UFO conspiracy theorists often make the argument that Bronze Age biblical authors had no understanding of modern technology and, in ignorance, could only describe miracles and apparitions as the work of gods and angels.
The doctrine of "panspermia", the idea that life was created or manipulated by aliens is substantiated by the myths and legends of every ancient culture on the earth. The writings and images left behind by the ancient Greeks, the Egyptians, the Hindus, the South Sea Islanders, the American Indians, and virtually all the others raise interesting questions. And the Old Testament has some very compelling references in its source material.
Indeed, up until the 4th Century's "Sons of Seth" heresy the early church taught and fully understood that fallen angels had mated through humans. The strange events recorded in Genesis 6 were understood by ancient rabbinical sources, as well as the Septuagint translators (the name given to the Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures 300-200 BC), as referring to fallen angels procreating hybrid offspring with human women called the "Nephilim".
Ephesians 6:12 passage stated that violent angelic enemies of mankind occupy the heavens. "Outer Space" may seem a slight stretch, but Strong's Greek translation of Eph 6:12's "High Places" ("Above the sky, celestial..." above) would include this realm.
The book of the Jubilees remarks that Jared or Yeh-red, an Old Testament patriarch, was so called because in his days the angels descended upon the earth. Yaw-rad means "descend". It is interesting to note that Jordan comes from that same root word denoting "descent, coming down or falling" and Yar-dane is "the place of the descent".
Revelation 12:7-8 "And there was war in heaven": Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.
Just what are angels? The Bible says angels are "Ministering Spirits" (Hebrews 1:14). They are beings of a different nature than humans, but created by God and for God. It describes how they sometimes act, how they sometimes appear. It also details what they sometimes do.
If one studies all the passages in the bible that mention angels, one will see that the angel is a very powerful being that can:
- Appear as normal human beings, undetected (Genesis 19:1-29, Hebrews 13:2) .
- Appear as bright, shining beings that terrify those who see them (Matthew 28:2-7).
- Appear to animals, but invisible to humans (Numbers 22:21-40).
- Appear in flames of fire (Exodus 3:2) and in dreams (Matthew 1:20-24)
One thing is certain, such miracles and apparitions as chronicled in the bible would be perceived very differently today.
