed in the book of Revelation:

"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, `Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird!'" (Revelation 18:2).

Could it be that the city of Babylon, which was the original region of Satan's rebellion against God, will be inhabited in the last days by Satanic entities masquerading as modern-day aliens? Time will tell.

NIMROD: A "TYPE" OF ANTICHRIST?

Throughout the Bible we see that the Holy Spirit uses dramatic stories that scholars call "types" or "models" as a way of revealing the nature, mission, or destiny of Jesus Christ. God even declares this through the prophet Hosea:

"I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes [models or types], by the ministry of the prophets" (Hosea 12:10).

The lives of Moses, Joseph, and the sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22 are but a few examples. However, in the book of Genesis we have the story of Nimrod who, according to many scholars, is a typological model of the Antichrist.

Nimrod, whose name means "the rebel," was the son of Cush and lived after the flood. Nimrod's rebellion, which was in open revolt against God, was exemplified by his leadership of a great confederacy of peoples. This confederacy consisted of a unified "one world" government with a common language. He was founder of an ungodly, idolatrous, pagan religious system from which most of the subsequent pagan religions emerged. ExtraBiblical records indicate that he set himself up as god and was even worshiped by the ungodly nations as the "god of gods."350

Nimrod, the king of Babylon, had his headquarters in Babylon. It is interesting to note that the Coming World Leader is called "the king of Babylon" (Isaiah 14:4), and in the book of Revelation he is connected with "mystery Babylon" (Revelation 17:3-5). Nimrod's supreme ambition was to make a name for himself. All of these characteristics parallel the resume of the Coming World Leader, who will "exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

There is an additional aspect of the story that we find very provocative. Nimrod is called a "mighty one" in the text of Genesis 10:8.

"And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth" (Genesis 10:8).

This is provocative because the title "mighty one" is the very same Hebrew word, gibborim, that is frequently used as a synonym for the Nephilim! While we do not know whether he was a Nephilim,351 it is interesting that in order to complete the typology of the Antichrist, the Holy Spirit inspired Moses, the author of Genesis, to use the very same synonym for the Nephilim!

THE ALIEN CONNECTION

In addition to the Biblical evidence for Antichrist's lineage, some striking parallels emerge when we compare the nature and mission of the Antichrist with the reported nature of our 20th-century alien visitors.

As we plunge into the literature regarding the nature and purpose of our modem-day alien visitors, we find that they are usually viewed as having the answers we need to resolve our predicament and survive into the centuries to come. This belief emerges because of their incredible mastery over the laws of physics and the seemingly supernatural powers they possess.

The ability to perform "signs and wonders" and provide answers for mankind's problems are characteristics shared by the Antichrist as well. He will have a global plan that is so incredible that he will be embraced as a technological savior.

Finally, when we examine the message given to alien contactees, we find they promote globalism, ecumenism, personal immortality (reincarnation), pantheism ("you will be like gods," Genesis 3:15), moral relativism, and the notion that the Bible is not the word of God. These are beliefs that Satan him-self, through the ministry of the Antichrist, will promote during the coming global confederacy.

When we think about the supernatural characteristics of the Antichrist, an interesting question arises. What will he tell the world about the source of this power and knowledge? If he were to state that his power came from God, he would likely be rejected by those in the secular, scientific community. If he were to boast that his power was from the forces of darkness, his would not likely be well received by the masses. We believe that it is very likely that the Coming World Leader will boast of a connection with the powerful, god-like alien entities who have, it is believed, overcome the problems of poverty, famine, disease, war, and the pain of cultural and religious division.

These "saviors" will have a plan to unify mankind, and they will provide the Coming World Leader with the answers we need to solve our global predicament. The plan will be backed up by the power to supersede the laws of physics and perform, in effect, supernatural signs and wonders. When such a man arises on the scene with a message of love, unity, and peace, along with the answers we need backed up by supernatural signs and wonders, the peoples of the world will willingly set aside their differences, lay down their weapons to follow him, and even worship him as god!

Even a casual perusal of the UFO and New Age literature reveals that millions of people are expecting the coming New Age Messiah to have an alien connection. Many, including a number of UFO cults, believe that the Coming World Leader will be a hybrid, half-human, half-alien Avatar. According to these groups, this was the case with Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, etc. So the pattern is set.

In his book The Day the Gods Came, George King discusses the origin, power, and mission of the Coming World Leader. According to King, the information about the coming Avatar was "telepathically relayed" to him from "the voice of God—Itself."

"There will shortly come Another among you. He will stand tall among men with a shining countenance. This One will be attired in a single garment of the type now known to you. . . . He will approach the Earth leaders. They will ask of Him, His credentials. He will produce these. His magic will be greater than any upon the Earth—greater than the combined materialistic might of all the armies. And they who heed not his words shall be removed from the Earth. This Rock is now Holy—and will remain so for as long as the world exists. Go ye forth and spread My Word throughout the world, so that all men of pure heart may prepare for His Coming."352

There is a lot we can glean from this message. According to King, the coming Avatar will apparently be of tall stature. Secondly, he will be endowed with magic powers, and those who do not heed "his words shall be removed from the Earth." Again we see the theme of the coming evacuation of the malcontents, the "dark forces" who refuse to go along with the plan!


The extraterrestrial origin of this coming Avatar is clearly implied by King only a few paragraphs later:

"The Declaration states quite definitely that there will be no mystery about the birth of the next world Avatar as there was about the birth of Krishna, Buddha, Jesus and others. This majestic Being will come among men dressed in the one piece suit usually worn by the Intelligences from other Planets. . . . He will openly approach the Earth leaders; He will make His origin known to them but they will not believe Him. However, He will have great powers which, by Karmic Law, He will be allowed to use in order to demonstrate to all men beyond all doubt, the Authority empowering Him to carry out His great Mission on Earth. . . . The power of this Being will be greater than mankind has ever seen before in any single humanoid frame. So vast will it be as to be almost terrible, for, as the Declaration states: `They who heed not His words, shall be removed from the Earth.' This means that those who cannot follow the teachings of Truth. Peace and Spirituality will pass from this Planet on to a younger One in order to learn from the experiences they deserve for those who will not follow the next Avatar will not be ready for the Golden Age. . . . The Initiation [sic] of Earth has been given. Mankind should spare no efforts to help prepare the way for the next great Cosmic Event—for the next Master. Who—WILL COME."353

The belief expressed by King that the Coming World Leader will have an extraterrestrial connection is obviously implied by his statement that they will not believe him when he tells the world leaders his origin. This claim is illustrative of the New Age literature regarding the origin and nature of the Coming World Leader and can easily be confirmed by a casual perusal of this literature. Indeed, the New Age literature often declares that the supernatural power and knowledge of the Coming World Leader is a direct result of his connection with "highly evolved" extraterrestrial entities.

THE TIME OF HIS COMING

We happen to be among those who believe that the Coming World Leader will not be revealed until after the Rapture (evacuation) of the Church.354 As we have seen, this view is not inconsistent with the messages given by New Agers declaring that the New Age and its Messiah cannot occur until the dark forces (the Church) are removed.

In chapter 9 we discussed the doctrine of the Rapture (rapturo in the Latin) of the Church. This mystery, we are told, will be a sudden conversion—"we shall all be changed"; our bodies will be changed from a corruptible, earthly state to a heavenly, incorruptible state. According to the Apostle Paul, this event will occur "in a twinkling of an eye." What we did not discuss was the timing of this event in relation to the arrival of the Coming World Leader. This is discussed by Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians.

"Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the 168

lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:5-8).

We believe that the restrainer referred to in this verse is the Holy Spirit working through the Church. Paul states that once "he who now restrains . . . is taken out of the way . . . the law-less one will be revealed." We know that the Holy Spirit will not be taken out of the world, because during the Tribulation (the last three and one-half years of Daniel's 70th week) he will be working in the lives of Christians who are converted after the Rapture. The point is that the Holy Spirit—working through the Church—is restraining the forces of darkness, and he may be restraining far more than we can imagine! The removal of this restraining force (the Church empowered by Holy Spirit) will allow Satan free reign once the troublemakers are removed.

We can't help but point out that Satan has not spent any time trying to explain away the view that the Church will be taken out after the arrival of the Antichrist and the completion of the Tribulation!

THE "MISSION" OF THE COMING WORLD LEADER

As we examine the Biblical text, we discover that the primary goals and purposes of the Coming World Leader are to set himself up as the leader of a global confederacy of nations,355 to cause people to fall away from the Biblical world-view and to usurp the worship356 and adoration due to Jesus Christ, to exalt himself above all that is called God,357 and to bring the world to battle against Jesus Christ and his followers in the Battle of Armageddon.358

To accomplish these goals he must bridge the gaps created by nationalism, religion, science, and philosophy. At the same, he must discredit, ostensibly, the Christian world-view of a personal Creator and saving faith in Jesus Christ. The Coming World Leader must also somehow convince the world that Jesus Christ is the enemy when Christ returns in the clouds!

WHEN THE WORLD WILL BE AS ONE

Throughout the centuries many have attempted to unify the world into a cohesive, global confederacy. However, these attempts at world empires have fallen short. Although it's an oversimplification, one of the primary reasons for this failure is that previous dictators attempted to win the world over by military force. Obviously, this method has proved incapable of accomplishing world unification. Though it may result in considerable territorial gains, rather than unifying disparate groups, subversion by military means only serves to deepen the divisions and resentment between those with ethnic and religious differences.

For the Coming World Leader to rise to prominence and unify the world will require him to exploit, at a minimum, the following four stratagems.

First, it is well-known that out of the ruins of catastrophe and anarchy there arises a desire for a strong leader who can unify the masses and heal the wounds of conflict. Consequently, a global shock that shakes the foundations of existing paradigms is almost certain to be introduced (or exploited) by Satan to take advantage of this instinct in order to raise up his global leadership in the last days.

Second, after the initial shock a powerful plan and a "rational" explanation for the global events will be needed to soothe the fears of the masses and bring order, understanding, and hope for the future out of the existing chaos. Without hope the plan will not be embraced. Without understanding there can be no sense of order or unity, and fear will remain prevalent. In effect, he must shock but reassure at the same time.

Third, for any global scheme to take hold the Coming World Leader must have a plan to deal with the malcontents.

Finally, because there will be skeptics among the religious and scientific communities, unification behind the Coming World Leader must and will be accompanied by supernatural signs and wonders. Without such signs he would likely be viewed as just another politician.

UNIFICATION THROUGH PEACE

Remarkably, unlike previous would-be world dictators, the Coming World Leader will rise to power primarily by peaceful methods. This is confirmed in the eighth chapter of Daniel:

"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to pros-per in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand" (Daniel 8:23-25).

The precarious nature of this peace is confirmed by Paul the Apostle in his first letter to the Thessalonians:

"For when they say, `Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

The peace and safety temporarily accomplished in the first half (3.5 years) of Daniel's 70th week will likely be ushered in by the Coming World Leader after a global disturbance. Although the employment of peace as a part of his plan will certainly reassure the masses and help to quiet the nonconformists, this peace will, however, prove to be false and short-lived. Ultimately, the result of this "peace plan" will be the death and destruction of many. The question we would like to consider is, what kind of catastrophe or global disruption will precede the unification and false peace brought by the Coming World Leader?

Of course the number of possible scenarios is endless. Some suggest that a global economic collapse or war in the Middle East will necessitate the Antichrist's arrival. 170

Others suggest a global environmental crisis as the source of unification. Still others suggest that it will be the Rapture of the Church or open alien contact that will be so shocking and so disruptive that a leader with answers will arise.

THE EFFECT OF OPEN ALIEN CONTACT

An occurrence of open ET contact would obviously have staggering sociological and psychological effects on mankind. While we can only speculate what these effects might be, a number of prominent people have expressed their belief that it would be a powerful unifying force for the nations of the world.

On September 21, 1987, President Reagan, in his address to the 42nd General Assembly of the United Nations made a startling statement regarding the unifying effect of an "alien threat":

"Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond. I occasionally think how quickly our differences world-wide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. And yet, I ask you, is not an alien force already among us?"359

More recently, in an address to the Bilderbergers meeting in Evian, France, on May 21, 1992, according to USA Today and other newspapers, Henry Kissinger stated:

"Today Americans would be outraged if UN troops entered Los Angeles to restore order; tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told there was an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will pledge with world leaders to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenarios, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by their world government."

Even Hollywood promotes the notion of global unification through open extraterrestrial contact. In the 1996 movie First Contact, members of the Star Trek team discuss the effect of the first open contact with aliens in the year 2063. Regarding the importance of this first contact, Counselor Troi, the Star Trek team's resident New Age counselor, states that the first open contact with extraterrestrials "unites humanity in a way that no one ever thought possible when they realize that they're not alone in the universe. Poverty, disease, war; they'll all be gone in the next 50 years."

In his book Messengers of Deception, Jacques Vallee discusses the power of the UFO phenomenon to change lives, inspire awe, and the hope of "salvation from above":

"I believe there is a machinery of mass manipulation behind the UFO phenomenon. It aims at social and political goals by diverting attention from some human problems and by providing a potential release for tensions caused by others. The contactees are a part of that machinery. They are helping to create a new form of belief: an expectation of actual contact among large parts of the public. In turn this expectation makes mil-lions of people hope for the imminent realization of that age-old dream: salvation from above, surrender to the greater power of some wise navigators of the cosmos.'"

Here Vallee has put his finger on the mystical and religious side of the UFO phenomenon. Recognizing our inability to rescue ourselves from the human predicament of poverty, pain, suffering, death, and disease, there is a inherent tendency for us to seek salvation from a "greater power," a higher, nonearthly source. In times past this yearning was primarily fulfilled by a relationship with God. However, with the widespread, institutionalized abandonment of Judeo-Christian principles in the 20th century, millions of people have begun to look to the supernatural UFO phenomenon and their associated, god-like alien entities as the higher source of salvation for mankind.

Tragically, on March 26, 1997, this was played out in the suicide-deaths of 39 members of the "Heaven's Gate" UFO cult in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Led by Marshall Applewhite, known as "Do," the 39 members of the cult believed that aliens from the "kingdom of heaven" were about to make open con-tact with mankind by evacuating the "faithful" from the surface of the planet. Believing that the world is on the threshold of global cataclysms, they decided to expedite their exit by "shed-ding their containers" in an effort to join a UFO they believed was traveling behind comet Hale-Bopp!

The tragic lesson here is that the while the UFO phenomenon has the ability to engender tremendous personal devotion and self-sacrifice, it also has the ability perpetrate massive deception.

As we have seen, the UFO phenomenon has come to be seen by many as a scientifically acceptable replacement for God. Logical constraints of the "God is an astronaut belief" notwithstanding, for those that have rejected traditional religious beliefs, the UFO phenomenon has become an elixir for millions. This deception is a replacement to fill the God-shaped void possessed by all mankind and a powerful device to which stirs emotions and thoughts of salvation from above.

We believe that the cultural preparation (or deliberate conditioning) of the world to view our alien visitors as powerful and highly evolved saviors makes the UFO phenomenon the perfect motif for the Antichrist to exploit when he ascends to power. His ability to perform supernatural signs and wonders, his comprehensive plan for the peaceful unification of mankind, and his connection to or origin from god-like alien entities will engender the masses to follow him into the biggest deception in history.

OPEN ET CONTACT AND THE CHURCH

In chapter 8 we pointed out that the pace of events (wars, pestilence, earthquakes, famine, etc.) in the last days was likened by Jesus to the process of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. This presents a potentially disturbing scenario for the Church in the last days.

We pointed out that long before the true labor ensues there will be a period of very intense, potentially deceptive, false labor pains that are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. This presents the frightening scenario that at least a portion of the quickening pace of events (the false labor pains) will be experienced by the Church.

Does this mean we will see extensive persecution, global cataclysms, and the early stages of a well-orchestrated global deception that will cause men to doubt the Biblical world-view and exchange it for something more socially and scientifically palatable? We already are! Worldwide, Christians are being killed by the thousands annually. As we read earlier, the pace of events is quickening dramatically as we approach the end of the 20th century.

But could this scenario mean that we may see proof of alien reality or open contact before the Church is taken out? We believe that this is a distinct and disturbing possibility.

Jesus said that the coming deception would be so powerful that it would deceive, if possible, the very elect. As we have said, we believe to deceive the very "elect" it will take a convincing display of powerful, but lying signs and wonders. While this deception will be associated with an ecumenical, universalistic, "all roads are the same" message, such a message alone is not sufficient to explain the effect on the Church. Indeed, something radical, even unbelievable, must happen to cause millions of Bible-believing Christians to abandon their faith for a while.

Jesus spoke of such an event near the end of his ministry when asked about the signs before his coming. As he was enumerating the signs before his coming Jesus said,

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken... . And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:25-26, 28).

"Looking after those things which are coming on the earth." What a remarkable statement by Jesus! What things are going to be coming on Earth? What catastrophe would cause men's hearts to fail them? What would it take to cause millions of believers to seriously doubt and "fall away" from the Biblical world-view? While we can only speculate about the nature of these events, one thing is for certain, the appearance of alien ships in the skies of planet Earth would be the greatest shock in the history of mankind. It would shake the foundations of religious, scientific, and philosophical paradigms. It would cause many of God's elect to abandon, for a time, the Biblical world-view It would indeed cause the hearts of many men to fail!

According to Richard Boylan, Ph.D., a well-known UFO researcher, the effect of open alien contact on "Christian fundamentalists" has also been a point of concern among government operatives in the super-secret UFO research unit known as "the Aviary" According to Boylan, the Aviary is a "shadowy group of defense industry scientists and active/former military and intelligence officers, who have complete access to closely held UFO information."361

"One of the predictions is that there will be a very large rift in human society as a result of ET con-tact becoming publicly known. . . . The Aviary are quite concerned that fundamentalist Christians will experience spiritual, if not onto-logical, shock at the revelation of ET visitation, and over the reported contents of the Red and Yellow Books, which contain information that suggests that Jesus had some connection with the extraterrestrials. . . .


Some within the Aviary are concerned that the theological and religious social implications may be the most serious ones resulting from open extraterrestrial contact... . Adding more fuel to Aviary concerns, [there are] reports that a European television station reported that Vatican experts on the Fatima Prophecies held a reported briefing for government representatives from the U.K., France, Germany and the U.S., concerning the third remaining publicly unannounced Prophecy. This Prophecy is rumored to deal with ET Visitation. A spokesman for the Vatican reportedly con-firmed that such a briefing took place."

Although many millions of God's elect would, for a time, be deceived, millions more would see through the miracles per-formed by these Satanic forces and understand that what they are seeing is a carefully crafted deception. Their reluctance to accept alien entities as benevolent space brothers would, no doubt, result in significant persecution.

When the Church is raptured the Antichrist will most likely explain it away as an alien evacuation necessitated to achieve and preserve peace and facilitate the reeducation of the misguided malcontents! With the malcontents taken out of the way, his plan for global unification and ecumenism can go forward. To those left behind this explanation will seem very plausible.

The bottom line is that the sudden apostasy of millions of believers, a strong desire for unified global leadership, and "men's hearts failing them" from fear could all be "accom-plished" by the occurrence of open ET contact before the Church is taken out.

In the event that the Church is taken out before open ET con-tact, there will be tremendous confusion and fear. The chaos and uncertainty will facilitate the appearance and rise to power of a charismatic leader. His ability to explain away the disappearance of millions of people, coupled with his plan for the peaceful unification of the nations, backed by his ability to perform signs and wonders, will bring about widespread worship and devotion to the Coming World Leader and his plan for mankind. Ultimately, this "Idol Shepherd"362 will draw the nations of the world to battle against Jesus Christ in the Valley of Megiddo.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

Many books have been written about the "Battle of Armageddon," which itself has become an idiom of our language, even among non-Biblical writers. What is astonishing about this final conflict is that the world will be taking up arms against God!

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set them-selves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, `Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.' He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision"363 (Psalm 2:1-4).

The notion that the kings of the earth would even attempt to war against God is an aspect of the end times that has puzzled Bible scholars for centuries. Indeed, the psalmist tells us that "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh" at the notion. What could possibly compel the leadership of planet Earth to be drawn into such a senseless scenario? Will these leaders really believe that they are going to battle against God, or are they victims 174

of "bad intelligence"? According to David Allen Lewis, author of UFOs: End Time Delusion, we get a hint of possible extraterrestrial involvement in the Battle of Armageddon in the book of Revelation.

As we have read, there are different categories of "aliens" recognized by researchers. In chapter 6 we read about the Reptilians, a group of humanoid alien entities with frog-like faces that some in the New Age movement believe were our creator gods. In the book of Revelation the Apostle John gives us a disturbing look at the final global conflict which is apparently orchestrated by entities that closely resemble descriptions of the Reptilians:

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings

of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:13-14)

Like a scene out of the movie "V," these "spirits of devils" convince the world that they are our benevolent creator-saviors by performing lying signs and wonders for the kings of the earth. Once the kings of the earth are fully convinced of their deity, these fallen angels, masquerading as Reptilian "aliens," begin to describe the coming of a "bad ET" who will come in the clouds with ten thousands of his followers. With their awe-some power and the persuasive leadership of the Antichrist, they will draw the kings of the earth into a battle against Jesus Christ, whom they will have portrayed as that "bad ET" who must be stopped at all costs!

Is it possible that the preparations for this cosmic conflict have already begun? Is the gigantic delusion already being positioned? Are the UFOs, alien intrusions, and "New Age" rationales the beginning of the demonic preparation for this "interplanetary" conflict?

FINAL THOUGHTS

In the book of Acts the Apostle Paul encourages us to be like the Bereans, who were "more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). This is where Paul encourages you not to believe anything that we tell you, but to check it out for yourself.

Throughout this chapter we have endeavored to present a thesis which is based on our understanding of Scripture and our belief that our 20th-century alien visitors are none other than fallen angels who have invaded our culture for the purpose of distracting and deceiving mankind.

There will be those who will no doubt argue that Satan and his cohorts are incapable of creating alien ships and masquerading as extraterrestrials. However, when we look care-fully at the capabilities of angelic beings, as we will in the next chapter, we find that angelic beings have extraordinary ability and power to manipulate matter within our space-time domain.

Others will argue that the UFO phenomenon is incapable of generating a global ecumenical religious belief system. And yet, even without open extraterrestrial contact, tens of millions of people embrace ETs as our saviors with a fervor seldom matched by most Christians. In his foreword to Jacques Vallee's book Dimensions, Whitley Strieber discusses the profound religious implications of the UFO phenomenon:

"It is a social issue of the utmost importance, because it has all the potential of a truly powerful idea to enter unconscious mythology and there to generate beliefs so broad in their scope and deep in their impact that they emerge with religious implications for the surrounding culture. The only thing now needed to make the UFO myth a new religion of remarkable scope and force is a single undeniable sighting."364

With our insights into the nature, agenda, and purposes of Antichrist, Strieber's observation presents the chilling possibility that a global, ecumenical religion that generates "beliefs so broad in their scope and deep in their impact" could be built around the UFO motif. All that is needed, according to Strieber, is "a single undeniable sighting."

The power of the UFO phenomenon to inspire religious awe is even confirmed by Jacques Vallee:

"I think the stage is set for the appearance of new faiths, centered on the UFO belief. To a greater

degree than all the phenomena modem science is confronting, the UFO can inspire awe, the sense of the smallness of man, and an idea of the possibility of contact with the cosmic. The religions we have briefly surveyed began with the miraculous experiences of one person, but today there are thousands for whom the belief in other-worldly contact is based on intimate conviction, drawn from what they regard as personal contact with UFOs and their occupants."365

That Satan will exploit this power in the near future we believe is certain, but the good news is told by the Apostle John:

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).

Amen!


CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE ULTIMATE HYPERDIMENSIONAL

The capabilities of angels are obviously quite

formidable, yet there is One who eclipses even

them beyond all comprehension. He is clearly

the ultimate remedy we have against these strange

forces, but let's attempt to get the entire picture

in perspective.


THE SCARLET THREAD

God declared war on Satan and announced his plan for the redemption of all that Adam had lost.366 In Eden, God promised a redeemer, the "seed of the woman," through whom mankind would be freed from the power of Satan and death.36' This began a string of Messianic promises, each with incremental additional revelations of the details of God's plan of redemption. This was God's love letter, ultimately written in blood on a wooden cross which was erected in Judea almost 2,000 years ago.

God's program will also result in a final cosmic collision and an open warfare between the physical and spiritual worlds. Some have conjectured that the UFOs are, somehow, a preparation for that coming conflict.

A revealing perspective of the Biblical panorama emerges when one recognizes that the entire cosmic drama is one in which Satan repeatedly attempts to thwart God's plan. As God incrementally reveals each additional detail, Satan more closely focus his subsequent attacks.

God has a destiny for mankind—Mr. and Mrs. Man—that is so fantastic that Adam's fallen race could not attain it unaided. To enable mankind, God established a program through which he would substitute his own eligibility on man's behalf. But God's plan required a pure kinsman of Adam to fulfill the requirements of God's nature (reflected in God's laws) on Adam's behalf. Thus, one of Satan's initial stratagems was an attempt to adulterate the human genealogies—and the potential Messianic line—by the incursions of the fallen angels, as we reviewed in chapter 10. However, God's gambit with Noah thwarted this early attempt.

As God revealed that his plan would be accomplished through Abraham,3fi8 Satan singled Abraham out for special attacks on his seed, etc.369

As we encounter Pharaoh's attempts to destroy the Jewish babies37) and his later attempts to wipe out the entire nation,37 we can again see Satan's invisible hand behind it all.

When Israel is to enter the Promised Land of Canaan, they find that it has been populated with "giants" (the Rephaim, et al) in apparent anticipation of their arrival.'"

When God reveals that his plan will be established through the house of David,373 Satan focuses his attack on David's line. As one carefully analyzes the details of the continuing narrative, when Jehoram kills his brothers,374 when the Arabians slew all the heirs but Ahazariah, when Athaliah kills all (except Joash),375 in each instance we see the Satanic intrigues continuing. When Hezekiah is assaulted, etc.,376 the same theme is being played out.

When God pronounces a blood curse on the royal line in the days of Jeconiah,37 there may have been celebration within the counsels of Satan. They probably assumed that God was now over a barrel. The Messiah was to be eligible for the throne of David, of the lineage of David, yet now there was a curse on the royal line. (I always imagine God saying to the heavenly angels, "Watch this one!")

We then find this apparent paradox resolved when we compare the genealogies of Matthew and Luke. Matthew, as a true Jew would, presents Jesus as the Messiah the King. Consequently, he initiates his genealogy with Abraham, the "first Jew," and continues through David, Solomon, etc., to Joseph, the legal father of Jesus.

Luke, however, as a physician, focuses on Jesus as the Son of Man, and so his genealogy starts with Adam. From Abraham to David they are identical. However, when Luke gets to David, he takes a surprising turn. Instead of going through Solomon, he connects through Nathan, the second son of Bathsheba. This line continues to Heli, the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus.378 Thus, by means of the virgin birth, Satan's hopes are again foiled! Jesus is, indeed, of the house and lineage of David, thus eligible for the throne, but not subject to the "blood curse" upon the descendants of Jeconiah!

These intrigues are even visible in the days of the Persian Empire, with Haman's attempts to eradicate the Jews in the days of Esther.379 Again, God's hand delivers his people.

The drama continues in the New Testament with Joseph's fears regarding Mary's pregnancy,380 Herod's murder of the babes in his attempt to eradicate the potential heirs,381 etc. In Jesus' early ministry, a mob attempts to throw him off a cliff.382 Even the several storms on the Sea of Galilee seem to have supernatural aspects.383

The climax occurs at the cross at Golgotha. (These attempts by Satan to thwart God's plan are also summarized in Revelation 12.) Nor is Satan through yet! The UFOs and the apparent alien intrusions could be a continuing part of his plan. Indeed, all this may be included in the warning which the Lord Jesus gave us:

"As the days of Noah were, so shall the days of the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matthew 24:37)

SUPER ANGEL OR E.T.?

There are some that view Jesus as a kind of "Super Angel" or hyperdimensional "Extraterrestrial." Clearly, he did demonstrate many hyperdimensional capabilities. His ability to materialize and dematerialize, while yet being tangible, within a closed room, indicates that he possesses a dimensionality which is independent of the limitations of our three-dimensional spatial "reality" His ability to foretell the future indicates his nature is independent of our time domain.384 Conquering death, as validated by his resurrection, was, of course, the crowning achievement and is evidence of supremacy over the laws of physics.

There are some who have conjectured that Jesus' resurrection body enjoys at least 11 dimensions: nine spatial dimensions (which mathematically would permit "rotation" in and out of three-dimensional spaces) and at least two dimensions of time.385 There is also the more appealing assumption that Jesus enjoys the dimensionality of what mathematicians call a Hilbert space, a hyperspace of infinite dimensions.

Jesus' hyperdimensional nature is further exemplified by a cryptic statement he made to his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. After discussing aspects of heaven Jesus stated, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).

This is a fascinating insight into his extradimensional nature. Because Jesus possesses additional dimensions (or their equivalent) of spatial reality, he is able to be at all places simultaneously. This attribute, called omnipresence, is exclusively applied to God throughout the Biblical text and is further proof of Jesus' deity.

After just a brief examination of the scriptural claims regarding Jesus Christ, it becomes obvious that regarding him as a "Super Angel" is an untenable position. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews anticipated this view:

"Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom" (Hebrews 1:4-8).

Although Jesus shares a hyperdimensional nature with angelic beings, the writer of Hebrews makes it clear that his nature is "so much better than the angels." Indeed, the Bible is consistent as presenting Jesus as the very Creator of the physical universe and its life forms, including the angels!

The Apostle John opens his Gospel with this declaration, using "the Word of God" as His supreme title:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-3, 14).

Here the Apostle John indicates that Jesus Christ (the "Word," Logos) is not only the very Creator of all things, but that Jesus revealed his glory when he physically manifested himself in time and space. This portion of Scripture also reiterates the fact that Jesus Christ is independent of time. When time began ("in the beginning") the Word (Jesus) already was. He preexisted the time domain which, according to the insights of Einstein and others, we now know had a finite beginning.

His independence of the time domain is echoed by Paul the Apostle in 2 Timothy:

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before time [chronos in Greek] began" (2 Timothy 1:9).

Can someone go back in time? Jesus did! He went back, not to modify the past, but to fulfill both the past and the future—our future.

His role is amplified in Paul's letter to the Colossians:

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born [a term of position, 

not origin] of all creation: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers [these terms in the Greek refer to angelic ranks] : all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things held together [cohere; compacted together; constituted with]" (Colossians 1:15-17).

This passage can be applied to the structure of the atoms. There is an active force imposed upon the universe which actively holds the very atoms of the material together moment-by-moment, day-by-day, century-by-century. Similarly, the accelerated electrons circling the nucleus should quickly radiate their energy away and fall into the nucleus unless there existed an invisible energy source to counteract this. According to this verse, Jesus literally "sustains the universe by his mighty word of power."386

The disciples' belief that Jesus is, indeed, God "manifest in the flesh," is unequivocally proclaimed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16:

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in glory" (Timothy 3:16).

When was God "received up in glory"? In the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives 40 days after his resurrection.

In these few scriptures we see that there is a vast gulf between the nature of Jesus and mere angels. Jesus Christ as the eternally existent God "manifested in the flesh" created all things, including the angels and holds the very atomic structure of the universe together!

Those who would make Jesus an ancient astronaut or an extraterrestrial also err by failing to recognize the vast difference between his nature and the nature of alien entities. Even though our alien visitors seem to exhibit interdimensional, god-like capabilities (materializing, defying certain laws of physics, etc.), the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things—including the fallen angels who may now be masquerading as aliens in the 20th century. Jesus Christ him-self claimed to be the Creator of the universe and the very voice of the burning bush which confronted Moses:

`Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am [ego eimi]" (John 8:58).

The title "I Am" was the name that God applied to himself when he spoke to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. After Jesus applied this name to himself, the Jews that heard him picked up stones to kill him for equating himself with God. However, according to the text, "Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. "387

The fact that Jesus continually professed his deity did not get past the Jewish leadership of his day. After claiming that he and God his father "were one," they took up stones to kill him.388 Jesus then asked them, "Many good works I have shown you from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?" 

Their answer leaves no doubt that Jesus had continually professed his deity in their presence.

"The Jews answered him [Jesus], saying, `For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy and because you, being a man, make yourself God' " (John 10:33).

Claims by Jesus such as these leaves us only three possibilities:

1) That Jesus wasn't God and just thought he was. That would make him a lunatic or a New Ager! This hardly deals with the facts.

2) That Jesus wasn't God and knew he wasn't. That would make him a liar, a notion which is also totally inconsistent with the facts.

3) That Jesus was who he said he was. That would make him Lord of the Universe.

Lunatic? Liar? Or Lord? Which is it? And how can you tell? Not by miracles! They can be—in fact, are going to be—simulated, counterfeited, and replicated.

As we saw in chapter 13 of this book, the last days of planet Earth will be characterized by supernatural signs and wonders performed by Satan and his minions. In fact, most of the miracles performed by God will be counterfeited by Satan and the forces of darkness. The healing and resurrection of the "Antichrist" are but a few of the miracles Satan will yet perform.

This presents a problem. If Satan can duplicate the miracles of God, then "signs and wonders" cannot be used as the arbiter of truth. That is, we cannot determine whether someone or something is good or evil based on ability to perform "signs and wonders." So what can a person rely upon to determine truth from error? Jesus gives the key in his response to the Jewish leadership when they asked him for a sign to authenticate his messianic claim:

"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" [a prophecy!' (Matthew 12:38).

Jesus disparaged signs and wonders to authenticate his messianic claim. Why? Because signs and wonders will be counterfeited by the coming Antichrist. So instead of a sign to authenticate his messianic claim, Jesus gave them a prophecy.

We see powerful examples of Satan's power in the Old Testament. In Egypt, for example, after Moses and Aaron turned their rod into a serpent, Pharaoh's magicians Jannes and Jambres turned their rods into serpents, too!

"And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods" (Exodus 7: 10).


Many Bible teachers assume that Satan cannot create life, believing instead that this ability belongs to God alone. However, in this scripture we find that Satan, acting through the sorcerers and magicians, was able to convert nonliving matter into (apparently) living serpents. In the subsequent verses we find that the magicians and sorcerers were also able to create a plague of frogs and turn the Nile to blood!

In the book of Revelation we find another disturbing account, where the false prophet brings an inanimate idol of the Antichrist to life:

"He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed" (Revelation 13:15).

The purpose of giving life to the image was to cause people to worship the Antichrist, the "son of perdition," and vicariously to Satan himself. Obviously such miracles will convince the multitudes that the Antichrist is a "god," and the promised Messiah who is worthy of worship. Several prominent Bible teachers, including Hal Lindsey and Dave Hunt, have suggested that this Coming World Leader may either be an "alien" or boast of an alien connection.

The deceitfulness of miracles and the superiority of prophecy is a prominent theme in the Bible.

The Apostle Peter, an eyewitness to hundreds of Jesus' miracles, nevertheless elevates prophecy over signs and wonders, even over "eyewitness" accounts!

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:16—20).

This is a remarkable claim. Peter had personally seen Jesus heal multitudes of blind, deaf, lame, and leprous individuals. He had even seen Jesus raise the dead! And yet, Peter said that we have "a more sure word of prophecy" Why?

It turns out that God's ability to foretell history distinguishes him from Satan and the powerful forces of darkness. It demonstrates his total independence and transcendence of our time domain—something which neither Satan, nor the fallen angels, nor any alien entity can do.

It's fascinating to note that God appeals to this prophetic ability as the proof of his deity. He mocks the false prophets and their gods for their inability to match this ability:

"`Present your case,' says the LORD. `Bring forth your strong reasons,' says the King of Jacob. `Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; let them show the former things, what they were, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare to us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; yes, do good or do evil, that we may be dismayed and see it together- (Isaiah 41:21—23).

Realizing that no one can counterfeit his prophetic ability, God highlights the implications of this unique ability:

"Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them" (Isaiah 42:9).

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isaiah 46:9—10).

PROPHECY: THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS

During the intimate gathering of Jesus with his disciples at the Last Supper, on the night before he was crucified, Jesus also appealed to his prophetic ability as the proof of his deity. While breaking bread, Jesus foretold his betrayal by Judas Iscariot and his coming crucifixion. Jesus then told the disciples, "Now I tell you before it comes, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am" (John 13:19). The disciples were to understand that by predicting the one who would betray him, they should understand that he is God, the "I Am" who spoke to Moses at the burning bush.

We believe that the importance of this insight cannot be over emphasized. Jesus Christ elevated the importance of the prophetic word far above the performance of signs and wonders. According to the Apostle Peter, faith in the messianic claim and deity of Jesus Christ was to come by the Word of God. This is echoed by Paul the Apostle: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Faith does not come by sight and the performance of signs and wonders. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God! This is why it is important for churches to emphasize the Word of God—so that faith can be built in the heart of the believer in Jesus Christ. This is also why God rarely uses signs and wonders to convince people of his existence. If someone can be converted by signs, they can be led away by them as well. But the Word of God has the power to convert the soul to the true and living God, Jesus Christ. Finally, according to the book of Revelation it is prophecy–not miracles–that testifies of Jesus.

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10).

FALSE PROPHETS SHALL ARISE

Now the skeptic will argue here that aliens and psychics have indeed told the future. However, there are many examples of false prophecies that have been given by contactees over the last 40 years. The first edition of Project World Evacuation stated that the alien evacuation of planet Earth would take place in the early 1980s. As we saw in chapter 13, John Keel, in his book Operation Trojan Horse, pointed out that numerous contactees have been told false predictions by alien entities:

"The UFOs do not seem to exist as tangible, manufactured objects. They do not confolin to the accepted natural laws of our environment. They seem to be nothing more than transmogrifications tailoring themselves to our abilities to understand. The thousands of contacts with the entities indicate that they are liars and put-on artists. The UFO manifestations seem to be, by and large, merely minor variations of the age-old demonological phenomenon. Officialdom may feel that if we ignore them long enough, they will go away altogether, taking their place with the vampire myths of the Middle Ages."389

Keel pointed out that in the 1960s many people were told of catastrophic events that would shortly come to pass by their alien contacts. As a result, many people quit their jobs, moved out of state, and arranged their lives in order to avoid the events. When they did not occur, the lives of those who were deceived were so disrupted that many took years to recover. Such false prophecy is commonplace in the annals of UFO contact. This points out the fact that Satan and his minions, though able to transcend the spatial limitations of our three-dimensional universe, are not independent of, nor can they supersede, the time domain. Thus, true prophecy is not within the capability of Satan or the forces of darkness.

What about psychics? In the 1990s the popularity of psychics has risen enormously as people look for answers for their problems. The "Heaven's Gate Cult" is but one grim example. How do we explain a psychic's apparent ability to know intimate details about a person's past. Satan and his minions are apparently confined to a knowledge of the past and the present as we are. Unlike God, they cannot see forward in the time domain to gain a detailed knowledge of the future. But, Satan does have the resources and ability to know history! We can presume that Satan, like a well-equipped intelligence department chief, has his agents strategically placed to gather necessary information to reveal an individual's past. While they ostensibly display a limited proficiency at telling one's past, psychics are woefully inadequate at predicting the future. If Satan and the forces of darkness actually knew minute details about the near future, then investment institutions would need only consult their staff psychic on tomorrow's price of every stock on the NYSE and we could all be billionaires!

Furthermore, if Satan had a detailed knowledge of the future then he would never have inspired Judas Iscariot to betray Christ. This was the biggest blunder he ever made, because it resulted in the vicarious, sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, providing the way of atonement for the sins of mankind and fulfilling the very program that Satan had been trying for centuries to thwart.

In the Bible we are given an "acid test" we can apply to any-one claiming to be a prophet of God. Anyone who is a true prophet of God must prophesy with 100 percent accuracy!

"But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my [God's] name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. . . . When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him"39° Deuteronomy 18:20, 22).

All of this is why it is of such paramount importance to discover what is God's plan, how has it been fulfilled to date, and what is on the horizon! It is time for each of us to rediscover the Bible and do our own homework!

HIS RETURN

In the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's famous dream, we saw the "stone cut without hands" strike the image at its feet and become a "mountain" which filled the whole earth. Strange as it may seem, this "stone" is a commonly employed idiom for the Messiah.391 As we previously reviewed, it will be in the days of this final empire that the Messiah intervenes and establishes his reign upon the earth.

Even among many ostensible Christians, this will be doubted:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4).

(Note how this skepticism is linked with the theory of evolution. Both views deny the involvement of the Creator in his program from the beginning to the end.)

When Jesus Christ comes with his armies,392 he will be recognized by his wounds!

"... and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" (Zechariah 12:10).

Even secular researchers have concluded that the UFOs and their occupants are demonic. Their message reveals their reality and their agenda. They deal in deception, they are part of an ultimate deception of cosmic proportions, and you are one of their ultimate targets! Are you prepared? Or are you a sitting duck?

The strange reports reviewed in this book are only a prologue. The cosmic (spiritual) battle is going to become increasingly visible. The strange entanglements of the Heaven's Gate cult and other groups are only a beginning.

YOUR OWN ACTION PLAN

Many of the readers of this book will shrug all this off and join the vast majority embracing the New Age notions of neopaganism, pantheism, or other politically correct ideologies. Jesus anticipated this. He said,

"Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at; but strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

Are you going to be among those few? Or among the many? If you are going through a popular gate, you may have chosen the wrong one!

The mystery of death throws shadows over even the most care-free human life. None of us is truly indifferent to the possible issues concerning our personal eternity. The fall and eternal ruin of an immortal spirit is the most dreadful tragedy imaginable.

Yet, God's mercy is unobligated and sovereign:

"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion" (Romans 9:15).

We do well not to murmur at this. The incarnate God, who has suffered vicariously and personally more than anyone else ever will or could, surely has the right to determine the method and extent of his own self-immolating compassion. The transgressor who assumes redemption as something to which he is entitled needs to consider God's rebuttal:

"Is it not lawful for me, to do what I will with mine own?" (Matthew 20:15).

He made this whole place. He is in command.

"Salvation" presupposes a prior damnation. In order to escape any danger, one must recognize and believe in the danger. Disbelief is sure destruction. We are commanded to fear hell. We need to be just as plain, solemn, and tender as Christ himself was on this topic.

Denial is no remedy. Denial is an error which obstructs repentance from sin, which in turn bars any pardon.

Consequently, no error is more fatal than universalism, the idea that there are many paths to God. While this is the cur-rent politically correct theology, those who advocate universal-ism, or the neo-paganism of the New Age, are gambling their eternity that the Bible is wrong!

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

If there were any other path to the throne of God, then the Father didn't answer Christ's prayer in Gethsemane.393 and he died in vain. Universalism attempts to mask retributive justice; it transmutes sin into misfortune instead of guilt; it translates suffering into mere chastisement; it converts the completed work of Christ into mere moral influence; and it makes salvation a debt due to man rather than an unmerited gift from God.

Fortunately, we are each the beneficiaries of God's love letter—a love letter written in blood on a wooden cross erected in Judea almost 2,000 years ago. This event has turned out to be the most cataclysmic event in the entire universe, and it directly impacts every one of us in more ways than we can possibly imagine.

C. S. Lewis gathers all this up very well in these words from Mere Christianity:

"God is going to invade this earth in force. But what is the good of saying you are on his side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream, and something else—something it never entered your head to conceive—comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us, and so terrible to others, that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we have really chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back, to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it."

CAN A CHRISTIAN BE ABDUCTED?

This question will prove to be among the most controversial of any which we have addressed. We have received letters from those who claim they are examples of those who have been abducted. We have been contacted by experts and senior executives of organizations who have had substantial experience in this strange arena. However, being "churched" is not enough to be adequate or even relevant to the potential of being abducted.

Demonic access of any kind requires the lowering of the gate of one's will. This can be initiated by a subtle "entry"—involvement in a seemingly "harmless" pursuit or game such as a "ouija" board, a seance, a party game, or something more serious. This can make you prey for the forces of darkness and eligible for the types of events or pseudo-events described in this book.

What's the remedy? You presently have access to the most powerful resource in the cosmos! You have direct access to the Throne Room of the Universe. And you have a prearranged appointment. Right now

There is One who is waiting to release you from the clutches of these strange malevolent forces. He is the One who has already demonstrated His victory, even over death itself. He is the only One who can set you free.

"If it were possible, they would deceive the very elect."394

Are you one of the "elect"? You can elect to be. Where do you presently stand? The church you attend has little to with it.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).

A personal relationship with Christ is your only protection. And right now He stands waiting for your response. Right now, in the privacy of your own will, you can seal your eternal destiny and put yourself out of reach of these strange plots against your own well-being.

1) Approach God's throne—right now—in the authority which Christ has already granted you, pleading the blood that was shed for you on that cross.

2) Acknowledge and renounce any and all previous involvement with the occult, with the forces of darkness, with Satan, or any of his minions.

3) Explicitly accept the pardon Christ has already purchased for you on that cross 2,000 years ago; then,

4) Share this commitment with someone you feel a deep trust spiritually.395

Recognize that if you have made this commitment you are God's and "they" cannot touch you. They very well may attempt to bluff you, but they cannot violate your own will unless you explicitly let them!

If you see a UFO, immediately call on God and plead his blood as your basis for 

immunity. And don't let yourself become hypnotized. It's serious business. Your eternal destiny is at stake. It's time to do your homework. It is our prayer that this book is but a beginning to the most exciting adventure in the history of the universe. (See also our appendix)

Drop us a line so that we can pray for you and send you some study materials."' There should also be a gift certificate in the back of this book for a provocative monthly intelligence journal you may find helpful. If it isn't there, just call us: (800) 546-8731. 


From "Alien Encounters", a book by Chuck Missler and Mark Eastman
https://khouse.org/