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The Bible and Flying Saucers

Barry H. Downing
Sphere
ISBN: 0-7!-"0#-$
Contents:
%bou& The %u&hor
Foreword To The Bri&ish 'di&ion
(re)ace
!. Space and &he Bible
. *ha& Is &he (robabili&y Tha& Flying Saucers '+is&,
". The -ld Tes&a.en& and Flying Saucers
/. The New Tes&a.en& and Flying Saucers
$. *here Is Hea0en,
1. Flying Saucers and &he Fu&ure
%ppendi+ !
%ppendi+
No&es
Selec&ed Bibliography
About The Author
Barry H. Downing is (as&or o) Nor&h.ins&er (resby&erian 2hurch3 'ndwell3 New 4or5. He was born in
Syracuse3 N.4.3 in !#"6. He recei0ed a B.%. degree )ro. Har&wic5 2ollege3 where he .a7ored in
physics3 a B.D. degree )ro. (rince&on Theological Se.inary and a (h.D. degree )ro. &he 8ni0ersi&y o)
'dinburgh3 New 2ollege3 where he speciali9ed in &he rela&ion be&ween science and religion.
Foreword To The British Edition
I& has been )i0e years since &he original publica&ion o) &his boo53 and i& is only appropria&e &ha& I .a5e
so.e co..en&s concerning .y unders&anding o) &he con&inued 0alidi&y o) &his wor5. I a. .ore
con0inced &han e0er &ha& &he Biblical )ai&h was s&rongly in)luenced by3 i) no& delibera&ely caused by3
beings )ro. ano&her world3 where0er and wha&e0er &ha& world .ay be.
I a. no& .a5ing any basic changes in &he &e+& o) &his wor53 al&hough .y e+ercise concerning &he
:probabili&y: &ha& we will place a .an on &he .oon see.s unusual now &ha& i& has happened. Bu& &he
e+ercise was 0ery real when I did i&3 and I only hope .y o&her :guesses: in &his boo5 &urn ou& &o be as
accura&e as &ha& one. I& is wor&h no&ing &ha& so.e&i.e a)&er .en had landed on &he .oon3 se0eral people
in a .a7or %.erican ci&y did no& belie0e i& had happened. They all &hough& i& a &ric5 played by &he
&ele0ision people. The whole ;ues&ion o) wha& &o belie0e and wha& no& &o belie0e is indeed di))icul&.
I& is especially appropria&e &ha& a Bri&ish edi&ion o) .y wor5 be published3 since Bishop <ohn %.T.
=obinson s&i.ula&ed .e &o disco0er so.e al&erna&i0e answers &o &he ;ues&ions he raised in Hones& &o
>od. %lso3 i& was while I was a s&uden& a& &he 8ni0ersi&y o) 'dinburgh &ha& &he &hesis )or &his boo5
de0eloped3 and in )ac& I heard Bishop =obinson deli0er a lec&ure while I was &here.
The only chap&er o) &his boo5 which .igh& ha0e needed serious re0ision is 2hap&er Two3 :*ha& is &he
(robabili&y &ha& Flying Saucers '+is&,: Bu& in )ac& &hings ha0e no& changed .uch. The go0ern.en&s o)
&he world s&ill clai. 8F-s do no& e+is&. %nd people con&inue &o clai. &hey see 8F-s. -n &he one hand3
since &his boo5 was originally published3 Dr. 'dward 2ondon has published &he Scien&i)ic S&udy o)
8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&s3 a s&udy sponsored by &he 8.S. %ir Force3 which concludes &here is no
proo) &ha& 8F-s are space 0ehicles )ro. ano&her world. %& &he sa.e &i.e3 al.os& one &hird o) &he cases
considered by Dr. 2ondon:s group were )inally labeled as :uniden&i)ied:? &ha& is3 &here is no 5nown
e+plana&ion.
There is no proo)3 bu& &here is e0idence. (erhaps &he .os& i.por&an& boo5 on 8F-s is Dr. <. %llen
Hyne5:s The 8F- '+perience3 published in !#7. Dr. Hyne5 was )or &wen&y years 8.S. %ir Force
ad0isor on 8F-s3 and is chair.an o) &he Depar&.en& o) %s&rono.y a& Nor&hwes&ern 8ni0ersi&y. Dr.
Hyne5 concludes3 &en&a&i0ely3 &ha& 8F-s are a new scien&i)ic pheno.enon3 probably e+&ra&erres&rial in
origin. 2harles Bowen:s wor5 wi&h Flying Saucer =e0iew in 'ngland has also .ade a posi&i0e
con&ribu&ion &o &he whole 8F- issue. %& &his poin& I would say &here is so.e 8F- ac&i0i&y which
suppor&s .y &hesis3 and so.e &ha& does no&. I& will probably be so.e &i.e be)ore conclusi0e proo) is
a0ailable3 one way or &he o&her.
'rich 0on Dani5en:s boo5 2hario&s o) &he >ods, has o) course pro0ided archaeological e0idence &o
suppor& .y &hesis a& &he o&her end o) &he &i.e spec&ru.. @y boo5 hinges on pro0ing &ha& 8F-s are here
now3 and &ha& &hey were &here &hen - when &he Bible was de0eloped. I do no& reco..end 0on Dani5en
as a care)ul Biblical scholar3 nor as a &heologian3 bu& I &hin5 he has helped us .a5e so.e i.por&an&
psychological ad7us&.en&s.
I ha0e as5ed &he edi&ors &o include &wo ar&icles in &his edi&ion which were no& in &he original publica&ion
o) &his boo5. @y ar&icle :%ncien& %s&ronau&s and =eligion: A%ppendi+ iB is a general 0iew o) &he rela&ion
be&ween 0on Dani5en:s wor5 and .y own. This was originally published in &he 8.S.%. in &he
Bingha.&own '0ening (ress.
%lso &o be included as %ppendi+ is &he ar&icle =adia&ion Sy.p&o.s in '+odus3 originally published in
&he @ay-<une !#7 issue o) Flying Saucer =e0iew. *hile bo&h &hese ar&icles repea& so.e o) &he
concep&s in &he boo53 &hey bo&h also con&ain so.e new .a&erial which I belie0e is wor&h adding. These
ar&icles3 &oge&her wi&h &his )oreword3 see. &o .e &o bring &he boo5 su))icien&ly up &o da&e.
I a. 0ery &han5)ul &ha& .y wor5 will now ha0e a wider reading in Bri&ain. I& is &he ho.e o) .y
ances&ors3 .y second ho.e3 and &he bir&hplace o) .y older son. I hope &his wor5 will s&i.ula&e all who
read i& &o wonder in a new way wha& li)e and &he Scrip&ures are abou&.
April 1973-B.H.D.
Pre!"e
In order &o be a scien&is&3 one .us& be willing &o .a5e obser0a&ions. Scien&is&s .a5e &re.endous e))or&s
&o build &elescopes so &ha& &hey can see grea& dis&ances in&o space3 or elec&ron .icroscopes so &ha& &hey
can obser0e .inu&e s&ruc&ures. Scien&is&s cons&ruc& all 5inds o) ins&ru.en&s such as 0ol&.e&ers and
oscilloscopes so &ha& &hey can obser0e &he in0isible.
Scien&is&s wan& &o loo5 a& &he e0idence. I &hin5 &ha& &here are probably .any reasons why we would
ra&her no& loo5 a& &he e0idence which sugges&s &ha& &here .ay be a rela&ion be&ween &he Biblical religion
and )lying saucers. Bu& I belie0e &ha& &he &i.e has co.e when i& will be wor&h our while &o begin &o
.a5e care)ul obser0a&ions concerning &he Biblical 0iew o) &he uni0erse and our presen&ly e.erging
0iew o) &he uni0erse.
*al&er Sulli0an:s boo5 *e %re No& %lone is no& a boo5 abou& )lying saucers3 bu& ra&her3 an accoun& o)
how &he his&ory o) science has led us up &o our presen& search )or li)e in space. '0en apar& )ro. &he idea
o) )lying saucers3 .odern science now see.s ;ui&e con0inced &ha& .an is no& alone in &he uni0erse. In
all probabili&y &here is li)e on .any plane&s &hroughou& &he uni0erse? ci0ili9a&ions .ay ha0e begun
space &ra0el long be)ore .en began &o 0en&ure abo0e &he sur)ace o) &he ear&h.
*ha& does &his ha0e &o do wi&h &he Biblical religion, @odern &heology3 such as &he :dea&h o) >od:
&heology3 is based on &he assu.p&ion &ha& .any o) &he Biblical repor&s are .y&hological - .a5e-belie0e.
Included in Biblical .y&hology was &he belie) &ha& &he Biblical people were )re;uen&ly 0isi&ed by
superior beings )ro. ano&her world. Theologians who de.y&hologi9e &hese beings - o)&en called angels3
or .essengers - do so in &he na.e o) .odern science. I& is no& clear &o .e how we can de.y&hologi9e
&he Biblical .a&erial in &he na.e o) science when in )ac& .odern science see.s ;ui&e con0inced &ha& in
all probabili&y &here are in &he uni0erse .any ad0anced ci0ili9a&ions in0ol0ed in space &ra0el.
*e canno& begin our Biblical s&udies wi&h &he assu.p&ion &ha& &he Biblical people were no& 0isi&ed by
superior beings )ro. ano&her world? a& leas& we canno& do so in &he na.e o) .odern science.
Fur&her.ore3 we do ha0e &he proble. o) )lying saucers wi&h us3 and i) &hey e+is&3 we canno& be sure
how long an ad0anced ci0ili9a&ion .ay ha0e been obser0ing our li)e on ear&h. *e .igh& ha0e &o &hin5
in &er.s o) an en&irely di))eren& &i.e scale )or such a ci0ili9a&ion: a &housand years .igh& be li5e a day.
2onse;uen&ly3 we really should loo5 a& &he Biblical .a&erial and &ry &o disco0er wha& &he beings )ro.
ano&her world were repor&ed &o ha0e done.
The hear& o) &he -ld Tes&a.en& religion is &he '+odus3 which repor&ed &ha& so.e&hing rese.bling a
space 0ehicle a :pillar o) cloud by day and pillar o) )ire by nigh&: - led &he Hebrew people ou& o) 'gyp&
up &o &he :=ed Sea: ho0ered o0er &he sea while i& par&ed3 and &hen led &he. in&o &he wilderness3 where an
:angel: proceeded &o gi0e &he. religious ins&ruc&ions. The )ac& &ha& so.e sor& o) 8niden&i)ied Flying
-b7ec& - 8F- - was repor&ed &o ha0e been presen& a& &he =ed Sea a& &he &i.e o) &he par&ing should cause
us &o desire a closer loo5.
The par&ing o) &he sea was3 o) course3 in i&sel) uni;ue - so .uch so3 in )ac&3 &ha& we should &hin5
seriously abou& &he ou&side )orce repor&ed &o ha0e been presen& a& &he &i.e o) &he par&ing. I personally
)ind &he sugges&ion &ha& &he par&ing o) &he =ed Sea was delibera&ely caused by in&elligen& beings in
so.e sor& o) space 0ehicle &o be &he .os& persuasi0e e+plana&ion a0ailable a& &he presen& &i.e.
There are o&her par&s o) &his boo5 which I belie0e are less credible3 including so.e o) .y specula&ions
concerning &he rela&ion be&ween 'ins&ein:s &heory o) rela&i0i&y and &he e+is&ence o) hea0en. I a. no& an
au&hori&y on 'ins&ein or on hea0en3 and I hope I can be )orgi0en where I ha0e .isrepresen&ed bo&h. Bu&
.odern &heology has argued &ha& we .us& &a5e &he resul&s o) &he physical sciences seriously3 and wi&h
&his I agree3 pro0ided we re.e.ber &he basically &en&a&i0e na&ure o) .os& scien&i)ic s&a&e.en&s. 4e&
while .odern &heologians ha0e said &ha& we .us& pay heed &o &he physical sciences3 &hese sa.e
&heologians ha0e .ainly been absorbed in &he psychological and social sciences.
Fro. wha& I obser0e concerning &he belie)s o) .odern science abou& space and abou& &he uni0erse3 and
&he Biblical belie)s abou& &he uni0erse3 aside )ro. &he )ac& &ha& &he Biblical language is no& &echnically
orien&a&ed3 i& appears &o .e &ha& &he rela&ionship be&ween &hese &wo world 0iews is s&ill ;ui&e open. This
boo5 is an a&&e.p& &o place &he world o) &he Bible and our Cworld o) space &ra0el3 )lying saucers3 and
rela&i0i&y &heory side by side and obser0e any rela&ionships be&ween &he &wo worlds. -ur conclusions
abou& wha& we see .ay be &en&a&i0e3 bu& i& is s&ill scien&i)ic &o loo5.
I wish &o &han5 &hose who ha0e helped3 direc&ly or indirec&ly3 wi&h &his boo5. The idea )or &he
.anuscrip& ger.ina&ed during .y las& year o) s&udy a& &he 8ni0ersi&y o) 'dinburgh3 New 2ollege3 in
Sco&land. During &his period I was in0ol0ed in an e+a.ina&ion o) Biblical and scien&i)ic concep&s o)
space under &he super0ision o) (ro)essor <ohn @cIn&yre and (ro)essor T.F. Torrance. This .anuscrip&
was wri&&en a)&er I re&urned &o &he 8ni&ed S&a&es3 so &ha& nei&her (ro)essor @cIn&yre nor (ro)essor
Torrance has seen i&3 and ye& wi&hou& &he bac5ground I recei0ed in 'dinburgh &his boo5 would no& ha0e
been wri&&en. I a. 0ery .uch indeb&ed &o bo&h .en )or &heir &i.e and ad0ice in &he pas&3 al&hough &hey
can in no way be bla.ed )or &he ideas or errors in &his boo5.
I a. indeb&ed &o Dr. <a.es @. Boice )or his long )riendship and )or his willingness &o read &he
.anuscrip&3 as well as &o &he =e0erend 2harles >. Harris )or his e0alua&ion o) &he .anuscrip&3 and &o
&he =e0erend >eorge @. =ynic5 no& only )or his discussion o) &he .anuscrip&3 bu& also )or bis
encourage.en& in see5ing publica&ion.
I ha0e sough& ad0ice concerning .odern concep&s o) rela&i0i&y )ro. Dr. *illia. =odgers3 ha0e
discussed &he .a&he.a&ical proble.s o) space &opology wi&h @r. Da0id %ndersen3 and ha0e recei0ed
assis&ance )ro. @r. Da0id Schrader in &he collec&ion o) .a&erial concerning )lying saucers. I a. also
indeb&ed &o .y in-laws3 &he =e0erend and @rs. T. %. Schrader3 )or &heir suppor& while I was wri&ing &he
.anuscrip&3 and &o .y paren&s3 @r. and @rs. Fran5lin Downing3 who ha0e long encouraged .y s&udies3
and who lis&ened pa&ien&ly while I read &he .anuscrip& &o &he.. Finally3 o) course3 I a. indeb&ed .os&
&o &he person &o who. &his boo5 is dedica&ed - .y wi)e3 who suppor&ed .e during &hree years o)
se.inary s&udy a& (rince&on3 encouraged .e &o &a5e on )ur&her s&udy in 'dinburgh which o)&en did no&
appear &o be bearing )rui&3 and aside )ro. all &his has been a good wi)e and .o&her.
B.H.D.
1 - #p!"e And The Bible
$h!t% - The Bible And Fl&in' #!u"ers%
Be)ore you beco.e ei&her e+&re.ely angry or e0en .ore e+&re.ely a.used because so.eone is
a&&e.p&ing &o lin5 &oge&her &he Bible and )lying saucers3 consider &he )ollowing: A!B D
A!B *e li0e in an age in which &heologians A.en who are supposed &o be on >od:s sideB are wri&ing
abou& &he :dea&h o) >od.: AB This .a5es so.e people angry and o&hers laugh3 and I can sy.pa&hi9e
wi&h bo&h e.o&ions. I &hin53 howe0er3 &ha& i& is no .ore ridiculous &o &al5 abou& &he rela&ion be&ween &he
Bible and )lying saucers &han i& is &o describe >od:s )uneral.
AB To &hose who ha0e read &heir Bibles I now raise &he )ollowing ;ues&ion: *hy do angels .a5e so
.any appearances in &he Bible, The :dea&h o) >od: &heologians say &ha& angels are3 so &o spea53 :.a5e
belie0e:? &hey are :.y&hological: - angels do no& really e+is&. Bu& &he Bible argues -in e))ec& - &ha& &he
angels caused &he religion o) &he Bible3 under >od:s direc&ion. 2onsider &he )ollowing. Suppose &ha& in
)i0e hundred years hu.ans on ear&h should ad0ance &echnologically in &he space age &o &he poin& where
we were &o &ra0el &o ano&her world in a space ship and disco0er in&elligen& beings who were
scien&i)ically pri.i&i0e. Suppose &ha& 2hris&ian .issionaries were &o &ra0el in space &o &his plane& &o &ry
&o con0er& &hese pri.i&i0e people &o 2hris&iani&y. How would &hese people &al5 abou& our .issionaries,
The Bible see.s &o sugges& &ha& angels are 0ery .uch li5e .issionaries )ro. ano&her world.
A"B I& is &rue &ha& I do no& ha0e absolu&e proo) &ha& )lying saucers e+is&3 bu& so .any people ha0e seen -
or clai. &o ha0e seen - )lying saucers &ha& &he &er. is co..onplace. I do no& e0en need &o de)ine wha&
)lying saucers are. '0en i) &hey do no& e+is&3 e0eryone 5nows wha& &hey areE Bu& I belie0e &here is a
good possibili&y &ha& )lying saucers do e+is&3 and &ha& &hey carry in&elligen& beings )ro. ano&her world.
2ould &hese be &he sa.e :.issionaries: who s&ar&ed &he Biblical religion, 4ou cer&ainly ha0e &he righ& a&
&his poin& &o answer3 :-) course no&? i& is i.possible.: I can unders&and how i.possible i& .us& see.3 bu&
I ha0e )ound &he e0idence e+&re.ely in&eres&ing.
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FDG Superior nu.erals re)er &o &he No&es a& &he end o) &he &e+&.
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The cen&ral e0en& in &he -ld Tes&a.en& is &he '+odus? &he Hebrew people were sla0es in 'gyp&3 so &he
Bible repor&s3 and >od sen& an :angel: &o @oses and called hi. &o lead &he Israeli&es ou& o) 'gyp&. %)&er
0arious plagues ca.e upon &he 'gyp&ians3 &he Israeli&es escaped3 and )or &he ne+& )or&y years :&he Hord
wen& be)ore &he. by day in a pillar o) cloud &o lead &he. along &he way3 and by nigh& in a pillar o) )ire
&o gi0e &he. ligh&3 &ha& &hey .igh& &ra0el by day and by nigh&: '+odus !":!. This s&range aerial ob7ec&
loo5ed cloudli5e during &he day and glowed in &he dar53 a descrip&ion o)&en associa&ed wi&h .odern
)lying saucers.
'0en&ually &his s&range :cloud: see.ed &o de)ea& &he 'gyp&ians in ba&&le? i& ga0e guidance and
ins&ruc&ions &o @oses3 and &his :angel: )ro. >od e0en pro0ided @oses wi&h &he Ten 2o..and.en&s.
Howe0er unli5ely i& .ay see.3 &he Bible repor&s &ha& during &he cen&ral e0en& o) &he -ld Tes&a.en& -&he
'+odus - so.e 5ind o) space ob7ec& was always presen&3 and &he Biblical people belie0ed &ha& &his
ob7ec& was sen& )ro. ano&her world. *e will in0es&iga&e &he ac&i0i&y o) &his :pillar o) cloud: in grea&er
de&ail in 2hap&er III. The New Tes&a.en& )ocuses on &he person o) a .an
na.ed <esus3 who is recorded &o ha0e said 4ou are )ro. below3 I a. )ro. abo0e? you are o) &his word3
I a. no& o) &his world: A<ohn 6:"B. <esus o)&en clai.ed &o ha0e co.e )ro. ano&her world? he is
repor&ed &o ha0e had con&ac& wi&h beings )ro. ano&her world3 such as during his =esurrec&ion )ro. &he
dead. He accep&ed &he &eaching o) @oses3 and clai.ed &o be par& o) a whole plan which included &he
-ld Tes&a.en& religion. %)&er <esus had )inished his .inis&ry on ear&h3 &he Bible repor&s &ha& he was
&a5en o)) in&o space in so.e&hing which .igh& be a space 0ehicle. The disciples were ga&hered wi&h
<esus on &he @oun& o) -li0es 7us& ou&side <erusale.3 and when he )inished spea5ing :as &hey F&he
disciplesG were loo5ing on3 he was li)&ed up3 and a cloud &oo5 hi. ou& o) &heir sigh& A%c&s !:#B.
Bu& how could <esus ha0e been &a5en o)) in&o space in a cloud, The way &he Bible spea5s abou& &he li)e
o) <esus cer&ainly .a5es one suspec& &ha& his whole @e is a highly i.probable s&ory. How gullible can
a scien&i)ically .inded &wen&ie&h-cen&ury person be, *e would no& e+pec& an ordinary hu.an being &o
do &he &hings <esus did. Bu& &he Bible .ain&ains &ha& <esus was no& an ordinary hu.an being. He did no&
co.e )ro. our world? he ca.e )ro. ano&her world3 and e0en&ually he re&urned &o &ha& world in a
:cloud.: -nce <esus as5ed3 :Then wha& i) you were &o see &he Son o) .an ascending where he was
be)ore,C A<ohn 1:1B. -rdinary whi&e3 )lu))y cu.ulus clouds do no& carry people o)) in&o space. In &he
space3 age I belie0e &ha& we are co.pelled &o as5: *as &his an ordinary cloud3 or was &his &he way &he
Bible described so.e sor& o) space 0ehicle,
This ascension :cloud: is one e+a.ple o) .any :8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&s: A8F-sB which are
described in &he Bible. There is no reason &o e+pec& Biblical people &o call a )lying saucer a )lying
saucer e0en i) &hey saw one. Bu& i) &hey should ha0e con&ac& wi&h a )lying saucer3 wha& would &hey call
i&, % :cloud:, *e do no& really belie0e &ha& )lying saucers ge& up )ro. our dinner &ables and carry people
abou&? I do no& &hin5 &ha& &he Biblical people belie0ed &ha& ordinary clouds carry people abou& in space.
*ha& we ha0e &o do is &o s&udy &he Biblical 8F-s? we shall disco0er &ha& 7us& as 8F- is a :shor&: )or.
)or 8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&3 so a :cloud: is &he Bible:s :shor&: )or. )or so.e sor& o) space 0ehicle
which see.s &o loo5 and opera&e 0ery .uch li5e .odern )lying saucers.
Bu& one has &he righ& &o as53 :I) &here is such an ob0ious rela&ion be&ween &he Bible and )lying saucers3
why has no& &his possibili&y recei0ed serious &heological a&&en&ion long be)ore now,: Flying saucers
ha0e been repor&ed )or se0eral years. *hy has no care)ul &heological s&udy been .ade,
-ne ob0ious reason is &ha& &he e+is&ence o) )lying saucers is highly suspec&. I) &hey do no& e+is&3 &hen
&hey canno& ha0e .uch o) a rela&ion &o &he Bible. Fur&her.ore3 i& is o)&en )alsely assu.ed &ha& )lying
saucers are a pos&-*orld *ar II pheno.enon3 so &ha& one would suppose &ha& &his :new: pheno.enon
could no& ha0e any&hing &o do wi&h an ancien& religion. %no&her reason is &ha& e0en i) &he e+is&ence o)
)lying saucers were pro0ed beyond reasonable doub&3 &he presen& s&a&e o) &heology presen&s a serious
barrier &o an i..edia&e s&udy o) a possible rela&ion be&ween &he Bible and )lying saucers. @odern
&heology assu.es &ha& &he 0arious beings )ro. ano&her world discussed in &he Bible are :.y&hological3:
.a5e-belie0e. *e shall e+a.ine &his proble. .ore care)ully in a .o.en&3 bu& real beings )ro. ano&her
world in )lying saucers Ai) &hey are realB could no& ha0e any rela&ion &o &he :.a5e-belie0e: beings in &he
Bible.
In regard &o &he )irs& proble.3 I canno& pro0e &ha& )lying saucers e+is&. I can say only &ha& since
&housands o) people ha0e repor&ed seeing s&range ob7ec&s in &he s5y3 i& see.s probable &ha& &hey are
seeing so.e&hing. They .ay be seeing sa&elli&es3 s&ars or clouds3 bu& &hey .ay be seeing .uch .ore.
Bu& I do no& ha0e &o be !00 per cen& cer&ain &ha& )lying saucers e+is& in order &o s&udy &he possible
rela&ion be&ween &he Bible and )lying saucers. The Bible repor&s &ha& &he =ed Sea par&ed and enabled
&he Hebrews &o escape )ro. &he 'gyp&ians.
I) I had &o be !00 per cen& cer&ain &ha& &he =ed Sea par&ed be)ore I s&udied &he repor& in &he Bible3 I
.igh& ne0er s&udy &he repor&. Bu& in )ac& I can s&udy and co.pare 0arious .odern 8F- repor&s and &he
Biblical 8F- repor&s wi&hou& ha0ing decided ahead o) &i.e precisely how accura&e or :real: &he repor&s
are. Thus3 al&hough &he uncer&ain s&a&e o) &he e+is&ence o) )lying saucers has probably delayed a care)ul
&heological co.parison o) .odern )lying-saucer repor&s wi&h &he Biblical repor&s o) s&range ob7ec&s in
&he s5y3 &his delay was no& an absolu&e necessi&y3 bu& ra&her3 a re)lec&ion o) &he generally s5ep&ical
&e.per o) our &i.es. @odern &heologians ha0e been li5e swi..ers who ha0e assu.ed &ha& &he wa&er
was &oo cold3 and ha0e no& e0en bo&hered &o &es& &he &e.pera&ure wi&h &heir )ee&.
Bu& e0en i) )lying saucers e+is&3 are &hey no& a .ode. pheno.enon, How could &hey ha0e any&hing &o
do wi&h &he Bible, %l&hough &he &er. )lying saucer is )airly new3 and al&hough &he 8F- :e+plosion:
occurred a)&er *orld *ar II3 wri&ers such as Donald Ieyhoe and Fran5 'dwards ha0e poin&ed ou& &ha&
repor&s o) s&range ob7ec&s in &he s5y ha0e been wi&h us )or cen&uries. 8F- wri&ers such as Iey-hoe and
'dwards sugges& &ha& )lying saucers .ay ha0e co.e &o ear&h in grea& nu.bers during and a)&er *orld
*ar II because o) our de0elop.en& o) nuclear power. This is no& &he only sugges&ion &hey o))er3 and I
&hin5 ano&her )ac&or bears considerable a&&en&ion.
@arshall @cHuhan has spen& considerable e))or& in illus&ra&ing &he )ac& &ha& elec&ronic de0ices such as
radio3 &ele0ision3 and radar are an e+&ension o) .an:s sensory sys&e. - his eyes3 ears3 and a sense o)
&ouch. Thus @cHuhan spea5s abou& 8nders&anding @edia: The '+&ensions o) @an. A"B During *orld
*ar II we de0eloped air &ra0el and began &o build roc5e&s? radar was in0en&ed and used3 and )inally3 as
&he cold war de0eloped3 &he ear&h was li&erally blan5e&ed wi&h elec&ronic sensing de0ices. %s we began
&o .o0e ou& in&o space in our planes3 and as people began &o loo5 up &o see .an-.ade ob7ec&s in &he
s5y3 &hey also began &o see o&her ob7ec&s. -ne really has no idea wha& sor& o) )ish are in &he sea un&il he
bai&s a hoo5 and drops i& in&o &he wa&er. I& .ay be &ha& )lying saucers are recen& arri0als. -r i& .ay be
&hey ha0e been &here all along - )or cen&uries - bu& &ha& we were .ore or less unaware o) &heir e+is&ence
because we only recen&ly de0eloped our s5y :)ishhoo5s: - our radar3 our planes and roc5e&s3 all o) which
are largely produc&s o) *orld *ar II.
Ha0e )lying saucers recen&ly .o0ed in&o our space3 or ha0e we only now .o0ed in&o &heir space, I)
&here is &he proble. o) whe&her or no& Flying saucers e+is&3 and i) &hey e+is&3 how long &hey ha0e
inhabi&ed our space3 &here is also &he proble. o) how open .odern &heology is &o discussing an already
di))icul& sub7ec&. The di))icul&y wi&h &heology3 i) i& &ries &o 5eep up wi&h science3 is &ha& &here is always a
:&ransla&ion lag: be&ween &he de0elop.en& o) cer&ain ideas in science and &he &ransla&ion o) &hese sa.e
ideas in&o &heological discussion. Thus a .an goes &o school during &he early par& o) &he &wen&ie&h
cen&ury3 s&udies science as i& is &hen3 begins wri&ing &heology by &he !#"0s3 gains &heological s&a&ure by
&he :/0s3 and )inally has his ideas populari9ed by &he :10s3 by which &i.e &he science on which &his
&heology was based is hal) a cen&ury ou& o) da&e.
%& &he beginning o) &he &wen&ie&h cen&ury scien&is&s were e+&re.ely s5ep&ical abou& &he e+is&ence o) li)e
anywhere else in &he uni0erse. I) you apply &his &hin5ing &o &he Biblical .a&erial3 you .igh& conclude
&ha& &he beings )ro. ano&her world repor&ed in &he Bible had &o be .y&hological - and o) course &hey
.igh& be. Bu& now3 in &he !#10s3 .os& scien&is&s are o) &he opinion &ha& &housands o) o&her plane&s in &he
uni0erse are probably inhabi&ed. Tha& is no& &o say &ha& all scien&is&s belie0e in )lying saucers3 bu& &he
)ac& is &ha& we ha0e .o0ed in&o &he space age? scien&i)ic &hin5ing abou& &he uni0erse has changed.
Bu& our .os& :.odern: &heology - &he :dea&h o) >od: &heology - is based on &heological assu.p&ions
which were in &urn based on scien&i)ic &hin5ing as i& was during &he )irs& par& o) &his cen&ury. This is
wha& I .ean by &he :&ransla&ion lag3: and I &hin5 &ha& i& will be use)ul &o e+a.ine brie)ly so.e o) &he
curren& &heological s&a&e.en&s abou& &he Biblical 0iew o) space &o illus&ra&e how &his :&ransla&ion lag: has
really blinded &heology &o any serious s&udy o) &he rela&ion be&ween &he Bible and )lying saucers.
Honest To (od - )s (od De!d%
How does &he sugges&ion &ha& <esus .ay ha0e been &a5en o)) in&o space in a )lying saucer )i& in&o &he
con&e+& o) curren& &heological deba&e, In )ac&3 &his &heory does no& )i& a& all. -ne o) &he .os& discussed
&heological boo5s o) &he presen& decade is Bishop <ohn %.T. =obinson:s Hones& &o >od. A/B This
2hris&ian Bishop argues &ha& &he &i.e has co.e when no 2hris&ian can in :all hones&y: belie0e in cer&ain
e0en&s which &he Bible describes. The Bible has an ou&da&ed :.a5e-belie0e: way o) loo5ing a& &he
world? bu& we in &he &wen&ie&h cen&ury ha0e grown up3 and i& is &i.e we learned &ha& &here is no San&a
2laus. -n &he 0ery )irs& page o) &he )irs& chap&er o) his boo5 =obinson says:
'0en such an educa&ed .an o) &he world as S& Hu5e can e+press &he con0ic&ion o) 2hris&:s ascension -
&he con0ic&ion &ha& he is no& .erely ali0e bu& reigns in &he .igh& and righ& o) >od - in &he crudes& &er.s
o) being :li)&ed up: in&o hea0en3 &here &o si& down a& &he righ& hand o) &he @os& High. He )eels no need &o
o))er any apology )or &his language3 e0en &hough he o) all New Tes&a.en& wri&ers was co..ending
2hris&iani&y &o wha& Schleier.acher called i&s :cul&ured despisers.:...
@oreo0er i& is &he &wo .os& .a&ure &heologians o) &he New Tes&a.en&3 S&. <ohn and &he la&er (aul3 who
wri&e .os& uninhibi&edly o) &his :going up: and :co.ing down.: A$B
Now i) I unders&and =obinson correc&ly3 he is sugges&ing &ha& while S&. Hu5e )el& no need :&o o))er any
apology: )or &he )ac& &ha& he spo5e o) &he %scension o) 2hris& in &he :crudes& &er.s3: Bishop =obinson
does )eel &he need &o apologi9e )or Hu5e:s use o) &his language. %ccording &o =obinson3 i) Hu5e did no&
5now be&&er &han &o record &he %scension passage3 all &hin5ing .en &oday 5now be&&er &han &o &ry &o
in&erpre& i& realis&ically3 despi&e &he )ac& &ha& &he passage reads li5e an e0en& anyone could ha0e
wi&nessed.
*hy has =obinson .en&ioned &he %scension o) 2hris& on &he )irs& page o) his )irs& chap&er o) Hones& &o
>od, He .igh& ha0e begun by saying how di))icul& i& is &o belie0e in &he =esurrec&ion o) 2hris&3 bu&
ins&ead he began wi&h &he %scension. I once heard a &heological pro)essor raise &he )ollowing rhe&orical
;ues&ion in his class: :No one &oday belie0es in &he %scension3 does he, No one in &he class ob7ec&ed &o
&he ;ues&ion or &ried &o argue in )a0or o) &he %scension3 and in all &he :hones& &o >od: deba&es3 I ha0e
read no solid argu.en&s agains& Bishop =obinson:s opening words regarding &he %scension. =obinson
has in a sense led wi&h an ace? his )irs& card was one he &hough& could no& be bea&en. The ;ues&ion is:
2an &he concep& o) )lying saucers in rela&ion &o &he %scension &ru.p his ace, *hen Bishop =obinson
.en&ioned &ha& <esus was :li)&ed up3: he )ailed &o add &ha& &he Bible pro0ided a 0ehicle - a :cloud: - &o do
&he li)&ing. I& .ay see. highly unli5ely &ha& <esus had any&hing &o do wi&h )lying saucers3 and ye& in &he
space age we .us& surely ha0e co.e &o reali9e &ha& space &ra0el is no& ou& o) &he ;ues&ion. '0en &hough
a :cloud: does no& see. &o o))er a 0ery li5ely space 0ehicle3 i& should recei0e our serious a&&en&ion when
we are dealing wi&h so.e&hing as serious as &he %scension o) 2hris&.
To belie0e in &he bodily =esurrec&ion o) 2hris&3 as &he &radi&ional 2hurch has belie0ed3 and ye& no& &o
belie0e in &he %scension3 presen&s di))icul&ies. I) we discard &he %scension3 we ha0e &o as5: *ha&
happened &o &he resurrec&ed body o) 2hris&, I) we do no& accep& &he Bible:s answer &o &his ;ues&ion - &he
%scension - &hen we ha0e &o .a5e up our own answer. The usual al&erna&i0e is no& &o belie0e in ei&her
&he =esurrec&ion or &he %scension. I& has been precisely &his &ype o) proble. which has led &heologians
&o &he idea o) &he :dea&h o) >od.: The Biblical .a&erial in .any ways see.s scien&i)ically i.possible3
and because o) &he Biblical idea o) >od see.s i.possible - >od .us& be dead.
(erhaps no o&her single )ac&or has con&ribu&ed .ore &o curren& &heological s5ep&icis. &han &he proble.
o) &rying &o reconcile our scien&i)ic unders&anding o) space and &he uni0erse wi&h &he Biblical 0iew o)
space and &he rela&ion o) &he uni0erse &o >od? i& is clear &ha& &his proble. is behind =obinson:s &hin5ing.
He says &ha& :we do no& reali9e how crudely spa&ial .uch o) &he Biblical &er.inology is: A1B Aby &he
word crude =obinson .eans roughly li&eralB? i)3 since &he 2opernican re0olu&ion3 so.e people ha0e
been able &o :&hin5 o) >od as in so.e way CbeyondC ou&er space3: a& las& &he si&ua&ion has caugh& up wi&h
us. :Bu& now i& see.s &here is no roo. )or hi. F>odG3 no& .erely in &he inn3 bu& in &he en&ire uni0erse:
)or &here are no 0acan& places le)&.: A7B
=obinson ad.i&s &ha& he canno& pro0e &ha& >od is no& so.ewhere beyond space3 because &here will
always be :gaps: in scien&i)ic 5nowledge. He would undoub&edly say &ha& .y )lying saucer &heory is
si.ply ano&her :gap: in our Inow-ledge3 and when i& is sol0ed3 we will )inally ha0e &o wa5e up and
reali9e &ha& &he :superna&ural: e0en&s in &he Bible are all :.y&hs3: s&ories .ade up &o sui& &he occasion.
Science will no longer le& us belie0e in angels3 or in .iracles3 or in &he %scension o) 2hris&. There are
.any scien&is&s &oday3 howe0er3 who are con0inced &ha& &here .ay be .any superior in&elligen& beings
in our uni0erse3 and a nu.ber o) scien&is&s ha0e sugges&ed &ha& 7us& as we are now a&&e.p&ing &o &ra0el
in space3 so o&her beings )ro. o&her worlds .ay ha0e s&ar&ed &ra0eling in space long ago. Those who
belie0e in )lying saucers belie0e &ha& we are being wa&ched by so.e superior race )ro. ano&her world.
This world 0iew o) ours has e.erged only o0er &he pas& &wo decades3 bu& a& &his poin& i& is an
in&eres&ing coincidence &o no&ice how consis&en&ly &hroughou& &he de0elop.en& o) &he Biblical .a&erial
- which co0ers a period o) o0er &wo &housand years - we )ind &ha& a& &he 5ey Biblical e0en&s a person or
persons )ro. ano&her world are repor&ed &o ha0e been par&icipa&ing3 or e0en causing cer&ain e0en&s.
*e .ay ha0e reached &he poin& where we now .us& &a5e &his possibili&y seriously3 howe0er unli5ely
&his .ay see. &o &he :hones& &o >od: and :dea&h o) >od: schools o) &heology. %re angels si.ply par& o)
our inheri&ed religious .y&hology3 or were superior beings )ro. ano&her world really an i.por&an& )orce
behind &he Biblical religion, *as <esus one o) &his group o) superior beings3 or is &his 7us& &he
i.pression we ge& )ro. &he childish way o) &hin5ing which was par& o) &he .en&ali&y o) &he Biblical
au&hors,
(erhaps one reason =obinson and o&hers o) his &heological school ha0e no& seriously raised &his
;ues&ion is &ha& &he &heologians who prepared &he bac5ground )or =obinson:s wor5 did &heir &hin5ing
be)ore &he space age3 and here I ha0e in .ind =udol) Bul&.ann3 Die&rich Bonhoe))er3 and (aul Tillich.
*hile =obinson see.s &o deri0e his philosophy )ro. Tillich and his e&hics )ro. Bonhoe))er3 his
opening co..en&s on &he %scension o) 2hris& and &he Biblical 0iew o) space re)lec& &he &ype o) &hough&
which has been .os& clearly de0eloped by Bul&.ann.
I& is Bul&.ann who has gi0en us &he word de.y&hologi9e3 which .eans &o recogni9e &he superna&ural
e0en&s described in &he Bible Ae.g.3 &he %scension o) 2hris&B as .y&hological ra&her &han his&orical? we
.us& &hen proceed &o rein&erpre& such .y&h in &er.s .odern .an can unders&and. Bul&.ann has chosen
:e+is&en&ial: philosophy as &he .ould in which &he de.y&hologi9ed Bible is &o be reshaped. For
Bul&.ann3 de.y&hologi9ing is &he .odern &heological .iracle by which wa&er is changed in&o wine. %
childish way o) &hin5ing is )er.en&ed &hrough e+is&en&ialis..
*ha& is de.y&hologi9ing, There are al.os& as .any answers &o &his ;ues&ion as &here are &heologians
who wri&e abou& i&3 bu& all de.y&hologi9ers see. &o agree on one basic pre.ise: @any o) &he &radi&ions
recorded in &he Bible appear3 on &he sur)ace3 &o represen& his&orical )ac&s3 or a& leas& so.e )unda.en&al
)ac&s wi&h 0arious in&erpre&a&ions added. Bu& .any o) &hese :)ac&s: are scien&i)ically i.possible? in a
sense3 &hey are si.ply sy.bolic represen&a&ions o) &he :inner e.o&ions: o) .an - an a&&e.p& &o
e+&ernali9e .an:s psychological e+periences.
% young boy ca.e ho.e )ro. Sunday school3 and his .o&her in;uired as &o wha& he had learned. The
boy e+plained &ha& &he &eacher had gi0en a lesson on @oses and &he par&ing o) &he =ed Sea. The .o&her
as5ed. :*ha& did &he &eacher say abou& @oses:, The boy replied3 :*ell3 &he 'gyp&ian ar.y chased &he
Israeli&es &o &he =ed Sea3 and &hen @oses called up &he @arines and &hey buil& a pon&oon bridge across
&he sea and &he Israeli&es crossed on &he bridge wi&h &he 'gyp&ians co.ing righ& behind &he.. *hen &he
Israeli&es had sa)ely crossed3 @oses ordered &he bridge &o be dyna.i&ed3 and &he ar.y o) 'gyp& was
drowned in &he sea. :The .o&her pursued &he .a&&er )ur&her? she as5ed3 is &ha& really wha& your &eacher
said,: :No3: &he boy ad.i&&ed wi&h hesi&a&ion3 :bu& i) I &old i& &he way she &old i&3 you would ne0er belie0e
i&.: *e shall be e+a.ining &he =ed Sea inciden& .ore closely in a la&er chap&er3 bu& all o) us can
undoub&edly share &he boy:s &ension in &rying &o .a5e sense o) &he =ed Sea s&ory. So.e .odern
&heologians ha0e &ried &o co.e &o grips wi&h &his &ype o) Biblical proble. by de.y&hologi9ing i& - by
s&ressing aspec&s o) &he s&ory &ha& ca.e )ro. .an:s i.agina&ion ra&her &han )ro. his&ory.
De.y&hologi9ing see.s &o be carried ou& by degrees3 depending on one:s scien&i)ically or Biblically
in)or.ed s5ep&icis.. Thus while Bishop =obinson accep&s .any o) &he i.plica&ions o) Bul&.ann:s
wor53 as in regard &o &he %scension o) 2hris&3 =obinson cri&ici9es Bul&.ann )or being par& o) a 5ind o)
:scien&i)ic dog.a&is.: and )or being &oo s5ep&ical concerning &he repor&s o) &he =esurrec&ion o) 2hris&.
De.y&hologi9ers are by no .eans in agree.en& as &o wha& ough& and wha& ough& no& &o be allowed as
Biblical )ac&3 and wha& .us& be called .y&h. A6B There is ;ui&e a spec&ru. e0en wi&hin &he
de.y&hologi9ing ca.p3 bu& &he co..on ground o) &his approach &o &he Bible is &he assu.p&ion &ha&
.any o) &he repor&s in &he Bible &ha& appear &o be )ac&ual or :realis&ic: are in )ac& .y&h.
*e ha0e &o ad.i& i..edia&ely &ha& &here is .uch his&orical e0idence &o suppor& &he 0iew &ha& .uch o)
&he Biblical .a&erial is .y&hological. Bul&.ann by paid par&icular a&&en&ion &o ancien& .ys&ery religions
which are clearly .y&hological and has used &his )ounda&ion &o predic& si.ilar pa&&erns in 2hris&iani&y.
2er&ainly .uch o) &he Biblical language is sy.bolic - al&hough in a sense all language is sy.bolic - bu&
I would no& wan& e0ery word in &he Bible &ransla&ed li&erally3 al&hough &he :sy.bol: .ay poin& &o a
reali&y which is li&erally real. The Bible repor&s &ha& <esus was cruci)ied. I 5now o) no &heologian who
has argued &ha& &he Biblical repor& o) &he 2ruci)i+ion is :.y&hological.: '0eryone see.s &o agree &ha&
<esus really - li&erally - was cruci)ied. Bu& when we read &ha& Tho.as sough& &o &ouch &he wounds in &he
hands o) &he risen 2hris&3 our scien&i)ic i.agina&ion is s&re&ched3 and we &hen sugges& &ha& &his repor&
has a .y&hological origin.
How can we &ell &he di))erence be&ween Biblical )ac& and )ancy, This is &he ;ues&ion. %& &he ris5 o)
poin&ing &o &he ob0ious3 &here are roughly &wo ca.ps wi&hin &he 2hris&ian 2hurch3 which are usually
called conser0a&i0e and liberal. In our own age3 &he conser0a&i0es &ry &o in&erpre& &he Bible :realis&ically3:
whereas &he liberals are .ore concerned wi&h Cde.y&hologi9ing.: The 2hurch is co.posed o) a
spec&ru. o) belie)s3 ranging )ro. e+&re.e :realis&ic: Biblical in&erpre&a&ion3 which &urns &he Bible in&o
so.e&hing li5e a dic&ionary or .achine producing sal0a&ion3 &o &he e+&re.e :de.y&hologi9ed:
in&erpre&a&ion3 in which &he .ain 0alue o) &he Bible is i&s :li&erary: )or. ra&her &han i&s his&orical con&en&.
Bu& .os& o) &he &i.e bo&h groups are ai.ing a& wha& &hey hope is &he :&rue: .eaning or signi)icance o)
&he Biblical .a&erial.
The sugges&ion &ha& <esus was &a5en away )ro. ear&h in a )lying saucer Aor so.e&hing li5e oneB is
ob0iously a :realis&ic: in&erpre&a&ion o) &he Biblical .a&erial. Bu& i& is no& a li&eral in&erpre&a&ion o) &he
Biblical .a&erial3 )or &he Bible says &ha& he was &a5en away in a cloud.: For &his reason I pre)er &he &er.
realis&ic &o li&eral as a .eans o) e+plaining .y approach &o Biblical e+egesis. I a. concerned abou& &he
&ru&h. I) i& is &rue &ha& &he disciples really did see <esus li)&ed up be)ore &heir eyes in a :cloud3: &hen &o
de.y&hologi9e &his repor& is a .is&a5e o) a 0ery high order. I) i& is &rue &ha& )lying saucers really e+is&3 i&
is a .is&a5e &o ignore or co0er up &he )ac& o) &heir e+is&ence. Bu& Tru&h is an e+&re.ely di))icul& pri9e &o
cap&ure. I canno& be cer&ain &ha& &here is no &ru&h in de.y&hologi9ing. I can cer&ainly see how Bul&.ann
and =obinson ha0e been led &o &heir presen& posi&ions. The proble. o) &he Biblical 0iew o) space is
pain)ully di))icul&.
Bul&.ann has done &he .os& &o .a5e us aware o) &his di))icul&y. In his wor5 <esus 2hris& and
@y&hology Bul&.ann e+plains par& o) &he basis o) de.y&hologi9ing:
For &he world-0iew o) &he Scrip&ure is .y&hological and is &here)ore unaccep&able &o .odern .an
whose &hin5ing has been shaped by science and is &here)ore no longer .y&hological. @odern .an
always .a5es use o) &echnical .eans which are &he resul& o) science .... Ha0e you read anywhere in
&he. F&he newspapersG &ha& poli&ical or social or econo.ic e0en&s are per)or.ed by superna&ural powers
such as >od3 angels or de.ons, A#B
-ne reason &he concep& o) de.y&hologi9ing presen&s such a proble. is &ha& &here is a considerable
a.oun& o) &ru&h in i&. No& e0en &he .os& conser0a&i0e &heologian would argue &ha& our :world 0iew:
&oday is &he sa.e as &he world 0iew o) .en &wo &housand years ago. In a socie&y o) planned
obsolescence3 syn&he&ic drugs3 and &een-age )ads i& is i.possible &o belie0e &ha& .an:s world is s&a&ic.
4e& &here are ac&i0i&ies co..on &o .an &oday and &wo &housand years ago &ha& hardly need &o be
in&erpre&ed )or our own &i.es. -n one occasion we read in Scrip&ure A<ohn !:# )).B &ha& <esus
apparen&ly buil& a charcoal )ire and prepared )ish )or &he disciples &o ea& a)&er &hey ca.e in )ro. &heir
)ishing boa&. <esus o))ered &he. brea5)as& o) )ish and bread. There see.s &o be no&hing here &ha&
o))ends &he .odern .ind3 &ha& needs &o be :de.y&hologi9ed3: e+cep& )or &he )ac& &ha& &he Bible .ain&ains
&ha& &he occasion on which <esus prepared &his brea5)as& :was now &he &hird &i.e &ha& <esus was re0ealed
&o &he disciples a)&er he was raised )ro. &he dead: A<ohn !:!/B.
Bishop =obinson e+plains &he case )or de.y&hologi9ing &he New Tes&a.en& by saying &ha& 7us& as we
had &he grea& deba&e o0er a :li&eral: crea&ion a cen&ury ago3 now &he deba&e .us& be o0er :&he las& &hings.:
Is i& necessary )or &he Biblical )ai&h &o be e+pressed in &er.s o) &his world-0iew3 which in i&s way is as
pri.i&i0e philosophically as &he >enesis s&ories are pri.i&i0e scien&i)ically, A!0B
=obinson:s .is&a5e here is si.ilar &o &he .is&a5e )unda.en&alis&s see. &o .a5e: &he )ac& &ha& &he Bible
is a single boo5 under one co0er helps us &o )orge& &ha& &he Biblical .a&erial was collec&ed o0er a period
o) &i.e which is abou& e;ual &o &he &i.e &ha& lies be&ween us and &he li)e o) 2hris&. I) 2hris&ians a
cen&ury ago .ade &he .is&a5e o) &rying &o de)end &he 2rea&ion s&ory as an accoun& which in i&s own way
was as scien&i)ic and his&orical as &he Biblical descrip&ion o) &he 2ruci)i+ion o) 2hris&3 so now
:de.y&hologi9ers: are assu.ing &ha& since >enesis had &o be de.y&hologi9ed3 e0ery&hing .us& be so
&rea&ed. There is a world o) di))erence be&ween >enesis !3 (sal.s3 @a&&hew3 %c&s3 and =e0ela&ion.
-ne rule by which we .igh& approach &he proble. o) deciding whe&her i& .ay be dangerous &o
de.y&hologi9e a par&icular passage in Scrip&ure is &o in0es&iga&e on one hand &o wha& e+&en& &he
.a&erials in0ol0ed see. &o represen& an in&erpre&a&ion o) a par&icular e+perience3 and on &he o&her hand
wha& .a&erials co.prise descrip&ion3 or repor&ing o) e.pirical da&a. In&erpre&a&ion and descrip&ion are
o) course &igh&ly in&erwo0en3 and ye& e0en &he .os& de0o&ed de.y&hologi9er will usually ad.i& &ha&
&here was a his&orical <esus o) so.e sor&. I& see.s )air &o assu.e &ha& &he disciples shared co..on
e+periences wi&h &his <esus - such as ea&ing a .eal wi&h hi.. The &o&al su. o) &heir e+periences led &he
disciples &o &he in&erpre&a&ion Awi&h &he pro.p&ing o) &he Holy Spiri&B &ha& <esus was &he 2hris&. Bu&
wha& sor& o) e+periences brough& &he disciples &o &he conclusion &ha& <esus was &he 2hris&, *hy did &he
disciples se&&le on hi. as &he 2hris& ra&her &han on one o) &he &wo &hie0es cruci)ied wi&h hi.,
Those who consider &he =esurrec&ion o) 2hris& :.y&hological: .us& suppose &ha& &he =esurrec&ion was
an idea which &he disciples pro7ec&ed on&o <esus. :=esurrec&ions: were par& o) &he .y&hological world
0iew o) &he Bible. Bu& &he Biblical .a&erials lead us &o belie0e &ha& i& was no .ore par& o) &he Biblical
world 0iew )or people &o rise )ro. &he dead &han i& is par& o) our world 0iew. The >ospel o) <ohn e0en
records &ha& &he hardheaded e.piricis& Tho.as said3 :8nless I see in his hands &he prin& o) &he nails3 and
place .y )inger in &he .ar5 o) &he nails3 and place .y hand in his side3 I will no& belie0e: A<ohn 0:$B.
I) &he =esurrec&ion is .y&hological3 &hen &his passage is .ean& delibera&ely &o decei0e us. The
=esurrec&ion see.s &o be so.e&hing we all could ha0e e+perienced i) we had been &here - bu& we were
no&3 and &here)ore we suspec& &ha& i& should be de.y&hologi9ed.
Bishop =obinson as5s: :Is i& necessary )or &he Biblical )ai&h &o be e+pressed in &er.s o) &his world-
0iew,: &his :pri.i&i0e: world 0iew. 2anno& we rein&erpre& &he Biblical .a&erials wi&hou& losing any&hing,
I& see.s &o .e &ha& i) we de.y&hologi9e &he =esurrec&ion3 we ha0e li&&le righ& as a 2hurch &o preach &ha&
&he :e+is&en&ial resurrec&ion: o) 2hris& will ensure 2hris&ians e&ernal li)e - li)e a)&er dea&h. I& .ay be
sel)ish &o be concerned wi&h li)e a)&er dea&h3 bu& <esus &rea&s li)e a)&er dea&h as a :)ac&: - i& happens &o
people. I) i& is a )ac&3 )or &he 2hurch &o :de.y&hologi9e: &his )ac& will undoub&edly be a grea& disser0ice
&o &he hu.an race - and &o &he gospel i&sel). The gospel see.s &o o))er e&ernal resurrec&ed li)e &o
2hris&ians. *ha& >od has gi0en is no& &he do.ain o) &heology &o &a5e away. <esus belie0ed in a world
o) resurrec&ed persons and o) angels. They go &oge&her. %l&hough &he idea o) angels .ay be an o))ense
&o our .odern .inds3 perhaps we can endure &he o))ense )or &he sa5e o) &he :pro)i&: .o&i0e.
In any case3 we ha0e arri0ed a& &he poin& where we ha0e &o &a5e seriously again &he idea &ha& perhaps
in&elligen& superior beings were a& wor5 bringing abou& &he Biblical religion. These beings were no&
&o&ally responsible )or &he Biblical religion - &he religion grew a.ong .en3 in &he .ids& o) )lesh3 blood3
and his&ory. Bu& who plan&ed &he religion, Did .an decei0e hi.sel)? did he crea&e >od hi.sel) in his
own i.age, -r3 as &he Bible sugges&s3 did >od crea&e .an in his i.age, The Bible sugges&s3 as we
shall shor&ly see in de&ail3 &ha& >od .ade hi.sel) 5nown &hrough :angels:3 beings )ro. ano&her world. I
ha0e said al.os& no&hing up &o &his poin& abou& >od3 whe&her wi&h Bishop =obinson he is :up &here: or
:ou& &here: or where0er. Nor ha0e I said .uch abou& >od:s being dead3 wi&h Tho.as <.<. %l&i9er. A!!B
<esus said3 :He who has seen .e has seen &he Fa&her: A<ohn !/:#B. I) >od was in 2hris&3 &hen i& has only
&o be shown &ha& &here are good grounds )or belie0ing &ha& <esus is now ali0e3 and i& will also ha0e been
shown &ha& >od is no .ore dead now &han he e0er was. *as 2hris& raised )ro. &he dead, Did he ascend
be)ore &he disciples &o ano&her world, These are &he ;ues&ions.
The Bible clearly clai.s in .any 5ey ins&ances &ha& :8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&s: played a signi)ican&
role in &he de0elop.en& o) &he Hebrew-2hris&ian )ai&h3 and i& also clai.s &ha& superior beings )ro.
ano&her world AangelsB .ade signi)ican& con&ribu&ions a& 0arious &i.es. The ;ues&ion I a. here raising
is: *ha& is &he e0idence )or a :realis&ic: ra&her &han a :.y&hological: in&erpre&a&ion o) &he rele0an&
Biblical and .odern da&a3 and wha& is i&s signi)icance,
)ntelle"tu!l Honest& And The Prob!bilit& * Truth
There is one o&her subsidiary aspec& o) &he curren& &heological deba&e &o which I wish &o draw a&&en&ion.
Those who are &rying &o re.o0e &he superna&ural aspec&s o) &he 2hris&ian )ai&h by de.y&hologi9ing or
so.e o&her process usually do so in &he na.e o) :in&ellec&ual hones&y.: Thus Bishop =obinson has gi0en
his boo5 &he &i&le Hones& &o >od? he belie0es &ha& &he s&reng&h o) his posi&ion lies in his in&ellec&ual
hones&y. Bishop <a.es (i5e3 who see.s &o share =obinson:s basic sen&i.en&s3 has wri&&en a boo5
en&i&led % Ti.e )or 2hris&ian 2andor. A!B Bul&.ann3 who has led &he de.y&hologi9ing progra.3
spea5s abou& a :sacri)iciu. in&ellec&us.: A!"B *he&her &he e+pression is in Ha&in or 'nglish3 whe&her &he
word is hones&y or candor3 &he basic i.plica&ion is &he sa.e. I& is in&ellec&ually dishones& )or 2hris&ians
&o con&inue &o suppor& &he or&hodo+ 2hris&ian in&erpre&a&ion o) &he Biblical .a&erials which are
apparen&ly superna&ural3 such as &he =esurrec&ion and &he %scension. =obinson e+plains3 :%ll I can do is
&o &ry &o be hones& - hones& &o >od and abou& >od - and &o )ollow &he argu.en& where0er i& leads.: A!/B
Now I cer&ainly do no& reco..end &ha& &heologians be dishones&. 4e& I do no& belie0e &ha& hones&y
should be &he only &es&3 or &he pri.ary &es&3 o) &he ade;uacy o) any &heology. -ne o) &he .ain reasons
.odern &heologians argue &he need &o be :hones&: abou& &heology is &ha& our :.ode. scien&i)ic world
0iew: will no longer allow us &o accep& a realis&ic 2hris&ian )ai&h. I belie0e i& is in&eres&ing &ha& %lber&
'ins&ein ne0er wro&e a boo5 under &he &i&le Hones& &o =ela&i0i&y or % Ti.e )or Scien&i)ic 2andor.
Scien&is&s generally do no& concern &he.sel0es wi&h hones&y in &heir boo5s. They are in&eres&ed in
so.e&hing else - &ru&h. *hen people read a boo5 by a scien&is&3 &hey assu.e &ha& he is being hones&3 and
&hey also assu.e &ha& &he .ain ai. o) a scien&is&:s boo5 is &o &ry &o ge& a& &he &ru&h3 howe0er elusi0e
&ru&h .ay be.
I) we are concerned abou& &he :scien&i)ic world 0iew3: we would do well &o )ollow &he e+a.ple o)
scien&is&s and 5eep &ru&h ra&her &han hones&y as &he .a7or goal o) our &heological s&udies? i) we do no&3
we can easily )all in&o a pi&. % blind .an .ay wi&h all hones&y .ain&ain &ha& ligh& does no& e+is&? .en
who can see ligh& will perhaps co..end &he hones&y o) &he blind .an3 bu& &hey will wish &ha& he were
.ore concerned wi&h &he &ru&h abou& &he e+is&ence o) ligh&.
He .igh& &hrough care)ul research3 disco0er his blindness as &he cause o) &he )ac& &ha& he does no&
Belie0e in &he e+is&ence o) ligh&. I a. no& sugges&ing &ha& &heologians such as =obinson are blind? &his
boo5 .ay ha0e less &ru&h in i& &han =obinson:s Hones& &o >od. =obinson is a well-&rained &heologian.
Bu& I do no& belie0e &ha&3 in saying3 :%ll I can do is &o &ry &o be hones&3: =obinson is in )ac& being hones&.
2anno& =obinson &ry &o be &ru&h)ul - e0en i) he )ails, In )ac&3 does no& =obinson suppose &ha& his boo5
approaches .ore &han hones&y - &ha& i& approaches &he &ru&h, I& is .uch easier &o be sa&is)ied wi&h
achie0ing hones&y &han &ru&h3 al&hough in &his age - which is all &oo well aware o) &he subconscious
desires o) Freudian psychology - I &hin5 &ha& we would all be suspec& o) how capable any o) us are o)
&ruly being hones&.
Fur&her.ore3 i) any o) us as5s &he ;ues&ion o) oursel0es3 :%. I &ruly being hones& in .y religious
belie)s,: we would all ha0e &o answer3 :I a. no& cer&ain3: and in all probabili&y we would be le)& wi&h
guil& )eelings abou& our religious hones&y. This &ype o) &hin5ing does a lo& o) unnecessary da.age &o &he
2hris&ian 2hurch? i) liberal &heologians who raise &he ;ues&ion o) :hones&y: wonder why conser0a&i0es
o)&en reac& wi&h hos&ili&y &oward &he.3 I &hin5 &ha& one cause is righ& here. %ll 2hris&ians ha0e enough
guil& )eelings wi&h which &o deal wi&hou& &he added burden o) )eeling guil&y abou& being a 2hris&ian.
I) we )ocus upon &he proble. o) &ru&h ra&her &han &he concep& o) hones&y3 we shall )ind &ha& &his proble.
o) guil& disappears. -) course3 i& .ay be di))icul& &o belie0e a realis&ic in&erpre&a&ion o) &he 2hris&ian
religion - &ha& <esus &urned wa&er &o wine or rose )ro. &he dead - bu& i) a person is con0inced &ha& &he
realis&ic in&erpre&a&ion is &rue3 howe0er i.probable3 i& would see. &ha& he can belie0e i& i) he so desires
Awi&hou& )eeling guil&yB. I& is probably .ore &han coinciden&al &ha& Bul&.ann reco..ends &ha& a)&er &he
2hris&ian )ai&h is de.y&hologi9ed3 &he )ai&h &hen be e+pressed in &er.s o) :e+is&en&ial: philosophy.
Sig.ar 0on Fersen opens his de)ini&ion o) :'+is&en&ial (hilosophy: by saying &ha& i& :de&er.ines &he
wor&h o) 5nowledge no& in rela&ion &o &ru&h bu& according &o i&s biological 0alue con&ained in &he pure
da&a o) consciousness.: A!$B I &hin5 &ha& &he in)luence o) e+is&en&ial philosophy on &heology helps
accoun& )or &he )ac& &ha& .any &heologians such as =obinson are concerned wi&h :hones&y: ra&her &han
wi&h :&ru&h.:
<esus said &ha& he was &he &ru&h A<ohn !/:1B and (aul encouraged 2hris&ians &o &hin5 abou& wha&soe0er
&hings are &rue: A(hilippians /:6B. *hile a s&udy o) &he Biblical idea o) &ru&h .igh& be use)ul3 .os& o) us
undoub&edly share (ila&e:s con)usion3 :*ha& is &ru&h,: A<ohn !6:"6B. (ila&e:s .is&a5e was no& in raising
&he ;ues&ion3 bu& in washing his hands o) &he ;ues&ion in &he )ace o) a di))icul& si&ua&ion.
In &he )ield o) science .en o)&en )ind i& use)ul &o deal wi&h &ru&h wi&hin li.i&s. In a hypo&he&ical
si&ua&ion3 le& us say3 &he puri&y o) a che.ical .us& range be&ween 60 and #0 per cen&. % ;uali&y con&rol
&echnician will )ind &he che.ical sui&ably :&rue: i) i& lies so.ewhere in &he range o) 6$ per cen& plus or
.inus $ per cen&. The puri&y o) &his che.ical .ay 0ary wi&h cer&ain degrees3 and &he probabili&y o) &he
success o) any e+peri.en& using &his che.ical depends on &he success o) &he ;uali&y con&rol person.
'ins&ein:s &heory o) rela&i0i&y has .ade us .ore conscious o) &he e+&en& &o which &he obser0er hi.sel)
li.i&s &he ade;uacy o) any &heory or e+peri.en&.
'0ery scien&is& is li.i&ed by &he scien&i)ic age in which he li0es. Isaac New&on .ade a )an&as&ic
con&ribu&ion &o &he )ields o) dyna.ics and op&ics3 bu& he did no& ha0e an elec&ron .icroscope or
5nowledge o) nuclear physics &o see &ha& his idea o) a :solid: a&o. was no& &rue. In &he )ace o) &he
e0idence a& his disposal3 he sugges&ed &ha& a&o.s were hard and unbrea5able3 bu& &ha& was in &he
se0en&een&h cen&ury. Bul&.ann recogni9es3 a& leas& 0erbally3 &ha& The science o) &oday is no longer &he
sa.e as i& was in &he nine&een&h cen&ury3 and &o be sure3 all &he resul&s o) science are rela&i0e3 and no
world-0iew o) yes&erday or &oday or &o.orrow is de)ini&i0e.: A!1B Thus3 i) our world 0iew is cons&an&ly
changing3 why should science )orce us &o de.y&hologi9e, Because wha& science has really gi0en us is
no& so .uch concre&e e+plana&ions bu& a way o) &hin5ing abou& &he world3 science a&&e.p&s :&o gi0e
reasonable proo)s )or e0ery s&a&e.en&. A!7B The con&ras& be&ween &he Biblical and .odern world 0iew
is be&ween &wo &ypes o) &hin5ing3 &he .y&hological ABiblicalB and &he scien&i)ic Awhich re;uires proo)sB.
Here again we canno& help no&icing doub&ing Tho.as. I) &he Bible is un-concerned wi&h :proo): &he
whole se;uence in which Tho.as see5s &o &ouch &he risen 2hris& is ou& o) place wi&h &he :.y&hological:
way o) &hin5ing. *e shall re&urn &o &he proble. o) :proo): in religion and science la&er3 bu& I shall
si.ply poin& ou& &ha& i& is possible &ha& &he disciples )ollowed 2hris&3 and proclai.ed his =esurrec&ion3
because &hey had no choice. For &he. i& was a his&orical )ac&3 or cer&ainly i& could ha0e been.
I) 2hris& would appear &o us all3 &he proble. would be sol0ed. Bu& &he e0idence behind &he Biblical
)ai&h 0aries wi&hin li.i&s or degrees. Tho.as and &he %pos&le (aul were sub7ec&ed &o &he highes& degree
o) e.pirical 0eri)ica&ion. Those who &al5ed i..edia&ely &o &he disciples also had a reasonably high
degree o) 0eri)ica&ion3 especially when &he disciples wor5ed .iracles. *e ha0e &he wri&&en Biblical
record3 bu& when one accep&s &he pre.ise &ha& &he Biblical .a&erial is :.y&hological3: &his o) course
wea5ens any possible wi&ness o) &he Bible )ro. a realis&ic poin& o) 0iew. Those who decide in )a0or o)
a realis&ic Biblical in&erpre&a&ion will undoub&edly share &he e.o&ional &e.per o) Tho.as. (erhaps i)
persons were sub7ec&ed &o higher degrees o) 0eri)ica&ion &hey would .a5e .ore e))ec&i0e 2hris&ians3
and i& .ay be &ha& one reason only >od can 7udge in &he las& day A@a&&hew 7:!B is &ha& only he 5nows
&he e+&en& &o which each .an has been sub7ec&ed &o &he clai.s o) &he gospel - &he degree o) 0eri)ica&ion
which has sough& &o clai. hi. )or 2hris&3 especially &he in)or.ing presence o) &he Holy Spiri&.
I) bo&h science and &heology3 howe0er3 are only rela&i0ely &rue3 or &rue wi&hin cer&ain li.i&s3 why should
we be concerned abou& &he accuracy o) one &heology o0er ano&her3 or one church o0er ano&her, *hy
are no& all religious belie)s e;ually 0alid, In science i) &he ;uali&y con&rol o) a che.ical does no& 5eep i&
wi&hin &he prescribed li.i&s - be&ween 60 and #0 per cen& pure - i& .ay cease &o )unc&ion. I) a che.ical
does no& .easure up &o .ini.u. speci)ica&ions3 i& .ay be useless )or indus&rial purposes. Theologians
a&&e.p& &o .ain&ain &he puri&y or &ru&h o) &heir research wi&hin cer&ain li.i&s - al&hough &hese li.i&s .ay
be rela&i0e ra&her &han absolu&e3 because i& see.s li5ely &ha& &he )ur&her )ro. &he :nor.: 2hris&ian
&heology de0ia&es3 &he less e))ec&i0e i& is. I) &heologians pay no a&&en&ion &o &he ;uali&y con&rol aspec& o)
&heir wor53 &hey .ay cease &o be 2hris&ian &heologians. The Bible3 or creeds such as &he %pos&les:
2reed3 are yards&ic5s or s&andards by which we &es& &he puri&y o) any &heology. Bu& &heology is a hu.an
en&erprise3 and no one &heologian can be dog.a&ic abou& his own wor5. He can poin& &o &he e0idence
and co.pare i& wi&h &he :s&andards3: bu& wi&h hu.ili&y he .us& reali9e &he li.i&s o) his own 0ision.
Theology3 li5e science3 is bo&h an indi0idual and a co..uni&y a))air. -r&hodo+y or &he :scien&i)ic
consensus o) opinion: is a 0ec&or which resul&s )ro. &he &ension be&ween &he liberal and &he
conser0a&i0e 2hris&ian. Be&ween &he liberal and &he conser0a&i0e &here is a whole spec&ru. o) belie)3 &he
&o&al su. o) which represen&s &he 2hurch.
I) &his is &he approach o) bo&h science and &heology &o &he proble. o) &ru&h3 wha& can Bishop =obinson
.ean by in&ellec&ual dishones&y, I& .igh& be &ha& &here are s&ill people on ear&h who do no& belie0e &ha&
.an shall so.eday sa)ely reach &he .oon. This is no& .y own belie)3 howe0er3 and I belie0e &ha& &he
e0idence sugges&s &ha& we shall soon place a .an on &he .oon. I& is ;ui&e probable &ha& we shall reach
&he .oon by !#703 and e0en .ore probable &ha& we shall reach i& by !#60. Is any person in&ellec&ually
dishones& who now doub&s &ha& we shall e0er reach &he .oon, No& necessarily. % &hird world war3 or
so.e scien&i)ic barrier ye& unseen3 .igh& .a5e &he &rip i.possible3 so &ha& i& is by no .eans ye& pro0ed
&ha& we shall reach &he .oon. Suppose3 howe0er3 &ha& we do place a .an on &he .oon by !#703 and
suppose &ha& in !#7! &here are s&ill well-in)or.ed people who do no& belie0e &ha& we shall e0er succeed
in placing a .an on &he .oon. *e would say no& only &ha& &hese persons are in&ellec&ually dishones&3
bu& &ha& &hey .ay well ha0e so.e psychological disorder. They canno& dis&inguish be&ween &ru&h and
)alsehood. I &hin5 Bishop =obinson is arguing Aal&hough he does no& say so in &hese wordsB &ha& &he
e0idence in regard &o &he %scension o) 2hris& is so clear &ha& &hose who con&inue &o include &he
%scension a.ong &heir belie)s are doing so agains& &he )ac&s. Bu& &he e+is&ence o) )lying saucers could
0ery well &hrow =obinson:s :)ac&s: in&o gra0e doub&. <us& as we ha0e no& ye& reached &he .oon. I do no&
belie0e &ha& we ha0e reached &he poin& where we can announce &o &he world &ha& &he %scension did no&
happen as i& is recorded in %c&s !.
*hile I ha0e generally been arguing in )a0or o) belie) in &he %scension3 I .us& poin& ou& &ha& &here is
0alue in doub&ing i&. =obinson .ay be doing &he 2hurch a considerable ser0ice by doub&ing &he
%scension3 in a roundabou& way. I) a person canno& doub&3 he canno& be a 2hris&ian any .ore &han he
can be a 2hris&ian i) he canno& belie0e. The @iddle %ges su))ered )ro. corrup&ion and supers&i&ion
largely because people were &oo gullible. Doub& wor5s as a &re.endous puri)ying )orce3 al&hough3
carried &o an e+&re.e3 as wi&h &he philosophy o) =ene Descar&es Awho e0en doub&ed his own e+is&enceB3
doub& can lead &o a blind alley. Bu& i) a person canno& doub&3 he .ay be led &o belie0e in .any )alse
&heologies and )alse 2hris&. A@a&&hew /:/B
Bishop =obinson has a righ& &o doub& a realis&ic in&erpre&a&ion o) &he %scension o) 2hris&. @ichael
(olanyi3 in his (ersonal Inowledge3 has shown &ha& scien&i)ic &ru&h e.erges in &he &ension be&ween &he
belie) o) a scien&is& in a par&icular &heory and &he doub& o) ano&her scien&is& abou& i&. A!6B The &ru&h
abou& &he %scension will be arri0ed a& only by &he e+ercise o) our abili&y &o see53 doub&3 and belie0e.
Thus in &his boo5 we shall be concerned abou& whe&her or no& )lying saucers e+is&3 how long &hey ha0e
been wi&h us3 and wha& possible rela&ion )lying saucers .ay ha0e &o &he Bible. Bu& we are concerned
wi&h o&her &hings as well: &he way in which our hypo&hesis concerning &he Bible and )lying saucers )i&s
in&o curren& &heological deba&e3 and &o so.e e+&en& &he proble. o) scien&i)ic .e&hod and &he proble. o)
&ru&h. I) we 5eep &hese proble.s in .ind3 we can par&ially unders&and why e0en &he sugges&ion o) a
rela&ion be&ween &he Bible and )lying saucers see.s ridiculous - which i& .ay be. Finally3 we shall be
concerned wi&h any possible rela&ion be&ween &he Bible and .odern 0iews o) &he s&ruc&ure o) space3 as
sugges&ed by 'ins&ein:s &heory o) rela&i0i&y. Does &he idea o) &he :cur0a&ure: o) space ha0e any bearing
on &he Biblical idea o) :hea0en:, In &his boo5 we are going &o e+plore &he Bible and &he space age. *e
do no& 5now how :&rue: &he 0arious hypo&heses we are presen&ing .ay pro0e &o be. Bu& i& is our
i.pression &ha& &he rela&ion be&ween &he Biblical 0iew o) space and our .odern scien&i)ic 0iew o) space
is by no .eans se&&led. % de.y&hologi9ed &heology has con)ined Biblical s&udies &o &he sur)ace o) a
sphere - ear&h. Bu& now we ha0e .o0ed up3 in&o &he &hird di.ension? and science has e0en .o0ed in&o
&he :)our&h di.ension.: I belie0e &ha& &he si&ua&ion is e+&re.ely open? I see 0ery li&&le in .odern science
which e+cludes .os& o) &he Biblical belie)s abou& space. The space age has se& us )ree &o e+plore &he
Bible in a new way.
+ - $h!t )s The Prob!bilit& Th!t Fl&in' #!u"ers E,ist%
The degree o) probabili&y o) .y hypo&hesis depends on AiB &he probabili&y o) &he e+is&ence o) )lying
saucers Awhich &ranspor& beings )ro. ano&her world &o oursB and AB &he probabili&y &ha& &hese space
0ehicles are &he sa.e ones &he Bible describes as ha0ing been pi0o&al in &he de0elop.en& o) &he
Biblical religion.
Do )lying saucers e+is&, *e .us& 5eep in .ind wi&h @ichael (olanyi &ha& &his is bo&h a personal and a
)ac&ual ;ues&ion. % person beco.es a :belie0er: in 8F-s on &he basis o) a cer&ain a.oun& o) e0idence
which con0inces hi. &ha& he .us& choose &o belie0e ra&her &han doub&. % person who doub&s &ha& 8F-s
e+is& .igh& be a person who al.os& always doub&s e0ery&hing? such a person .igh& ha0e been heard
saying )i)&een years ago3 :*e will ne0er send a .an &o &he .oon.C He .ay s&ill be saying so &oday. -n
&he o&her hand3 &he :belie0er: .ay be a 0ery gullible person - he .ay belie0e in as&rology Awhich I do
no&B3 or a& a 0ery ad0anced age he .ay s&ill belie0e in San&a 2laus. So.e persons are .ore open &o
belie)? o&hers3 &o doub&.
So.e people are e+&re.ely s5ep&ical abou& so.e &hings3 while si.ul&aneously being gullible abou&
o&hers. The :degree o) probabili&y: which I e.o&ionally )eel abou& &he e+is&ence o) 8F-s is 70 per cen&
belie) and "0 per cen& doub&3 or so.e&hing on &ha& order. *ha& I belie0e howe0er3 does no& al&er &he
)ac&s: saucers ei&her e+is& or do no& e+is&. @odern wea&her in)or.a&ion so.e&i.es sugges&s &ha& There is
a :!0 per cen& probabili&y o) rain or snow:? probably i& will no& rain - bu& &hen i& .igh&. I a. sugges&ing
here &he degree o) probabili&y &ha& <esus ascended in&o space in a 8F- which loo5ed li5e a .odern
)lying saucer.
(ar& o) &he reason i& will be di))icul& )or &he a0erage person &o belie0e &ha& <esus ascended in&o space in
so.e sor& o) 0ehicle is &ha& 0ery )ew people &oday unders&and or accep& &he Biblical 0iew o) angels.
*ha& is clear &hroughou& &he Biblical .a&erial3 howe0er3 is &ha& >od:s will )or &he <ews3 and e0en&ually
)or all .an5ind3 was :re0ealed: by beings )ro. ano&her world. 8sually &hese beings loo5ed 0ery .uch
li5e ordinary hu.an beings A&hey al.os& ne0er ha0e wingsB? >od .ade .an :)or a li&&le while lower
&han &he angels: AHebrews :7B3 a :li&&le while: because e0en&ually .en beco.e angels3 or li5e angels in
&he resurrec&ion world A@a&&hew :"0B. I& was &o &he resurrec&ion world3 &he world o) angels3 &ha&
2hris& re&urned a& &he %scension A%c&s !:#B. Tyro .en3 )ro. ano&her world were presen& a& &he scene o)
&he %scension &o e+plain &o &he disciples &he signi)icance o) wha& &hey had 7us& wi&nessed %c&s !:!03!!B.
Few can read &he Bible wi&hou& ge&&ing &he dis&inc& i.pression &ha& &he Biblical religion - in bo&h &he
-ld and &he New Tes&a.en&s - was a religion which was deli0ered &o a selec& group o) people by beings
)ro. ano&her world. -nce &he :pac5age: o) &he Biblical religion had been deli0ered3 .an beca.e
responsible )or &he dis&ribu&ion o) &he con&en&s o) &he pac5age.
*hen I say &ha& &he :pac5age: o) &he Biblical religion was deli0ered3 I do no& .ean &o i.ply &ha& &he
Bible is &ha& pac5age. The Biblical people :diges&ed: &he con&en&s o) &he pac5age3 .uch as <ohn :a&e: &he
hea0enly scroll A=e0ela&ion !0:!0B. The Bible con&ains wi&nessed and diges&ed re0ela&ion3 bu& i& is
i.por&an& &o re.e.ber &ha& no& e0ery&hing recorded in &he Bible was a re0ela&ion )ro. beings )ro.
ano&her world. The Bible also records )a.ily his&ory3 wars3 rulers3 and church his&ory. Bu& &he hear& o)
&he Biblical religion was a :pac5age: )ro. hea0en )inally e.bodied in <esus hi.sel). The >ree5 word
)or angel .eans a .essenger? &hus &he word angel is an essen&ial )unc&ional descrip&ion.
% person who preached &he gospel was called an e0angelis&3 and &he >ree5 word3 li5e &he 'nglish word3
con&ains &he word angel - e0-angel-is&. The disciples &he.sel0es beca.e :angels: &he sense &ha& &hey
beca.e .essengers preaching 2hris& in s&range worlds. 2hris& was &he pac5age3 and &he ele.en&s o)
bread and wine were dis&ribu&ed by &he :e0angelis&s: as &he 'ucharis&. %& &he %scension &he par&ing
ins&ruc&ions o) 2hris& &o his disciples were &o preach &he gospel in all &he world A%c&s !:6B. They had
been gi0en &he riches o) &he gospel3 and &hey beca.e &he s&ewards o) &he gospel. <us& as %.erica wi&h
her riches has responded &o a s&ar0ing world by sending 2are pac5ages3 so &he disciples were
co..issioned &o &a5e &heir riches3 &he bread o) hea0en3 and dis&ribu&e i& in a spiri&ually poor world.
<esus had &hree words )or (e&er: Feed .y sheep A<ohn !:!7B.
Thus &he ;ues&ion o) whe&her or no& )lying saucers e+is& is no& .erely a ;ues&ion o) whe&her we are
being 0isi&ed by beings )ro. ano&her world. I& is possible &ha& &hese beings who are wa&ching us are &he
0ery sa.e beings who s&i.ula&ed &he Biblical religion. <esus ga0e &he i.pression &ha& &he :angels: are
0ery .uch concerned abou& &he success o) &he gospel on ear&h? he wen& so )ar as &o say &ha& :&here is 7oy
be)ore &he angels o) >od o0er one sinner who repen&s: AHu5e !$:!0B. %ngels see. &o be e.o&ionally as
well as ac&i0ely in0ol0ed in &he success or )ailure o) &he gospel. -ne .ay 0ery well wonder3 i) &hese
angels are so concerned abou& &he success o) &he gospel3 why &hey do no& &a5e a .ore ob0iously ac&i0e
par& in :e0angelis..:
I) a 8F- landed in &he *hi&e House lawn3 and a being )ro. ano&her world e.erged and proceeded &o
.a5e a world-wide &ele0ision broadcas& urging people &o accep& &he Biblical religion perhaps se0eral
con-0ersions would )ollow. Bu& i) we are now being wa&ched by beings )ro. ano&her world - &he sa.e
beings who ini&ia&ed &he Biblical religion - &hen i& see.s clear &ha& &hey are )ollowing a general laisse9-
)aire policy. The gospel ai.s &o ha0e .en beco.e :children o) >od: A<ohn !:!B &ha& is3 .a&ure3
responsible sons. I& could cer&ainly be argued &ha& since Biblical &i.es we ha0e been weaned )ro. &he
.il5 on which &he 2hurch began - we ha0e had &o sur0i0e on s&rong .ea& in &he pas& )ew cen&uries3 no&
wi&hou& proble.s o) indiges&ion. *e ha0e been allowed &o wage our wars and build our concen&ra&ion
ca.ps? we ha0e had &o sin5 or swi. in world a))airs.
In &he &wel)&h chap&er o) &he boo5 o) %c&s we read &ha& Herod placed (e&er in prison3 and &he nigh&
be)ore (e&er was &o ha0e been 5illed3 an angel ca.e and le& (e&er ou& o) prison.
Because he was asleep when &he angel arri0ed3 (e&er &hough& &ha& &he whole se;uence was a drea.3 bu&
&he angel led hi. ou& in&o &he s&ree& and &hen depar&ed )ro. hi.. (e&er was s&ill da9ed3 bu& he decided
&ha& he .igh& as well wal5 :&o &he house o) @ary3: and Hu5e sugges&s &ha& a girl by &he na.e o) =hoda
was so shoc5ed &o hear (e&er:s 0oice &ha& she )orgo& &o open &he door. -ne signi)ican& )ac& abou& &his
passage is &ha& &he angel did no& linger. He ca.e3 did his 7ob3 and le)& i..edia&ely. He did no& go wi&h
(e&er and s&ay )or a .idnigh& snac5. -ne does no& ge& &he i.pression on reading &he Bible &ha& one
could go in&o any co))ee shop on .ain s&ree& in <erusale. and )ind an angel. I) a si&ua&ion was really
despera&e3 an angel .igh& .o0e in &o sa0e i&. Bu& as soon as his 7ob was )inished3 he go& ou& o) &he way
o) &he 2hurch %ngels did no& usually in&er)ere. They did no& sa0e S&ephen3 and apparen&ly (e&er was
.ar&yred la&er a& =o.e. The .ain poin& a& &his &i.e is &ha& i) we are being wa&ched ra&her &han
con&ac&ed by beings )ro. ano&her world who ini&ia&ed &he Biblical religion3 i& appears consis&en& wi&h
&heir policy o) re.aining aloo) )ro. our his&orical si&ua&ion whene0er possible.
An'els )n Histor&
There ha0e been essen&ially &wo ideas o) angels which ha0e do.ina&ed *es&ern &hin5ing - &he Biblical
and &he >ree5. *hile so.e >ree5 angels bore rese.blance &o hu.an beings3 &he >ree5s also de0eloped
&he concep& o) &he soul which was in .any ways si.ilar &o a geo.e&ric poin&. -ne ge&s &he i.pression
in (la&o:s Ti.aeus and %ris&o&le:s (hysica &ha& &he hu.an soul is analogous &o a geo.e&ric poin& and
&ha& i& is )ro. &he concep& o) &he poin& &ha& geo.e&ry is deri0ed - geo.e&ry represen&ing an
uncon&a.ina&ed )or. o) pure &hough&. A!B 2en&uries la&er &his concep& o) &he geo.e&ric poin&-soul
ser0es as a si.ilar basis )or &he .onads o) Heibni9. The >ree5s belie0ed &ha& &he hu.an soul had i&s
origin in &he poin&-s&ars on &he ou&er sphere o) &he uni0erse3 and a& dea&h &he hu.an soul escaped )ro.
i&s body &o re&urn &o &he geo-.e&ric-soul-poin&-s&ar in space )ro. which i& had originally co.e.
%s&rology arose direc&ly )ro. &his world 0iew. %ngels &ha& were li5e poin&s were &here)ore basically
in0isible3 and &he >ree5s o)&en used &hese angels as an e+plana&ion o) &he in0isible :cause: behind
e0en&s. Be)ore &he disco0ery o) &he laws o) .o.en&u.3 an angel .igh& cause a s&one &o )all or &he sun
&o go around &he ear&h.
In &he Bible3 howe0er3 angels are essen&ially hu.anli5e beings &ha& ha0e co.e )ro. :abo0e3: )ro.
ano&her world ou& in space. They are no& usually in0isible al&hough &he se;uence wi&h Balaa.:s ass
ANu.bers :! )).B .ay be an e+cep&ion. The Bible3 par&icularly &he New Tes&a.en&3 de0elops &he
concep& o) &he resurrec&ion o) &he body3 in which .en beco.e li5e angels3 in direc& con&ras& &o &he
>ree5 0iew in which only .an:s soul is sa0ed Aand his body los&B. The Biblical world 0iew presen&s
such a proble. in &he )ace o) .odern science because i& s&resses &he resurrec&ion o) &he body - and
presu.ably bodies .us& occupy so.e place in space. *here, I) we were co..i&&ed &o &he >ree5 0iew
o) sal0a&ion3 &hen we could say &ha& e&ernal li)e is .erely a :s&a&e: since a poin&-soul has essen&ially no
spa&ial proper&ies3 or a& leas& spa&ial di.ensions.
%s &he gospel was preached in &he >ree5 world &he &wo di0ergen& 0iews o) angels and sal0a&ion were
.i+ed in &he e0olu&ion o) 2hris&ian doc&rine. By &he &i.e we reach Tho.as %;uinas in &he .id-
&hir&een&h cen&ury3 we )ind &ha& %;uinas in &he Trea&ise on %ngels: in his Su..a Theologica can
wonder abou& &he si9e o) angels in co.parison wi&h a pin. AB The answer depends on whe&her one is
&hin5ing o) Biblical or >ree5 angels. %;uinas de)ined angels as pure :soul: beings3 wi&hou& &he bodies o)
.en. In &he Bible we do no& )ind &ha& &he basic di))erence be&ween .an and angels is &ha& .an has a
body? bo&h ha0e bodies. The di))erence is &ha& .an is )ro. ear&h? angels co.e )ro. ano&her world.
*hen 2opernicus and >alileo sha&&ered &he celes&ial spheres o) (&ole.y3 &he escha&ology o) %;uinas
and o) &he 2hris&ian 2hurch as a whole su))ered. The =e)or.a&ion a&&e.p&ed wi&h so.e success &o
separa&e Biblical &heology )ro. >ree5 philosophy3 and &here was so.e re0i0al o) a Biblical 0iew o)
angels. Isaac New&on3 who de0o&ed a& leas& as .uch &i.e &o his (ro&es&an& &heology as he did &o his
science3 was &horoughly co..i&&ed &o a belie) in Biblical angels3 in &he resurrec&ion o) &he body3 and in
a :hea0en: so.ewhere in ou&er space. He was3 in bo&h his science and his &heology3 &horoughly agains&
:0ain philosophy3: as he called i&? &ha& is3 he was agains& %ris&o&le.
%s &he scien&i)ic re0olu&ion con&inued3 howe0er3 and &he age o) Darwinian e0olu&ion e.erged3 i& no
longer see.ed possible )or a scien&is& &o be co..i&&ed &o &he Biblical world 0iew. The concep& o)
e0olu&ion3 &oge&her wi&h &he science o) gene&ics3 was based in par& on &he idea o) :chance3: and as
scien&is&s sur0eyed .an:s en0iron.en&3 &hey concluded &ha& i& was by pure chance3 a )rea5 acciden& o)
&he uni0erse3 &ha& .an e0er appeared. *hen all &he a&.ospheric condi&ions3 &e.pera&ure condi&ions3
gra0i&a&ional )orces3 ro&a&ion ra&e o) &he ear&h - &o na.e a )ew o) &he )ac&ors in0ol0ed in sus&aining @e -
were considered3 i& see.ed &ha& &he ear&h was probably &he only place in &he uni0erse wi&h li)e. @an
was alone in a 0as&3 i.personal .achine. Hi5e a li&&le boy los& in a wood3 we began &o whis&le a :happy:
&une &o pre&end &ha& we were no& a)raid. @en o) science and li&era&ure began as5ing .an &o grow up and
)ace his des&iny. -u& o) &his .en&ali&y arose &he idea o) progress and &he social gospel. *e are as5ed &o
:de.y&hologi9e: &he pri.i&i0e Biblical religion? we .us& .a&ure? we .us& grow up.
Bu& as &he &wen&ie&h cen&ury con&inued3 so did scien&i)ic ad0ance. During *orld *ar II we .o0ed in&o
&he air wi&h our planes and wi&h radar? &he >er.ans de0eloped &he principle o) &he roc5e&3 and wi&h &he
war pas&3 &he space age began. %s we .o0ed in&o space wi&h roc5e&s3 planes3 radar3 and radio
&elescopes3 our world 0iew began &o change. *e began &o &hin5 seriously again abou& a uni0erse wi&h
.any inhabi&an&s3 and we began loo5ing )or li)e )ro. o&her worlds. *e were no longer con)ined in our
&hin5ing &o our &wo-di.ensional de.y&hologi9ed ear&h. *e bro5e &hrough &he space barrier? we beca.e
aware again o) our &hree-di.ensional uni0erse.
*as &here li)e on @ars or Jenus, Science )ic&ion ca.e )or&h wi&h all sor&s o) i.agina&i0e answers3 bu&
e0en a .easured scien&i)ic 0iew based again on :chance: or probabili&y sugges&ed &ha& because o) &he
0as& si9e o) our uni0erse3 &here .ay be .illions o) inhabi&ed plane&s e0en wi&hin our own @il5y *ay.
@any well-in)or.ed scien&is&s began &o suspec& &ha& o&her races .igh& ha0e e0ol0ed in &he course o)
&i.e3 and &ha& long ago o&her beings .igh& ha0e a&&e.p&ed &o &ra0el in space - perhaps e0en &o our ear&h.
%& &he end o) *orld *ar II3 as we .o0ed in&o space3 we began &o see :8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&s3:
ob7ec&s which .any &hough& were space 0ehicles )ro. ano&her world which were wa&ching us. Bishop
=obinson:s Hones& &o >od is based on =udol) Bul&.ann:s de.y&hologi9ing principles3 which were in
&urn based on &he science Bul&.ann learned a& &he beginning o) &he &wen&ie&h cen&ury3 be)ore &he space
age began. Is i& possible &ha& =obinson:s Hones& &o >od is based on scien&i)ic &hin5ing which is now ou&
o) da&e,
No& only has :de.y&hologi9ing: 5ep& us )ro. &hin5ing seriously abou& angels3 bu& also we ha0e no&
&horoughly separa&ed &he Biblical )ro. &he >ree5 0iew o) angels. Scien&i)ic .e&hod see5s &o e+plain
reali&y in &er.s o) &he &es&able3 and &he >ree5 :in0isible: soul-poin& angels are un&es&able. %s <.
Bronows5i has said in The 2o..on Sense o) Science3
%s .uch as boo55eeping3 go0ern.en& and doing &he wee5end shopping3 science is an ac&i0i&y o)
pu&&ing order in&o our e+perience. So .uch was &rue e0en o) &he science o) %;uinas. To &his was added
in &he si+&een&h and se0en&een&h cen&uries a new assu.p&ion abou& &he 5ind o) order which science se&s
ou& &o )ind or .a5e. =oughly3 &he assu.p&ion a.oun&s &o &his3 &ha& science is &o ge& rid o) angels3 blue
)airies wi&h red noses3 and o&her agen&s whose in&er0en&ion would reduce &he e+plana&ion o) physical
e0en&s &o o&her &han physical &er.s. The world is regular in i&sel)? &he world is a .achine. A"B
In a cer&ain sense I agree wi&h Bronows5i &ha& &he &as5 o) science is &o ge& rid o) angels or :blue )airies:
as e+plana&ions o) na&ural pheno.ena. Thus I do no& belie0e &ha& angels 5eep &he ear&h &urning on i&s
a+is? I belie0e &ha& &he ear&h:s .o.en&u. 5eeps i& ro&a&ing. Science see5s &o )ind &he cause )or &he
0isible e))ec&. Bronows5i does no& consider angels a legi&i.a&e cause? bu& we ha0e &o as53 *ha& is &he
cause o) &he Biblical religion, *e 5now &he e))ec&. I& is recorded in Scrip&ures. The de.y&hologi9ers
would say &ha& &he basic cause behind &he Biblical religion is psychological: i& is a religion .an has
syn&hesi9ed because o) cer&ain Inner needs. Bu& &he Scrip&ures gi0e as &heir own cause &he sugges&ionC
&ha& beings )ro. ano&her world -angels - were &he e+&ernal agen& which caused &he Hebrew-2hris&ian
&radi&ion. In &he space age I do no& &hin5 we are co.pelled &o belie0e &ha& &his e+plana&ion is necessarily
.y&hological3 al&hough o) course i& could be.
To gi0e a hu.an analogy3 I should &hin5 &ha& i) so.e o) our as&ronau&s were sen& &o ano&her plane&3 and
&hey were &o disco0er a pri.i&i0e people3 and i) &hese as&ronau&s were speci)ically ins&ruc&ed &o lead
&hese people &o a par&icular religious co..i&.en&3 &hey .igh& 0ery well succeed. These pri.i&i0e
people .igh& record &he )ac& &ha& beings )ro. ano&her world caused &he bir&h o) &heir religion. In &his
ins&ance I would re;ues& &ha& Bronows5i .a5e an e+cep&ion &o his general rule o) no& ad.i&&ing angels
in&o his scien&i)ic e+plana&ion o) &hings3 )or &o e+clude angels would be &o e+clude a& leas& &he clue &o
&he correc& e+plana&ion. I would also as5 &heological de.y&hologi9ers &o be .ore willing &o ad.i& &ha&
&he original source o) religious belie)s .ay ha0e been e+&ernal &o .an:s psyche.
-ne .igh& well argue &ha& i& is scien&i)ically i.probable &ha& such a se;uence o) e0en&s would &a5e
place3 bu& I canno& &hin5 o) grounds on which such an e+plana&ion is au&o.a&ically scien&i)ically ou& o)
&he ;ues&ion3 pro0iding &ha& we separa&e &he Biblical )ro. &he >ree5 way o) &hin5ing abou& angels. I& is
on &hese grounds &ha& I &hin5 Bishop =obinson is wrong in sugges&ing &ha& i& is dishones& )or 2hris&ians
&o go on belie0ing in &he %scension o) 2hris&. Bishop =obinson has &he righ& &o .ain&ain &ha& &he
%scension is highly i.probable3 bu& i& is by no .eans i.possible in &he ligh& o) presen& scien&i)ic
&hin5ing3 par&icularly i) one pro0ides 2hris& wi&h an ade;ua&e space 0ehicle. -ne .ay no& be pleased
wi&h &he &heological i.plica&ions o) &he sugges&ion &ha& 2hris& ascended in so.e sor& o) space 0ehicle?
bu& &he i.plica&ions )i& &he e0idence be&&er &han &he sugges&ion &ha& &here was no %scension a& all.
I) )lying saucers e+is&3 i) &hey are in )ac& space 0ehicles )ro. ano&her world3 and i) &hey ha0e &he
per)or.ance capabili&ies described in 0arious 8F- repor&s3 &hen &here is no doub& &ha& &hese 0ehicles
would ha0e pro0ided ade;ua&e &ranspor&a&ion )or any beings who .igh& ha0e been in0ol0ed in
nourishing &he Biblical religion. *e ha0e beco.e aware o) &hese 8F-s only since our .o0e in&o space
during and a)&er *orld *ar II. I) we had no& .o0ed in&o space3 perhaps we would no& ha0e no&iced
&he. e0en ye&. %& presen& &hese 8F-s see. &o be In&eres&ed .ainly in sur0eillance3 no& in .a5ing
con&ac&. *ho can say &ha& &hese being ha0e no& been .ain&aining sur0eillance )or &he pas& )our &housand
years, The possibili&y s&re&ches &he i.agina&ion3 bu& i& canno& be ruled ou& a priori. Fur&her.ore3 we
canno& be sure &ha& &here are no& se0eral groups o) beings3 perhaps )ro. .any di))eren& worlds3
wa&ching us3 as we .igh& wa&ch )ish in a pond.
The -F* Contro.ers&
The whole ;ues&ion o) &he e+is&ence o) 8F-s will no& be se&&led un&il &he 8.S. %ir Force .a5es all i&s
space sur0eillance )acili&ies a0ailable &o so.e independen& organi9a&ion )or a &horough in0es&iga&ion. %
recen& newspaper ar&icle3 headlined :%ir Force (lans CFlying SaucersC (robe3: said &ha& :&he %ir Force is
&rying &o ge& a leading uni0ersi&y &o in0es&iga&e so.e episodes in dep&h.: The reason )or &he
in0es&iga&ion is &ha& &here ha0e been :widespread charges &ha& &he %ir Force was concealing &he &ru&h les&
&here be a panic.: A/B The >o0ern.en& has since :hired &he 8ni0ersi&y o) 2olorado3 whose Dr. 'dward
8. 2ondon will direc& a s&udy pro7ec& which will in0ol0e .ore &han !00 scien&is&s down here &o
de&er.ine who:s up &here. The idea behind all &his is &o ge& &he %ir Force o)) &he spo& and con0ince &he
public &ha& ear&hlings are in no grea& danger )ro. wha& are o))icially 5nown as 8F-s3: according &o &he
New 4or5 Daily News. A$B
*ho has been charging &ha& .e.bers o) &he %ir Force ha0e concealed &he &ru&h, % nu.ber o) persons
ha0e led &he assaul&3 bu& cer&ainly one o) &he )irs&3 @a7or Donald '. Ieyhoe3 who has wri&&en a nu.ber
o) well-docu.en&ed boo5s3 including Flying Saucers )ro. -u&er Space3 Flying Saucers %re =eal3 The
Flying Saucer 2onspiracy3 and Flying Saucers: Top Secre&. Ieyhoe has also headed &he Na&ional
In0es&iga&ions 2o..i&&ee on %erial (heno.ena which has co.piled &he wor5 The 8F- '0idence. In
The Flying Saucer 2onspiracy3 published in !#$$3 Ieyhoe ou&lined &he progra. o) a :conspiracy: o)
silence on &he par& o) &he 8.S. %ir Force personnel &o 5eep 8F- in)or.a&ion )ro. &he public.
-&her boo5s3 such as %na&o.y o) a (heno.enon by <ac;ues Jallee and =epor& on 8niden&i)ied Flying
-b7ec&s by 2ap&ain 'dward =uppel&3 &oge&her wi&h &he recen& Flying Saucers -Serious Business by
Fran5 'dwards3 ha0e &ended &o suppor& Ieyhoe:s &hesis &ha& .e.bers o) &he %ir Force ha0e concealed
e0idence concerning 8F-s )ro. &he public. @os& 8F- au&hors are con0inced &ha& )lying saucers ei&her
con&ain beings )ro. ano&her world or &ha& &hey are re.o&e-con-&rolled spaceships )ro. ano&her plane&.
Bu& &here see.s &o Be no concensus as &o wha& &he beings .ay loo5 li5e or where &hey .ay ha0e co.e
)ro.3 al&hough specula&ion o) course abounds. I a. no& going &o a&&e.p& a de&ailed su..ary o) &he
0arious 8F- boo5s3 bu& I shall bring ou& so.e poin&s which are i.por&an& )or Biblical s&udies.
%ccording &o Ieyhoe3 %ir Force pilo&s are under res&ric&ions no& &o gi0e ou& in)or.a&ion &o &he public
concerning 8F- con&ac&s. I wro&e &o &he %ir Force concerning &he 8F- si&ua&ion and recei0ed in &he
.ail wha& was described as :The curren& repor& on (ro7ec& Blue Boo53: which deal& wi&h .a&erial up &o
!#1$. In &his repor& &he )ollowing co..en& appears: CThe %ir Force does no& deny &he possibili&y &ha&
so.e )or. o) li)e .ay e+is& on o&her plane&s in &he uni0erse. Howe0er3 &o da&e3 &he %ir Force has
nei&her recei0ed nor disco0ered any e0idence which pro0es &he e+is&ence o) in&ra-space .obili&y o)
e+&ra&erres&rial li)e.:
The )ollowing paragraph adds3 howe0er3 :%nyone obser0ing wha& he considers &o be an uniden&i)ied
)lying ob7ec& should repor& i& &o &he neares& %ir Force Base3: A1B The %ir Force posi&ion see.s clear.
They deny ha0ing :proo) &ha& 8F-s )ro. ano&her world e+is&. I ha0e already discussed &he na&ure o)
scien&i)ic :proo) hi &er.s o) wha& .ay be called :probabili&y3: and no scien&is& e0er clai.s &ha& he has
absolu&e :proo) o) any&hing. He .ay3 howe0er3 ha0e 0ery con0incing e0idence. I canno& help wondering
i)3 while &he %ir Force does no& ha0e :proo)3: i& .ay in )ac& ha0e considerable e0idence &ha& 8F-s )ro.
ano&her world e+is&.
Fur&her.ore3 I canno& help wondering why .e.bers o) &he %ir Force are an+ious &o carry on &heir 8F-
progra. i) &hey ha0e :no e0idence.: The repor& encourages &he indi0idual &o repor& 8F- sigh&ings &o &he
neares& %ir Force base. :(ro7ec& Blue Boo5: began eigh&een years ago. I) .e.bers o) &he %ir Force
really belie0e &ha& 8F-s do no& e+is&3 why a)&er eigh&een years do &hey s&ill wan& sigh&ings &o be
repor&ed,
The %ir Force repor& also included &he indica&ion o) so.e o) &he res&ric&ions concerning 8F-s. The
)ollowing i&e.s are )or in&ernal use only and are no& a0ailable )or dis&ribu&ion &o &he public. These
concern in&ernal .anage.en& and procedures )or )orwarding 8F- repor&s &o &he appropria&e agency: !.
%ir Force =egula&ion 00-? . <%N%( !/1?". 8F- (ro7ec& =ecord 2ard.: A7B So.e o) &hese
res&ric&ions apparen&ly i.pose )ines or cour&s-.ar&ial on %ir Force personnel )or disclosing 8F-
in)or.a&ion. A6B
Se0eral years ago I &al5ed wi&h a 8.S. %ir Force pilo& who recei0ed a call )ro. a ground radar s&a&ion
while he was )lying his F-6/ Sabre <e& o0er Jer.on&. The radar s&a&ion had spo&&ed a blip on &he screen
which i& could no& iden&i)y3 and &he pilo& was as5ed &o chec5 i& ou& - a )airly rou&ine assign.en&. The
pilo& &old .e &ha& as he closed in on &he sil0ery ! .e&allic ob7ec&3 i& suddenly accelera&ed away )ro.
hi.3 and 6 he could no& ca&ch i&3 despi&e &he )ac& &ha& he was )lying &he )as&es& 7e& in produc&ion a& &ha&
&i.e. He was con0inced &ha& &he 8F- was a spaceship )ro. ano&her world. For&una&ely3 I do no& 5now
his na.e3 )or I do no& &hin5 &ha& he was sup-posed &o disclose &his in)or.a&ion.
I ha0e3 o) course3 no way o) 5nowing &ha& &he pilo& was &elling .e &he &ru&h. Bu& &his con&ac& was
personally i.por&an& )or .e because i& &ended &o suppor& wha& .en such as Ieyhoe and 'dwards
.ain&ain? &ha& is3 &ha& i& is %ir Force personnel who ha0e &he only o0erall pic&ure o) &he 8F- si&ua&ion.
%ny 8F- in0es&iga&ion by &he 8ni0ersi&y o) 2olorado wi&hou& &he )ull coopera&ion o) &he %ir Force can
hardly be co.ple&e.
Fran5 'dwards .ade &he )ollowing s&a&e.en& in his boo5 Flying Saucers - Serious Business:
-ne nigh& early in -c&ober o) !#1$3 I addressed an audience o) radar e+per&s who had hired .e3 a& &heir
own e+pense3 &o co.e and &ell &he. all &ha& I could abou& &he ubi;ui&ous 8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&s.
These were &he .en A%ir Tra))ic 2on&rollersB who see &hese &hings on &heir radar screens. These are &he
sa.e .en who are re;uired by regula&ion &o gi0e ou& pre)abrica&ed answers or :e+plana&ions: &o all who
.a5e in;uiry abou& such &hings.
*hy were &hey paying .e3 a ci0ilian news.an3 &o &ell &he. abou& &hings &hey see .ore )re;uen&ly &han
anyone else in &he na&ion,
The reason was si.ple: %l&hough &hey were under &he Federal %0ia&ion %gency3 &ha& agency re)used &o
answer &heir ;ueries )or in)or.a&ion on &he 8F-:s. A#B Thus3 e0en indi0idual .e.bers o) &he %ir Force
ne&wor5 who ha0e con&ac& wi&h 8F-s do no& ha0e &he &o&al pic&ure? only &he )ew .en a& &he &op o)
(ro7ec& Blue Boo5 can see &he whole 8F- landscape. %ny uni0ersi&y in0es&iga&ion which hopes &o
succeed will need &o share &his 0iew :)ro. &he &op.: There are &wo reasons why i& is )or &he :good o) our
na&ion: &o 5eep 8F- in)or.a&ion secre&3 AiB There is &he )ear o) public panic3 and &he possible econo.ic
crisis on &he s&oc5 .ar5e&. AB
I) 8F-s e+is&3 and are space 0ehicles )ro. ano&her world3 &hey see. &o opera&e according &o so.e an&i-
gra0i&a&ional principle. Donald Ieyhoe de0o&es one chap&er o) his Flying Saucer 2onspiracy &o &he
:%n&i-> Field3: and 'dwards and o&hers see. &o agree &ha& so.e an&i-gra0i&a&ional Aan&i->B )orce is a&
wor5 in 8F-s. The na&ion which disco0ers &he secre& o) an&i-gra0i&a&ional propulsion will ha0e .ade a
brea5&hrough a& leas& as i.por&an& as &he de0elop.en& o) a&o.ic energy3 and &here)ore an&i->
in)or.a&ion in connec&ion wi&h 8F-s would be Top Secre&.: A!0B I a. no& ;uali)ied &o spea5 concerning
&he 0alidi&y o) &he an&i-gra0i&a&ion hypo&hesis in regard &o 8F-s3 bu& gi0en &he sugges&ion &ha& an an&i->
)ield is associa&ed wi&h .odern 8F-s3 we shall disco0er so.e )an&as&ic conse;uences )or Biblical
s&udies3 especially when we e+a.ine &he par&ing o) &he :=ed Sea: during &he '+odus.
I canno& pro0e whe&her or no& 8F-s e+is&. The whole issue .us& be se&&led by &he 0ery )ew .en who
are in a posi&ion &o collec& and e0alua&e &he da&a. There are a& presen& &wo schools o) &hough& concerning
8F-s: &he one which &he %ir Force .ain&ains - ei&her hones&ly or dishones&ly - &ha& 8F-s do no& e+is&3
a& leas& in &he sense &ha& &hey are space cra)& )ro. ano&her world? and &he o&her posi&ion o) Ieyhoe.
'dwards3 and o&hers &ha& 8F-s or )lying saucers do e+is& and &ha& &hey are under &he con&rol o) beings
)ro. ano&her world.
% &ypical newspaper repor& o) a 8F- sigh&ing is as )ollows:
Two 'rie F(a.G news.en said &hey saw and pho&ographed early &oday a brigh& ob7ec& in &he s5y near
where a young couple repor&ed &he landing o) a .ys&erious ob7ec&.
Dennis Buc5el o) radio s&a&ion *<'T said a& abou& a... he saw wha& loo5ed li5e a brigh& s&ar .o0ing
)as&.
%no&her *<'T news.an3 <erry Tre.bley3 said he saw &he sa.e ob7ec& abou& &wo hours la&er and
ano&her clus&er o) )lashing ligh&s.
-n Sunday3 Be&&y <ean Ile.3 !13 o) <a.es&own3 N.4.3 and Douglas Tibbe&s3 !63 o) >reenhurs& N.4.3
said &hey saw a .e&allic3 sil0ery ob7ec& land near &heir car on a beach in (res;ue Isle S&a&e (ar53 a
peninsula 7u&&ing in&o Ha5e 'rie. (olice said &hey )ound &wo &riangular i.pressions in &he sand3 abou& 1
inches deep. The *<'T news.en ca.e up wi&h .o&ion pic&ures o) ob7ec&s in &he s5y. A!!B
This par&icular repor& does no& .en&ion &he shape o) &he 8F-3 al&hough .any are o) course described as
saucer shaped. Bu& &he ob7ec&s usually see. &o gi0e o)) ligh&3 &ra0el a& high speed3 and are :sil0ery: in
appearance. -ne can argue &ha& &he obser0ers were no& ;uali)ied3 or &ha& &he .o&ion pic&ures were )a5ed3
or &ha& &hey in )ac& saw an ar&i)icial sa&elli&e - which does no&3 o) course3 accoun& )or &he &riangular
i.pressions in &he sand. @any 8F- sigh&ings ne0er are prin&ed. This one was prin&ed because3
al&hough &here .ay be doub& as &o wha& was seen3 se0eral separa&e wi&nesses repor&ed seeing a s&range
ob7ec&? &here see.s &o be a good possibili&y &ha& so.e&hing s&range was seen.
Fl&in' #!u"ers And De/&tholo'i0in'
I) )lying saucers do e+is&3 and i) proo) o) &heir e+is&ence is e0en&ually es&ablished3 &heologians
a&&e.p&ing &o de0elop a realis&ic Biblical in&erpre&a&ion will ha0e one good his&oric e+a.ple o) how
:de.y&hologi9ers: ha0e drawn pre.a&ure conclusions. %nyone who accep&s &he %ir Force posi&ion
regarding 8F-s assu.es &ha& )lying saucers are a .y&hological or psychological cons&ruc&ion o) a
group o) :gullible: or .en&ally unbalanced people.
I) we &a5e as an e+a.ple repor&ing which suppor&s &he %ir Force posi&ion3 a series o) Ti.e .aga9ine
ar&icles e+e.pli)y wha& I ha0e in .ind. The well-5nown 8F- sigh&ing near %nn %rbor3 @ichigan3 in
@arch o) !#11 was repor&ed in &he %pril ! issue o) Ti.e3 which included in i&s repor& a co..en& )ro.
a &hree-year-old girl who e+pec&ed &o :see a space.an wi&h Cgreen3 yellow and orange 7uice hair.C: The
sigh&ing was :a sure sign o) pri.a0eral deliriu..: The only sign o) sani&y was &ha& :Through i&s (ro7ec&
Blue Boo53 &he %ir Force had loo5ed in&o !03!/7 o&her 8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&s since )lying saucers
en&ered %.erican .y&hology F.y i&alicsG in !#/7 ... %& wee5:s end &he %ir Force a&&ribu&ed &he %nn
%rbor and Hillsdale appari&ions &o .arsh gas A.e&haneB crea&ed by organic deco.posi&ion and igni&ed
by co.bus&ion.: A!B
The )ollowing issue o) Ti.e repor&ed wha& was called :The >ullibili&y '+peri.en&.: So.e ingenious
S&uden&s a& (asadena:s 2ali)ornia Ins&i&u&e o) Technology sen& alo)& so.e Brigh&ly ligh&ed balloons a&
nigh& and nu.erous 8F- repor&s resul&ed &hus pro0ing how :gullible: e0eryone is. A!"B I &hin5 i& )air &o
poin& ou& &ha& i& is no& e0ery nigh& &ha& s&uden&s launch ligh&ed balloons in&o &he s5y. Fur&her.ore3
people were ac&ually seeing so.e&hing when &hey .ade &heir repor&s. The s&uden&s did no& .a5e &heir
e+peri.en& un&il nearly &wo decades a)&er :)lying saucers: were )irs& widely repor&ed. -ne could 0ery
easily3 on &he basis o) &he s&uden&s: e+peri.en&3 draw &he )ollowing conclusion: when people see
ob0iously s&range 8F-s in &he s5y3 &hey will repor& &he..
%s an illus&ra&ion o) how an edi&or can suppor& his personal con0ic&ions3 &he %nn %rbor repor& was
lis&ed by Ti.e as a :local: pheno.enon under &he heading :Na&ion3: while &he :>ullibili&y '+peri.en&:
was repor&ed under :Science.: I would no& argue &ha& e0ery&hing repor&ed as a 8F- is in )ac& a )lying
saucer. 8ndoub&edly &here is .uch .y&hology connec&ed wi&h 8F-s3 bu& 7us& as in &he gullibili&y
e+peri.en& &he repor&s did ha0e so.e basis in )ac&3 so I a. 0ery suspicious &ha& &he idea o) )lying
saucers has so.e basis in )ac&.
%s an illus&ra&ion o) &he )ac& &ha& &he :.arsh gas: &heory is buil& on a swa.py )ounda&ion3 &he %ir Force
scien&is& who pu& )orward &he &heory was <. %lien Hyne53 and he la&er wro&e an ar&icle en&i&led :%re
Flying Saucers =eal,: )or &he Dece.ber !73 !#113 issue o) &he Sa&urday '0ening Tos&. In &his ar&icle
Hyne5 con)esses &ha& he had 0ery li&&le scien&i)ic )ac& &o suppor& his :swa.p gas: con7ec&ure3 and he
ne0er in&ended i& &o be :&he: answer &o &he @ichigan sigh&ing. %)&er learning abou& swa.p gas3 Hyne5
says &ha& he decided :i& was a CpossibleC e+plana&ion I would o))er &o &he repor&ers.: Hyne5 apparen&ly
did no& e0en belie0e &he e+plana&ion hi.sel)3 and on &he basis o) &he (os& ar&icle3 i& is ;ui&e clear &ha&
Hyne5 belie0es &he whole 8F- proble. &o be )ar .ore co.ple+ &han &he si.ple :.y&hological:
e+plana&ion such as Ti.e .aga9ine has assu.ed. A!/B
Spea5ing o) gullibili&y3 I &hin5 one could as easily argue &ha& Ti.e is hardly showing in&elligen&
s5ep&icis. in glee)ully repor&ing &he )indings o) an %ir Force-sponsored scien&is& A&he sa.e %ir Force
which ne0er heard o) a 8-B who se0eral days a)&er &he %nn %rbor sigh&ing concluded &ha& wha& was
seen by do9ens o) wi&nesses - bu& no& by &he scien&is& - was swa.p gas.
I& does no& see. &o ha0e occurred &o anyone on &he Ti.e s&a)) &ha& a )lying saucer .igh& ac&ually ha0e
been seen? &here si.ply has &o be ano&her e+plana&ion - &he )lying-saucer answer is a priori ou& o) &he
;ues&ion. %ny&hing -including swa.p gas - is a .ore accep&able answer &o &hose who .us&
:de.y&hologi9e: )lying saucers. -ne irony is &ha& &he co0er o) &he Ti.e issue which repor&ed &he
gullibili&y e+peri.en& raised &he o.inous ;ues&ion in red le&&ers on blac53 :Is >od Dead,: This issue
de0o&es a considerable a.oun& o) space &o &he :>od is dead: &heology3 which Ti.e repor&s is led by
:principally Tho.as <.<. %l&i9er o) '.ory 8ni0ersi&y: a.ong o&hers. A!$B De.y&hologi9ing &he Biblical
.a&erial is one o) &he .os& i.por&an& s&eps in &he :>od is dead: &heology o) %l&i9er. % scholar who has
.ade pioneering s&udies concerning &he .y&hological )ounda&ions o) religion is @ircea 'liade3 who has
wri&&en a.ong o&her wor5s The Sacred and &he (ro)ane. A!1B Tho.as <. <. %l&i9er was a s&uden& o)
'liade3 and has wri&&en &he s&udy3 @ircea 'liade and &he Dialec&ic o) &he Sacred. %l&i9er relies hea0ily
on &he psychology o) 2arl >. <ung3 as &his wor5 illus&ra&es3 and 'liade in wor5s such as @y&hs3 Drea.s
and @ys&eries: The 'ncoun&er Be&ween 2on&e.porary Fai&hs and %rchaic =eali&ies also draws insigh&s
)ro. &he s&udies o) <ung. I .en&ion <ung because we ha0e now co.e )ull circle. -ne o) <ung:s boo5s is
en&i&led Flying Saucers: % @odern @y&h o) Things Seen in &he S5ies.C
%gain I would no& deny &ha& 8F-s3 or a& leas& 8F- repor&s3 e+hibi& .any :.y&hological: charac&eris&ics.
I& does no& add &o &he credibili&y o) a well-repor&ed ar&icle by Harold H. Deneaul&3 <r.3 en&i&led :%na&o.y
o) a 8F- 2o0er-8p3: &ha& &he ar&icle appears on &he co0er o) Fa&e .aga9ine sandwiched be&ween &wo
ar&icles under &he &i&les3 :Is Bha7an Singh =eborn in @unesh,: and :Thu.ping (ol&ergeis& in 2ali)ornia.:
A!6B 8ndoub&edly .any 8F- repor&s are .y&hological in origin3 bu& one &hing which &ends &o separa&e
8F-s )ro. pol&ergeis&s is &he )re;uency wi&h which &hey are repor&ed. To .y 5nowledge3 &he 8.S. %ir
Force has ne0er considered carrying ou& a &wen&y-year in0es&iga&ion o) pol&ergeis&s. Thus &he )lying-
saucer deba&e is o0er &he ;ues&ion: Do saucers e+is&3 or are &hey .y&h, The .odern &heological deba&e
is o0er se0eral ;ues&ions such as: Did <esus rise )ro. &he dead3 were :angels: presen& a& &he &o.b3 did
<esus ascend in&o space3 or is &his .y&h,
I) so.e&i.e in &he )u&ure we should )inally ha0e su))icien& e0idence &o show beyond reasonable doub&
&ha& )lying saucers do e+is&3 I belie0e &ha& &his will au&o.a&ically ha0e i.por&an& conse;uences )or
&heology3 whe&her or no& .odern 8F-s ha0e any&hing &o do wi&h &he Bible. The de.y&hologi9ed
:hones& &o >od: &heology o) =obinson and &he :dea&h o) >od: &heology o) %l&i9er are roo&ed in &hree basic
sciences: psychology3 .y&hology3 and philosophy AI use &he &er. :science: in i&s broades& sense hereB.
S&ar&ing wi&h Bul&.ann3 who assu.ed &ha& &he Biblical people held a :pri.i&i0e: cos.ology3 &heologians
ha0e &hen &a5en s&udies by .en such as 'liade in religious .y&h and applied &he. &o &he Bible.
The cause behind such .y&hology is in&erpre&ed in &er.s o) psychological s&udies by scholars such as
<ung3 and &heologians such as Bul&.ann3 =obinson3 or %l&i9er &hen draw )ro. &he e+is&en&ial
philosophy o) &hin5ers such as @ar&in Heidegger or <ean-(aul Sar&re &o rein&erpre& &he Biblical religion
)or .odern .an. There is a )an&as&ic )ield o) scholarship behind &his &heology which has .ade a
0aluable per.anen& i.pac& on &he &wen&ie&h cen&ury.
The basic ;ues&ion I ha0e in .ind3 howe0er3 is as )ollows: Ha0e &he psychologically orien&ed e+is&en&ial
de.y&hologi9ers in &heology &ried &o include &oo .uch in &heir world 0iew, In &he pas& we .ay ha0e
con)used )ac& wi&h .y&h. %re we now con)using .y&h wi&h )ac&, By &his I .ean &ha& &his school o)
&heology has buil& a &riangular )or&ress wi&h .y&hology3 psychology3 and e+is&en&ial philosophy ser0ing
as &he &hree cornerpos&s.
This &heological )or& see.s &o ha0e con&rac&ed a disease si.ilar &o suburban sprawl3 co0ering larger and
e0er larger areas wi&hin &he &riangle un&il now &he poin& has been reached where &hese &heologians clai.
&ha& >od .ay be dead. Ha0e &hey now e+&ended &he boundaries o) &heir de.y&hologi9ed &heological )or&
&oo )ar, I) &hey ha0e3 how can &his be de.ons&ra&ed, Suppose &ha& <ung is wrong in his assu.p&ion &ha&
)lying saucers are an e+a.ple o) a .odern .y&h o) &hings seen in &he s5ies. This would .ean &ha& e0en
such an e.inen& psychologis& as <ung does no& always 5now a .y&h when he sees one. I) <ung is wrong
abou& )lying saucers3 &hen &he :psychological: and :.y&hological: cornerpos&s o) de.y&hologi9ed
2hris&iani&y .ay be sha5en.
The :e+is&en&ial: pos& depends on &he o&her &wo pos&s )or i&s s&reng&h. I) &he o&her pos&s re&rea&3 &he
e+is&en&ial pos& will )ollow. The Bible sugges&s &ha& <esus :ascended: in so.e sor& o) 8F-. Theologians
and psychologis&s can e+plain e0ery&hing )ro. &he :%scension o) 2hris&: &o :)lying saucers: in &er.s o)
:.y&h.: Bu& i) )lying saucers e+is&3 &hen perhaps we can again argue )or a realis&ic in&erpre&a&ion o) &he
%scension o) 2hris& Ahones&lyB. Suppose &ha& in a re.o&e and pri.i&i0e &ribe o) people so.ewhere on
ear&h a na&i0e ran e+ci&edly in&o his 0illage and repor&ed &o his chie) &ha& he had 7us& seen )loa&ing down
)ro. &he s5y an :angel: suspended benea&h a grea& whi&e shee&. The chie) .igh& call a council .ee&ing3
and &he &ribal :psychologis&: .igh& sugges& &ha& &he repor&er o) &he 8F- had su))ered a hallucina&ion? &he
:de.y&hologi9er: would agree in par&3 bu& he would go on &o say &ha& &his :.y&h: o) a .an )loa&ing down
)ro. &he s5y represen&s &he repor&er:s psychological need &o .a5e con&ac& wi&h &he &ranscenden& and
&ha& he has gi0en &his need an e+&ernal .y&hological e+pression.
The :e+is&en&ialis&3: once he had heard &he analysis o) &he psychologis& and &he de.y&hologi9er3 would
go on &o reassure &he repor&er &ha& while he did no& ac&ually see a .an )loa&ing down )ro. &he s5y3
ne0er&heless &his .y&h could be gi0en an e+is&en&ial in&erpre&a&ion )ro. which &he whole &ribe could
bene)i&3 )or in &his way all could gain insigh& in&o &heir :ground o) being.: I) &he :.edicine .an: in &he
&ribe Arealis&ic or e.piricis& &heologianB had no& spo5en by &his &i.e3 he would be well ad0ised no& &o
spea53 )or he is ou&nu.bered &hree &o one. Bu& &he .edicine .an .igh& gain courage i) a s&ranger
carrying a parachu&e were &hen &o wander in&o ca.p. I) )lying saucers do e+is&3 and i) we )inally gain
su))icien& e0idence o) &heir e+is&ence &o pu& &he issue beyond doub&3 &hen I dare say &ha& &he course o)
&heology .ay be radically changed. I) )lying saucers do no& e+is&3 &hen .uch &heology will probably
con&inue i&s presen& course which leads down &he road &o &he dea&h o) >od.
I a. wri&ing &his boo5 on &he assu.p&ion &ha& )u&ure e0idence will poin& &o &he e+is&ence o) )lying
saucers3 bu& only &i.e will pu& &he ;ues&ion beyond reasonable doub&.
% good syn&hesis o) &he psychological3 e+is&en&ial3 and .y&hological s&udies o) our &i.e is )ound in
Tho.as <. <. %l&i9er:s @ircea 'liade and &he Dialec&ic o) &he Sacred. The :dialec&ic: abou& which %l&i9er
spea5s is be&ween &he sacred and &he pro)ane3 which is roughly a dialec&ic be&ween opposi&es3 &he
.y&hological AsacredB and .a&erial Apro)aneB. To lin5 )lying saucers wi&h &he religious3 o) course3
sha&&ers &he dialec&ic which %l&i9er wishes &o es&ablish3 )or i& is ;ui&e li5ely &ha& 8F-s are .a&erial3 no&
.y&hological. I) )lying saucers are .a&erial3 &here is )or %l&i9er no way &ha& &hey could be sacred. In his
0olu.e on 'liade we can see al.os& all &he signi)ican& )orces which ha0e .olded .odern &heology
si.ul&aneously a& wor5. In his :In&roduc&ion: %l&i9er announces &ha&:
&he .o.en& has arri0ed &o engage in a radical ;ues& )or a new .ode o) religious unders&anding. The
)irs& re;uire.en& o) such a ;ues& is a )or&hrigh& con)ession o) &he dea&h o) >od o) 2hris&endo.3 a )ull
ac5nowledg.en& &ha& &he era o) 2hris&ian ci0ili9a&ion has co.e &o an end3 wi&h &he resul& &ha& all
cogni&i0e .eaning and all .oral 0alues &ha& were once his&orically associa&ed wi&h &he 2hris&ian >od
ha0e collapsed. Fur&her.ore3 we .us& recogni9e &ha& &he dea&h o) >od is a his&orical e0en&: >od has
died in our &i.e3 in our his&ory3 in our e+is&ence. Inso)ar as we li0e in our des&iny3 we can 5now nei&her
a &race o) >od:s presence nor an i.age o) his reali&y. A!#B
The 2hris&ian >od is .eaningless )or .os& persons in &he &wen&ie&h cen&ury bo&h in&ellec&ually and
.orally. Bu& &he ;ues&ion .us& be raised: Does &he )aul& lie wi&h >od Abeing ei&her dead or none+is&en&B3
or does &he )aul& lie wi&h us3 wi&h &he )ac& &ha& our .ode. :scien&i)ic world 0iew: has 5ep& us )ro.
unders&anding &he Biblical >od realis&ically, %l&i9er has &urned &o 'liade as a source )or a new
unders&anding o) &he sacred because &he 2hris&ian unders&anding is dead. 'liade has done his bes& wor5
wi&h 'as&ern religions3 especially wi&h Indian and >ree5 &hough&. The orien&a&ion o) 'liade:s &hough& is
&oward &he soul3 .ind3 or psyche. The soul is &he sea& o) &he sacred? &he world is pro)ane and3 so )ar as
&he soul is caugh& up in worldliness3 i& is caugh& up in &he pro)ane. @odern science is grounded in
:worldlines3: and &here is &hroughou& %l&i9er:s wor5 a hos&ili&y &oward science3 which is e+&re.ely
signi)ican&. Thus %l&i9er3 li5e 'liade3 :has long been a&&rac&ed &o <ung3 while .ain&aining a bi&&er
hos&ili&y &oward Freud. 'liade ob7ec&s &o Freud:s ideology3 &o his posi&i0is& unders&anding o) Cpure
se+uali&yC3 )or Freud re)used &o ac5nowledge &he sacred di.ension o) psychic energy3 o) libido. A0B
'+is&en&ialis&s are generally hos&ile &oward :posi&i0is.3: and while I would no& wan& &o de)end Freud or
posi&i0is. a& e0ery poin&3 I do &hin5 &ha& &he hall.ar5 o) posi&i0is. -sense e+perience - will e0en&ually
erode .uch o) &he )ounda&ion upon which &he &heological )or& o) %l&i9er and &he dea&h o) >od
&heologians has been cons&ruc&ed. I& is ironic &ha& .uch o) &he s&i.ulus behind &he :dea&h o) >od:
&heology has co.e )ro. .odern science - whe&her i& be &he de.y&hologi9ing o) &he :&hree-dec5er
uni0erse: or our psychological in&erpre&a&ion o) drea.s and .y&hs - and &ha& &heologians such as %l&i9er
see. so.ewha& hos&ile &oward &he worldly .e&hods o) .odern science. *e .ay ne0er again
unders&and &he Bible in &he e+ac& sense which our )ore)a&hers did? our unders&anding .ay ha0e &o
.a&ure3 and psychological s&udies by .en such as 'liade and %l&i9er .ay help &his .a&ura&ion. Bu& i) I
unders&and %l&i9er correc&ly3 he belie0es &ha& &he basic s&i.ulus behind &he Biblical religion was
in&ernal - wi&hin .an:s psyche? .an was reaching ou& )or >od. I sugges& &ha& &he basic s&i.ulus behind
&he Biblical religion was e+&ernal - in &he par&icular e.bodi.en& o) a group o) beings )ro. ano&her
world who delibera&ely brough& abou& &he Biblical religion? &hrough &hese beings >od was reaching )or
.an. I agree &ha& .uch o) &he Biblical .a&erial can be e+plained in psychological &er.s. Bu& I &hin5 &ha&
&he :hones& &o >od: and :dea&h o) >od: &heologies ha0e .ade one basic .is&a5e: &hey ha0e
de.y&hologi9ed and psychologi9ed angels3 &he .essengers )ro. ano&her world3 and all &hey i.ply.
To re&urn &o &he :pri.i&i0e ca.p: in&o which an airplane pilo& has 7us& parachu&ed3 Bishop =obinson and
Tho.as %l&i9er are con0inced &ha& no s&ranger carrying a parachu&e will e0er wander in&o our ca.p.
They assu.e &ha& a de.y&hologi9ed 2hris&ian )ai&h .us& now be accep&ed as )ac&. To )ly in &he )ace o)
&his )ac& a.oun&s &o in&ellec&ual dishones&y. In a newspaper repor&3 Ian @cHennan3 :direc&or o) &he
proposed S&rasenburgh (lane&ariu. o) &he =oches&er @useu. o) %r&s and Sciences3: in his re0iew o)
Fran5 'dwards:s Flying Saucers - Serious Business3 ad.i&&ed &ha& :so.e&hing has been happening in &he
s5y - hundreds o) &housands o) people canno& .a5e independen& obser0a&ions o) &he sa.e op&ical
pheno.enon o0er &housands o) s;uare .iles under a )an&as&ic dose o) .ass hys&eria.: A!B Bu&
@cHennan canno& )eel cer&ain abou& wha& is being seen.
I belie0e &ha& &his is represen&a&i0e o) &he )eeling o) &he scien&i)ic co..uni&y a& &he presen& &i.e - &hey
ad.i& &ha& so.e&hing is being seen3 bu& scien&is&s &ry &o be care)ul no& &o .y&hologi9e &he 0isible.
Nor&on T. No0i&& has sugges&ed &ha& a large body o) )lying an&s .igh& glow by a&&rac&ing an elec&rical
charge. AB Toge&her wi&h s&ars3 swa.p gas3 and clouds3 &here are any nu.ber o) possible 8F-
e+plana&ions. Bu& @cHennan &hin5s i& ;ui&e :probable: &ha& &here is li)e on o&her plane&s in &he uni0erse.
Thus i& is possible wi&hin &he )ra.ewor5 o) .ode. science &o sugges& &ha& beings )ro. ano&her world
could ha0e been par& o) &he Biblical en0iron.en&3 al&hough .os& scien&is&s would undoub&edly consider
i& unli5ely. Bu& i& is possible. Bishop =obinson )inds a.use.en& a& &he &hough& &ha& &he Bible see.s &o
pic&ure :a >od Cou& &hereC co.ing &o ear&h li5e so.e 0isi&or )ro. ou&er space.: A"B (recisely.
% haun&ing &hough&3 is i& no&, How would pri.i&i0e people reac& i) &hey .ade con&ac& wi&h 0isi&ors )ro.
ano&her world, The Bible sugges&s &he <esus ca.e )ro. ano&her world3 and &ha& he re&urned &o &ha&
world in a :cloud.: I& .ay be wor&h our &i.e &o loo5 .ore closely a& &hese Biblical :clouds.:
3 - The *ld Test!/ent And Fl&in' #!u"ers
#o/e *bser.!tions *n E,odus
The early >enesis .a&erial goes bac5 se0eral &housand years B.2.3 and Hebrew his&ory which o))icially
begins wi&h %braha. .ay go as )ar bac5 as 000 B.2. There is no use pre&ending &ha& %braha.
Aassu.ing &ha& one ad.i&s he was a his&orical )igureB held &he sa.e world 0iew as a &wen&ie&h-cen&ury
suburban %.erican. There is no doub& &ha& so.e&hing li5e a :.y&hological: world 0iew was shared by
.any ancien& cul&s3 and &he Hebrew people .i+ed wi&h &his .y&hology3 whe&her in 'gyp& or a.ong &he
pagan &ribes o) (ales&ine. -ur social sciences are buil& on &he assu.p&ion &ha& .an is condi&ioned by his
en0iron.en&. and we can hardly e+pec& &ha& &he Hebrews were una))ec&ed by &he cul&ures wi&h which
&hey were )orced &o .i+. Bu& one &hing &ha& is clear abou& &he Hebrew is &he )ac& &ha& &hey did no& .i+
0ery well wi&h &he res& o) socie&y3 and .any o) &he or&hodo+ s&ill pre)er no& &o .i+ e0en up &o &he
presen& day. The o&her )ac& is &ha& one canno& .a5e any s&ric& rules abou& &he religious en0iron.en&
which :condi&ioned: &he Hebrew )ai&h.
The Bible sugges&s &ha& &he real en0iron.en&al s&i.ulus behind &he Hebrew )ai&h was a >od who .ade
hi.sel) 5nown &hrough agen&s )ro. ano&her world. Fur&her.ore3 &he .ain e0olu&ion o) &he Biblical
&radi&ion see.s &o ha0e been )or.ed - according &o &he Biblical wi&ness - in &he wilderness be&ween
'gyp& and (ales&ine3 apar& )ro. any direc& con&ac& wi&h a pagan socie&y? bu& &he scene in which %aron
.a5es &he golden cal) A'+odus ":!-!0B illus&ra&es &ha& &he Hebrews did no& easily escape )ro. &heir
pas&.
*ha& happened in &he wilderness, *as @oses a grea& religious &hin5er who in a power)ul way go& a&
leas& a band o) Israeli&es )ree )ro. 'gyp&3 led &he. in &he wilderness and3 in &he con&e+& o) &his
si&ua&ion3 occasionally wen& up &o high .oun&ains &o &hin5 ou& his religious progra., *ere &he
.oun&ain&op e+periences o) @oses e0en&ually :.y&hologi9ed: &o gi0e &hose e+periences &he aura o)
dei&y, -r3 as &he Bible sugges&s3 were &he Hebrews in &he wilderness under &he s&i.ulus and con&rol o)
beings )ro. ano&her world who were delibera&ely see5ing - )or wha&e0er .o&i0es - &o plan& a par&icular
religious 0iewpoin& wi&hin &he .inds o) &he Hebrews,
Bishop =obinson argues A&oge&her wi&h &hose scholars whose wor5 he has syn&hesi9edB &ha& 7us& as &he
pas& cen&ury )ough& &he ba&&le o0er &he scien&i)ic 0alidi&y o) &he 2rea&ion .a&erial in >enesis3 so now we
shall ha0e &o )igh& &o se& &he '+odus s&ories and &he New Tes&a.en& narra&i0es )ree )ro. &heir
:.y&hological: world 0iew. =obinson as5s: :Is i& necessary )or &he Biblical )ai&h &o be e+pressed in &er.s
o) &his world-0iew3 which in i&s way is as pri.i&i0e philosophically as &he >enesis s&ories are pri.i&i0e
scien&i)ically,: A!B
Thus3 &he Biblical )ai&h a&&ribu&es i&sel) &o &he in&er0en&ion o) beings )ro. ano&her world. Is &his
necessary, I would say &ha& i& is necessary only i) i& is &rue. Bishop =obinson assu.es &ha& such a 0iew
is ou& o) &he ;ues&ion. I say &ha& i& .us& be gi0en serious a&&en&ion. Fro. a philosophical poin& o) 0iew3 I
doub& &he ease wi&h which =obinson .o0es )ro. saying &ha& &he >enesis 2rea&ion s&ories are .y&h &o
i.plying &ha& &he =ed Sea episode or &he %scension o) 2hris& is .y&hological. Fro. an e.pirical poin&
o) 0iew3 no one could ha0e wi&nessed &he 2rea&ion. *ha&e0er else one says abou& &he 2rea&ion s&ory3 i&
was no& &old by a .an who had seen 2rea&ion. Bu& &he par&ing o) &he =ed Sea3 and &he %scension o)
2hris&3 are repor&ed as i) &hey were sense e+periences - and we canno& rule ou& &his possibili&y a priori3
as we can wi&h &he 2rea&ion .a&erial.
The Bible repor&s &ha& <esus was cruci)ied3 bu& I do no& hear Bishop =obinson arguing &ha& &his is a
.y&hological belie) o) &he early 2hurch. '0eryone assu.es &ha& so.e o) &he eyewi&ness descrip&ions in
&he Scrip&ures ha0e a righ& &o be in&erpre&ed in a realis&ic way. The )ac& &ha& .any pagan religions were
.y&hological does no& au&o.a&ically .ean &ha& &he 2hris& pan )ai&h is basically .y&hological. I& is a li0e
hypo&hesis &o suppose &ha& &he beings )ro. ano&her world .en&ioned in &he Bible were &he cause behind
&he Biblical religion? al&hough i& .ay be easier &o belie0e in &he 2ruci)i+ion &han &he %scension o)
2hris&3 &here see.s &o be no reason why bo&h - in &he ligh& o) &he space age - could no& ha0e been
wi&nessed e0en&s o) &he sa.e order. There is an essen&ial uni&y in &he course o) a person:s day i) he bo&h
wi&nesses a .an 5noc5ed down by a car as he crosses a s&ree&3 and sees a .an board an airplane and )ly
o)) in&o space. %l&hough &he &wo e0en&s are no& iden&ical3 &here does no& see. &o be any necessary
reason why &he 2ruci)i+ion and %scension re-por&s should be separa&ed.
The .eans by which &he -ld Tes&a.en& pa&riarchs recei0e 5nowledge o) >od is no& ho.ogeneous. >od
so.e-&i.es see.s &o con&ac& .en &hrough a 0ision in a drea. during sleep as wi&h %bi.elech A>enesis
0:!-7B3 or a .an .ay go in&o so.e&hing li5e a &rance or deep sleep as did %braha. A>enesis !$:!B.
These con&ac&s are open &o psychological in&erpre&a&ion3 as psychologis&s such as <ung ha0e shown. I& is
o) course possible &ha& repor&ed 0isual con&ac&s wi&h beings )ro. ano&her world were in )ac&
psychological pro7ec&ions - bu& &his is no& necessarily &he case. *hen direc& con&ac& wi&h beings )ro.
ano&her world is .ade3 &he Bible o)&en spea5s as i) direc& con&ac& had been .ade wi&h >od3 as when
&hree angels ca.e &o .ee& %braha. by his &en&. :%nd &he Hord appeared &o hi. F%braha.G by &he oa5s
o) @a.re3 as he sa& a& &he door o) his &en& in &he hea& o) &he day. He li)&ed up his eyes and loo5ed3 and
behold3 &hree .en s&ood in )ron& o) hi.:
A>enesis !6:!3B. These &hree .en ca.e &o %braha. wi&h in)or.a&ion &ha& Sarah3 despi&e her age3
would concei0e and bear a son. These .en were so realis&ic &ha& &hey a&e a .eal which %braha.
prepared? Sarah laughed when she heard &ha& she would concei0e. -n ano&her occasion we )ind <acob
wres&ling wi&h a .an all nigh& - we disco0er &ha& he is no ordinary .an when &he angel in despera&ion
uses his :superna&ural: power &o &ouch <acob:s hip and pu& i& ou& o) 7oin A>enesis ":/-$B. I& is
in&eres&ing &ha& &hese beings are described as .en. They do no& see. &o ha0e wings - &hey see. ;ui&e
ordinary up &o a poin&. *here do &hey co.e )ro. and who are &hey,:
*hen %braha. had .ade &he co0enan& Acon&rac&B wi&h >od3 he was ordered &o prepare on an al&ar an
o))ering o) pieces o) slaugh&ered ani.als3 which >od would &hen recei0e as a sign &ha& >od:s signa&ure
had been placed on &he con&rac&. %)&er &he o))ering was prepared3 and i& was dar53 :behold3 a s.o5ing
)ire po& and a )la.ing &orch passed be&ween &hese pieces: A>enesis !$:!7B presu.ably consu.ing &he
o))ering. Biblical scholars ha0e been able only &o con7ec&ure as &o &he .eaning o) &his :s.o5ing )ire po&:
and :)la.ing &orch.: Is i& si.ply cul&ic sy.bolis.3 or was so.e-&hing s&range happening here,
<acob was sleeping on one occasion3 and he drea.ed :&ha& &here was a ladder se& up on &he ear&h3 and
&he &op o) i& reached &o hea0en? and behold3 &he angels o) >od were ascending and descending on i&.:
A>enesis 6:!B Since &he Bible describes &his as a drea.3 we will e+clude i& )ro. our lis& o) passages
which .igh& be sense descrip&ions3 bu& i& is an in&eres&ing drea.. <acob see.s &o ha0e .e& angels on
.any occasions when he was awa5e3 and on one occasion he .e& so .any &ha& he said. This is >od:s
ar.y: A>enesis ":B
8n&il &he '+odus )ro. 'gyp&3 &he Israeli&es do no& really ha0e a religion. They are si.ply li0ing on a
pro.ise. -ne )unda.en&al ;ues&ion abou& &he Biblical religion is why 'gyp& should be willing &o gi0e
up i&s sla0e labor - assu.ing &ha& &he Biblical wi&ness is reliable a& &his poin&. %nd once &he Israeli&es
were ou& o) 'gyp&3 why did &he '+odus-He0i&icus-Nu.bers-Deu&erono.y &radi&ion e0ol0e,
The '+odus begins when :&he angel o) &he Hord: appears &o @oses in &he wilderness and calls &o hi.
Cou& o) &he .ids& o) a bush: A'+odus ":B. *e shall re&urn &o &his passage la&er3 bu& i& is wor&h no&ing &ha&
&he :angel: spea5s direc&ly )or >od hi.sel)3 .uch as &he la&er prophe&s such as Isaiah spea5 )or >od.
@oses was co..issioned &o ge& &he Israeli&es ou& o) 'gyp& and was apparen&ly gi0en unusual powers
by which &o do &his? )inally &he )irs&-born o) 'gyp& were all 5illed on &he )a.ous :passo0er: nigh&3 and
(haraoh se& Israel )ree. Scholars ha0e no& been able &o agree how .any Israeli&es .arched )ro. 'gyp&3
bu& &he Bible sugges&s a 0ery large nu.ber along wi&h ca&&le and possessions. The '+odus accoun& goes
on &o rela&e &ha& (haraoh pondered &he si&ua&ion and decided &ha& he had .ade a .is&a5e in )reeing his
sla0es. He pursued &he Israeli&es wi&h his ar.y in an a&&e.p& &o reclai. &he..
%& no poin& is &he '+odus s&ory ordinary3 bu& a& &his 7unc&ure &he scene beco.es .os& e+&raordinary. The
Bible narra&es &ha& :when (haraoh le& &he people go ... >od led &he people round by &he way o) &he
wilderness &oward &he =ed Sea: A'+odus !":!73!6B. *ha& is .ean& by saying &ha& >od led &he Israeli&es,
Here is &he answer. The :Hord wen& be)ore &he. F&he Israeli&esG by day in a pillar o) cloud &o lead &he.
along &he way3 and by nigh& in a pillar o) )ire &o gi0e &he. ligh&3 &ha& &hey .igh& &ra0el by day and by
nigh&? &he pillar o) cloud by day and &he pillar o) )ire by nigh& did no& depar& )ro. be)ore &he people
A'+odus !":!3B. By .eans o) an :8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&: >od led &he Israeli&es )ro. 'gyp& &o
&he =ed Sea.
How does &his Biblical 8F- co.pare wi&h .ode. 8F-s, @odern 8F-s so.e&i.es e+hibi& a corona
e))ec&3 which resul&s in a whi&e cloud-li5e halo appearance. @odern 8F-s also usually glow in &he
dar53 as &he Biblical :pillar o) )ire by nigh&: see.s &o ha0e done. Bu& &he di))icul& ;ues&ion is &he
signi)icance o) &he Hebrew &er. )or pillar. There are in )ac& &wo Hebrew words which ha0e been
&ransla&ed pillar in &he =SJ: a..ud and .a99ebah. In &his passage &he word a..ud is used3 which
.ay .ean a cylindrical colu.n? &hus &he i.plica&ion would see. &o be &ha& &ha& &his 8F- loo5ed li5e a
cylindrical colu.n Aheigh& no& speci)iedB3 cloud-li5e during &he day3 bu& glowing in &he dar5.
I& is no& clear whe&her &he :pillar o) cloud: s&ood 0er&ically be)ore &he Hebrews or &ra0eled hori9on&ally
in rela&ion &o &he ground. <ac;ues Jallee3 in his wor5 %na&o.y o) a (heno.enon: 8niden&i)ied -b7ec&s
in Space? % Scien&i)ic %ppraisal3 has )ound &ha& in addi&ion &o &he 8F-s o) &he :)lying-saucer: &ype3 &here
is also clearly a class o) 8F-s Ai.e.3 so .any o) &his &ype ha0e been seen and described &ha& &hey )or. a
separa&e class )ro. &he )lying-saucer &ypeB which :appear as huge cylindrical )or.s surrounded by
cloud-li5e )or.a&ions3 o)&en 0er&ical.: AB I) &he Bible is describing a 8F- which appears as a cloud-li5e
cylindrical colu.n during &he day and as a glowing cylindrical colu.n a& nigh&3 &hen &his 8F-
corresponds in descrip&ion wi&h a class o) .odern 8F-s which ha0e been seen wi&h considerable
)re;uency. -ccasionally &hese cylindrical or :pillar: 8F-s see. &o ac& as a 5ind o) :.o&her ship: )or &he
)lying-saucer &ype or class o) 8F-3 which see. s.aller in di.ension &han &he pillars )ro. which &hey
co.e.
Bu& &his is by no .eans &he only possible in&erpre&a&ion o) &he Hebrew unders&anding o) &he pillar o)
cloud.: >.%. Barrois has poin&ed ou& &ha& :&he .iraculous pillar plays3 on a superna&ural le0el3 a )unc&ion
si.ilar &o &ha& o) <acob:s .assebah as a &es&i.ony &o >od:s presence.: A"B -n one occasion <acob used a
roc5 )or a pillow? he had a drea. o) >od during &he nigh&3 so he se& up &he roc5 as a :pillar: - a wi&ness
or .a99ebah - and &his roc53 since he used i& as a pillow3 .igh& ha0e had a )la&&er3 .ore saucer-li5e
shape &han &he cylindrical &ype o) pillar A>enesis 6:!6B. *hen <acob .ade a co0enan& wi&h Haban3
:&hey &oo5 s&ones3 and .ade a heap: A>enesis "!:/1B or pillar as a wi&ness.
This heap .igh& ha0e appeared conical3 or li5e a &ur&le bac53 or perhaps li5e an upside-down saucer.
Thus i& is possible &o argue &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud: was a wi&ness pillar in )unc&ion3 and &ha& i& .ay
ha0e physically rese.bled a )lying saucer. I& could be argued &ha& &he Biblical au&hors chose &he word
:a..ud ra&her &han .a99ebah3 because &he .a99ebah beca.e associa&ed wi&h &he idols o) &he ene.ies
o) Israel and &he <ews were under orders &o s.ash &hese idols3 :u&&erly o0er&hrow &he. and brea5 &heir
pillars in pieces: A'+odus ":/B. Thus i& is possible &o argue &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud: was a 8F- which
corresponds in descrip&ion &o ei&her one o) &wo classes o) .odern 8F-s: &he cloud-li5e cylindrical-
colu.n class A:a..udB3 or &he glowing )lying-saucer class A.a99ebahB.
This Biblical 8F- apparen&ly leads &he Israeli&es &hroughou& &heir )or&y-year 7ourney &hrough &he
wilderness3 according &o &he &es&i.ony o) &he boo5 o) '+odus3 and &he descrip&ion o) &his 8F- is by no
.eans consis&en&. So.e-&i.es &he pillar o) cloud is re)erred &o as &he :Hord: A'+odus !":!? !/:/: o&her
re)erence see. &o be :&he angel o) >od: A'+odus !/:!#B :&he cloud: A'+odus !/:0B3 :&he pillar o) )ire and
o) cloud: A'+odus !/:/B3 :&he glory Fbrigh&nessG o) &he Hord appeared in &he cloud: A'+odus !1:!0B3 :I
a. co.ing &o you in a &hic5 cloud: A'+odus !#:#3 !1B3 :@oun& Sinai was wrapped in s.o5e3 because &he
Hord descended upon i& in )ire: A'+odus !#:!6B3 :&hic5 dar5ness: A'+odus 0:!B3 :an angel: A'+odus
":0B3 :.y angel: A'+odus ":"? ":"/B3 :&he cloud co0ered &he .oun&ain: A'+odus /:!$B3 :&he glory
o) &he Hord se&&led on @oun& Sinai: A'+odus /:!1B3 :.y presence will go wi&h you: A'+odus "":!/B3 :&he
Hord descended in &he cloud: A'+odus "/:$B3 and :So @oses )inished &he wor5. Then &he cloud co0ered
&he &en& o) &he .ee&ing: A'+odus /0:"0-"6B.
Thus i& appears &ha& during &he whole o) '+odus &he Israeli&es were acco.panied by so.e sor& o) 8F-3
which recei0es i&s cleares& descrip&ion a& &he beginning o) '+odus3 be&ween 'gyp& and &he =ed Sea.
Because o) i&s 0arious-na.es3 i& is cer&ainly di))icul& &o co.e &o a de)ini&e conclusion abou& &he shape
and si9e o) &he 8F-3 bu& on .any occasions3 as wi&h i&s descrip&ion as a :pillar o) cloud and o) )ire3: i&
see.s &o )i& one o) &wo classes o) .odern 8F-s3 ei&her &he cylindrical or &he )lying-saucer &ype. %& &his
poin& i& does no& see. use)ul &o decide in )a0or o) one &ype o0er &he o&her. Bo&h are possible? &he
i.por&an& ;ues&ion is3 *ha& did &he Biblical 8F- ha0e &o do wi&h &he '+odus,
The Bible sugges&s &ha& &his 8F-3 which see.ed cloud-li5e during &he day bu& which glowed in &he
dar53 ser0ed as a beacon or guide which led &he Israeli&es day and nigh& )ro. 'gyp& &o &he =ed Sea.
This 8F- delibera&ely led &he Israeli&es &o &he =ed Sea3 which see.ed li5e a )oolish &hing &o ha0e done3
because wi&h &he 'gyp&ian ar.y co.ing up )ro. behind3 &he Hebrews were li&erally caugh& be&ween
(haraoh and &he deep blue sea. The Bible says (haraoh &hough& &he Israeli&es were :en&angled in &he
land? &he wilderness has shu& &he. in: A'+odus !/:"B. (haraoh and his ar.y .o0ed in )or &he 5ill3 wi&h
&he :pillar: ha0ing pro0ed a poor guide3 unless &he being in charge o) &he 8F- 5new ahead o) &i.e wha&
would happen a& &he =ed SeaE
The Israeli&es were con0inced &ha& &hey were )inished. They said &o @oses3 :Is i& because &here are no
gra0es in 'gyp& &ha& you ha0e &a5en us away &o die in &he wilderness,: A'+odus !/:!!B. Bu& as (haraoh:s
ar.y .o0ed in3 >od:s angel in &he 8F- &oo5 co..and o) &he si&ua&ion. :Then &he angel o) >od who
wen& be)ore &he hos& o) Israel .o0ed in and wen& behind &he.? and &he pillar o) cloud .o0ed )ro.
be)ore &he. and s&ood behind &he.3 co.ing be&ween &he hos& o) 'gyp& and &he hos& o) Israel. %nd &here
was &he cloud and &he dar5ness? and &he nigh& passed wi&hou& one co.ing near &he o&her all nigh&:
A'+odus !/:!#3 0B.
The &e+& sugges&s &ha& so.e sor& o) 8F-3 &o&ally under i&s own con&rol3 led &he Israeli&es ou& o) 'gyp& &o
&he =ed Sea3 and &hen as (haraoh:s ar.y closed in3 &he 8F- .o0ed )ro. &he )ron& &o &he rear o) &he
ar.y o) Israel and 5ep& &he &wo .ili&ary ca.ps separa&ed during &he nigh&. Is &his his&ory3 .y&h3 or a
co.bina&ion o) bo&h, The Bible does no& say &ha& @oses had so.e o) his soldiers s&ar& a s.udge-po&
)ire be&ween &he Israeli&es and &he 'gyp&ians. Is &he Bible wea0ing a .y&hology ou& o) a hal)-&ru&h? did
&he Israeli&es so.ehow sa0e &he.sel0es3 or was &here really so.e sor& o) 8F- under in&elligen& con&rol
which delibera&ely sough& &o sa0e Israel )ro. 'gyp&,
(hase one o) &he opera&ion in0ol0es leading Israel &o &he sea? phase &wo re;uires &he 8F- &o 5eep &he
ca.ps separa&e un&il dar5ness )alls. Now begins phase &hree. Then @oses s&re&ched ou& his hand o0er
&he sea? and &he Hord dro0e &he sea bac5 by a s&rong eas& wind all nigh&3 and .ade &he sea dry land3 and
&he wa&ers were di0ided: A'+odus !/:!B. A*hen we argue &ha& &he Israeli&es were on &he shore o) &he
:=ed Sea3: we are si.ply using &he Biblical designa&ion )ro. &he =e0ised S&andard Jersion. No one
5nows )or cer&ain which body o) wa&er was in0ol0ed in &he crossing3 bu& &he Hebrew see.s &o sugges& a
swa.py :Sea o) =eeds.:B
The bes& scholarship o) our day agrees &ha& &he Israeli&es were .o0ing )ro. wes& &o eas&. @ar&in No&h3
in his '+odus: % 2o..en&ary3 says &ha& Israel .ay ha0e ca.ped on :&he wes&ern shore o) &he Sirbonian
Sea.: A/B Since Israel was .o0ing )ro. 'gyp& &o (ales&ine3 )ro. wes& &o eas&3 logic sugges&s &ha& &he
Hebrews were on &he wes&ern shore o) so.e body o) wa&er3 and an eas& wind would be blowing in &he
)aces o) &he chosen people. The In&erpre&er:s Bible has argued &ha& :Since &he wind is )ro. &he eas& we
.us& assu.e &ha& &he crossing &oo5 place so.ewhere near &he eas&ern shore o) &he sea or la5e:? A$B &he
edi&ors o) The In&erpre&er:s Bible see. &o ha0e assu.ed - ;ui&e righ&ly - &ha& any wind s&rong enough &o
cause &he par&ing o) &he sea would prohibi& &he Israeli&es )ro. crossing &he sea i) &he wind were blowing
in &heir )aces. Thus3 wi&hou& any )ur&her argu.en&3 &hey ha0e concluded &ha& Israel was on &he eas&ern
shore heading bac5 &oward 'gyp&E Bu& @ar&in No&h and o&hers3 and &he logic o) &he '+odus3 sugges&
&ha& Israel was on &he wes&ern shore wi&h &he wind blowing in &he )aces o) her people.
There is al.os& no e0idence &ha& &he Israeli&es were able &o &a5e ad0an&age o) an :acciden&: o) na&ure.
No&h has argued &ha& &here is no na&ural parallel &o &he =ed Sea inciden&. A1B The o&her al&erna&i0es are
&o assu.e A!B &ha& &he whole se;uence concerning &he =ed Sea is a )abrica&ion? AB &ha& >od so.ehow
direc&ly in&er0ened in &he si&ua&ion in so.e une+plained way? or A"B &ha& beings )ro. ano&her world
were presen& in so.e sor& o) 8F- and &ha& &hey delibera&ely caused &he se;uence o) e0en&s which &he
Bible narra&es.
The Bible argues &ha& &he wind caused &he sea &o par&. How did &he persons presen& 5now &ha& &he wind
caused &he sea &o par&, They .igh& ha0e seen &he sea par&3 and &hey .igh& ha0e )el& &he wind blowing3
and concluded &ha& &he wind was &he cause o) &he obser0ed e))ec& - &he par&ing o) &he sea. Bu& as e0ery
scien&is& 5nows3 rela&ing cause and e))ec& can be a &ric5y business. I& is no easy s&ep &o conclude &ha&
because a cer&ain &ype o) .os;ui&o is presen& in a si&ua&ion3 i& &rans.i&s .alaria. The )ac& &ha& a
par&icular .os;ui&o and .alaria are presen& in &he sa.e si&ua&ion .ay be .ere coincidence. Thus we
.ay 0ery well &rus& &he Biblical s&a&e.en& &ha& &he sea par&ed? we .ay also &rus& &ha& &here was an eas&
wind blowing? bu& we are no& &hereby co.pelled &o conclude &ha& &he wind caused &he sea& &o par&.
(erhaps so.e&hing in&angible caused i& &o par&.
There are se0eral reasons why i& is di))icul& &o a&&ribu&e &he cause o) &he par&ing &o &he wind. Ha&er in &he
se;uence &he sea )alls bac5 o0er &he 'gyp&ians and drowns &he.? &hey could hardly drown in only a
couple o) )ee& o) wa&er. '0en i) &he sea were only &en )ee& deep a& i&s deepes& poin&3 since wa&er weighs
abou& 1./ pounds per cubic )oo&3 a& a dep&h o) &en )ee& &he wa&er would be applying a pressure o) 1/
pounds per s;uare )oo& on &he bo&&o. o) &he sea. I& would see.ingly &a5e &his a.oun& o) wind pressure
per s;uare )oo& &o )orce &he wa&er bac5 and .ain&ain &he opening. Since &he Israeli&es were crossing3
according &o .os& scholars3 )ro. wes& &o eas&3 &hey would ha0e &o go agains& &his power)ul wind3 wi&h
wi0es3 children3 and ca&&le. The Bible does no& e0en .en&ion any wind a& all during &he crossing. I) &he
Israeli&es crossed in &he )ace o) a wind genera&ing 1/ pounds pressure per s;uare )oo&3 would &his no&
be wor&h .en&ioning, Since .an has abou& &he sa.e body densi&y as wa&er3 i& would appear &ha& &he
people3 li5e &he wa&er3 would be &hrown bac5 by &he wind. I) &he wind ceased &o blow3 why would &he
wa&er no& co.e bac5 upon Israel,
The Bible goes on &o describe &he crossing o) &he sea :on dry ground: A'+odus !/:B. The Israeli&es
5new &ha& &he wa&er had been pushed bac53 bu& &hey see.ed surprised - perhaps shoc5ed - &ha& &he
ground was dry. The Hebrew sugges&s &ha& &his was a :Sea o) =eeds:? &he area where &he Israeli&es
crossed .ay ha0e been swa.py3 a& leas& near each shore line. The Israeli&es undoub&edly e+pec&ed &ha&
as soon as &hey s&epped in&o &he shore area3 &hey would sin5 up &o &heir an5les in .ud. Bu& &hey crossed
on dry groundE '0ery )ar.er 5nows &ha& a wind .ay dry o)) &he sur)ace o) a newly plowed )ield3 bu& i&
is a 0ery slow process )or &he wa&er &wo &o si+ inches under &he sur)ace &o e0apora&e. The Israeli&es
e+pec&ed &o be wading in .ud3 when in )ac& &he ground was dry and by i.plica&ion hard. The Israeli&es
were dri0ing ca&&le3 ye& &here is no .en&ion &ha& e0en &heir sharp hoo)s cu& &hrough &he sur)ace soil o)
&he sea bed. I do no& belie0e &ha& e0en a 0ery s&rong eas& wind3 blowing )or par& o) an e0ening - wi&hou&
e0en &he bene)i& o) &he hea& o) &he sun - could dry ou& &he underlying layer o) .ud.
The Bible also narra&es &ha& when &he Israeli&es wen& in&o &he sea3 &he wa&ers were :a wall &o &he. on
&heir righ& hand and on &heir le)&: A'+odus !/:B. In poe&ic celebra&ion &he idea is e.phasi9ed: :&he
)loods s&ood up in a heap: A'+odus !$:6B. So.e scholars are con0inced &ha& &his idea is an
:e.bellish.en&.: I) a wind were &he cause o) &he par&ing o) &he sea3 we could hardly e+pec& a wall e))ec&.
The )orce o) wind disperses3 .uch as &he i.pac& o) a pebble in a pond disperses in e0er widening rings.
I) wind were &o )orce &he sea bac53 &he resul& .igh& be a 0ery .odera&e conca0e e))ec&3 bu& cer&ainly we
would no& e+pec& a :wall: on each side. % wall sugges&s no& only 0er&ical sides bu& also s.oo&hness3 and
&he wind would crea&e nei&her 0er&ical walls nor a s.oo&h sur)ace.
*hen &he ar.y o) 'gyp& pursued &he Hebrews down in&o &he &rough o) &he sea crea&ed by &he walls on
each side3 @oses was &old &o raise his hand o0er &he sea3 and &he walls o) &he sea bro5e and ca.e bac5
upon &he 'gyp&ians A'+odus !/:1-#B. I) @oses is .erely &a5ing ad0an&age o) an :acciden&: o) na&ure3
i& is cer&ainly a )an&as&ic acciden& &ha& &he winds would s&ar& blowing when he raised his rod and s&op
blowing a& a la&er poin& when he raised his hand. Bu& e0en .ore i.por&an&3 &he Bible does no& say &ha&
when @oses raised his hand &he wind s&opped blowing. There is no .en&ion o) any wind a& all. @oses
raised his hand and &he wa&er re&urned. There is no wind .en&ioned. The Israeli&es .ay ha0e suspec&ed
&ha& &he Hord was using so.e&hing besides wind &o 5eep &he walls o) &he sea in chec5.
In su..ary3 a wind s&rong enough &o )orce &he sea bac5 would .a5e condi&ions i.possible )or
crossing? &he ground was apparen&ly dry and hard )or &he crossing3 which an e0ening:s wind could
hardly do? &he wa&er see.s &o ha0e been held in a posi&ion rese.bling a wall - 0er&ical and s.oo&h -
which wind could hardly do? and when @oses raised his hand )or &he wa&er &o re&urn3 no .en&ion is
.ade o) &he wind. I& would see. &ha& we are )aced wi&h a choice: i) we wan& &o belie0e &ha& &he wind
caused &he par&ing o) &he sea3 &hen we canno& belie0e &ha& 0er&ical walls were )or.ed3 &ha& &he sea bed
beca.e hard and dry3 or &ha& i& was li5ely &ha& &he s&ar&ing and s&opping o) &he wind would be
ins&an&aneous3 as i& see.s &o ha0e been. The o&her al&erna&i0e is &o suppose &ha& so.e&hing o&her &han
&he wind caused &he par&ing o) &he sea so as &o produce3 sy.p&o.s such as 0er&ical walls o) wa&er.
There is no way &ha& we can be &rue &o &he Biblical &e+& and suppose &ha& &he Israeli&es &oo5 ad0an&age o)
an :acciden&: o) na&ure. I) we wan& &o e+plain e0ery&hing as si.ply an ac& o) >od3 &hen &here is no need
&o discuss &he &e+& -presu.ably >od can do any&hing. Bu& &here is a &er&iu. ;uid wor&h e+ploring. The
Biblical &e+& .a5es i& ;ui&e clear &ha& so.e sor& o) 8F- was in &he 0icini&y o) &he =ed Sea a& &he &i.e i&
par&ed? i) beings )ro. ano&her world were in &he si&ua&ion wi&h &he speci)ic in&en&ion o) sa0ing &he
Israeli&es3 le& us see how &he e0en&s described in Scrip&ure can be reconciled wi&h our 5nowledge o)
.odern 8F-s.
I) a .odern 8F- were an+ious &o cause so.e&hing li5e &he par&ing o) &he =ed Sea3 i& would probably
use an an&i-gra0i&a&ional bea. Aan&i-> bea.B3 or so.e&hing li5e an an&i-> bea.3 &o .o0e &he wa&er
bac5. Bo&h Ieyhoe and 'dwards are. con0inced &ha& our .odern 8F-s opera&e according &o so.e an&i-
gra0i&a&ional principle3 al&hough Jallee is no& so cer&ain. The posi&i0e gra0i&a&ional power o) &he .oon
orbi&ing &he ear&h causes &he &ides in our oceans &o rise? i) &he .oon were &o be endowed wi&h an an&i->
)orce3 i& would push &he wa&er in &he oceans away )ro. i& ra&her &han a&&rac&ing wa&er &oward i&. I) a
8F- were &o ho0er o0er &he body o) wa&er which &he Israeli&es were &o cross3 and i) i& were &o apply a
su))icien&ly s&rong an&i-> bea. &o &he area which &he Israeli&es desired &o cross3 &he wa&er would ;ui&e
probably be )orced bac5. =adio blac5ou&s ha0e been repor&ed when 8F-s ha0e been near car radios3
which indica&es so.e 5ind o) elec&ro.agne&ic A'@B in&er)erence. 8F-s are nearly silen& when &hey
.o0e3 ano&her indica&ion &ha& &heir propulsion sys&e. could be :an&igra0i&a&ional: or :elec&ro.agne&ic: in
)or.3 al&hough .odern science has no& ye& disco0ered how such a sys&e. would opera&e.
8n&il )ur&her e0idence is a0ailable3 le& us suppose &ha& 8F-s opera&e by .eans o) so.e sor& o) an&i-> or
'@ bea.3 5eeping in .ind &he specula&i0e na&ure o) &his assu.p&ion. High& and gra0i&y are bo&h
elec&ro.agne&ic in na&ure3 and i& is in&eres&ing &o co.pare so.e o) &he proper&ies o) ligh& wi&h gra0i&y.
High& can be )ocused in a :bea.: by using a conca0e re)lec&or3 as is done wi&h a )lashligh& or wi&h
au&o.obile headligh&s. -ne should no&ice &ha& &hese :re)lec&ors: are al.os& :saucerli5e: in shape. =adio
&elescopes3 used &o collec& elec&ro.agne&ic energy )ro. dis&an& s&ars3 are so.e&i.es re)erred &o as
:dishes: because o) &heir :saucerli5e: shape. =adar bea.s are so.e&i.es )ocused by saucerli5e re)lec&ors.
(robably all )or.s o) elec&ro.agne&ic energy can be )ocused in&o a bea. by saucerli5e re)lec&ors.
Flying saucers .ay be circular and saucerli5e in shape in order &o )ocus &heir elec&ro.agne&ic
propulsion bea. in .uch &he sa.e way we )ocus a )lashligh& bea..
%ccording &o an %ssocia&ed (ress newspaper repor&3 police.en and ci&i9ens in *ana;ue3 New <ersey3
saw a 8F- which was :saucer-shaped3 abou& &he si9e o) an au&o.obile and glowing wi&h a whi&e
brilliance.: -ne o) &he police.en ASergean& Tho.psonB :said he go& ou& o) &he car and con&inued &o
wa&ch &he ob7ec& )or al.os& )i0e .inu&es Cun&il &he glowing ligh& blinded .e.C: The ar&icle con&inued3
Tho.pson said &he ob7ec& .anoeu0red3 s&irring up brush and wa&er in &he reser0oir. CI& was abou& !$0
)ee& up3C he said.: Fran5 'dwards has re.ar5ed abou& &he )ac& &ha& 8F-s ha0e o)&en been seen &o cause
a dis&urbance in wa&er direc&ly under &he )lying saucer. A6B How could a 8F- !$0 )ee& in &he air cause a
dis&urbance in &he wa&er benea&h, %n an&i-gra0i&a&ional or elec&ro.agne&ic bea. see.s capable o)
pro0iding an accep&able answer.
=e&urning &o &he Biblical .a&erial3 i& see.s necessary in &he ligh& o) our presen& 5nowledge o) 8F-s &o
)ind so.e way &o .o0e &he :pillar o) cloud: )ro. &he posi&ion i& &oo5 be&ween &he ar.ies o) Israel and
'gyp& &o a posi&ion direc&ly o0er &he sea. The '+odus narra&i0e does no& &ell us when &he 8F- .o0ed
o0er &he sea. The Bible says &ha& a)&er &he cloud .o0ed be&ween &he &wo ar.ies3 :&here was &he cloud
and &he dar5ness: A'+odus !/:0B. @ar&in No&h in his co..en&ary has obser0ed &he re)erence &o &he
:dar5ness: and has sugges&ed &ha& &here is &he possibili&y &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud and )ire: did no& glow in
&he dar5 on &his par&icular nigh& as i& usually did. A#B
%s a general rule &he 8F- see.s &o ha0e gi0en o)) enough ligh& so &ha& Israel could .arch a& nigh&
A'+odus !":!B3 bu& &his ligh& .igh& also ha0e enabled &he 'gyp&ians &o o0erco.e Israel a& nigh&. I) on
&his occasion &he 8F- did no& glow a& nigh&3 &hen &he Israeli&es would no& ha0e seen &he pillar o) cloud
.o0e during &he nigh& &o a posi&ion o0er &he sea. -nce i& beca.e dar53 &he 'gyp&ians would be )orced
&o se& up ca.p? &hey would be willing &o wai& un&il .orning )or &he ba&&le3 as &he Israeli&es could hardly
go anywhere wi&h &heir bac5s &o &he sea. The ne+& &i.e &he 8F- was seen by Israel3 i& was in )ac&
ho0ering o0er &he sea3 direc&ly o0er &he :channel: which had been )or.ed )or &he crossing. The 8F-
beca.e 0isible o0er &he channel during &he .orning wa&ch3 a& which &i.e &he sun .igh& be gi0ing
enough ligh& on &he hori9on so &ha& &he 8F- could be seen e0en i) i& were no& glowing A'+odus !/:/B.
The sea did no& begin &o par& un&il i& was dar5 A'+odus !/:!B3 and when i& )inally beca.e ligh& enough
&o see3 &he 8F- was )ound ho0ering direc&ly o0er &he channel A'+odus !/:/B. Thus on &he basis o) &he
Biblical &e+& i& is ;ui&e per.issible &o argue &ha& &he 8F- ho0ered o0er &he sea in order &o cause i& &o
par&3 and direc&ly o0er &he sea &he an&i-> or '@ bea. would be .os& e))ec&i0e.
I& .igh& be argued &ha& &he Bible does no& say &ha& &he 8F- caused &he sea &o par&? &he Hord3 according
&o '+odus3 caused &he sea &o par&. Bu& @ar&in No&h argues &ha& a& leas& in &he :G: &radi&ion &he cause o) &he
par&ing o) &he sea is &he pillar o) cloud. A!0B *e read &ha& :&he Hord in &he pillar o) )ire and o) cloud
loo5ed down upon &he hos& o) &he 'gyp&ians: A'+odus !/:/B? i) &he Hord was :in: &he pillar o) cloud3
and i) &he Hord caused &he sea &o par&3 &hen i& would )ollow &ha& &he :e))icien&: cause A&o use %ris&o&le:s
dis&inc&ionB o) &he par&ing o) &he sea was so.ehow loca&ed in &he 8F-.
I& .igh& also be argued &ha& .odern 8F-s3 al&hough &hey .ay dis&urb wa&er direc&ly under &he.3 ha0e
ne0er caused any&hing li5e &he par&ing o) &he sea. This is o) course &rue3 bu& .odern 8F-s presu.ably
use only enough an&i-> or '@ power &o per.i& &heir .obili&y? &hey .ay on .os& occasions displace
only &he e;ui0alen& o) &heir own weigh& in wa&er &hrough &he bea..
I) a .uch .ore power)ul an&i-> or '@ bea. were &o be )ocused on a body o) wa&er3 I belie0e &ha& &here
would be .ore &han &he rela&i0ely sligh& e))ec&s obser0ed in .odern &i.es. -ne .ay &hen be co.pelled
&o as5: I) .odern 8F-s are propelled by an3 an&i-> bea.3 and i) such a bea. would be necessary &o
cause &he =ed Sea &o par&3 wha& would s&abili9e &he 8F- o0er &he sea while &his power)ul bea. was
applied, To pose &he proble. in ano&her way3 suppose &ha& &he an&i-> or '@ propulsion sys&e. o)
8F-s is co.pared wi&h our roc5e& principles which opera&e according &o New&on:s &hird law o) .o&ion
Ai.e.3 )or e0ery ac&ion &here is an e;ual and opposi&e reac&ionB.
% roc5e& or 7e& s&rea. is )ocused in one direc&ion3 and &he space 0ehicle is :pushed: by &he roc5e& or 7e&
in &he opposi&e direc&ion. Thus when an an&i-> bea. is )ocused &oward &he ear&h3 &he 8F- is pushed
li5e a roc5e& away )ro. &he ear&h. % 0ery power)ul roc5e& .ay co.ple&ely lea0e &he ear&h:s
gra0i&a&ional )ield and &ra0el in&o ou&er space. I) a 8F- were &o apply a 0ery power)ul bea. o0er &he
=ed Sea3 why would &he 8F- no& be propelled li5e a roc5e& in&o ou&er space, The answer .us& be
specula&i0e3 o) course3 bu& i& should be no&ed &ha& so.e .odern 8F-s ha0e been described as :double-
con0e+:? A!!B &ha& is3 &hey are saucer-shaped on &he &op and on &he bo&&o..
I) a roc5e& were e;uipped wi&h a propulsion 7e& on &he &op and on &he bo&&o.3 ai.ed in opposi&e
direc&ions3 and i) bo&h were igni&ed a& once3 &he roc5e& ship would no& .o0e - &he &wo power 7e&s would
cancel each o&her ou&. *hen &wo au&o.obiles &ra0elling a& &he sa.e speed .ee& in a head-on collision3
bo&h .ay co.e &o an i..edia&e s&op. I) a :double-con0e+: )lying saucer were &o )ocus e;ually power)ul
an&i-> bea.s in opposi&e direc&ions3 &he 8F- would no& .o0e.
This is specula&ion3 bu& a& presen& &here does no& see. &o be any reason &o say &ha& 8F-s do no& ha0e
&he &echnical capabili&ies o) causing &he sea &o par& &hrough an an&i-> or '@ bea.. Fur&her.ore3 &here
is no&hing in &he Biblical accoun& which prohibi&s us )ro. saying &ha& &he 8F- caused &he par&ing o) &he
sea3 or &ha& i& ho0ered abo0e &he sea a& nigh& while &he channel was )or.ed.
The Bible sugges&s &ha& &he ground was dry and by i.plica&ion hard - )ree )ro. .ud. %n an&i-
gra0i&a&ional )orce would cause e0ery&hing under i& in e))ec& &o beco.e hea0ier -&wo3 &hree3 or )our
&i.es hea0ier. No& only would &he wa&er under &he 8F- be )orced bac53 bu& &he an&i-> bea. would be
applying pressure &o &he re.aining .uddy sea bed. The e))ec& would be li5e pushing a hea0y lawn
roller o0er a sponge. The dense .ud would in e))ec& beco.e .ore dense3 )orcing &he wa&er in &he .ud
&o &he sur)ace and &hen )orcing &ha& wa&er bac5 wi&h &he di0iding :walls.: %no&her )ac& &o be considered is
&ha& .any people ha0e e+perienced an in&ense hea&ing e))ec& when &hey ha0e co.e direc&ly under a
8F-.
This .igh& be ano&her side e))ec& o) &he an&i-> bea.3 because an elec&ro.agne&ic bea. .igh& cause
increased .olecular ac&i0i&y in &he body upon which i& was )ocused3 or &he '@ bea. .igh& be o) such a
)re;uency &ha& hea& is a na&ural )or. o) energy release. I) &his e))ec& were applied &o &he bed o) &he =ed
Sea3 &he .ud .igh& 0ery well be :ba5ed: in .uch &he sa.e way po&&ery is ba5ed? and &his would also
con&ribu&e &o &he )ac& &ha& Israel see.s &o ha0e been pleasan&ly surprised &o cross on a dry3 apparen&ly
hard sur)ace3 ra&her &han ha0ing &o wade up &o &heir an5les in .ud in &he :Sea o) =eeds.: The :rolling:
e))ec& &oge&her wi&h a :ba5ing: e))ec& could &oge&her accoun& )or &he :dry ground.:
High& is a )or. o) elec&ro.agne&ic energy3 and i& can be )ocused in a :bea.: because ligh& &ra0els
basically in a s&raigh& line. The Bible rela&es &ha& &he wa&er was pushed bac5 and )or.ed a wall on each
side o) &he Hebrews. I) &he 8F- could con&rol an an&i-> or '@ bea. in .uch &he sa.e way we con&rol
a )lashligh& bea.3 we .igh& e+pec& &ha& when &he an&i-> bea. was applied &o &he =ed Sea &he wa&er
would be pushed bac5 only as )ar as &he area o0er which &he bea. was applied. Fur&her.ore3 since &he
elec&ro.agne&ic an&i-> bea. would presu.ably &ra0el3 li5e ligh&3 in a s&raigh& line3 &he e))ec& would be
&he )or.ing o) a wall o) wa&er on each side o) &he bea.. This wall would no& only be 0er&ical3 bu&
would probably appear &o ha0e ;ui&e a s.oo&h sur)ace3 al.os& as i) a shee& o) glass were placed agains&
each wall o) &he sea &o hold i& bac5.
%n an&i-> bea. would &ra0el a& abou& &he speed o) ligh&3 !613000 .iles per second3 so &ha& when @oses
raised his hand as &he signal )or &he an&i-> bea. &o be &urned o))3 &he walls o) wa&er would begin &o )all
bac5 on &he 'gyp&ians i..edia&ely. The an&i-> bea. allows )or ins&an&aneous response? i& is .uch
.ore e))icien& &han a s&rong eas& wind.
The Bible does say &ha& a s&rong eas& wind was blowing3 a& abou& &he &i.e &he wa&er was )orced &o
di0ide and )or. &he walls. *ha& can we say abou& &his, I) &he pillar o) cloud and )ire - &he 8F- - were
ho0ering o0er &he sea and applied an an&i-> bea. &o &he sea3 e0ery&hing under &he 8F- would beco.e
in e))ec& hea0ier. No& only would &he wa&er be pushed bac53 and &he .ud be :rolled: dry3 bu& &he air
direc&ly under &he bea. would also beco.e hea0ier3 and would be )orced down &oward &he sea bed
direc&ly under &he 8F- bea.. The walls o) wa&er on each side would )or. a &rough or channel3 and
when &he air hi& &he sea bed3 i& would &hen shoo& ou& each e.p&y end o) &he channel )or.ed by &he &wo
walls o) wa&er.
I) &he Israeli&es were s&anding on &he wes& ban5 ready &o cross &o &he eas&ern shore3 &he wind would be
hi&&ing &he. righ& in &he )ace as i& ca.e ou& o) &he channel - and &hey would repor& &ha& a s&rong eas&
wind was blowing. I) &hey had been s&anding on &he eas&ern ban53 howe0er3 &hey would also ha0e had a
s&rong wind blowing &oward &he. - bu& apparen&ly )ro. &he wes&. AThis wind would assis& in drying o))
&he sur)ace o) &he sea bed.B %s &he air under &he 8F- was )orced down3 ligh&er air )ro. abo0e &he 8F-
would be drawn down in&o &he :se.i0acuu.: crea&ed as &he air under &he 8F- was pushed down. Thus
a con&inuous s&rea. o) air curren& would resul&. Fran5 'dwards repor&s &ha& one 8F- as i& was seen &o
ascend in&o &he air )ro. )airly near &he ground caused dus& &o be 5ic5ed up )ro. &he ground. A!B I)
8F-s opera&e according &o so.e an&i-> principle3 &his .ay be an e+a.ple o) how &he an&i-> bea.
)orces air curren&s down3 &hus causing &he :dus&: &o )ly.
There is one di))icul&y which .us& be considered3 and )or which &here is only a &heore&ical answer.
*hile i& is &rue &ha& a wind s&rong enough &o par& &he =ed Sea would be &oo s&rong &o allow &he Israeli&es
wi&h &heir )a.ilies and possessions &o cross3 &he an&i-> bea. presen&s si.ilar proble.s. '0ery&hing
under &he an&i-> bea. would in e))ec& beco.e hea0ier. This would probably be &rue also )or &he
Israeli&es as &hey .o0ed under &he bea.? each .an3 wo.an3 child3 ani.al3 and possession would see.
&o weigh se0eral &i.es i&s nor.al weigh&. I) &he Israeli&es no&iced such an e))ec& while crossing &he sea3
we would cer&ainly e+pec& &he. &o repor& i&? in )ac&3 i& .igh& be i.possible &o cross under &hese
condi&ions.
*e are &here)ore )orced &o assu.e &ha& a)&er &he wa&er was )orced bac5 and &he sea bed beca.e dry3 par&
o) &he an&i-> bea. was shielded o)) so &ha& &he cen&er area o) &he channel would be )ree o) &he an&i->
e))ec&s. So.e&i.es &he .oon co.es be&ween &he ear&h and sun in such a way as &o cause an eclipse -
&he elec&ro.agne&ic ligh& radia&ion o) &he sun is shielded o)) by &he .oon. I) beings )ro. ano&her world
were opera&ing a 8F- in &he =ed Sea si&ua&ion3 i& is cer&ainly no& i.possible3 bu& probable3 &ha& &heir
&echnology per.i&&ed &he. &o shield o)) par& o) &he an&i-> bea. or an&i-> 7e&s while allowing &wo
power)ul walls o) &he an&i-> bea. &o re.ain3 one in )ron& o) each wall o) wa&er in &he sea bed. *hile an
an&i-> bea. .ay ha0e been applied uni)or.ly &o &he =ed Sea &o .o0e &he wa&er bac5 and &o roll ou&
and ba5e &he .ud3 once &he wa&er was bac5 in &he desired posi&ion so.e o) &he bea. could be phased
ou& in &he cen&er o) &he desired crossing area so as &o per.i& &he Israeli&es &o cross in &o&al )reedo..
Such an e+plana&ion .igh& appear &o be e+&re.ely hypo&he&ical e+cep& )or &he se;uence which &he Bible
rela&es a)&er &he Israeli&es ha0e crossed sa)ely &o &he eas&ern shore. %s &he .orning ligh& began &o allow
&he 'gyp&ians &o see wha& was happening3 &hey )ollowed &he Israeli&es wi&h &heir chario&s righ& in&o &he
channel o) &he sea. The Israeli&es were presu.ably high and dry on &he o&her side3 ha0ing co.ple&ed &he
crossing3 and &hey loo5ed down in&o &he channel and obser0ed wi&h concern &he 'gyp&ians in ho&
pursui&.
*ere &he Hebrews nearly &o ha0e .ade &his as&ounding escape only &o be caugh& )ro. behind as &he
'gyp&ians used &he escape channel, No3 )or @oses would raise his hand as a signal )or &he walls &o )all
in on &he 'gyp&ians3 bu& be)ore &he walls o) wa&er collapsed3 so.e&hing s&range see.ed &o be happening
&o &he 'gyp&ians down in &he channel. *e read3 :%nd in &he .orning wa&ch &he Hord in &he pillar o) )ire
and o) cloud loo5ed down upon &he hos& o) &he 'gyp&ians3 and disco.)i&ed &he hos& o) &he 'gyp&ians3
clogging &heir chario& wheels so &ha& &hey dro0e hea0ily: A'+odus !/:/3$B. The Iing <a.es Jersion is
closer &o &he Hebrew &han &he =SJ3 howe0er. I& reads3 :%nd i& ca.e &o pass3 &ha& in &he .orning wa&ch
&he Hord loo5ed un&o &he hos& o) &he 'gyp&ians &hrough &he pillar o) )ire and o) &he cloud3 and &roubled
&he hos& o) &he 'gyp&ians. %nd &oo5 o)) &heir chario& wheels3 &ha& &hey dro0e &he. hea0ily: A'+odus
!/:/3$B.
The Bible does no& &ell us when &he 8F- .o0ed in&o a posi&ion direc&ly o0er &he sea bed. The las& &i.e
we heard abou& &he 8F- i& had se&&led down be&ween &he ar.ies o) Israel and 'gyp&. The 'gyp&ians
apparen&ly se& up ca.p and wai&ed un&il .orning &o .a5e &he ne+& .o0e. Then &he 8F- .o0ed o0er
&he sea under &he co0er o) dar5ness3 causing &he sea &o par&. The Israeli&es did no& see &he 8F- ho0ering
o0er &he channel un&il &he )irs& ligh& o) day3 and by &ha& &i.e &he Hebrews had co.ple&ed &heir crossing
and were loo5ing down a& &he 'gyp&ians in &he &rough o) &he sea.
The 'gyp&ians were ha0ing so.e 5ind o) di))icul&y3 and &he &e+& sugges&s &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud: was
&he cause o) &he crisis. The 'gyp&ians were perhaps poin&ing up &oward &he 8F- o0er &heir head3 &hus
sugges&ing &o &he Israeli&es &ha& wha&e0er &he dis&ress3 i&s cause was abo0e &he..
The Hord Aor &he angel o) >odB in &he 8F- loo5ed down upon &he 'gyp&ians in &he channel o) &he sea
bed and :disco.)i&ed: or :&roubled: &he 'gyp&ians. The Hebrew sugges&s &ha& &he Hord :loo5ed: down
upon &he 'gyp&ians wi&h such a power)ul )orce &ha& he :crushed: &he. - &o spea5 as &he Bible so.e&i.es
does abou& a hea0y hear& sugges&s a :&roubled: hear&. The 'gyp&ians see. &o ha0e been :crushed: or
:&roubled: or .ade :hea0y: by &he :loo5ing down: o) &he Hord in &he 8F- abo0e &he.. %pparen&ly &he
8F- had so.ehow caused &he 'gyp&ians suddenly &o beco.e 0ery hea0y - &he an&i-> bea. was once
again applied &o &he whole area o) &he sea bed. The shield which had )reed par& o) &he sea bed )ro. &he
an&i-> bea. so &ha& &he Israeli&es could cross was suddenly re.o0ed.
This shield was no& re.o0ed un&il .any o) &he 'gyp&ians had dri0en &heir chario&s a considerable
dis&ance in&o &he channel? o&herwise &hey would in all li5elihood no& ha0e been able &o en&er &he &rough
a& all. '0ery&hing see.ed &o be going well as &he 'gyp&ians pursued wi&h &heir chario&s down in&o &he
cen&er o) &he channel3 when suddenly &he Hord :loo5ed down: on &he 'gyp&ians and 5noc5ed &he. )la&.
They were crushed by an in0isible weigh&.
The Iing <a.es Jersion )ollows &he Hebrew in &elling us &ha& &he Hord in &he 8F- caused &he wheels
o) &he 'gyp&ian chario&s &o co.e o)). The =SJ &ransla&ors could no& .a5e sense o) &he Hebrew3 so &hey
&urned &o a Syrian word which sugges&ed &ha& &he wheels o) &he chario&s beca.e :clogged.: (robably &he
=SJ &ransla&ors assu.ed &ha& &he chario& wheels beca.e s&uc5 in &he .ud? bu& as was .ade 0ery clear
during &he crossing o) &he Israeli&es3 &here was no .ud &o be )ound - &hey crossed on hard3 dry ground.
*here did &he .ud suddenly co.e )ro., No& only has &he =SJ been un&rue &o &he Hebrew in
sugges&ing &ha& &he chario& wheels were clogged ra&her &han re.o0ed3 bu& &he idea o) :.ud: has been
in&roduced3 which &he pre0ious narra&i0e s&ric&ly e+cludes.
I) &he an&i-> bea. were once again applied &o &he whole sea bed3 &he chario&s would suddenly weigh
&wo &o )our &i.es as .uch as nor.al3 or .ore? &he pressure on &he a+les o) &he chario&s .igh& well
cause &he a+les &o bend or brea53 &hus re.o0ing &he wheels. Fur&her.ore3 &he narra&i0e speci)ically
draws a&&en&ion &o &he 8F- abo0e as &he cause o) &he di))icul&y3 no& &o &he .ud below. The Hord :loo5ed
down: upon &he chario&s wi&h a grea& )orce and bro5e o)) &heir chario& wheels.
No& only were &he wheels re.o0ed3 bu& &he chario&s appeared &o dri0e :hea0ily.: The Israeli&es on &he
shore saw &he 'gyp&ians suddenly 5noc5ed down or crushed by e+&ra weigh&3 and &he chario& wheels
were bro5en o)). They also undoub&edly saw &he horses ei&her 5noc5ed &o &he ground by &he e+&ra
weigh&3 or a& leas& s&raining grea&ly3 so &ha& &he chario&s appeared &o dri0e :hea0ily:? e0ery&hing3 in )ac&3
had suddenly beco.e .uch hea0ier. In &he )ace o) &hese di))icul&ies &he 'gyp&ians wisely concluded3
:He& us )lee )ro. be)ore Israel? )or &he Hord )igh&s )or &he. agains& &he 'gyp&ians: A'+odus !/:$B. Bu&
&his decision ca.e &oo la&e )or &he 'gyp&ians down in &he channel? as soon as &he an&i-> bea. was
li)&ed3 &he wa&ers ca.e bac5 upon &he 'gyp&ians. The wa&ers re&urned and co0ered &he chario&s and &he
horse.en and all &he hos& o) (haraoh &ha& had )ollowed &he. in&o &he sea? no& so .uch as one o) &he.
re.ained. Bu& &he people o) Israel wal5ed on dry ground &hrough &he sea3 &he wa&ers being a wall &o
&he. on &heir righ& hand and on &he le)&: A'+odus !/:63#B. I) par& o) &he an&i-> bea. had no& been
shielded o)) in order &o allow &he Hebrews &o cross3 &hey &oo would ha0e been crushed by &he sa.e
power)ul :loo5: )ro. &he 8F- which :disco.)i&ed: &he 'gyp&ians.
%& &his poin& i& is wor&hwhile &o e+a.ine and co.pare &he 0alue o) &he abo0e in&erpre&a&ion o) &he =ed
Sea inciden& wi&h o&her in&erpre&a&ions. There ha0e been a& leas& &wo a&&e.p&s &o lin5 &he pillar o) cloud
and o) )ire wi&h so.e na&ural pheno.enon. @ar&in No&h has sugges&ed &ha& when &he Israeli&es ca.e &o
@oun& Sinai &hey .e& a 0olcano3 and &his 0olcano .ade such an i.pression on &he Hebrews &ha& &hey
in&roduced &he idea in&o &he narra&i0e o) &he whole '+odus s&ory. A!"B -) course a 0olcano canno& .o0e
around &he way &he Biblical 8F- apparen&ly does.
In ano&her in&erpre&a&ion3 %.H. @cNeile has sugges&ed &ha& ancien& peoples so.e&i.es .arched
:carrying bra9iers con&aining burning wood a& &he head o) an ar.y:? A!/B &hus a burning s.udge po&
carried in )ron& sen& up a pillar o) cloud &o lead &he ar.y in a .arch. *hile &his &ype o) 8F- is .ore
.obile &han a 0olcano3 i& is ob0iously a .an-con&rolled en&i&y3 whereas &he Hebrew narra&i0e lea0es no
doub& &ha& &hey were no& con&rolling &he :angel o) >od:? ra&her3 &he 8F- was con&rolling &he.. They
)ollowed i&. -) i&s own ini&ia&i0e i& .o0ed )ro. in )ron& o) Israel &o &he rear &o separa&e &he 'gyp&ian
ar.y )ro. Israel. The 8F- apparen&ly caused &he par&ing o) &he sea3 and crushed &he 'gyp&ians under i&
in &he channel. I) scien&is&s should e0en&ually es&ablish &ha& 8F-s e+is& and &ha& &hey opera&e by .eans
o) so.e 5ind o) an&i-> or '@ bea.3 &hen .y in&erpre&a&ion would see. &o ha0e se0eral ad0an&ages
o0er ei&her &he :0olcano: or &he :s.udge-po&: in&erpre&a&ion o) &he pillar o) cloud and o) )ire.
I) we &a5e as our s&ar&ing assu.p&ion &he basic Biblical &es&i.ony - &ha& &he Israeli&es were under &he
guidance o) an e+&ernal )orce - &hen we can assu.e &ha& &he being in charge o) &he pillar o) cloud 5new
ahead o) &i.e &ha& &he ar.y o) Israel would be sa0ed )ro. 'gyp& by &he par&ing o) &he sea3 and all &his
i.plies. *e are in a .uch be&&er posi&ion &o .a5e sense o) &he narra&i0e by assu.ing &ha& wha&e0er
e+&raordinary &hings are in0ol0ed in &he =ed Sea e+perience3 &he direc& cause o) &hese &hings lies in &he
8F- which see.s &o be in charge o) &he si&ua&ion.
%s in all Biblical narra&i0es3 we .ay as5 &he ;ues&ion:
Did &he Biblical s&ory arise as a :.y&hological: )abrica&ion o) a )airly ordinary or e0en e+&raordinary
hu.an e+perience - was an unusual e+perience gi0en a :.y&hological: religious perspec&i0e, -r was
&here really so.e e+&ernal agen& in &he si&ua&ion - in &he 8F- - which delibera&ely caused &he unusual
se;uence o) e0en&s which '+odus rela&es, I) we do no& belie0e &ha& beings )ro. ano&her world in a
8F- were in &he si&ua&ion3 how did Israel escape )ro. 'gyp&, 'gyp& was no& an+ious &o gi0e up i&s
sla0e labor. *e .ay e0en wonder abou& &he 0arious plagues which originally s&ruc5 'gyp& and brough&
Israel:s )reedo..
The only poin& a& which we ha0e no& been &rue &o &he Biblical narra&i0e is in saying &ha& &he direc& cause
o) &he par&ing o) &he sea was no& &he s&rong eas& wind. Bu& &here was apparen&ly an eas& wind blowing
ou& o) &he channel. -ur in&erpre&a&ion is in )ac& &rue &o all &he :sense-da&a: which &he Biblical narra&i0e
pro0ides. -ur only e+cep&ion &o &he narra&i0e is in poin& o) &heory - &he Biblical connec&ion be&ween
cause and e))ec&3 be&ween &he par&ing o) &he sea and &he eas& wind. The :eas& wind: .ay well ha0e
dis&rac&ed us )ro. loo5ing &o &he &rue source o) &he par&ing - &o &he 8F- which ho0ered o0er &he sea - &o
&he angel o) >od in &he pillar o) cloud and o) )ire.
The Pill!r * Cloud Ater The 1ed #e!
*e canno& help being in&eres&ed in &he ac&i0i&y o) &his 8F- - &his pillar o) cloud and o) )ire - a)&er &he
se;uence o) e0en&s a& &he =ed Sea. There was no doub& in &he .inds o) &he au&hors o) &he Biblical
.a&erial &ha& &he 8F- was in&i.a&ely concerned wi&h &he whole =ed Sea narra&i0e3 which e+plains why
&he 8F- is gi0en such a pro.inen& role a& &his 7unc&ure. Fur&her.ore3 &he Bible .ain&ains &ha& &his 8F-
was presen& during &he whole o) &he '+odus3 including &he )or&y years in &he wilderness. *hile &he role
o) &he 8F- is ne0er .ore dra.a&ic &han a& &he sea3 &here are se0eral occasions on which &he 8F- plays
a .a7or role3 which .us& now be e+a.ined.
The Israeli&es had no& &ra0eled )ar beyond &he =ed Sea when &hey disco0ered &ha& &hey were in &he
.iddle o) &he wilderness wi&hou& any source o) )ood3 and &hey began &o &hin5 &ha& &hey had been be&&er
o)) as sla0es si&&ing by &he :)leshpo&s: o) 'gyp& A'+odus !1:"B. Bu& now &he sea which had se& Israel )ree
)ro. sla0ery s&ood in &he way o) a re&urn &o 'gyp& - and &he )leshpo&s. Bu& &he 8F- was s&ill in charge3
and &he Hord said &o @oses3 :Behold3 I will rain bread )ro. hea0en )or you: A'+odus !1:/B.
@oses ins&ruc&ed %aron &o e+plain &o &he Israeli&es &ha& &he Hord would pro0ide bread. :%nd as %aron
spo5e &o &he whole congrega&ion o) &he people o) Israel3 &hey loo5ed &oward &he wilderness3 and behold3
&he glory o) &he Hord appeared in &he cloud: A'+odus !1:!0. For &he Biblical )ra.e o) .ind3 &he bread
which co0ered &he ear&h li5e dew in &he .orning was so.ehow connec&ed wi&h3 or caused by3 &he 8F-
which led Israel sa)ely across &he =ed Sea. 2lear also is &he )ac& &ha& &he pro.ise o) bread )ro. hea0en
would be )ul)illed only i) Israel )ollowed &he glory o) &he Hord - &he brigh& cloud -in&o &he wilderness. I)
you wan&ed bread3 you had &o )ollow &he 8F-. This :s&i.ulus: and :response: condi&ioning is cer&ainly in
&he bes& psychological &radi&ion. In &he boo5 o) Nu.bers we see ;ui&e clearly &ha& &he Israeli&es
)ollowed &he cloud? :whene0er &he cloud was &a5en up )ro. o0er &he &en&3 a)&er &ha& &he people o) Israel
se& ou&? and in &he place where &he cloud se&&led down3 &here &he people o) Israel enca.ped: ANu.bers
#:!7B.
Donald Ieyhoe3 in his wor5 The Flying Saucer 2onspiracy3 de0o&es a chap&er &o wha& he calls :%ngel
Hair3: which see.s &o be a )ine )la5e-li5e subs&ance which has been obser0ed dropping )ro. 8F-s.
A!$B This :%ngel Hair: so.e&i.es3 al&hough no& always3 disin&egra&es when a person &ouches i&3 and i&
0ery o)&en e0apora&es in &he hea& o) &he sun. *he&her or no& anyone has &ried &o ea& &his subs&ance3 I do
no& 5nowE Bu& &he descrip&ion o) &he :bread )ro. hea0en: is s&ri5ingly parallel. :%nd when &he dew had
gone up3 &here was on &he )ace o) &he wilderness a )ine3 )la5e-li5e &hing3 )ine as hoar)ros& on &he ground.
*hen &he people o) Israel saw i&3 &hey said &o one ano&her3 C*ha& is i&,C F.annaG For &hey did no& 5now
wha& i& was: A'+odus !1:!/3!$B? :i& was li5e coriander seed3 whi&e3 and &he &as&e o) i& was li5e wa)ers
.ade wi&h honey: A'+odus !1:"!B. %nd in &he .orning &he Israeli&es ga&hered enough )or &heir daily
use3 e+cep& on &he si+&h .orning3 when &hey ga&hered enough )or &wo days? &he Israeli&es did no& ga&her
e0ery piece o) :.anna3: or :wha& is i&,: in sigh&3 and :when &he sun grew ho&3 i& .el&ed: A'+odus !1:!B. I)
&his is .y&hology3 i& is cer&ainly in&eres&ing .y&h - &he Israeli&es see. &o ha0e in0en&ed an i.agina&i0e
bread )ro. hea0en so eso&eric &ha& &hey were hard pressed e0en &o na.e i&3 so &hey called i& :.anna -
wha& is i&,:
This is )ur&her e0idence &ha& &here really were beings )ro. ano&her world in &he si&ua&ion3 and &ha& &he
beings in &he 8F- were responsible )or &he dis&ribu&ion o) so.e &ype o) )ood which &he Israeli&es were
hard pressed &o describe. I& .ay be &ha& &he beings in &he 8F- :seeded: &he air wi&h a )ine )ood dus&
which dropped &o &he ground3 absorbing &he dew? when .orning sunshine pro0ided ligh&3 perhaps &he
)ood dus& wor5ed li5e yeas& and grew in&o &he s.all :)la5e-li5e &hing: which &he Israeli&es a&e. For our
)u&ure space &ra0el i& will be use)ul &o de0elop )oods which3 when co.bined wi&h wa&er3 yield a
subs&an&ial bul5. @oses on occasion pro0ided wa&er )or &he Israeli&es by s&ri5ing a roc5 wi&h his rod
A'+odus !7:!-7B3 so i& is no& surprising &ha& @oses was a power)ul co..ander. I& was a)&er &hese
0arious physical needs were .e& - )reedo. )ro. 'gyp&ian ensla0e.en&3 )reedo. )ro. hunger and &hirs&
- &ha& &he beings in &he 8F-3 &he angels o) >od3 proceeded &o gi0e &he Hebrews a Haw3 a religion.
Thus &he Sinai &radi&ion3 wi&h i&s Ten 2o..and.en&s3 begins by saying3 because :I a. &he Hord your
>od3 who brough& you ou& o) &he land o) 'gyp&3 ou& o) &he house o) bondage3: :4ou shall ha0e no o&her
gods be)ore .e: A'+odus o:3 "B. Be)ore &he co..and.en&s were gi0en3 @oses was &old &o ga&her &he
Israeli&es around &he )oo& o) @oun& Sinai3 because :&he Hord will co.e down upon @oun& Sinai in &he
sigh& o) all &he people: A'+odus !#:!!B. The Sinai &radi&ion is 0ery leng&hy and is no& easy &o unra0el3
and we shall no& a&&e.p& &o clari)y &he &e+&ual proble.s.
@oses apparen&ly wen& up and down &he .oun&ain se0eral &i.es. He wen& &o &he &op &o &al5 wi&h >od -
or wi&h &he angel o) >od A'+odus ":03 "B - ca.e down &o &al5 &o &he people a& &he )oo& o) &he
.oun&ain3 &hen re&urned &o &he &op. @oses re.ained a& &he &op o) &he .oun&ain &o &al5 wi&h &he angel o)
>od )or long in&er0als o) &i.e - &he Bible sugges&s )or&y days and nigh&s A'+odus /:!6B3 which is &he
Bible:s way o) saying a long &i.e. In )ac&3 @oses spen& so .uch &i.e on &he .oun&ain &ha& &he people
beca.e res&less and s&ar&ed dancing and singing3 .a5ing .ol&en cal0es3 and generally ha0ing a
rollic5ing &i.e? &he people :rose up &o play: A'+odus ":1B.
-n a& leas& one occasion a special de.ons&ra&ion o) &he power o) >od was displayed on @oun& Sinai.
The people were ga&hered around &he )oo&3 and &hen >od descended on &he .oun&ain. :-n &he .orning
o) &he &hird day &here were &hunders and ligh&nings3 and a &hic5 cloud upon &he .oun&ain3 and a 0ery
loud &ru.pe& blas&3 so &ha& all &he people who were in &he ca.p &re.bled. Then @oses brough& &he
people ou& o) &he ca.p &o .ee& >od? and &hey &oo5 &heir s&and a& &he )oo& o) &he .oun&ain. %nd @oun&
Sinai was wrapped in s.o5e3 because &he Hord descended upon i& in )ire? and &he s.o5e o) i& wen& up
li5e &he s.o5e o) a 5iln3 and &he whole .oun&ain ;ua5ed grea&ly: A'+odus !#:!1-!6B. This descrip&ion
has led scholars &o suppose &ha& &he Hebrew people were wi&nessing 0olcanic ac&i0i&y3 and &he
sugges&ion has been carried )ur&her &ha& because o) &his 0olcanic e+perience &he <ews de0eloped &heir
unders&anding o) >od on &he basis o) &his e+perience.
Bu& 0olcanic ac&i0i&y is no& &he only e+plana&ion which .igh& )i& &his descrip&ion. -n No0e.ber 3
!#$73 7us& be)ore .idnigh& Aaccording &o <ac;ues JalleeB3 &wo .en &ra0eling on Highway !!1 in Te+as
saw a :bluish-green &orpedo-shaped .achine !$0 &o 00 )ee& long which re.ained close &o &he ground
)or &wo or &hree .inu&es3 &hen ascended3 i&s color changing &o red.: The presence o) &he 8F- had caused
&he .o&or o) &he &ruc5 &o s&op3 and &he headligh&s were cu& o)). The .en ga0e &his accoun&:
*e )irs& saw a )lash o) ligh& in &he )ield &o our righ&3 and we didn:& &hin5 .uch abou& i& - &hen i& rose up
ou& o) &he )ield and s&ar&ed &owards us3 pic5ing up speed. *hen i& go& nearer3 &he ligh&s o) .y &ruc5
wen& ou& and &he .o&or died. I 7u.ped ou& and hi& &he dec5 as &he &hing passed direc&ly o0er &he &ruc5
wi&h a grea& sound and a rush o) wind. I& sounded li5e &hunder3 and .y &ruc5 roc5ed )ro. &he blas&. I
)el& a lo& o) hea&. Then I go& up and wa&ched i& go ou& o) sigh& &oward He0elland. A!1B
The repor& o) &he :rush o) wind: .igh& be due &o &he .o0e.en& o) &he ship3 or &o &he downward &hrus& o)
&he propulsion bea.3 as repor&ed during &he =ed Sea episode. I& is no& i.possible &ha& a 8F- o) &he
&ype seen in Te+as -&orpedo-shaped3 or li5e a pillar or cylinder - could ha0e caused &he )lashing ligh&3
and &he &hunderings3 and i) &he &ruc5 roc5ed )ro. &he blas& o) &he 8F-3 perhaps &he whole .oun&ain
would ;ua5e i) a &re.endous an&i-> )orce were applied. The whole purpose o) &he @oun& Sinai scene
was &o de.ons&ra&e &o &he Israeli&es &he power o) >od3 )or a& leas& &hree reasons: The people o) Israel
were abou& &o recei0e a religious code3 and >od was power)ul enough &o de.and obedience. The
Israeli&es needed con)idence in &he power o) &heir >od in &he )ace o) &heir ene.ies - i) >od is )or us3
who can be agains& us, The de.ons&ra&ion would .a5e i& clear &ha& @oses had been chosen by >od &o
be his prophe&? only he dared go near &he 8F-. :Ho3 I a. co.ing &o you in a &hic5 cloud3 &ha& &he people
.ay hear when I spea5 wi&h you3 and .ay also belie0e you F@osesG )or e0er: A'+odus !#:#B.
The people were warned se0eral &i.es no& &o :&ouch: &he .oun&ain when &he 8F- descended on i&
A'+odus !#:!? !?/B. There were religious reasons )or &his co..and.en&3 )or &his was a holy
.oun&ain? bu& i) &here was a power display on &he .oun&ain3 i& .igh& ha0e been dangerous )or anyone
&o be on &he .oun&ain. I& is in&eres&ing &ha& @oses was shielded )ro. danger when co.ing near &he
8F-3 al&hough a)&er long periods in &he presence o) &he :&hic5 cloud: his )ace de0eloped a peculiar
:glow: A'+odus "/:#-"$B.
% .oun&ain shoo&ing )or&h ligh&ning3 &hunder3 and s.o5e li5e a 5iln does sugges& a 0olcano3 bu& one
does no& usually )ind people cli.bing 0olcanic .oun&ains as &he Bible sugges&s @oses did? and
)ur&her.ore3 one could cli.b &o &he &op o) e0ery 0olcano in &he world and ne0er encoun&er a being a&
&he &op o) &he 0olcano who would dic&a&e copy )or &wo s&one &able&s con&aining &he )unda.en&al e&hics
)or a world religion. -) course3 .any people are s5ep&ical o) &his whole &radi&ion? &hey suppose &ha&
@oses &oo5 ad0an&age o) &his 0olcanic display &o go up &he .oun&ain3 ;uic5ly wri&e ou& so.e
co..and.en&s on a couple o) s&ones3 and &hen re&urn wi&h wha& he called &he 2o..and.en&s o) >od.
Bu& &here is one ele.en& o) &he Sinai &radi&ion which3 i) i& is &o be &rus&ed3 rules ou& &he :0olcanic:
e+plana&ion o) &he s.o5e3 &hic5 cloud3 and ligh&ning. The Bible says &ha& :&he Hord ca.e down upon
@oun& Sinai3 &o &he &op o) &he .oun&ain: A'+odus !#:0B. This noisy3 &hic5 cloud did no& co.e up )ro.
&he inside o) &he .oun&ain? ra&her3 i& ca.e )ro. abo0e &he .oun&ain and se&&led upon i&.
*e ha0e a descrip&ion here which probably poin&s &o &he sa.e pillar o) cloud and o) )ire o) &he '+odus3
carrying ou& so.e 5ind o) spec&acular ac&i0i&y. @ar&in No&h argues &ha& &he :cloud: a& &he =ed Sea and a&
Sinai ha0e a co..on &radi&ion3 A!7B and wi&h &his we agree. *e belie0e &ha& &his co..on &radi&ion was
no& deri0ed )ro. a 0olcano3 howe0er3 bu& )ro. so.e sor& o) 8F- which rese.bles .odern )lying
saucers. Then i& .a5es .ore sense &o conclude wi&h &he Bible &ha& @oses wen& &o &he &op o) &he
.oun&ain &o con0erse wi&h a being in &he :cloud.:
%no&her Sinai passage poin&s .ore clearly &o &he :pillar o) cloud: &radi&ion. Then @oses wen& up on &he
.oun&ain3 and &he cloud co0ered &he .oun&ain. The glory o) &he Hord se&&led on @oun& Sinai3 and &he
cloud co0ered i& si+ days? and on &he se0en&h day he called &o @oses ou& o) &he .ids& o) &he cloud. Now
&he appearance o) &he glory o) &he Hord was li5e a de0ouring )ire on &he &op o) &he .oun&ain in &he sigh&
o) &he people o) Israel. %nd @oses en&ered &he cloud: A'+odus /:!$-!6B. @oses see.s &o ha0e gone
aboard &he 8F-3 a& which &i.e he recei0ed s&one &able&s )ro. &he being in &he 8F- A'+odus /:!B and
also recei0ed speci)ica&ions concerning &he cons&ruc&ion o) &he Tabernacle A&en& o) worship and
sacri)iceB )or &he children o) Israel. :%ccording &o all &ha& I show you concerning &he pa&&ern o) &he
&abernacle3 and o) all i&s )urni&ure3 so you shall .a5e i&: A'+odus $:#B.
*hen one considers &he de&ailed in)or.a&ion which @oses apparen&ly recei0ed )ro. &he being in &he
:cloud: Aroughly '+odus chap&ers 0-"$B3 i& is no wonder &ha& a considerable a.oun& o) &i.e was
re;uired )or &he Sinai e+perience. @uch &i.e was also re;uired &o collec& &he .a&erials and build &he
Tabernacle. Supposedly be)ore Sinai &he Israeli&es had al.os& no religious &radi&ion a& all3 and a)&er
Sinai &hey had &he )unda.en&als o) a religion which has been prac&iced )or o0er &hree &housand years.
-nce &hese )unda.en&als were es&ablished3 a considerable a.oun& o) &i.e was spen& in &he wilderness
while &hese principles beca.e opera&ional A&he Bible sugges&s abou& )or&y yearsB. %s soon as &heir )ai&h
beca.e )unc&ional3 Israel .o0ed in&o (ales&ine3 &he (ro.ised Hand. *hen @oses ca.e down )ro. &he
.oun&ain a)&er recei0ing &he )irs& &ables o) s&one3 he bro5e &he. in anger a& )inding &he people re&urning
&o &heir pagan pa&&ern o) beha0ior A'+odus ":!$-!#B. @oses e0en&ually cu& a second se& o) s&one &ables3
and again :&he Hord descended in &he cloud: A'+odus "/:$B &o .ee& wi&h @oses.
No&ice &ha& as &he e+perience wi&h &he 8F- con&inues3 i& is no longer called a pillar o) cloud by day and
a pillar o) )ire by nigh&3 or e0en a pillar o) cloud3 bu& si.ply &he :cloud.: The abbre0ia&ed )or. is
de0eloped 0ery early in &he '+odus accoun&? i& is in chap&er )our&een o) '+odus &ha& &he =ed Sea
inciden& is described3 and &hroughou& &his accoun& &he 8F- is usually re)erred &o as &he :pillar o) cloud
and o) )ire3: or a si.ilar long )or.3 bu& e0en a& &he sea we )ind &he shor& )or. used once. %)&er &he 8F-
se&&led be&ween &he ar.ies o) 'gyp& and Israel be)ore &he par&ing o) &he sea3 we read3 :%nd &here was &he
cloud and &he dar5ness: A'+odus !/:0B. *hen &he Israeli&es )ollowed &his brigh& cloud-li5e 8F- in&o
&he wilderness3 :&he glory o) &he Hord appeared in &he cloud: A'+odus !1:!0B. <us& as 8F- is our
abbre0ia&ion )or 8niden&i)ied Flying -b7ec&3 so :&he cloud: is )re;uen&ly &he abbre0ia&ion )or &he pillar o)
cloud by day and &he pillar o) )ire by nigh&. %s &he '+odus narra&i0e con&inues3 a shor&er )or. is al.os&
always used.
-nce &he Tabernacle had been buil&3 &he 8F- .o0ed in&o a posi&ion direc&ly abo0e &he &en&. Then &he
cloud co0ered &he &en& o) .ee&ing3 and &he glory o) &he Hord )illed &he &abernacle: A'+odus /0:"/B. This
:cloud: ser0ed as Israel:s beacon &hroughou& &he 7ourney in &he wilderness. :For &hroughou& all &heir
7ourneys &he cloud o) &he Hord was upon &he &abernacle by day3 and )ire was in i& by nigh&3 in &he sigh&
o) all &he house o) Israel: A'+odus /0:"6B. The boo5 o) Nu.bers is e0en .ore e.pha&ic &ha& &his cloud
dic&a&ed e0ery .o0e Israel .ade? when &he cloud .o0ed3 Israel .o0ed3 and when &he cloud res&ed3
Israel .ade ca.p ANu.bers #:!$-"B.
Scholars ha0e been led &o specula&e &ha& &he pillar o) cloud and )ire arose ou& o) &he sacri)icial &radi&ion
o) &he <ews. *hen burn& o))erings were sacri)iced on &he al&ar3 s.o5e wen& up )ro. &he &en&3 .o0ing
)ro. ear&h &o hea0en3 and &hus s&i.ula&ing &he &radi&ion &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud: represen&ed &he
presence o) >od. Bu& as we ha0e seen3 i& is ;ui&e la&e in &he '+odus &ha& &he Tabernacle is buil&3 and
supposedly @oses recei0ed &he in)or.a&ion o) how &o build &he Tabernacle )ro. &he being in &he cloud-
li5e 8F- on @oun& Sinai. Thus &he 0olcano and &he sacri)icial-cloud e+plana&ion o) &he origin o) &he
pillar o) cloud bo&h ha0e &o assu.e &ha& an e+perience which occurred la&e in &he '+odus was3 so &o
spea53 wri&&en bac5 in&o &he early '+odus &radi&ion.
Bu& none o) &hese e+plana&ions - &ha& &he pillar o) cloud was s.o5e )ro. a )ire po& which ser0ed as a
beacon3 or &he 0isual i.pression o) a 0olcano3 or &he resul& o) &he s.o5e and incense o) a sacri)icial
&radi&ion - can accoun& )or &he con&inuous Biblical assu.p&ion &ha& &his :cloud: con&ained a being wi&h
who. @oses was in0ol0ed in al.os& day-&o-day con0ersa&ion. *hen &he being in &he cloud wan&ed &o
&al5 &o @oses3 &he 8F- see.ed &o descend )ro. i&s posi&ion abo0e &he &en& ANu.bers !!:$B. %& one
poin& @iria. A@oses: sis&erB and %aron cri&ici9ed @oses )or &a5ing a 2ushi&e wi)e3 and &hey e0en
wondered why @oses should be &he only prophe& in Israel.
The being in &he 8F- apparen&ly o0erheard &he discussion: :%nd suddenly &he Hord said &o @oses and
&o %aron and @iria.3 C2o.e ou&3 you &hree3 &o &he &en& o) .ee&ing.C %nd &he &hree o) &he. ca.e ou&.
%nd &he Hord ca.e down in a pillar o) cloud3 and s&ood a& &he door o) &he &en&3 and called %aron and
@iria.? and &hey bo&h ca.e )orward. %nd he said3 CHear .y words: I) &here is a prophe& a.ong you3 I
&he Hord .a5e .ysel) 5nown &o hi. in a 0ision3 I spea5 wi&h hi. in a drea.. No& so wi&h .y ser0an&
@oses? he is en&rus&ed wi&h all .y house. *i&h hi. I spea5 .ou&h &o .ou&h3 clearly3 and no& in dar5
speech? and he beholds &he )or. o) &he Hord. *hy &hen were you no& a)raid &o spea5 agains& .y ser0an&
@oses,C: ANu.bers !:/-6B @iria. de0eloped :leprosy3: and Israel had &o re.ain in ca.p se0en days
un&il she was cured. 8F- au&hori&ies such as 2oral and <i. Horen9en ha0e no&ed &ha& people ha0e
)re;uen&ly de0eloped s5in irri&a&ions a)&er a )lying-saucer con&ac&. A!6B
The des&ruc&ion o) &he 'gyp&ians a& &he =ed Sea3 &he warning &o @oses no& &o co.e near &he burning
bush3 &he warning &o 5eep away )ro. @oun& Sinai3 and &he e+perience o) @iria. all sugges& &ha& i& was
dangerous &o ge& &oo close &o &his 8F-. The Ten& o) @ee&ing3 wi&h &he 8F- ho0ering abo0e i&3 was
purposely 5ep& ou&side &he ca.p )or &he pro&ec&ion o) &he people? apparen&ly i& was dangerous &o ge& &oo
close &o &he :(resence: A'+odus "":7B. -n one occasion we read3 :%nd &he people co.plained in &he
hearing o) &he Hord abou& &heir .is)or&unes? and when &he Hord heard i&3 his anger was 5indled3 and &he
)ire o) &he Hord burned a.ong &he.3 and consu.ed so.e ou&lying par&s o) &he ca.p: ANu.bers !!:!B?
only @oses: in&ercession sa0ed &he si&ua&ion. I& is no& surprising &ha& &his 8F- co..anded &he respec&
o) &he Israeli&es.
The passage dealing wi&h @iria.3 %aron3 and @oses is enligh&ening3 )or all &hree persons are recorded
&o ha0e heard &he 0oice co.ing )ro. &he 8F-. This was no& si.ply a sub7ec&i0e e+perience o) @oses3
and in )ac& &he angel in &he :cloud: underlined &he )ac& &ha& @oses recei0ed :direc& re0ela&ion: in con&ras&
&o &he )ogginess o) a :0ision: or drea. which was &he usual .ode o) re0ela&ion )or prophe&s. The bes&
way )or >od &o .a5e hi.sel) 5nown &o .an3 according &o &his &radi&ion3 is )or hi. &o spea5 .an &o .an
wi&h so.e chosen person. @an by na&ure has cer&ain physical and psychological li.i&a&ions which >od
see.s &o ha0e &a5en in&o considera&ion? >od .igh& e0en .a5e hi.sel) bes& 5nown by co.ing as a .an
A<esus 2hris&B3 or a& leas& by sending represen&a&i0e .edia&ors or angels &o .a5e hi.sel) 5nown.
-ne .ay 0ery well wonder on &he basis o) &he -ld Tes&a.en& passages whe&her >od hi.sel) was
presen& in &he cloud3 or whe&her an angel o) >od was in &he 8F-. In &he -ld Tes&a.en& &radi&ion we
o)&en )ind ordinary .en -%.os3 Isaiah3 and <ere.iah - spea5ing )or >od. They say3 Thus says &he
Hord.: *e ne0er suppose &ha& >od hi.sel) is li&erally spea5ing? &hese .en are si.ply .ou&hpieces )or
>od. I) .en can ser0e as .ou&hpieces )or >od3 &hen cer&ainly angels would ha0e &he righ& &o spea5 )or
>od3 as &hey o)&en do in &he Bible. In &he New Tes&a.en& we )ind a 0ery i.por&an& speech by S&ephen3
his de)ense be)ore &he <ews who were abou& &o s&one hi. &o dea&h )or his 2hris&ian belie)s. In &his
speech S&ephen ga0e a shor& su..ary o) &he whole @osaic &radi&ion3 and he clearly s&a&ed &ha& &he
Hebrew )ai&h was :re0ealed: &o @oses by an angel or group o) angels. S&ephen is recorded as ha0ing
said3 :Now when )or&y years had passed3 an angel appeared &o hi. F@osesG in &he wilderness o) @oun&
Sinai3 in a )la.e o) )ire in a bush: A%c&s 7:"0B. S&ephen wen& on &o say3 :This @oses who. &hey re)used3
saying3 C*ho .ade you a ruler and a 7udge,C
>od sen& as bo&h ruler and deli0erer by &he hand o) &he angel &ha& appeared &o hi. in &he bush: A%c&s
7:"$B.
S&ephen here clearly i.plied &ha& .e sa.e angel who appeared &o @oses in &he bush was also
ins&ru.en&al in leading Israel sa)ely ou& o) 'gyp& &hrough &he sea - &he pillar o) cloud and )ire. *ha& can
we say abou& &he inciden& o) &he :burning bush:, *e read in &he Bible &ha& :&he angel o) &he Hord
appeared &o hi. F@osesG in a )la.e o) )ire ou& o) &he .ids& o) a bush? and he loo5ed3 and lo3 &he bush
was burning3 ye& i& was no& consu.ed: A'+odus ":B. @oses was ou& in &he wilderness loo5ing a)&er his
)a&her-in-law:s sheep3 and religion see.s hardly &o ha0e been on his .ind when he no&iced a :bush:
which appeared &o be on )ire ye& did no& :burn up.: This was probably as .uch e+ci&e.en& as @oses
could hope &o ha0e in &he course o) &he day? he approached &he bush and .us& ha0e been ;ui&e shoc5ed
when a 0oice ca.e &o hi.3 :@oses3 @oses: A'+odus A":/B.
The &e+& records &ha& &he angel o) &he Hord was in &he :.ids&: o) &he bush. This word .ids& is i.por&an&?
&he Hebrew word bush ac&ually .eans a &hic5e&3 sugges&ing a clu.p o) bushes3 and &he :angel: o) &he
Hord was in &he .ids& or .iddle o) a clu.p o) bushes. In o&her words3 i& .a5es sense &o sugges& &ha& &he
angel o) >od in &he pillar o) cloud and o) )ire which led &he Israeli&es &hrough &he =ed Sea and &he
wilderness had on &his occasion se&&led down on &he ground in&o &he .ids& o) a clu.p o) bushes -a
&hic5e&. The 8F- in &he &hic5e& .ade &he whole clu.p o) bushes appear &o be on )ire3 bu& apparen&ly
&he &hic5e& was no& consu.ed by &he presence o) &he 8F-3 and &his co.bina&ion o) circu.s&ances
caugh& @oses: a&&en&ion. Since we ha0e already seen how @oses spo5e wi&h &he being in &he 8F- a&
@oun& Sinai and a& &he door o) &he Tabernacle3 we should no& be surprised &o )ind a 0oice co.ing ou& o)
&he &hic5e& which called3 :@oses3 @oses ... I a. &he >od o) your )a&her3 &he >od o) %braha.3 &he >od
o) Isaac3 and &he >od o) <acob: A'+odus ":/-1B. *hile &his 0oice .ay no& surprise us now3 i&
undoub&edly surprised @oses a& &he &i.e.
Ha0ing .ade &his obser0a&ion abou& &he way in which @oses see.s &o ha0e been called3 le& us re&urn &o
S&ephen:s address. S&ephen con&inued &o re)er &o @oses and &he 8F- when he said3 :This is he who was
in &he congrega&ion in &he wilderness wi&h &he angel who spo5e &o hi. a& @oun& Sinai3 and wi&h our
)a&hers? and he recei0ed li0ing oracles &o gi0e &o us: A%c&s 7:"6B. No&ice &ha& &or S&ephen3 and apparen&ly
in &he consensus o) opinion o) &he early 2hurch3 &he angel who .e& @oses in &he :burning &hic5e&: was
also &he angel who led Israel &hrough &he sea - in &he pillar o) cloud and )ire - and &o @oun& Sinai3 and
wi&h who. @oses spo5e in &he cloud a& @oun& Sinai. S&ephen wen& on &o say3 :-ur )a&hers had &he &en&
o) wi&ness in &he wilderness3 e0en as he who spo5e &o @oses direc&ed hi. &o .a5e i&3 according &o &he
pa&&ern &ha& he had seen: A%c&s 7://B.
S&ephen concluded by saying3 :%nd &hey 5illed &hose who announced be)orehand &he co.ing o) &he
=igh&eous -ne3 who. you ha0e now be&rayed and .urdered3 you who recei0ed &he law as deli0ered by
angels and did no& 5eep i&: A%c&s 7:$3 $"B. S&ephen and &he New Tes&a.en& au&hors assu.ed &ha& >od
co..issioned beings )ro. ano&her world &o co.e and .a5e direc&ly 5nown &o &he Hebrew people &he
religion or :li0ing oracles: &hey were &o obey. <esus is repor&ed &o ha0e said &ha& no one :has seen &he
Fa&her e+cep& hi. who is )ro. >od? he has seen &he Fa&her: A<ohn 1:/1B3 which see.s &o i.ply &ha& no
one o&her &han <esus hi.sel) had e0er seen >od.
I& see.s ;ui&e )an&as&ic &o sugges& &ha& beings )ro. ano&her world ca.e and delibera&ely carried ou& &he
sor& o) ac&i0i&y which is ascribed &o &he pillar o) cloud and o) )ire. Bu& i) beings )ro. ano&her world
ca.e &o ear&h wi&h &he in&en&ion o) .olding a speci)ic religious perspec&i0e on a group o) people -
chosen people3 &he <ews - and i) &hese beings in &heir 8F- caused &he par&ing o) &he =ed Sea3 pro0ided
.anna in &he wilderness3 pu& on a display o) power a& @oun& Sinai while gi0ing @oses 0arious
ins&ruc&ions3 and )inally led Israel &hrough &he wilderness &o &he (ro.ised Hand3 ho0ering nigh& and day
o0er &he Ten& o) @ee&ing3 &hen I dare say &ha& &he people in0ol0ed in &his se;uence3 &he people who
were under &he in)luence o) &he beings in &he 8F-3 .igh& 0ery well record &he e0en&s in which &hey
were in0ol0ed. %nd i) &hey were speci)ically &old by &he beings in &he 8F- &ha& &hey should reac& in a
religious way &o &hese e0en&s3 &hey .igh& be inclined &o do so. In brie)3 &he @osaic &radi&ion is bes&
e+plained as &he 0isible e))ec& caused by &he 8F- recorded &o ha0e been in &he si&ua&ion3 a 8F- under
in&elligen& con&rol. Beings )ro. ano&her world delibera&ely a&&e.p&ed - and succeeded - in .olding a
people co..i&&ed &o a par&icular religious &radi&ion.
*ha& happened &o &he 8F- which led &he Israeli&es ou& o) 'gyp& &hrough &he wilderness &o &he
(ro.ised Hand, The answer &o &his ;ues&ion is no& clear. %)&er @oses died3 &he leadership was &urned
o0er &o <oshua3 who was .ore a general &han a prophe&. Ne0er&heless &he Hord3 or &he angel o) &he Hord3
pro.ised <oshua3 :No .an shall be able &o s&and be)ore you all &he days o) your li)e? as I was wi&h
@oses3 so I will be wi&h you: A<oshua !:$B3 Israel see.s &o ha0e .o0ed )ro. 'gyp& &hrough &he
wilderness o) Sinai sou&h o) (ales&ine3 .arching below &he Dead Sea be)ore &urning nor&h along &he
eas&ern shore o) &ha& sea un&il &hey were so.e dis&ance abo0e &he poin& where &he <ordan e.p&ied in&o
&he :Sal& Sea3: or &he Dead Sea.
Thus i& was <oshua:s &as5 &o lead Israel across &he <ordan3 )ro. &he eas&ern shore &o &he wes& in&o &he
&erri&ory o) <ericho3 &he )irs& ci&y &o be &a5en. <oshua see.s &o ha0e been per.i&&ed &o re.ain in &he
presence o) &he pillar o) cloud e0en as a young .an3 while @oses was s&ill in charge A'+odus "":!!B.
@any o) &he Biblical &e+&s i.ply &ha& &he 8F- con&inued wi&h Israel &hroughou& &he wilderness 7ourney
A'+odus ":0? ":"/? "":? Nu.bers #:!$-"B3 and i& is en&irely possible &ha& &he 8F- led Israel &o &he
eas&ern ban5 o) &he <ordan3 a& which &i.e <oshua &oo5 o0er. There see.s &o ha0e been a con&inua&ion o)
con&ac& be&ween <oshua and &he Hord3 as &here had been be&ween @oses and &he Hord.
The Bible sugges&s &ha& Israel crossed &he <ordan during a )lood3 and i& was apparen&ly necessary &o s&op
&he )low o) &he ri0er in order &o .a5e &he crossing possible. The pries&s bearing &he %r5 o) &he 2o0enan&
.o0ed ahead o) Israel and s&epped in&o &he ri0er3 as &he Hord had co..anded3 and as soon as &he
pries&s were in &he <ordan :&he wa&ers co.ing down )ro. abo0e s&ood and rose up in a heap )ar o))3 a&
%da.3 &he ci&y &ha& is beside Kare&han3 and &hose )lowing down &oward &he sea o) &he %rabah3 &he Sal&
Sea3 were wholly cu& o))? and &he people passed o0er opposi&e <ericho: A<oshua ":!1B. The :na&ural:
e+plana&ion o) &his crossing is &ha& a landslide s&opped &he )low o) &he <ordan? bu& again &he Biblical &e+&
is 0ery clear3 wi&h all i&s elabora&e prepara&ion3 cere.ony3 and precision &i.ing3 &ha& &he Hebrews
belie0ed &ha& &he s&opping o) &he <ordan was no& an acciden& o) na&ure3 bu& ra&her an ac& o) &he Hord3 or
&he angel o) &he Hord3 I) &he pillar o) cloud was s&ill leading Israel a& &his &i.e3 i& would be appropria&e
&ha& &he cloud should .o0e o0er &he ri0er a& &he sa.e &i.e as &he %r5 o) &he 2o0enan& .o0ed o0er &he
ri0er3 since &hroughou& &he 7ourney &he 8F- had ho0ered o0er &he &en& which housed &he %r5. The &e+&
records &ha& &he :wa&ers co.ing down )ro. abo0e s&ood and rose up in a heap )ar o)): A<oshua ":!1B.
This is precisely &he descrip&ion o) &he e+perience o) &he Hebrews a& &he =ed Sea3 e+cep& &ha& wi&h &ha&
sea &here were &wo walls3 or &wo :heaps:? since &he <ordan was )lowing3 ra&her &han a s&anding body o)
wa&er li5e &he =ed Sea3 only one :wall: was needed &o pro&ec& Israel. The an&i-> bea. could 0ery well
accoun& )or &his pheno.enon3 as in &he case o) &he =ed Sea3 al&hough &he 8F- is no& speci)ically
.en&ioned. The )ac& &ha& &he :heap: was )ar o)) .ay no& so .uch .ean &ha& &he Israeli&es did no& see
wha& was happening? ra&her3 &he geography o) &he <ordan .ay ha0e dic&a&ed &he place where &he wa&er
could be da..ed up. The ban5s .ay ha0e been )airly low a& &he poin& o) &he crossing )or &he sa5e o)
con0enience. *hen &he <ordan was bac5ed up3 high ban5s would be needed &o con&ain &he wa&er as i&
rose in heigh&3 and perhaps such ban5s could be )ound near &he ci&y %da.. @en would no& be li5ely &o
build a ci&y in an area where &he low ban5s o) &he <ordan per.i&&ed )looding. <oshua &old &he Israeli&es
&ha& &he cause behind &he par&ing o) &he =ed Sea and &he s&opping o) &he <ordan was &he sa.e. He said3
:For &he Hord your >od dried up &he wa&ers o) &he <ordan )or you un&il you passed o0er3 as &he Hord
your >od did &o &he =ed Sea3 which he dried up )or us un&il we passed o0er: A<oshua /:"B. I& is
cer&ainly in line wi&h Biblical &hough& &o say &ha& &he Hord :in &he pillar o) cloud: caused &he par&ing o)
&he =ed Sea and :heaped: &he wa&ers o) &he <ordan by &he sa.e .eans. The Bible records no landslide. I&
probably would ha0e i) &here had been one.
-nce Israel success)ully crossed &he <ordan3 &he people celebra&ed &he (asso0er3 ea&ing o) &he )rui&s o)
&he (ro.ised Hand. :%nd &he .anna ceased on &he .orrow3 when &hey a&e o) &he produce o) &he land:
A<oshua $:!B. This is ano&her indica&ion3 &oge&her wi&h &he s&opping o) &he <ordan3 &ha& &he 8F- was
s&ill presen&. How long &he 8F- re.ained a)&er &he crossing is no& clear. Soon a)&er &he crossing :a .an
s&ood be)ore hi. F<oshuaG wi&h his drawn sword in his hand: who clai.ed &o be &he :co..ander o) &he
ar.y o) &he Hord: A<oshua $:!"3!/B. <oshua was ordered &o &a5e o)) his shoes3 )or he3 li5e @oses
A'+odus ":$B3 was s&anding on holy ground. %pparen&ly &he co..ander or :angel: ca.e &o ins&ruc&
<oshua concerning &he .ili&ary &as5 which lay ahead o) hi.. <ericho )ell by an unusual series o) e0en&s.
The ar.y o) Israel3 preceded by &he %r5 o) &he 2o0enan&3 .arched around &he ci&y o) <ericho )or a
wee53 and )inally3 a& &he order o) <oshua3 e0eryone shou&ed and :&he wall )ell down )la&: A<oshua 1:0B.
-n ano&her occasion &he sun appeared &o s&and s&ill )or a whole day while Israel )ough& A<oshua !0:!-
!/B.
*he&her &he pillar o) cloud had any&hing &o do wi&h &hese e0en&s is no& clear3 al&hough &hey would
perhaps be easier &o unders&and i) so.e e+&ernal agen& were in &he si&ua&ion. I& is clear3 howe0er3 &ha&
a)&er &he <ordan was crossed and &he .anna ceased3 Israel was .ore and .ore on i&s own. The ar.y had
&o )igh& .any )ierce ba&&les and o)&en had &o pay a high price in blood. I&s ba&&les were no& always
success)ul or decisi0e. Howe0er long &he 8F- or &he :angel o) &he Hord: .ay ha0e re.ained wi&h
<oshua3 &he Bible sugges&s &ha& because o) Israel:s disobedience3 &he angel )inally said3 :I will no& dri0e
&he. FIsrael:s ene.iesG ou& be)ore you? bu& &hey shall beco.e ad0ersaries &o you: A<udges :"B. The
i.plica&ion here is &ha& &he angel o) &he Hord depar&ed )ro. Israel abou& &he &i.e o) <oshua:s dea&h
A<udges :6B. I& is ;ui&e li5ely &ha& i) &he pillar o) cloud acco.panied &he Israeli&es across &he <ordan in&o
(ales&ine3 i& did no& re.ain cons&an&ly wi&h Israel a)&er &his period3 and i& .ay be &ha& &he 8F- did no&
pro0ide e+plici& leadership )or Israel wi&hin a )ew days3 or a& .os& a )ew years3 a)&er crossing in&o
(ales&ine. In &he (ro.ised Hand a new era began )or &he Hebrews. *hile &hey did ha0e prophe&s who
had 0isions3 &here see.s ne0er &o ha0e been a prophe& who co.pared wi&h @oses. 'li7ah was perhaps
second in line &o @oses3 and &here is so.e 8F- .a&erial in connec&ion wi&h 'li7ah which is wor&h
.en&ioning.
*hen 'li7ah had apparen&ly )inished his li)e on ear&h3 we read &ha& :&he Hord was abou& &o &a5e 'li7ah up
&o hea0en by a whirlwind: AII Iings :!B. 'lisha3 who was 'li7ah:s successor3 was apparen&ly wi&h
'li7ah as &he la&&er was &a5en away. The &wo .en were wal5ing &oge&her3 %nd as &hey s&ill wen& on and
&al5ed3 behold3 a chario& o) )ire and horses o) )ire separa&ed &he &wo o) &he.. %nd 'li7ah wen& up by a
whirlwind in&o hea0en: AII Iings :!!B. @oses and 'li7ah were separa&ed by his&ory3 so &ha& we need no&
e+pec& &his brie) encoun&er wi&h a 8F- &o ha0e brough& )or&h an i..edia&e :pillar o) cloud: response
)ro. &he person who see.s &o ha0e been &he lone wi&ness3 'lisha. -ne gains &he i.pression &ha& i& was
cus&o.ary )or 'li7ah &o disappear in so.e sor& o) 8F-3 )or 'lisha:s )ellow prophe&s ordered a search )or
'li7ah? :i& .ay be3: &hey said3 :&ha& &he Spiri& o) &he Hord has caugh& hi. up and cas& hi. upon so.e
.oun&ain or in&o so.e 0alley: AII Iings :!1? see also I Iings !6:!B.
-ne o&her in&eres&ing aspec& o) &he depar&ure o) 'li7ah in so.e sor& o) 8F- is &he )ac& &ha& 'li7ah and
'lisha apparen&ly crossed &he <ordan &o .ee& &he hea0enly whirlwind or chario&. There were )i)&y .en
wa&ching a& a dis&ance as 'li7ah and 'lisha s&ood ne+& &o &he ri0er. Then 'li7ah &oo5 his .an&le3 and
rolled i& up3 and s&ruc5 &he wa&er3 and &he wa&er was par&ed &o &he one side and &o &he o&her3 &ill &he &wo
o) &he. could go o0er on dry ground: AII Iings :6B. I..edia&ely a)&er &he crossing &he 8F- appeared
and 'li7ah was &a5en away3 and 'lisha &oo5 up &he .an&le which 'li7ah had le)& behind3 and :wen& bac5
and s&ood on &he ban5 o) &he <ordan.
Then he &oo5 &he .an&le o) 'li7ah &ha& had )allen )ro. hi.3 and s&ruc5 &he wa&er3 saying3 C*here is &he
Hord3 &he >od o) 'li7ah,C %nd when he had s&ruc5 &he wa&er3 &he wa&er was par&ed &o &he one side and &o
&he o&her? and 'lisha wen& o0er: AII Iings :!"3 !/B. The )i)&y .en on &he opposi&e shore apparen&ly
wi&nessed 'lisha:s re&urn and concluded3 The spiri& o) 'li7ah res&s on 'lisha: AII Iings :!$B. There is no
e+plana&ion i..edia&ely a0ailable as &o why &he <ordan s&ood in a single :heap: )or <oshua3 whereas i&
par&ed in .uch &he sa.e .anner as &he =ed Sea par&ed )or @oses in &he case o) 'li7ah and 'lisha.
(erhaps &he ri0er was )lowing slowly3 or perhaps &he .en crossed in an area o) &he <ordan which
)or.ed a basin. Bu& in each o) &he )our cases a 8F- was probably in &he 0icini&y o) &he par&ing or
s&opping o) &he wa&er3 al&hough in &he case o) <oshua &his conclusion is drawn .ainly by i.plica&ion o)
&he whole '+odus progra.. In each case3 howe0er3 &he e0en& was a sign o) &he delega&ed au&hori&y o)
&he prophe& in0ol0ed.
'li7ah was in close con&ac& wi&h so.e )orce )ro. ano&her world. He held a con&es& on @oun& 2ar.el
be&ween Baal and >od3 and )ire )ell on 'li7ah:s o))ering and consu.ed i& AI Iings !6:"6B? li5e &he =ed
Sea inciden&3 &his was no& unders&ood by &he Hebrews as an acciden& o) na&ure. Baal was really &he
Na&ure >od? i& would be ironic &o e+plain 'li7ah:s success as an acciden& o) na&ureE %)&er &he con&es&
'li7ah had &o run )or his li)e and he ran &o hide in a ca0e in &he hills o) @oun& Horeb - where @oses )irs&
.e& &he angel o) >od. *hile 'li7ah was in &he ca0e3 :&he Hord passed by3 and a grea& and s&rong wind
ren& &he .oun&ains and bro5e in pieces &he roc5s be)ore &he Hord3 bu& &he Hord was no& in &he wind? and
a)&er &he wind an ear&h;ua5e3 bu& &he Hord was no& in &he ear&h;ua5e? and a)&er &he ear&h;ua5e a )ire3
bu& &he Hord was no& in &he )ire? and a)&er &he )ire a s&ill s.all 0oice. %nd when 'li7ah heard i&3 he
wrapped his )ace in his .an&le and wen& ou& and s&ood a& &he en&rance o) &he ca0e. %nd behold3 &here
ca.e a 0oice &o hi.3 and said3 C*ha& are you doing here3 'li7ah,C: AI Iings !#:!!-!"B. %l&hough &he
&e+& does no& speci)ically s&a&e &ha& a :cloud: was ho0ering ou&side &he ca0e3 &he indica&ions &ha& a 8F-
was presen& are s&rong. The an&i-gra0i&a&ional pressure which was e0iden& a& &he =ed Sea and a& @oun&
Sinai again caused so.e physical conse;uences3 including ;ui&e a gus& o) wind due &o &he downdra)&3
and &he an&i-> bea. also displaced so.e roc5s3 causing a bi& o) a landslide and perhaps an ear&h;ua5e
e))ec&. %)&er &he dus& and roc5s had se&&led down3 'li7ah3 li5e @oses3 heard a 0oice. 'li7ah co0ered his
)ace &o shield hi.sel) )ro. &he brigh&ness o) &he 8F- as he .o0ed ou& &o &he en&rance o) &he ca0e.
I& is i.por&an& &o no&ice &ha& &he :cloud: &radi&ion .ade so.e i.pression on la&er Hebrew li&era&ure. In
&he (sal.s we )ind &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud: is seen as a 0ehicle by which >od &ra0els - i& is no& >od
hi.sel)? :li)& up a song &o hi. who rides upon &he clouds: A(sal. 16:/B. I& is &his sa.e >od who :.a5es&
&he clouds &hy chario&: A(sal. !0/:"B? here is a possible lin5 be&ween &he :cloud: &radi&ion o) @oses and
&he :chario&: &radi&ion o) 'li7ah. *hile &he language is )igura&i0e3 i&s origin in Hebrew &radi&ion see.s &o
be concre&e. *hen <ere.iah wishes &o spea5 abou& &he .obili&y o) >od3 he says3 :Behold3 he co.es up
li5e clouds3 his chario&s li5e &he whirlwind? his horses are swi)&er &han eagles - woe &o us3 )or we are
ruined: A<ere.iah /:!"B.
% discussion o) 8F-s in &he -ld Tes&a.en& usually includes an e0alua&ion o) &he 0ision o) '9e5iel3 who
saw 8F-s which rese.bled :wheels: A'9e5iel !:!-6B. This 0ision does )i& in 0ery well wi&h
descrip&ions o) )lying saucers3 bu& '9e5iel:s e+periences are di))eren& )ro. &he pillar o) cloud &radi&ion
in &ha& he alone see.s &o ha0e had &he 0ision. '9e5iel:s 0ision was no& so )unda.en&al &o &he Hebrew
)ai&h as &he wor5 o) @oses3 al&hough i& .ay ha0e been a 0alid prophe&ic e+perience. I& see.s ;ui&e
logical &o suppose &ha& i) beings in 8F-s spen& )or&y years de0eloping &he Hebrew co..uni&y o) )ai&h3
appoin&ed prophe&s would ;ui&e li5ely ha0e occasional con&ac& wi&h &he angels o) >od. Bu& &he Biblical
)ai&h could ha0e sur0i0ed wi&hou& '9e5iel:s 0ision o) :wheels:? wi&hou& &he :pillar o) cloud: o) @oses
&here would ha0e been no Biblical religion.
*e ha0e no& e+haus&ed &he ac&i0i&ies o) 8F-s in &he -ld Tes&a.en&? i& is wor&hwhile &o co.pare &he
0isions o) Isaiah 1 and '9e5iel !. *e ha0e a&&e.p&ed only &o show &ha& in our presen& &heological and
scien&i)ic si&ua&ion cer&ain )ac&s canno& be ignored3 AiB There would ne0er ha0e been any -ld Tes&a.en&
religion wi&hou& &he @osaic &radi&ion - &he (en&a&euch. AB The ac&s o) >od in &he :pillar o) cloud: were
)unda.en&al in bringing abou& &he (en&a&euch. A"B This i.por&ance is su..ari9ed .any &i.es in la&er
Biblical boo5s as in Nehe.iah #:#-$. A/B No& only does &his :pillar o) cloud and )ire: apparen&ly
rese.ble .odern 8F-s3 and perhaps )lying saucers3 bu& &his 8F- is associa&ed wi&h &he :angels: o)
>od3 .en or beings )ro. ano&her world. I) &he @osaic &radi&ion accura&ely describes e0en&s which
happened in his&ory3 and i) )lying saucers e+is&3 &hen I &hin5 we can be )airly cer&ain &ha& beings in a
8F- ;ui&e si.ilar &o - i) no& iden&ical &o - )lying saucers were &he i..edia&e cause behind &he -ld
Tes&a.en& religion. This pro0es nei&her &ha& >od was wor5ing in &he -ld Tes&a.en& nor &ha& he was no&
wor5ing in &he -ld Tes&a.en&. *e ha0e shown only &ha& .any o) &he )an&as&ic &hings repor&ed in &he
-ld Tes&a.en& apparen&ly happened in .uch &he way as &he Bible has repor&ed &he.. The -ld
Tes&a.en& .ay ha0e a )airly high degree o) scien&i)ic accuracy.
Two o&her obser0a&ions .ay be help)ul in closing &his chap&er. Firs&3 we ha0e a&&e.p&ed &o separa&e
drea.s and psychic 0isions )ro. 0isual Biblical 8F- repor&s. Bu& we canno& be sure &ha& any
ci0ili9a&ion capable o) opera&ing &he :pillar o) cloud: would no& also be capable o) inducing psychic
0isions &hrough so.e e+&rasensory &echni;ue. % &o&al unders&anding o) &he -ld Tes&a.en& .ay re;uire a
radical union o) psychology and physics. -ur a&&e.p&ed separa&ion be&ween &he psychic and physical
.ay be arbi&rary a& se0eral poin&s.
Second3 i& should be no&iced &ha& e0en&ually &he Te.ple o) Solo.on replaced &he Tabernacle o) @oses
as &he Hebrew cen&er o) worship. The :glory: and :cloud: o) &he Hord also ho0ered o0er &he Te.ple on
occasion AI Iings 6:!03!!? II 2hronicles 7:!-"B3 and &he Te.ple &hen beca.e &he locus o) 8F-
0isi&a&ions &o pries&s and prophe&s as in Isaiah 1. I& was &here)ore )i&&ing )or Hu5e &o begin his New
Tes&a.en& >ospel wi&h &he s&ory o) how &he angel >abriel appeared &o &he pries& Kacharias in &he
Te.ple &o announce &he )u&ure bir&h o) his son <ohn &he Bap&is& AHu5e !:$-"B.
2 - The 3ew Test!/ent And Fl&in' #!u"ers
He& us &a5e as a s&ar&ing assu.p&ion &he possibili&y &ha& &he sa.e beings who were ins&ru.en&al in
bringing abou& &he @osaic -ld Tes&a.en& &radi&ion3 and who also .e& wi&h -ld Tes&a.en& prophe&s3
were also &he e))icien& cause behind &he New Tes&a.en& religion. The ;ues&ion &hen i..edia&ely arises3
*ho was <esus 2hris&, -ur &e.porary answer will be &ha&3 as &he 2hris&.as carol :- 2o.e3 %ll 4e
Fai&h)ul: sugges&s3 2hris& was :born &he Iing o) %ngels: Ac). Hebrews !:/B. =a&her &han begin wi&h &he
chronological se;uence o) e0en&s rela&ed &o &he New Tes&a.en& )ai&h3 le& us begin by e+a.ining one o)
&he .os& ob0ious lin5s be&ween 2hris& and &he -ld Tes&a.en& :pillar o) cloud and o) )ire.:
The Bri'ht Cloud And The Tr!nsi'ur!tion * Christ
The New Tes&a.en& >ospels repor& &ha& a shor& &i.e be)ore 2hris& was &o be cruci)ied3 <esus3 (e&er3
<a.es and <ohn wen& up &o a high .oun&ain apar& )ro. &he o&her disciples3 <esus :was &rans)igured
be)ore &he.3 and his )ace shone li5e &he sun3 and @s gar.en&s beca.e whi&e as ligh&. %nd behold3 &here
appeared &o &he. @oses and 'li7ah3 &al5ing wi&h hi.. %nd (e&er said &o <esus3 CHord3 i& is well &ha& we
are here? i) you wish3 I will .a5e &hree boo&hs here3 one )or you and one )or @oses and one )or 'li7ah.C
He was s&ill spea5ing3 when lo3 a brigh& cloud o0ershadowed &he.3 and a 0oice )ro. &he cloud said3
CThis is .y belo0ed Son3 wi&h who. I a. well pleased? lis&en &o hi..C *hen &he disciples heard &his3
&hey )ell on &heir )aces3 and were )illed wi&h awe. Bu& <esus ca.e and &ouched &he.3 saying3 C=ise3 and
ha0e no )ear.C %nd when &hey li)&ed up &heir eyes3 &hey saw no one bu& <esus only: A@a&&hew !7:!-6B.
The 2hurch has always wondered abou& &he signi)icance o) &he Trans)igura&ion passages in &he New
Tes&a.en&. I) one assu.es &ha& &he early 2hris&ians delibera&ely sough& &o decei0e people in&o &hin5ing
&ha& <esus was &he chosen one3 &hen one .igh& e+pec& &he disciples &o :.anu)ac&ure: a s&ory such as &his
&o .a5e an apparen& lin5 be&ween <esus3 @oses3 and 'li7ah. Thus3 as in any case in0ol0ing &he repor&ing
o) news e0en&s3 we are a& &he .ercy o) &he repor&er or wi&nesses. The Trans)igura&ion was wi&nessed by
)ewer people &han saw &he =ed Sea inciden&3 bu& &here were enough people &here &o re.e.ber &he
i.por&an& aspec&s o) &he e0en& in so.e de&ail. *ha& we shall )ind &hroughou& &he New Tes&a.en& is &ha&
&he spec&acular e0en&s such as &he Trans)igura&ion and &he =esurrec&ion are no& per)or.ed in public
0iew. 8nli5e &he 8F- leading Israel &hrough &he =ed Sea3 or &he de.ons&ra&ion a& @oun& Sinai3 or &he
showering o) :bread )ro. hea0en3: power in &he New Tes&a.en& is always underco0er. *hile &here is an
underlying sugges&ion o) power &hroughou& &he whole New Tes&a.en&3 &he power is played down3 and
we shall discuss &he signi)icance o) &his )ac& .ore co.ple&ely when we .en&ion &he :&e.p&a&ions: o)
<esus.
He& us suppose &ha& &he Trans)igura&ion s&ory is an essen&ially 0alid repor&ing o) news as we ha0e )ound
i& in @a&&hew:s >ospel. I& is consis&en& e+ege&ically and logically &o belie0e &ha& &he :brigh& cloud: which
o0ershadowed &he disciples and <esus was &he sa.e &ype o) 8F- which led Israel ou& o) 'gyp& and
&hrough &he wilderness - e+ege&ically because o) &he parallel be&ween &he descrip&ion o) &he brigh& cloud
and &he pillar o) cloud and )ire and because o) &he repor&ed presence o) @oses and 'li7ah? logically
because how .any beings )ro. how .any o&her worlds would be li5ely &o co.e &o ear&h in 8F-s &o
se& up a religion a.ong &he <ews, % 0oice ca.e )ro. &he 8F-3 7us& as @oses heard a 0oice co.ing
)ro. &he .iddle o) &he :&hic5e&: which Adue &o &he presence o) &he 8F- in i&s .ids&B appeared &o be on
)ire? @oses was in cons&an& 0ocal con&ac& wi&h a being in &he 8F- &hroughou& &he wilderness 7ourney.
'li7ah heard a 0oice co.ing &o hi. )ro. ou&side a ca0e3 and probably &he sa.e &ype o) 8F- was
presen& in each case.
The )ac& &ha& @oses and 'li7ah were supposedly presen& a& &he Trans)igura&ion ob0iously poin&s &o &he
uni&y be&ween &he -ld and &he New Tes&a.en&s3 as does &he presence o) &he 8F-. *he&her or no& <esus
was associa&ed wi&h - indeed sen& by - &he >od o) &he -ld Tes&a.en& is o) course &he .os& i.por&an&
;ues&ion which could con)ron& any <ew - and &he disciples were <ews. I) we )ind &he descrip&ion o) &he
Trans)igura&ion hard &o belie0e3 &hen i& .us& be e0en harder &o belie0e &ha& @oses and 'li7ah were
presen&. They had been dead )or hundreds o) years Ae+cep&3 o) course3 &ha& 'li7ah ne0er died on ear&h -
he was repor&edly &a5en away in a 8F-B. Besides3 how could &he disciples 5now &ha& &hey had seen
@oses and 'li7ah, @y only answer &o &his ;ues&ion is &ha& <esus &old &he disciples &ha& &hey had seen
@oses and 'li7ah. AThe :in&roduc&ions: &ha& .us& ha0e been in0ol0ed s&agger &he i.agina&ion. Try &o
i.agine <esus saying3 :(e&er3 <a.es3 and <onn3 I would li5e you &o .ee& @oses and 'li7ah.:B
The only way we can accep& &he Trans)igura&ion se;uence is &o accep& no& only a belie) in angels3 an
assu.p&ion on which &his boo5 is based3 bu& also &he Biblical idea o) &he :resurrec&ion o) &he body.: The
New Tes&a.en& does no& belie0e si.ply in &he sal0a&ion o) a .an:s :soul3: bu& preaches &he resurrec&ion
o) &he body - based on &he bodily =esurrec&ion o) 2hris&. The New Tes&a.en& .ain&ains &ha& &here is an
angel world and &ha& &hese angels3 a& leas& so.e o) &he.3 are special ser0an&s o) >od3 sen& &o help plan&
&he seed o) &he Hebrew-2hris&ian religion in &he soil o) &he ear&h - in &he .inds o) .en. The New
Tes&a.en& sugges&s &ha& all .en who accep& &he sal0a&ion o))ered in 2hris& will so.eday be raised )ro.
&he dead as 2hris& was raised. %)&er 2hris& was raised )ro. &he dead3 he :ascended in&o hea0en:? &ha& is3
he re&urned &o &he angel world )ro. which he had co.e. *e &oo3 so argues &he New Tes&a.en&3 a& so.e
poin& in &i.e a)&er we die will be &a5en &o &he angel world or &he resurrec&ion world &o be wi&h 2hris&
Ae+ac&ly when &his will happen is a bi& o) a proble.B.
The ideas o) &he resurrec&ion o) &he body and o) angels are in&i.a&ely rela&ed. I doub& &ha& a person can
belie0e s&rongly in one and no& in &he o&her. The %pos&le (aul was on &rial be)ore &he <ews3 and he
brough& up &he sub7ec& o) &he resurrec&ion o) &he body &o di0ide &he (harisees and &he Sadducees
because3 as Hu5e no&es in &he boo5 o) %c&s3 :&he Sadducees say &ha& &here is no resurrec&ion3 nor angel3
nor spiri&? bu& &he (harisees ac5nowledge &he. all: A%c&s
":6B. =oughly spea5ing3 one .igh& say &ha& Bishop =obinson and &he :de.y&hologi9ers: are arguing
li5e Sadducees3 and I a. arguing li5e a (harisee - I a. sugges&ing belie) in ano&her world3 a
resurrec&ion world3 a world o) angels.
<esus hi.sel) sided wi&h &he posi&ion o) &he (harisees agains& &he Sadducees on &he ;ues&ion o) &he
resurrec&ion. *hile on .any o&her occasions <esus conde.ned &he (harisees )or &heir religious
snobbery3 he did suppor& &heir resurrec&ion &heology. -n one occasion &he Sadducees ga0e <esus a
hypo&he&ical si&ua&ion in which a .an died3 ha0ing no children3 and by cus&o. his younger bro&her
.arried &he widow. There were se0en bro&hers3 and each in &urn .arried &he widow and died3 lea0ing
her &o &he ne+& bro&her.
The ;ues&ion was &hen direc&ed &o <esus3 :In &he resurrec&ion3 &here)ore3 &o which o) &he se0en will she
be wi)e, For &hey all had her: A@a&&hew :6B.
<esus ga0e &wo answers &o &his ;uery. Firs& he said3 :4ou are wrong3 because you 5now nei&her &he
scrip&ures nor &he power o) >od. For in &he resurrec&ion &hey nei&her .arry nor are gi0en in .arriage3
bu& are li5e angels in hea0en: A@a&&hew :#3 "0B- <esus &a5es &he idea o) &he resurrec&ion )or gran&ed?
he 5nows bo&h &he Scrip&ures and &he power o) >od3 and bo&h &es&i)y &o &he resurrec&ion. His co..en&
&ha& in &he resurrec&ion .en beco.e li5e angels illus&ra&es why i& is nearly i.possible &o belie0e in &he
Biblical idea o) bodily resurrec&ion and no& &o belie0e in angels.
How do &he Scrip&ures &es&i)y &o &he resurrec&ion, <esus con&inued3 :%nd as )or &he resurrec&ion o) &he
dead3 ha0e you no& read wha& was said &o you by >od3 CI a. &he >od o) %braha.3 and &he >od o)
Isaac3 and &he >od o) <acob,C He is no& >od o) &he dead3 bu& o) &he li0ing: A@a&&hew :"!-"B. To &he
as&onish.en& o) e0eryone3 <esus had sugges&ed &ha& e0en now %braha.3 Isaac3 and <acob were ali0e.
-n one occasion <esus said3 :4our )a&her %braha. re7oiced &ha& he was &o see .y day? he saw i& and
was glad: A<ohn 6:$1B. <esus see.s &o be consciously aware o) ano&her world - a world o) angels3 and o)
persons who long ago died on ear&h bu& now )i0e in a resurrec&ion world. In &his con&e+& we .us&
e0alua&e &he sugges&ion in &he Trans)igura&ion s&ory &ha& @oses and 'li7ah were presen&. *ha& abou&
angels and &he resurrec&ion, %& &his poin& we can only as5 &he ;ues&ion.
The Trans)igura&ion s&ory also sugges&s &ha& <esus was &rans)igured? &ha& is3 &ha& his )ace see.ed &o glow
and his gar.en&s beca.e lu.inescen&. %gain &here is a connec&ion be&ween @oses: e+perience wi&h his
8F-3 )or we read in '+odus &ha& when @oses ca.e down )ro. @oun& Sinai a)&er con0ersing wi&h &he
being in &he 8F-3 :&he s5in o) his )aceC shone: A'+odus "/:#B. (e&er:s response sugges&ing &ha& &hree
:boo&hs: be .ade see.s &o i.ply &ha& a holy place o) worship should be se& up - li5e &he Ten& o) @ee&ing
in which @oses ser0ed3 wi&h &he 8F- ho0ering o0er i& nigh& and day.
In &he )ace o) &his e+perience3 especially when &he 8F- Abrigh& cloudB appeared3 &he disciples )ell on
&heir )aces3 perhaps ou& o) )ear3 or &o shield &heir eyes )ro. &he brigh& ligh&. Then <esus &ouched &he.
and &old &he. &o ge& up and no& be a)raid. I a. sorry &ha& &he disciples buried &heir )aces3 )or I suspec&
&ha& &hey would ha0e repor&ed seeing @oses and 'li7ah en&er &his 8F- which had recen&ly arri0ed and
depar& by .eans o) i&. %s i& is3 &he Bible says only &ha& when &he disciples again had &he courage &o loo53
&hey saw <esus alone. @oses3 'li7ah3 and &he brigh& cloud had disappeared.
*ha& was &he purpose o) &his .ee&ing a& &he @oun& o) Trans)igura&ion, @a&&hew:s >ospel goes on &o
say &ha& :as &hey were co.ing down &he .oun&ain3 <esus co..anded &he.3 CTell no one &he 0ision3
un&il &he Son o) .an is raised )ro. &he dead:C A@a&&hew !7:#B. Hu5e:s 0ersion o) &he Trans)igura&ion
sugges&s &ha& @oses and 'li7ah spo5e &o <esus :o) his depar&ure3 which he was &o acco.plish a&
<erusale.: AHu5e #:"!B. %s we shall soon see3 angels see.ed &o ha0e played an i.por&an& role in &he
1esurre"tion o Christ.
*ha& is &he signi)icance o) &he Trans)igura&ion )ro. a philosophical poin& o) 0iew, The (e&rine
li&era&ure a&&ribu&es &he )ollowing words &o &he %pos&le (e&er3 who is re)lec&ing on &he signi)icance o) &he
Trans)igura&ion: :For we did no& )ollow cle0erly de0ised .y&hs when we .ade 5nown &o you &he power
and co.ing o) our Hord <esus 2hris&3 bu& we were eyewi&nesses o) his .a7es&y. For when he recei0ed
honor and >lory )ro. >od &he Fa&her and &he 0oice was borne &o hi. by &he @a7es&ic >lory3 CThis is
.y belo0ed Son3 wi&h who. I a. well pleased3C we heard &his 0oice borne )ro. hea0en3 )or we were
wi&h hi. on &he holy .oun&ain: AII (e&er !:!1-!6B.
The &er. @a7es&ic >lory is a uni;ue re)erence &o &he :brigh& cloud: &ype o) 8F- which was repor&ed &o
ha0e been presen& a& &he Trans)igura&ion. Bu& wha& we wish &o poin& ou& is &ha& i& see.s ;ui&e clear &ha&
&he early 2hurch considered &he Trans)igura&ion &o ha0e been a his&orical e0en&3 and (e&er3 <a.es3 and
<ohn were eyewi&nesses &o &his e0en&3 including &he presence o) &he 8F-. @os& o) &he :hones& &o >od:
and :dea&h o) >od: &heologians would argue &ha& &he 8F- repor&ed &o ha0e been presen& a& &he
Trans)igura&ion was .y&hological. Bu& &he abo0e passage in II (e&er s&resses &ha& &he disciples :did no&
)ollow cle0erly de0ised .y&hs: in presen&ing &heir 0ersion o) &he gospel? ra&her3 wha& &hey preached was
an eyewi&ness accoun& o) &he e0en&s which surrounded 2hris&.
@any .odern &heologians argue &ha& when &he Biblical people repor&ed con&ac& wi&h beings )ro.
ano&her world3 &his repor& .us& be in&erpre&ed as .y&hological in na&ure. Bu& i& is ;ui&e clear &ha& in &he
.ind o) &he early 2hurch &he Trans)igura&ion passage3 including &he presence o) &he 8F-3 which is
recorded in &he >ospels Awri&&en earlier &han II (e&erB3 is no& a .y&h3 bu& an eyewi&ness accoun&. The
early 2hurch see.ed &o clai. &o 5now &he di))erence be&ween )ancy and )ac& as surely as do Bul&.ann3
=obinson3 or %l&i9er.
Is &he early 2hurch &o be &rus&ed in regard &o &his clai., Is &he Trans)igura&ion repor& essen&ially
.y&hological or scien&i)ic in na&ure, Throughou& bo&h &he -ld and New Tes&a.en&s &here is a cons&an&
warning agains& idola&ry. There is an awareness &ha& .en are always &e.p&ed &o crea&e a wooden >od
wi&h &heir own hands3 or a .y&hological >od wi&h &heir own .inds. Bu& &he Bible clai.s &ha& &he >od
who shows hi.sel) &o &he Biblical people is no& one &hey ha0e .ade wi&h &heir own hands or .inds -
&hrough beings )ro. ano&her world >od has ac&ed on &he Biblical people. I) &he :pillar o) cloud: in &he
-ld Tes&a.en& or &he :brigh& cloud: a& &he Trans)igura&ion is .y&hological3 &hen i& would see. &ha& &he
Biblical people are guil&y o) idola&ry3 according &o &heir own s&andards o) 7udg.en&.
The 4(lor&4 * The 5ord And The Birth * Christ
There are 0arious aspec&s connec&ed wi&h &he bir&h o) 2hris& which ha0e &e.p&ed scholars &o poin& &o
.y&hological origins o) &he &radi&ional accoun&s o) &his e0en&3 bu& &he idea o) beings )ro. ano&her world
opera&ing in 8F-s wi&h &he speci)ic in&en&ion o) bringing a&&en&ion &o &he bir&h o) 2hris& can cer&ainly
e+plain &he Biblical accoun&. *ha& is clear in Hu5e:s accoun& is &ha& &he bir&h o) <ohn &he Bap&is& and &he
bir&h o) <esus were bo&h preceded by angelic 0isi&a&ions - @ary being 0isi&ed by &he angel >abriel
AHu5e !:1B3 who &old her &ha& she would no& concei0e in &he usual .anner3 bu& ra&her by &he Holy
Spiri&. The Bible sugges&s &ha& @ary was :grea&ly &roubled: AHu5e !:#B by >abriel:s 0isi&3 which one
can well i.agine.
*hen 2hris& was born in Be&hlehe.3 angels appeared &o shepherds during &he nigh& &o announce
2hris&:s bir&h. :%nd an angel o) &he Hord appeared &o &he.3 and &he glory o) &he Hord shone around
&he.3 and &hey were )illed wi&h )ear: AHu5e :#B. *e saw in &he boo5 o) '+odus &ha& &he pillar o) cloud
and o) )ire produced &he idea o) &he :glory: o) >od3 and &he 8F- which led @oses was called &he :angel
o) >od.: I& is no& clear in &his passage in Hu5e whe&her &he shepherds ac&ually saw angelic persons or
whe&her &hey si.ply saw a glowing ob7ec& o0er &heir heads and heard 0oices co.ing )ro. i&. *ha&e0er
&he case3 &his se;uence in rela&ion &o &he shepherds is consis&en& wi&h &he 8F- ac&i0i&y in rela&ion &o
@oses during &he '+odus and also wi&h &he 8F- which we .e& a& &he Trans)igura&ion. @a&&hew records
&ha& :wise .en )ro. &he 'as&: )ollowed wha& &hey &hough& was a s&ar &o &he place o) 2hris&:s bir&h.
These .en were undoub&edly in&eres&ed in as&rology3 and perhaps &hey were )ollowing a s&ar. The Bible
says3 howe0er3 &ha& &he *ise @en )ollowed &he s&ar :&ill i& ca.e &o res& o0er &he place where &he child
was: A@a&&hew :#B. Bu& s&ars do no& .o0e in &his .anner3 nor do &hey .o0e and &hen suddenly s&op.
The %ir Force is )ore0er e+plaining &o people &ha& when &hey &hin5 &hey ha0e seen a 8F-3 &hey ha0e in
)ac& seen a s&ar or a plane&? perhaps &he *ise @en were in0ol0ed in a re0erse e+perience. AThe %ir
Force would probably argue &ha& &he *ise @en were wise - and &hey 5new a s&ar when &hey saw oneB.
In any case3 i) beings )ro. ano&her world delibera&ely sough& &o draw a&&en&ion &o &he bir&h o) 2hris&3 a
space 0ehicle answering &he descrip&ion o) .odern 8F-s would ha0e been capable o) carrying ou& &he
ac&i0i&ies which &he Bible describes: &ranspor&ing beings )ro. ano&her world &o ins&ruc& shepherds3 lead
*ise @en wi&h so.e &ype o) s&arli5e beacon3 or e0en bring >abriel &o .ee& @ary.
The #pirit 4Des"endin'4 5i6e A Do.e -The B!ptis/ * 7esus
Hu5e sugges&s &ha& 0ery early in his li)e <esus was conscious o) who he was? a& &he age o) &wel0e he was
arguing wi&h <ewish &eachers in &he Te.ple AHu5e :/!-$!B. The >ospel o) <ohn repor&s &ha& @ary3 &he
.o&her o) <esus3 5new &ha& he had unusual powers and apparen&ly encouraged hi. &o do so.e&hing
abou& &he lac5 o) wine a& a .arriage )eas&. %l&hough <esus poin&ed ou&3 :@y hour has no& ye& co.e:
A<ohn :/B3 he ne0er&heless proceeded &o change wa&er in&o wine. @ar5 i.plies &ha& &he hour o) <esus
did :co.e: when <esus was bap&i9ed in &he <ordan by <ohn. %ll )our >ospels re)er &o &he bap&is. o)
<esus3 and scholars agree &ha& &he )our >ospel accoun&s o) <esus: bap&is. share a co..on &radi&ion.
%l&hough none o) &he >ospel wri&ers Ae+cep& perhaps <ohnB see.s &o ha0e been a wi&ness o) &he
bap&is.3 each concluded &ha& &he bap&is. was such a crucial e0en& in &he li)e o) 2hris& &ha& each has
included &he bap&is. in his narra&i0e.
<esus ca.e &o <ohn &he Bap&is&3 who had been preaching repen&ance )ro. sin and bap&i9ing in &he
<ordan as a sign o) >od:s cleansing. <ohn was hesi&an& &o bap&i9e <esus3 bu& )inally consen&ed. :%nd
when <esus was bap&i9ed3 he wen& up i..edia&ely )ro. &he wa&er3 and behold3 &he hea0ens were
opened and he saw &he Spiri& o) >od descending li5e a do0e3 and aligh&ing on hi.? and lo3 a 0oice )ro.
hea0en3 saying3 CThis is .y belo0ed Son3 wi&h who. I a. well pleased.C Then <esus was led up by &he
Spiri& in&o &he wilderness &o be &e.p&ed by &he de0il: A@a&&hew ":!1-/:!B.
%)&er <esus was bap&i9ed3 so.e sor& o) 8F- apparen&ly en&ered &he si&ua&ion )or so.e reason. *ha& did
&he 8F- loo5 li5e3 and wha& was i&s .ission, The ;ues&ion as &o &he physical shape o) &he 8F- has
been &he cause o) con&ro0ersy in &he )ield o) Biblical scholarship. 2.I. Barre&&3 in his wor5 The Holy
Spiri& and &he >ospel Tradi&ion3 poin&s &o all &he di))icul&ies in saying &ha& &he 8F- had &he physical
shape o) a :do0e: or pigeon3 A!B which o) course has been &he assu.p&ion o) &he 2hurch &hroughou& &he
ages. %r&is&s3 when &hey wish &o sy.boli9e &he Holy Spiri&3 ha0e in0ariably pain&ed a pic&ure o) a whi&e
do0e in )ligh&.
@a&&hew3 @ar53 and <ohn say in e))ec& &ha& 2hris& saw &he Spiri& :descending li5e a do0e.: The )our&h
>ospel says &ha& <ohn &he Bap&is& :saw &he Spiri& descend as a do0e )ro. hea0en3 and i& re.ained on
hi.: A<ohn !:"B. This is i.por&an&3 )or &he Biblical wi&ness as a whole sugges&s &ha& &he :Spiri&: was
so.e concre&e reali&y which anyone who happened &o be presen& a& &he bap&is. .igh& ha0e seen. Hu5e
underlines &he concre&eness o) &he Spiri& by saying &ha& i& descended in :bodily: )or. AHu5e ":B. The
8F- which descended was .ore &han an :inner 0ision.:
The di))icul&y is &ha& Hu5e3 in &rying &o s&ress &ha& &he Spiri& in &his ins&ance was a concre&e 0isible
reali&y Awhich in Biblical &hin5ing i& usually is no&B3 said &ha& :&he Holy Spiri& descended upon hi.
F<esusG in bodily )or.3 as a do0e: AHu5e ":B. Here Hu5e see.s &o i.ply &ha& &he Spiri& had &he bodily
shape o) a do0e. Nowhere else in &he Scrip&ures - nei&her in &he -ld nor in &he New Tes&a.en& -is &here
any clear re)erence &o &he Spiri& o) >od:s loo5ing li5e a do0e. Be)ore dealing wi&h &he proble. o)
Hu5e:s reading3 i& is i.por&an& &o re.e.ber &ha& Hu5e did no& say &ha& a do0e descended on <esus? Hu5e
said &ha& &he Spiri& descended on <esus3 and &he Spiri& &oo5 a bodily shape which was :li5e: a do0e.
S&ress &he idea o) li5eness? a do0e did no& descend on <esus - so.e&hing li5e a do0e did.
-ne o) &he di))icul&ies wi&h &he :do0e: concep& is &ha& &he Hu5e reading has been .ade nor.a&i0e )or &he
@a&&hew3 @ar53 and <ohn readings. The la&&er say &ha& &he Spiri& was :descending li5e a do0e.: They do
no& say &ha& &he Spiri& physically loo5ed li5e a do0e - &hey are re)erring &o &he si.ilari&y be&ween &he
way in which a do0e descends in )ligh&3 wings spread and .o&ionless3 and &he way in which &he Spiri&
appears when i& descends. %pparen&ly &here is no&hing 0isibly in .o&ion when &he Spiri& is seen &o
descend3 e+cep& &he .o&ion o) &he whole :Spiri& body3: wha&e0er &ha& .ay be? &he Spiri& is also by
i.plica&ion nearly silen& in i&s descen&.
@a&&hew was &rying &o con0ince <ewish readers o) his >ospel &ha& <esus was &he new @oses. There)ore3
any way in which @a&&hew could poin& &o a lin5 be&ween <esus and @oses was &o @a&&hew:s ad0an&age.
Bap&is. was a sign &ha& .an had been se& )ree )ro. sin3 7us& as &he Hebrews had been se& )ree )ro.
sla0ery in 'gyp&. The grea& e0en& which separa&ed &he Hebrews )ro. sla0ery was &he par&ing o) &he =ed
Sea? &herea)&er &he <ews were )ree )ro. 'gyp&. *hen &he =i0er <ordan s&ood in a :heap: )or <oshua3 &he
Israeli&es crossed in&o &he (ro.ised Hand. For &he Hebrews3 crossing a body o) wa&er se& &he. )ree
)ro. &heir sin)ul pas& and se& &he. &oward a new )u&ure. Bu& also a)&er &he sea &he Hebrews were led by
&he pillar o) cloud and )ire in&o &he wilderness )or a &i.e o) &es&ing3 and &he Israeli&es did no& s&and up &o
&he &es& 0ery well - &hey cried )or )ood and wa&er3 and @oses used his powers A&hrough &he 8F-B &o
supply &he needs o) &he people. I..edia&ely a)&er <esus was bap&i9ed3 @a&&hew &ells us &ha& :<esus was
led up by &he Spiri& in&o &he wilderness &o be &e.p&ed by &he de0il: A@a&&hew /:!B.
%.ong o&her &hings <esus was &e.p&ed &o &urn s&ones &o bread &o sa&is)y his hunger. @a&&hew sugges&s
&ha& <esus was in &he wilderness )or&y days and )or&y nigh&s3 as &he Hebrews were in &he wilderness
)or&y years. %s @oses was led in&o &he wilderness by &he pillar o) cloud3 so <esus was led in&o &he
wilderness by &he :Spiri&.: I) @a&&hew in &rying &o say &ha& <esus was &he new @oses were &o sugges& &ha&
whereas @oses was led in&o &he wilderness by :&he cloud3: <esus was led in&o &he wilderness by a pigeon
or :do0e: &his would al.os& a.oun& &o saying &ha& <esus was a )alse prophe&3 )or &he do0e would be a
)alse sign. There is no -ld Tes&a.en& preceden& )or saying &ha& &he Spiri& loo5ed li5e a do0e. I) @a&&hew
&ried &o con0ince &he <ews &ha& <esus was led in&o &he wilderness by a do0e ra&her &han by &he :cloud3: he
would be de)ea&ing his own purpose.
The second al&erna&i0e is &o loo5 )or ways in which &he idea o) &he :cloud: beca.e an e;ui0alen& o) &he
:Spiri& o) >od: )or &he -ld Tes&a.en& wri&ers and )or subse;uen& New Tes&a.en& &hough&. *hen 'li7ah
was &a5en up in&o hea0en by &he :chario& o) )ire3: so.e o) &he prophe&s wen& &o &he hills &o search )or
'li7ah3 )or3 &hey said3 :i& .ay be &ha& &he Spiri& o) &he Hord has caugh& hi. up and cas& hi. upon so.e
.oun&ain: AII Iings :!1B3 because &his see.s &o ha0e happened &o 'li7ah )re;uen&ly. By &he &i.e 'li7ah
was Israel:s prophe&3 &he idea o) &he :cloud: had been &rans)or.ed in&o &he concep& o) :&he Spiri& o) &he
Hord.: In &he boo5 o) Nu.bers we read &ha& se0en&y elders were in a sense :bap&i9ed: wi&h &he spiri& o)
prophecy: Then &he Hord ca.e down in &he cloud and spo5e &o hi.3 and &oo5 so.e o) &he spiri& &ha&
was upon hi. F@osesG and pu& i& upon &he se0en&y elders? and when &he spiri& res&ed upon &he.3 &hey
prophesied: ANu.bers !!:$B. Thus wi&h @oses and 'li7ah &here is e0idence &ha& &he :reali&y: wi&h which
prophe&s had con&ac& - &he pillar o) cloud and )ire - ca.e &o be associa&ed wi&h &he :Spiri& o) >od.:
<ohn &he Bap&is& poin&ed ou& &ha& &he bap&is. in which <esus would be in0ol0ed would be &wo)old3 o)
wa&er and o) spiri& or )ire. <ohn had bap&i9ed wi&h wa&er only. Throughou& &he New Tes&a.en& &here is a
s&rong e.phasis on &he need )or a &wo)old bap&is.3 o) wa&er and Spiri&3 and <esus3 spea5ing &o
Nicode.us3 poin&ed &o &he need &o be :born o) wa&er and &he Spiri&: A<ohn ":$B. <esus sugges&ed &ha& &his
need was so basic &o <udais. &ha& Nicode.us3 a <ewish &eacher3 should ha0e reali9ed wha& <esus spo5e
abou&. In <ohn:s >ospel <esus spo5e o) :Spiri&: as li5e &he wind3 which is3 o) course3 .ore &radi&ional.
Bu& &he pillar o) cloud and )ire was also apparen&ly a sy.bol o) bap&is. by &he Spiri&. The %pos&le (aul
on one occasion said3 :I wan& you &o 5now3 bre&hren3 &ha& our )a&hers were all under &he cloud3 and all
passed &hrough &he sea3 and all were bap&i9ed in&o @oses in &he cloud and in &he sea: AI 2orin&hians
!0:!3 B.
*e ha0e here a passage which poin&s clearly &o &he rela&ion be&ween &he bap&is. o) no& only <esus bu&
o) all 2hris&ians3 and &he inciden& a& &he =ed Sea. '0en a& &he =ed Sea &he bap&is. was o) wa&er and
Spiri&3 al&hough &he Israeli&es did no& e0en ge& &heir )ee& we&E *hen <ohn &he Bap&is& said &ha& <esus
would bap&i9e wi&h )ire3 he undoub&edly had in .ind &he pillar o) )ire3 so &ha& when <ohn saw &he Spiri&
descend on <esus3 he should ha0e e+pec&ed &o see &he pillar o) cloud and o) )ire descend on <esus. This
.ay 0ery well be wha& <ohn saw.
*hen &he Spiri& descended3 a 0oice )ro. hea0en said3 :This is .y belo0ed Son3 wi&h who. I a. well
pleased: A@a&&hew ":!7B. *e ha0e already seen a& &he Trans)igura&ion &ha& a :brigh& cloud
o0ershadowed: &he disciples3 and a 0oice ca.e )ro. &he cloud saying3 :This is .y belo0ed Son3 wi&h
who. I a. well pleased? lis&en &o hi.: A@a&&hew !7:$B. I) bo&h &he bap&is. and &he Trans)igura&ion are
e0en&s which ha0e been described wi&h so.e accuracy3 &hen i& would see. li5ely &ha& &he 0oice which
ca.e )ro. &he 8F- on each occasion ca.e )ro. &he sa.e class or &ype o) 8F-3 and &ha& would be &he
:brigh& cloud: or pillar o) cloud and o) )ire 0arie&y. The bap&is. was o) course wi&nessed by an en&irely
di))eren& group o) people )ro. &hose presen& a& &he Trans)igura&ion3 wi&h &he e+cep&ion o) <esus3 so we
.igh& e+pec& &he descrip&ion o) &he 8F- &o be so.ewha& di))eren&.
I) i& was &he :cloud: which led @oses &hrough &he wilderness3 which was also a& &he Trans)igura&ion3 and
which was also presen& a& &he bap&is.3 &hen &he only conclusion we can co.e &o is &ha& when we read
&ha& &he Spiri& was :descending li5e a do0e3: &he Bible .eans &ha& :&he pillar o) cloud and o) )ire was
descending li5e a do0e3: or si.ply &ha& <esus saw :&he cloud descending li5e a do0e.: *e &hen ha0e &o
as53 Is &here any Biblical preceden& )or co.paring &he )ligh& o) a cloud and a do0e, The si+&ie&h chap&er
o) Isaiah begins by saying &ha& :&he glory o) &he Hord has risen upon you: AIsaiah 10:!B and goes on &o
pro.ise &ha& &he na&ions o) &he world will be drawn &o &he :ligh&: and :brigh&ness: ho0ering o0er Israel.
The :pillar o) )ire: was o) course &he origin o) &he idea o) &he glory and brigh&ness o) &he >od o) Israel.
This passage o) pro.ises closes by as5ing &he ;ues&ion3
*ho are &hese &ha& )ly li5e a cloud3
and li5e do0es &o &heir windows,
AIsaiah 10:6B.
In &he con&e+& o) &his passage3 which is cer&ainly di))icul&3 &he au&hor see.s &o ha0e in .ind &he whole
@osaic &radi&ion which re)ers &o &he brigh& cloudli5e 8F- which sa0ed Israel )ro. 'gyp& in &he pas&3
and will in &he )u&ure draw all na&ions &o i&. I) &hese :clouds: carry &he angels o) >od3 &hen in &he &radi&ion
o) Hebrew parallelis.3 in which &he idea o) &he )irs& line is carried o0er and s&ressed in &he second line3
we ha0e here a co.parison be&ween &he way in which clouds and do0es )ly3 and do0es o) course o)&en
:descend: )ro. abo0e &o a window below.
*e do ha0e here a clear Biblical preceden& )or co.paring &he way in which clouds and do0es )ly3 and
&he lin5 .ay be be&ween &he )ligh& o) do0es and &he glorious cloud3 or &he Spiri& o) &he Hord. Thus )or
@a&&hew &o say &ha& &he Spiri& o) >od was descending as a do0e descends has Biblical preceden&3
pro0iding &ha& we 5eep in .ind &ha& by &he :Spiri&: @a&&hew .eans &he :brigh& cloud: o) Biblical
&radi&ion. I& is i.por&an& &o no&ice here &ha& &he co.parison is no& be&ween &he way a cloud and do0e
appear in physical shape3 bu& be&ween &he way &hey )ly.
-ne )ac& which is no& clear )ro. &he bap&is. accoun&s is e+ac&ly wha& happened &o <esus as &he 8F-
descended. @a&&hew says3 :%nd when <esus was bap&i9ed3 he wen& up i..edia&ely )ro. &he wa&er:
A@a&&hew ":!1B. The pic&ure which @a&&hew por&rays is &ha& <esus was bap&i9ed3 and as soon as he was
bap&i9ed3 <esus wen& running ou& on&o &he ban5 o) &he <ordan. -r3 as @a&&hew says3 :he wen& up
i..edia&ely )ro. &he wa&er.: *hy should @a&&hew s&ress &ha& <esus wen& up :i..edia&ely:, I) @a&&hew
does no& say &ha& <esus ran &o &he shore3 he does clearly sugges& &ha& no &i.e was was&ed in ge&&ing &o
&he ban5.
*hile &he =SJ says &ha& <esus :wen& up: )ro. &he wa&er3 &he ac&ual >ree5 word says &ha& <esus
:ascended: )ro. &he wa&er3 and &he >ree5 word i..edia&ely sugges&s &he no&ion o) :uprigh&ness:?
@a&&hew al.os& see.s &o be saying &ha& <esus ascended uprigh&ly or 0er&ically )ro. &he wa&er. *as
<esus drawn 0er&ically )ro. &he wa&er in&o &he 8F-3 which a& &his &i.e was descending )ro. abo0e,
@a&&hew &hen goes on &o say &ha& <esus :was led up by &he Spiri& in&o &he wilderness: A@a&&hew /:!B.
*ha& does @a&&hew .ean by :led up:, -ne .igh& suppose &ha& <esus would ha0e been led: li5e @oses3
bu& i) we re.e.ber &ha& 'li7ah was :caugh& up: by &he Spiri& on occasions3 &hen we canno& be sure.
So.e scholars ha0e sugges&ed &ha& <esus was :sna&ched away: a)&er his bap&is. as la&er &he %pos&le (aul
was apparen&ly :caugh& up: in&o hea0en. AB
I& is wor&h no&ing &ha& @ar5 says :%nd when he F<esusG ca.e up ou& o) &he wa&er3 i..edia&ely he saw ...
&he Spiri& descending upon hi. li5e a do0e: A@ar5 !:!0B3 so &ha& @ar5 places &he idea o) :i..ediacy:
wi&h &he descen& o) &he do0e3 ra&her &han wi&h <esus: co.ing ou& o) &he wa&er. Bu& @ar5 does say &ha&
&he Spiri& :dro0e: <esus in&o &he wilderness3 which i.plies so.e&hing .ore 0iolen& &han si.ply :leading.:
<ohn:s >ospel repor&s &ha& <ohn &he Bap&is& saw &he Spiri& :descend and re.ain: on <esus. This sugges&s
&ha& <esus and &he Spiri& .erged3 and )ur&her.ore &ha& <ohn did no& see &he. separa&e )ro. each o&her.
I& cer&ainly would no& be ou& o) line )or a 8F- o) &he &ype we ha0e seen in &he -ld and &he New
Tes&a.en&s &o ha0e co.e upon <esus a& his bap&is. and &o ha0e carried hi. bodily in&o &he wilderness.
This would cer&ainly .a5e an i.pression on anyone who saw i& happen3 and would help e+plain why
&he bap&is. is recorded in each o) &he )our >ospels. *he&her or no& &he 8F- carried <esus in&o &he
wilderness3 i& see.s ;ui&e cer&ain &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud: &ype o) 8F- was seen &o :descend li5e a
do0e.:
In <ohn:s >ospel3 shor&ly a)&er &he bap&is. se;uence3 <esus called Na&hanael &o be a disciple3 and <esus
&old Na&hanael &ha& he would :see hea0en opened3 and &he angels o) >od ascending and descending
upon &he Son o) .an: A<ohn !:$!B. @a&&hew records &ha& a)&er <esus had .e& his &e.p&a&ions in &he
wilderness3 :&he de0il le)& hi.3 and behold3 angels ca.e and .inis&ered &o hi.: A@a&&hew /:!!B. This
would appear &o be in)or.a&ion which <esus hi.sel) would ha0e had &o gi0e &o &he disciples3 bu& i& is
i.por&an& &o no&e &he sugges&ion &ha& <esus was in )re;uen& con&ac& wi&h beings )ro. ano&her world.
-ne o) &he ;ues&ions which is o)&en as5ed is: How did <esus co.e &o unders&and his own .ission &o &he
world, I) we suppose &ha& a pillar o) cloud &ype o) 8F- descended on <esus a& his bap&is. and &ha& &his
8F- ei&her led or carried <esus in&o &he wilderness3 &hen we can suppose 2ha& i& was during &his period
&ha& <esus )or.ula&ed his .ission3 7us& as @oses .ade con&ac& wi&h &he :angel o) >od: on @oun& Sinai in
order &o unders&and his .ission.
Ha0ing e+a.ined &he bap&is. accoun& in so.e de&ail3 I shall now re)er &o &he proble. we no&ed earlier3
&ha& Hu5e said &he Spiri& descended on <esus :in bodily )or.3 as a do0e: AHu5e ":B. Firs&3 one should
no&ice &ha& Hu5e alone says :in bodily )or.3: so &ha& i& is probably Hu5e3 ra&her &han @a&&hew3 @ar53 or
<ohn3 who s&ands ou&side &he correc& &radi&ion. I& is i.por&an& &o re.e.ber &ha& Hu5e was &he only
>ree5 au&hor o) &he New Tes&a.en&3 and perhaps he did no& co.ple&ely unders&and &he :pillar o) cloud:
&radi&ion behind &he accoun& o) &he bap&is. which he heard. %s Hu5e:s accoun& was passed on &o &he
>ree5 world3 i..edia&ely ar&is&s s&ar&ed pain&ing :do0es: as a sign o) &he Spiri&3 so.e&hing a good <ew
would ne0er do.
Ieep in .ind also &ha& Hu5e says &he Spiri& was in bodily )or. :as: or :li5e: a do0e. Hu5e does no& say a
do0e descended3 bu& ra&her so.e&hing li5e a do0e. I) we can i.agine a whi&e circular cloudli5e 8F-
!00 )ee& in dia.e&er descending )ro. abo0e3 perhaps a whi&e do0e wi&h i&s wings spread in a nearly
circular arc does por&ray so.e si.ilari&y &o wha& &he Biblical wi&nesses saw3 and a si.ilari&y &o a
.odern3 descending )lying saucer. I& is no& &oo di))icul& )or one:s i.agina&ion &o co.pare &he way a
whi&e do0e descends3 silen&ly wi&h i&s wings spread3 and &he way in which .odern 8F-s described by
Ieyhoe3 'dwards3 and Jallee usually .o0e abou&.
@a&&hew was see5ing &o por&ray <esus as &he new @oses3 and in &his con&e+& &he &e.p&a&ions o) <esus
.a5e in&eres&ing reading. I) &here was a 8F- o) &he pillar o) cloud &ype which led &he Israeli&es &hrough
&he =ed Sea3 &hen &his represen&ed no&hing shor& o) a sensa&ional de.ons&ra&ion o) power. @oses also
arranged &hrough &he 8F- &o ha0e bread rain )ro. hea0en3 and wa&er ca.e )ro. roc5s a& &he &ouch o)
@oses: rod. The )irs& &e.p&a&ion which )aced a hungry <esus was3 :I) you are &he Son o) >od3 co..and
&hese s&ones &o beco.e loa0es o) bread: A@a&&hew /:"B.
%gain3 <esus was &e.p&ed &o leap )ro. &he :pinnacle o) &he &e.ple3: 5nowing &ha& &he angels o) >od
would sa0e hi. in &he sigh& o) e0eryone3 &hus proclai.ing &ha& he was &he sa0ior A@a&&hew /:$3 1B.
AThe &e.p&a&ion &o leap )ro. &he &e.ple3 &oge&her wi&h &he repor& &ha& <esus wal5ed on wa&er F@a&&hew
!/:$G3 sugges&s &ha& <esus3 &oge&her wi&h &he :angels3: or &he beings in charge o) &he =ed Sea inciden&3
.ay ha0e had unusual con&rol o0er &he )orces o) gra0i&y.B <esus was always &e.p&ed &o use his power &o
draw a&&en&ion &o hi.sel) - i) he is &he sa0ior3 i& is i.por&an& &ha& people no&ice hi.. Bu& i& is clear )ro.
&he inciden&s o) @oses wi&h &he rebellious Israeli&es in &he wilderness &ha& a display o) power alone does
no& per.anen&ly con0er& people. Bu& <esus see.s &o ha0e had power3 and when necessary he used i&.
Thus when he .e& &he sic53 he healed &he.. *hen )i0e &housand beca.e hungry3 he )ed &he.. %l&hough
he did no& see. &oo pleased abou& i&3 )or &he sa5e o) his .o&her he changed wa&er &o wine.
@en )ollowed <esus a)&er he had )ed a grea& .ul&i&ude wi&h :)i0e barley loa0es and &wo )ish: A<ohn 1:#B3
and <esus wi&hdrew because &he .en :were abou& &o co.e and &a5e hi. by )orce &o .a5e hi. 5ing:
A<ohn 1:!$B. *hen as5ed why he had run away3 <esus appeared desponden& because .en sough& hi.
no& )or wha& he &augh&3 bu& because you a&e your )ill o) &he loa0es: A<ohn 1:1B. <esus &hen wen& on &o
e+plain &ha& he was &he e&ernal bread )ro. hea0en. :4our )a&hers a&e &he .anna in &he wilderness3 and
&hey died. This is &he bread which co.es down )ro. hea0en3 &ha& a .an .ay ea& o) i& and no& die. I a.
&he li0ing bread which ca.e down )ro. hea0en: A<ohn 1:/#-$!B.
The <ews were no& &oo i.pressed wi&h &his descrip&ion which <esus had o))ered concerning hi.sel).
They said3 CIs no& &his <esus3 &he son o) <oseph3 whose )a&her and .o&her we 5now, How does he now
say3 :I ha0e co.e down )ro. hea0en:,C: A<ohn 1:/B. I canno& help &hin5ing here &ha& <esus is por&rayed
in &he Bible in .uch &he sa.e way as our .ode.-day :spy: s&ories. <esus ca.e )ro. a )oreign world
in&o our world and s&ar&ed &o ga&her &oge&her a s.all band o) people who would owe &heir allegiance &o
his world Ahea0enB. <esus is really an :underco0er agen&.: %n :underco0er: agen& is a person who li0es in
a )oreign coun&ry3 or en&ers a )oreign coun&ry3 underco0er3 under a co0er s&ory3 li0ing under an assu.ed
na.e3 perhaps wor5ing as a carpen&er3 or a &ouris& agen&3 or an engineer - any&hing which will ser0e &o
co0er up his &rue purpose3 which is espionage3 under.ining &he na&ion in which he is :underco0er: )or
&he sa5e o) ano&her na&ion. %ccording &o <esus3 our world really belonged &o &he :de0il:? <esus de)ea&ed
&he world o) &he de0il3 )irs& o) all by re)using &o &urn in his hea0enly ci&i9enship and co.ing o0er
co.ple&ely &o &his world A&he &e.p&a&ionsB3 and secondly3 by ga&hering &oge&her a s&rong )ollowing o)
persons who were co..i&&ed &o ci&i9enship in &he e&ernal 5ingdo. )ro. which <esus ca.e.
<esus ca.e in&o our world under a per)ec& :co0er: s&ory: By .eans o) &he 0irgin bir&h <esus was able &o
co.e )ro. ano&her world3 bu& could appear &o ha0e co.e na&urally3 &o be a :na&ural-born ci&i9en: o) &his
world. -b0iously &he co0er s&ory was 0ery belie0able. *hen <esus ac&ually &old &he <ews &ha& he was a
:)oreign spy: )ro. hea0en3 &hey did no& belie0e hi.. They said3 :*e 5now your paren&s3 we 5now where
you li0e3 you ha0e spen& your whole li)e in &his neighbourhood - you .us& be 7o5ing &o &ell us you are a
)oreigner3 )ro. hea0en.:
In )ac&3 &he co0er s&ory under which <esus ca.e in&o our world was so e))ec&i0e &ha& e0en up &o &he
presen& day people are deba&ing &he ;ues&ion3 Did <esus co.e )ro. hea0en, -ur coun&ry - indeed3 &he
world - has since been li&erally di0ided in i&s loyal&y3 so.e arguing &ha& <esus was a .an and no&hing
.ore? o&hers3 &ha& his &rue ci&i9enship was in hea0en. Those who a&&e.p& &o de.y&hologi9e &he New
Tes&a.en& see. &o be &rying &o &a5e away <esus: hea0enly ci&i9enship. The deba&e is as old as 2hris& -
and &he ba&&le is no& ye& o0er. The &e.p&a&ions sugges& &ha& <esus could ha0e used his power &o pu& &he
;ues&ion beyond doub&3 bu& &ha& he did no& wan& his power &o dis&rac& )ro. his :words: or &eachings.
Thus &he bap&is. o) <esus3 in which he .ade con&ac& wi&h beings )ro. ano&her world in so.e sor& o)
8F-3 )ollowed by &he &e.p&a&ions3 illus&ra&es 0i0idly &he &ensions in <esus: .inis&ry be&ween using &he
power he held o0er na&ure3 and desiring .en &o co.e &o hi. and lis&en &o wha& he had &o say: :Ho0e
your neighbour3 and lo0e &he Hord your >od3 lo0e one ano&her as I ha0e lo0ed you.: So.e ha0e &ried &o
argue &ha& <esus was so conscious o) &he need &o :underplay: his power &ha& he would ne0er per)or. a
:.iracle3: and &ha& &here)ore all &he accoun&s o) .iracles in &he New Tes&a.en& are )alse. I& appears3
howe0er3 &ha& <esus per)or.ed his .iracles no& &o draw a&&en&ion &o hi.sel)3 bu& ra&her because he
)ound a need which he could no& pass by :on &he o&her side3: as did &hose who saw a wounded .an who
had )allen a.ong &hie0es.
*ha& we shall see is &ha& &he 8F- which led @oses ne0er .ade a power)ul display be)ore a New
Tes&a.en& crowd as had been done a& &he =ed Sea? bu& &he 8F- in &he New Tes&a.en& does appear &o
s.all groups. There see.s &o be in &he New Tes&a.en& an undercurren& o) power. The angels o) >od3
>od:s ar.y3 could o0erpower &he world by )orce3 bu& &hey ha0e chosen ra&her &o send in an underco0er
agen& &o under.ine our &rus& in our :worldly: go0ern.en&. I& is no& surprising &ha& &he disciples had
&rouble con0incing &he <ews &ha& &he 2hris& had really co.e. The <ews3 &horoughly )ed on @osaic
&radi&ion3 e+pec&ed &o be 5noc5ed )la& by &he power o) 2hris& when he ca.e.
The #p!"e Cloud And The As"ension * Christ
%)&er 2hris& had carried ou& a .inis&ry o) a& leas& &hree years3 he en&ered <erusale. on wha& has been
called (al. Sunday3 and &he )ollowing Friday was cruci)ied. *e &hen read in @a&&hew3 :Now a)&er &he
sabba&h3 &oward &he dawn o) &he )irs& day o) &he wee53 @ary @agdalene and &he o&her @ary wen& &o see
&he sepulchre. %nd behold3 &here was a grea& ear&h;ua5e? )or an angel o) &he Hord descended )ro.
hea0en and ca.e and rolled bac5 &he s&one3 and sa& upon i&. His appearance was li5e ligh&ning3 and his
rai.en& whi&e as snow. %nd )or )ear o) hi. &he guards &re.bled and beca.e li5e dead .en. Bu& &he
angel said &o &he wo.en3 CDo no& be a)raid? )or I 5now &ha& you see5 <esus who was cruci)ied. He is no&
here? )or he has risen3 as he said. 2o.e3 see &he place where he lay. Then go ;uic5ly and &ell his
disciples &ha& he has risen )ro. &he dead ...C: A@a&&hew 6:!-7B.
%ll )our >ospels sugges& &ha& &here were unusual persons - beings )ro. ano&her world - presen& a& &he
e.p&y &o.b on 'as&er .orning &o e+plain &o &he indi0iduals who ca.e &o &he &o.b wha& had happened.
*e ha0e seen &ha& a& &he Trans)igura&ion <esus was .a5ing plans concerning &he 2ruci)i+ion-
=esurrec&ion e0en& wi&h persons )ro. ano&her world A@oses and 'li7ahB who see.ed &o ha0e arri0ed by
.eans o) a :brigh& cloud: &ype o) 8F-. There was an :ear&h;ua5e: associa&ed wi&h &he arri0al o) &he
angels a& &he &o.b3 which could indica&e &he presence o) a 8F- which .igh& by i&s an&i-> bea. cause a
dis&urbance si.ilar &o &he one repor&ed a& @oun& Sinai and &he one repor&ed by 'li7ah ou&side &he ca0e
in which he was hiding. I& is i.por&an& &o no&ice &ha& &he angel a& &he &o.b is no& recorded &o ha0e had
wings - in )ac&3 Biblical angels Awi&h &he e+cep&ion o) &he cherubi. and seraphi.B al.os& ne0er see. &o
ha0e wings. I) &hey did ha0e wings3 &his would cer&ainly be .en&ioned. I& is only la&er &ha& 2hris&ian
ar&is&s3 &rying &o disco0er a logical e+plana&ion o) how angels could .o0e around in space3 pro0ided
&hese beings )ro. ano&her world wi&h wings.
*ha& dis&inguished &he angel a& &he e.p&y &o.b was his :brigh&ness3: a proper&y e+hibi&ed by &he body
o) <esus a& &he Trans)igura&ion. The angel was di))eren& )ro. ordinary .en no& because he had wings3
bu& because :his rai.en&: was :whi&e as snow.: He wore unusual clo&hing3 perhaps .uch as our
as&ronau&s see. always &o wear whi&e clo&hing &o re)lec& cer&ain &ypes o) radia&ion. I& is i.por&an&3
howe0er3 &ha& <esus does no& see. &o ha0e carried ou& &he =esurrec&ion all by hi.sel). *he&her or no&
&he angels a& &he &o.b were ac&ually &he ins&ru.en&s or agen&s who brough& <esus bac5 )ro. &he dead I
do no& 5now3 bu& i& is a possibili&y which .us& be considered.
<esus .ade se0eral appearances a)&er his =esurrec&ion3 and on one occasion he appeared &o a& leas& )i0e
hundred people a& one &i.e AI 2orin&hians !$:1B. %)&er <esus had .ade a series o) =esurrec&ion con&ac&s
o0er a period o) &i.e - &radi&ion sugges&s )or&y days A%c&s !:"B3 so.e&hing li5e a .on&h perhaps - he had
one )inal .ee&ing wi&h his disciples a& &he @oun& o) -li0es 7us& ou&side <erusale. A%c&s !:!B.
I& is &his las& .ee&ing be&ween <esus and his disciples which concludes wi&h his %scension. :So when
&hey had co.e &oge&her3 &hey as5ed hi.3 CHord3 will you a& &his &i.e res&ore &he 5ingdo. &o Israel,C He
said &o &he.3 CI& is no& )or you &o 5now &i.es or seasons which &he Fa&her has )i+ed by his own
au&hori&y. Bu& you shall recei0e power when &he Holy Spiri& has co.e upon you? and you shall be .y
wi&nesses in <erusale. and in all <udea and Sa.aria and &o &he end o) &he ear&h.C %nd when he had said
&his3 as &hey were loo5ing on3 he was li)&ed up3 and a cloud &oo5 hi. ou& o) &heir sigh&. %nd while &hey
were ga9ing in&o hea0en as he wen&3 behold3 &wo .en s&ood by &he. in whi&e robes3 and said3 C@en o)
>alilee3 why do you s&and loo5ing in&o hea0en, This <esus3 who was &a5en up )ro. you in&o hea0en3
will co.e in &he sa.e way as you saw hi. go in&o hea0enC: A%c&s !:1-!!B.
No&ice &ha& &he disciples were con0inced &ha& ul&i.a&ely 2hris& would be Iing o) &he ear&h3 and &ha& he
would be in a posi&ion &o :res&ore &he 5ingdo. &o Israel3: &he 5ingdo. once held by Da0id. <esus does
no& deny &ha& so.eday &he 5ingdo. will be res&ored - he si.ply &ells &he disciples &ha& i& is no& )or &he.
&o 5now when. The disciples belie0ed &ha& 2hris& had &he power &o :&a5e o0er: &he ear&h any &i.e. The
only ;ues&ion was3 *hen,
<esus co..issioned his s.all band &o be .issionaries &hroughou& &he whole ear&h. The >ospel o) <ohn
s&resses &he )ac& &ha& <esus &hough& he had been sen& as a .issionary-sa0ior Aor i) you pre)er3 underco0er
agen&B by his hea0enly Fa&her. In a prayer <esus said3 :%s &hou dids& send .e in&o &he world3 so I ha0e
sen& &he. F&he disciplesG in&o &he world: A<ohn !7:!6B. The bes& single sen&ence su..ary o) &he Biblical
.en&ali&y is in a shor& parable o) <esus: The 5ingdo. o) hea0en is li5e lea0en which a wo.an &oo5 and
hid in &hree .easures o) .eal3 &ill i& was all lea0en: A@a&&hew !":""B. The -ld Tes&a.en& religion see.s
&o ha0e been s&ar&ed by beings )ro. ano&her world co.ing in&o &he si&ua&ion and :hiding: a religion
a.ong a s.all chosen band o) pri.i&i0e no.adic people - hardly a place one would loo5 )or &rue
sal0a&ion. *hen <esus ca.e3 he was born o) @ary3 disguised as a carpen&er:s son. His s.all band o)
disciples3 howe0er3 saw his power3 including &he shoc5ing e+perience o) his =esurrec&ion )ro. &he
dead3 and a)&er &ha& e+perience &he disciples ne0er ;ues&ioned &he Hordship o) <esus.
-nce again &he lea0en had been hidden in &he loa) - a.ong an unli5ely s.all group o) .en. The
:de.y&hologi9ers: sugges& &ha& &he =esurrec&ion was a .y&hological cons&ruc&ion o) &he disciples3 bu& I
)ind i& .uch .ore scien&i)ic in &er.s o) .odern psychology &o sugges& &ha& &he =esurrec&ion was such a
)ac&ual e0en& )or &he disciples &ha& &his e0en& con0inced &he. i& would be wor&h &heir while &o die )or
2hris& - which (e&er was no& willing &o do be)ore &he 2ruci)i+ion. The disciples did no& e+pec& &o .ee&
<esus &hree days a)&er he was dead any .ore &han we would e+pec& &o .ee& a )riend &hree days a)&er &he
)uneral. <esus said &o &he disciples3 in e))ec&3 &o go in&o &he world as we angels ha0e co.e in&o your
world? &he Fa&her has sen& .e? I send you? be &he lea0en in &he world loa).
%)&er <esus had co..issioned his disciples &o begin wor5ing li5e lea0en in &he world loa)3 :as &hey
were loo5ing on3 he was li)&ed up3 and a cloud &oo5 hi. ou& o) &heir sigh&.: %& &his poin& i& is di))icul& &o
be surprised &ha& a :cloud: &oo5 <esus up ou& o) sigh& o) &he disciples. *hile @a&&hew repor&ed &ha& a
:brigh& cloud: appeared a& &he Trans)igura&ion3 bo&h @ar5 A@ar5 #:7B and Hu5e AHu5e #:"/B repor&
si.ply &ha& a :cloud: o0ershadowed &he disciples. Thus i) @a&&hew ra&her &han Hu5e had wri&&en %c&s3
we .igh& ha0e read in %c&s &ha& a :brigh& cloud: &oo5 <esus )ro. &he sigh& o) &he disciples. In any case
&he dis&inc&ion is no& i.por&an&3 )or e0en as )ar bac5 as &he boo5 o) '+odus &he :pillar o) cloud and )ire:
had been shor&ened &o :&he cloudC A'+odus !/:0B.
Bishop =obinson in Hones& &o >od on &he 0ery )irs& page o) his )irs& chap&er leads wi&h his ace. :'0en
such an educa&ed .an o) &he world as S& Hu5e can e+press &he con0ic&ion o) 2hris&:s ascension - &he
con0ic&ion &ha& he is no& .erely ali0e bu& reigns in &he .igh& and righ& o) >od - in &he crudes& &er.s o)
being Cli)&ed upC in&o hea0en.: A"B The ordinary person o) &oday .igh& loo5 a& &he passage in %c&s &o see
wha& Bishop =obinson was &al5ing abou&3 and reading &ha& <esus was &a5en away in a :cloud3: and &ha&
&he res& o) &he passage see.s &o be ;ui&e li&eral - e0eryone s&anding around wa&ching - would be
&e.p&ed &o &a5e &he word cloud li&erally? e0eryone 5nows &ha& nice whi&e )lu))y cu.ulus clouds do no&
carry people abou&. %ny person &hus &a5ing a ;uic5 glance a& &he Bible would conclude3 :Bishop
=obinson is absolu&ely righ&E
Tha& %scension language cer&ainly is Ccrude.C: Bu& &his cloud was no ordinary cloud. This 8F- see.s
&o ha0e been capable o) carrying <esus o)) in&o space - I a. &e.p&ed &o call i& a :space cloud: - bu& I 0ery
.uch suspec& &ha& &he %scension cloud was &he sa.e 8F- which led &he Israeli&es &hrough &he =ed Sea3
ga0e @oses &he co..and.en&s3 carried 'li7ah &o hea0en3 :descended: li5e a do0e a& &he bap&is. o)
<esus3 perhaps carrying hi. bodily in&o &he wilderness3 as he was carried away bodily a& &he %scension.
This was probably &he sa.e :cloud: which brough& &wo .en &o .ee& <esus a& &he @oun& o)
Trans)igura&ion3 and probably &he sa.e &ype o) 8F- which brough& angels &o &he shepherds a&
2hris&.as. *ha& =obinson has no& &old his readers is &ha& &he %scension s&ory is no& abnor.al - i& is
nor.al )or &he Biblical way o) &hin5ing.
The Bri'ht 5i'ht And The Con.ersion * The Apostle P!ul
-ne o) &he 5ey &urning poin&s in &he his&ory o) &he 2hurch was &he con0ersion o) &he %pos&le (aul. (aul3
&hen Saul3 had s&udied &heology under &he brillian& <ewish &eacher >a.aliel. (aul was so 9ealous in his
suppor& o) &he <ewish )ai&h &ha& he beca.e in a sense a :.issionary: agains& &he 2hris&ians3 &heir chie)
persecu&or. (aul was apparen&ly presen& a& &he s&oning o) S&ephen A%c&s 6:!B3 and he was so success)ul
as a :chie) persecu&or: in <erusale. &ha& he was co..issioned &o go &o Da.ascus &o carry his &alen&s &o
a new )ield.
*hen (aul was con0er&ed3 i& was &his sa.e .ili&an& spiri& which .ade hi. such an e))ec&i0e 2hris&ian
.issionary - he was willing &o &ra0el anywhere and do any&hing )or &he gospel. No& only did (aul
beco.e &he grea&es& .issionary &he 2hurch has e0er had3 bu& he is also &he grea&es& &heologian &he
2hurch has had - his &raining in <ewish &heology .ade hi. a per)ec& choice &o wor5 ou& &he
i.plica&ions o) &he 2hris&ian )ai&h in ligh& o) &he -ld Tes&a.en& )ounda&ion. (aul:s le&&ers )or. &he basis
o) New Tes&a.en& &heology3 &oge&her wi&h &he >ospels and &he boo5 o) %c&s. -ne can 0ery well as5:
*here would &he 2hurch be &oday i) i& had no& been )or &he %pos&le (aul, I) %dolph Hi&ler had
suddenly during *orld *ar II &urned )ro. Na9i >er.any &o beco.e an %llied >eneral3 e0eryone
would ha0e been grea&ly shoc5ed. I& was e;ually a shoc5 &o &he 2hurch when (aul was con0er&ed - a&
)irs& no one could belie0e i&3 and .any dis&rus&ed hi. - as we would undoub&edly ha0e been suspicious
i) Hi&ler had suddenly been con0er&ed &o &he %llied cause.
How was (aul con0er&ed, Here is one accoun& in &he boo5 o) %c&s. :Bu& Saul3 s&ill brea&hing &hrea&s and
.urder agains& &he disciples o) &he Hord3 wen& &o &he high pries& and as5ed hi. )or le&&ers &o &he
synagogues a& Da.ascus3 so &ha& i) he )ound any belonging &o &he *ay3 .en or wo.en3 he .igh& bring
&he. bound &o <erusale.. Now as he 7ourneyed he approached Da.ascus3 and suddenly a ligh& )ro.
hea0en )lashed abou& hi.. %nd he )ell &o &he ground and heard a 0oice saying &o hi.3 CSaul3 Saul3 why
do you persecu&e .e,C %nd he said3 C*ho are you3 Hord,C %nd he said3 CI a. <esus3 who. you are
persecu&ing? bu& rise and en&er &he ci&y3 and you will be &old wha& you are &o do.C The .en who were
&ra0eling wi&h hi. s&ood speechless3 hearing &he 0oice bu& seeing no one: A%c&s #:!-7B.
The con0ersion o) (aul is recorded in &wo o&her passages in &he boo5 o) %c&s3 and &hese passages do no&
repea& e+ac&ly wha& is said in &he abo0e passage. The )irs& passage says &ha& &he .en &ra0eling wi&h (aul
heard &he 0oice bu& saw no one. The second passage says3 in ;uo&ing (aul3 :Now &hose who were wi&h
.e saw &he ligh& bu& did no& hear &he 0oice o) &he one who was spea5ing &o .e: A%c&s :#B. -n &he
&hird occasion (aul was de)ending hi.sel) be)ore Iing %grippa3 and he said3 :%& .idday3 0 5ing3 I saw
on &he way a ligh& )ro. hea0en3 brigh&er &han &he sun3 shining round .e and &hose who 7ourneyed wi&h
.e. %nd when we had all )allen &o &he ground3 I heard a 0oice saying &o .e in &he Hebrew language3
CSaul3 Saul3 why do you persecu&e .e,C: A%c&s 1:!"3!/B.
Thus %c&s #:7 says speci)ically &ha& &he .en wi&h (aul heard &he 0oice? %c&s :# says &ha& &he .en did
no& hear &he 0oice3 bu& &ha& &hey de)ini&ely saw a brigh& ligh&? %c&s 1:!"3!/ s&a&es &ha& all were a))ec&ed
by &he ligh& and )ell &o &he ground3 and does no& &ell us one way or &he o&her who besides (aul heard &he
0oice. Howe0er one goes abou& reconciling &he passages3 &he o0erall i.pression is &ha& &he .en who
were wi&h (aul were s&unned by &he brigh& ligh&3 al&hough no& blinded as (aul see.s &o ha0e been A%c&s
:!!B. The .en wi&h (aul see. also &o ha0e )el& &he brun& o) &he e+perience because re.ar5s &o &his
e))ec& are repor&ed in each ins&ance? &his is a good indica&ion &ha& (aul did no& e+perience a purely
e.o&ional or sub7ec&i0e con0ersion.
I& see.s .os& consis&en& wi&h &he o&her Biblical .a&erial &o assu.e &ha& &he sa.e &ype o) :brigh& cloud:
space 0ehicle which had led &he Israeli&es &hrough &he =ed Sea Aand had spo5en &o @oses ou& o) &he
.iddle o) a glowing &hic5e& &o call hi.B3 and which spo5e &o 'li7ah ou&side o) &he ca0e A'li7ah co0ered
his )ace because o) &he brigh&ness? &he bushes shielded &he eyes o) @osesB3 &he 8F- which was &he
source o) &he 0oice a& &he Trans)igura&ion which said3 This is .y belo0ed Son3: and which undoub&edly
was &he 0ehicle in which 2hris& was &a5en away a& &he %scension3 was also &he 8F- which ho0ered
o0er (aul and his co.panions on &he Da.ascus =oad3 and as &his :brigh& cloud: ho0ered o0erhead3
<esus called &o Saul. :Saul3 Saul3 why are you persecu&ing .e,: Saul was so shoc5ed &ha& he as5ed3 :*ho
are you3 Hord,: The 0oice answered3 :I a. <esus.: I& see.s consis&en& &o argue &ha& i) <esus :ascended: in
so.e sor& o) 8F-3 &he sa.e 0ehicle brough& hi. &o (aul:s co.pany on &he Da.ascus =oad.
There is no e0idence )or a purely :sub7ec&i0e: in&erpre&a&ion o) (aul:s con0ersion. There were
psychological )ac&ors in0ol0ed3 o) course3 bu& &o use psychology as &he only ca&egory o) in&erpre&a&ion
is no& only un&rue &o &he Biblical &e+&3 bu& an uncon0incing answer &o &he 0ery pressing ;ues&ion: *ha&
on ear&h Aor in hea0enB could ha0e happened &o cause a <ew o) (aul:s con0ic&ions &o change suddenly
and beco.e a 2hris&ian - a leader o) &hose he had persecu&ed, The 8F- &hesis we ha0e ou&lined is a
su))icien& scien&i)ic e+plana&ion pro0iding &ha& 8F-s e+is&3 and such an e+plana&ion is consis&en& wi&h
&he Biblical .a&erial as a whole.
I& is probably a psychological shoc5 )or .os& 2hris&ians &o &hin5 o) (aul:s con0ersion in &he way I ha0e
sugges&ed3 bu& (ro&es&an& 2hris&ians ha0e usually .ade only one re;uire.en& )or &he or&hodo+y o) &heir
&heology? &ha& is3 &ha& i& be Biblical. The 8F- &heory I ha0e ou&lined is cer&ainly consis&en& in
e+plaining &he Biblical da&a. 'dgar <. >oodspeed has gi0en (aul:s con0ersion an essen&ially :sub7ec&i0e:
in&erpre&a&ion3 and I will here ;uo&e >ood-speed &o illus&ra&e &he con&ras& be&ween .y 8F-
in&erpre&a&ion and ah essen&ially psychological approach:
%s he drew near &he ci&y3 his anguish o) spiri& increased. *as &his &hen really &he will o) >od3
persecu&ion and cruel&y3 bap&i9ed wi&h &he holy na.e o) religion, @us& he go on i.ple.en&ing i&
agains& hu.ble3 earnes& people whose hu.ili&y and herois. rebu5ed his arrogance and pride, *ho was
&his <esus3 agains& who. he .us& so bi&&erly crusade in &he na.e o) >od, I& was .idday and his )igure
rose be)ore &he .ind o) Saul3 reproach)ul and subli.e. %nd suddenly Saul saw hi. in a new ligh&3 no&
an i.pos&or and ups&ar& &o be conde.ned and persecu&ed bu& a .as&er and leader who could deli0er hi.
)ro. all his con)usion and pain. I& burs& upon hi. wi&h all &he suddenness o) a re0ela&ion3 &urning his
world o0er and res&oring his .oral 0alues &o &heir righ&)ul place. I& challenged hi. wi&h &he clearness o)
an audible 0oice: :SaulE SaulE *hy do you persecu&e .e,: *hy3 why indeed was he persecu&ing <esus,
He should be )ollowing hi.. A/B
>oodspeed has no doub& )ound a way &o :e+plain: &he con0ersion o) (aul in &er.s which will no& be
o))ensi0e &o &wen&ie&h-cen&ury scien&i)ic &hin5ing. *hile >oodspeed undoub&edly has an unders&anding
o) so.e o) &he psychological ele.en&s in0ol0ed3 one canno& help )eeling3 i) &he na.e o) <esus were
pressing so hard on &he .ind o) Saul as he approached Da.ascus3 &ha& when he heard &he :al.os&:
audible 0oice calling his na.e3 i& was hardly appropria&e )or Saul &o answer &he 0oice wi&h &he ;ues&ion3
:*ho are you3 Hord,: The o&her un)or&una&e aspec& o) >oodspeed:s accoun& is &ha& i& gi0es one &he
i.pression &ha& (aul so &o spea5 con0er&ed hi.sel) by pulling hi.sel) up by &he boo&s&raps o) his own
conscience.
(aul wri&es &o Ti.o&hy &ha& >od was .erci)ul &o hi. A(aulB3 appoin&ing hi. an %pos&le )or <esus 2hris&
:&hough I )or.erly blasphe.ed and persecu&ed and insul&ed hi.? bu& I recei0ed .ercy because I had
ac&ed ignoran&ly in unbelie) A! Ti.o&hy !:!"B. (aul )inds &ha& he is a good sign o) hope )or &he 2hurch?
he is &he chie) o) sinners - i) he can be sa0ed3 anyone can be sa0ed. (aul cer&ainly belie0ed &ha& i) >od
had no& ac&ed in a special way on &he Da.ascus =oad3 he would ha0e con&inued &o persecu&e &he
2hris&ians :in ignorance and unbelie).:
#u//!r& * The 3ew Test!/ent And Fl&in' #!u"ers
*e ha0e poin&ed &o )i0e .ain :e0en&s: in &he New Tes&a.en& which cer&ainly sugges& &he presence o) a
8F- which is so.e&i.es described as a :brigh& cloud3: recalling &he 8F- which had such close con&ac&
wi&h @oses. There is one aspec& o) each o) &hese )i0e e0en&s which has gone al.os& unno&iced. The
brigh& :glory: which shone around &he shepherds a& nigh&3 while &he angels sang3 was seen by only a )ew
.en who would hardly be called &he leaders o) <ewish socie&y. The e0en& &oo5 place ou& in &he coun&ry
away )ro. a popula&ed area.
The bap&is. o) 2hris& &oo5 place ou& in &he wilderness by &he <ordan =i0er3 and 0ery )ew people were
li5ely &o see &he 8F- descend li5e a do0e. -nly <esus3 (e&er3 <a.es3 and <ohn see. &o ha0e been
presen& &o wi&ness &he :brigh& cloud: a& &he @oun& o) Trans)igura&ion3 a .oun&ain which again was away
)ro. a popula&ion cen&er. <esus was &a5en away )ro. &he disciples a& &he %scension by a space :cloud:
which was seen only by &he disciples. They were apparen&ly a& &he @oun& o) -li0es a& &he &i.e3 ou&side
<erusale.. Finally3 &he 8F- which caused &he brigh& ligh& &o )lash o0er &he %pos&le (aul and his s.all
band o) &ra0elers on &he road &o Da.ascus was again seen in a place which was no& li5ely &o a&&rac& &he
a&&en&ion o) a ci&y popula&ion. How unli5e &he :pillar o) cloud and )ire: which was cons&an&ly be)ore &he
Hebrew people3 de.ons&ra&ing i&s power a& &he =ed Sea. Thus in con&ras& &o &he -ld Tes&a.en&3 while
&he sa.e :beings )ro. ano&her world: or :)orces: or :8F-s: see. &o be a& wor5 in &he New Tes&a.en&3 we
ne0er )ind &he )an&as&ic display o) power in &he New Tes&a.en& &ha& we )ound in &he -ld Tes&a.en&3 in
)ron& o) &housands o) wi&nesses. *hen power is shown3 &hose who wi&ness i& beco.e &he :lea0en: in &he
world loa).
%l&hough a scien&i)ic and &heological s&udy o) &he rela&ion be&ween )lying saucers and &he Bible could
go in&o grea&er dep&hs o) scholarship and scien&i)ic and philosophical bac5ground &han we ha0e gone3
we ha0e e+a.ined enough o) &he Biblical .a&erial &o show &ha& i& is ;ui&e li5ely - i) )lying saucers e+is&
- &ha& beings )ro. ano&her world in so.e sor& o) 8F-s delibera&ely caused &he Biblical religion. *e
ha0e no& pro0ed &ha& &his is &he case3 bu& i& see.s ;ui&e li5ely - i& has a )air degree o) probabili&y. The
di))icul&y is &ha& a hos& o) ;ues&ions re.ain unanswered. To gi0e an e+a.ple o) &wo pressing ;ues&ions:
A!B *ha& was &he .o&i0e o) &he beings who s&ar&ed &he Biblical religion , Did &hey do i& 7us& )or )un3 or
are &hey under &he co..and o) &he >od and Hord o) &he 8ni0erse, AB *here do &hese beings co.e
)ro., I) &hey are beings )ro. ano&her plane& :playing ga.es: wi&h us3 where do &hey co.e )ro., I) &hey
are angels )ro. >od3 where is hea0en,
The di))icul&y wi&h each o) &hese ;ues&ions is &ha& i) we ha0e drawn &he conclusion &ha& beings in 8F-s
were ac&i0e in de0eloping &he Biblical religion on &he basis o) less &han conclusi0e e0idence3 &hen i) we
are &o )or. any answers a& all &o &he &wo ;ues&ions 7us& raised3 i& is ;ui&e clear &ha& )ro. a scien&i)ic
poin& o) 0iew such answers .us& be considered pure specula&ion. %& &his poin& science and religion
begin &o di0erge e0en .ore.
In regard &o &he )irs& ;ues&ion3 suppose &ha& &he .an o) science and &he .an o) )ai&h could agree &ha& &he
Biblical religion was delibera&ely caused by beings )ro. ano&her world who are now wa&ching our
:progress.: 'ach .an .ay raise &he ;ues&ion: %re &hese beings si.ply playing ga.es3 or are &hey under
&he co..and o) >od, >. Ingle-)ield and <ac;ues Jallee agree &ha& a series o) 8F- appearances in
Fa&i.a3 (or&ugal3 in !#!7 in connec&ion wi&h &he Jirgin @ary are apparen&ly rela&ed &o &he 2hris&ian
)ai&h3 and &hey as5 &his sa.e basic ;ues&ion. A$B *as &he e0en& a :.iracle3: or a large in&erplane&ary
:hoa+:, The .an o) science can e+press his opinion3 :I& see.s .ore probable &o .e &ha& ...: or he .ay
pre)er &o say3 :I canno& decide wi&hou& )ur&her e0idence.: I& is per)ec&ly legi&i.a&e in &he )ield o) science
&o si& on &he )ence un&il .ore e0idence is a0ailable3 pro0ided &ha& &he scien&is& pursues &he ;ues&ion
)ai&h)ully in each direc&ion. Bu& &he .an o) )ai&h .us& decide now.
I& see.s ;ui&e clear &ha& &he Biblical people were called upon &o co..i& &he.sel0es &o 2hris& on &he
basis o) &he e0idence &hey had - inco.ple&e or o&herwise. @any accep&ed 2hris& on &he e0idence o) one
.iracle. Scien&is&s .igh& argue &ha& one .iracle does no& co.pel one &o conclude &ha& &he .iracle
wor5er was a sa0ior. Bu& &he .an o) )ai&h .us& decide3 because &he whole course o) his li)e depends on
his decision. In science a .an .ay be co.pelled &o )ind a cure )or cancer because &i.e los& is li)e los&.
The Bible argues in e))ec& &ha& &i.e los& in deciding &he answer &o &he ;ues&ion :*ho do you say &ha& I
a.: is li)e los&. So we .us& as53 *as 2hris& sincere3 was he on &he le0el in clai.ing &o be &he Son o)
>od - was he &elling &he &ru&h, -n &he basis o) &he wi&ness o) &he >ospels3 which is abou& all &he
e0idence we ha0e3 we ha0e &o as5: *ould <esus pre&end &o pray &o his hea0enly Fa&her? would he
preach :lo0e: while li0ing a lie? would he e0en go so )ar as &o be cruci)ied &o carry ou& his :hoa+:, %& &his
poin& &he person ra&her &han &he wor5s o) 2hris& beco.es )ocal.
The second ;ues&ion - where do &hese :angels: co.e )ro.3 a plane&3 or )ro. hea0en, A&he &wo .igh& be
iden&icalB - presen&s si.ilar proble.s. There is li&&le e0idence )or &he pure scien&is&3 bu& &he .an o) )ai&h
who decides &ha& beings in 8F-s are )ro. hea0en .us& as53 on &he basis o) &he Biblical wi&ness3 *here
is hea0en, Be)ore describing &he whereabou&s o) hea0en3 we would li5e &o 0isi& i&. %& presen& &his
presen&s proble.s? ne0er&heless3 no&ice &ha& scien&is&s ha0e gained .uch in)or.a&ion abou& &he .oon
wi&hou& 0isi&ing i&. They ha0e used ins&ru.en&s as :.edia-no
&ors: be&ween ear&h and &he .oon. By using &elescopes and ca.eras .oun&ed on &elescopes3 and by
sending roc5e&s &o &he .oon which ha0e &ele0ised pho&ographs &o ear&h3 scien&is&s ha0e gi0en us .uch
5nowledge o) &he .oon. %ll 2hris&ians ha0e is &he Bible3 which is ne0er&heless )or &he 2hris&ian in
.any cases a record o) &hings said by beings )ro. ano&her world abou& &heir world. <esus o)&en spo5e
abou& &he o&her :world: )ro. which he had co.e. Thus &he Bible3 wi&h i&s record o) &he words o) <esus3
&he angels3 prophe&s3 and apos&les3 beco.es a :.edia&or: be&ween us and hea0en? &he Bible is our
&elescope &hrough which we loo5 )or hea0en. <us& as our as&ronau&s .ay so.eday bring bac5 &o ear&h
in)or.a&ion abou& ano&her world3 so <esus and &he angels .ay pro0ide us wi&h in)or.a&ion abou& &heir
world. Howe0er unsa&is)ac&ory a record or ins&ru.en& &he Bible .ay be &o so.e scien&is&s3 a& &he
presen& &i.e i& is wha& &he .an o) )ai&h has a0ailable &o hi..
% scien&is& who wishes he had .ore e0idence ne0er&heless does use wha& e0idence he has. *hen we
.o0e in&o escha&ology3 we .o0e in&o &he &wiligh& 9one o) &he 2hris&ian )ai&h. Bu& 2hris&ians ha0e
always wondered in &heir drea.s3 *here is hea0en,
8 - $here )s He!.en%
I) &he Biblical religion was plan&ed and nur&ured by persons )ro. ano&her world3 i& is only na&ural &ha&
we should wonder where &hese beings co.e )ro.. Ieyhoe3 'dwards3 and o&hers who ha0e wri&&en
concerning )lying saucers ha0e sugges&ed &ha& &he only li5ely e+plana&ion is &ha& &hese beings co.e
)ro. ano&her plane&3 ei&her wi&hin or wi&hou& our solar sys&e.. Bishop =obinson begins his Hones& &o
>od by saying. The Bible spea5s o) a >od Cup &here.C No doub& i&s pic&ure o) a &hree-dec5er uni0erse3
o) C&he hea0en abo0e3 &he ear&h benea&h and &he wa&ers under &he ear&h3C was once &a5en ;ui&e li&erally.
No doub& also i&s .ore sophis&ica&ed wri&ers3 i) pressed3 would ha0e been &he )irs& &o regard &his as
sy.bolic language &o represen& and con0ey spiri&ual reali&ies: A!B Bishop =obinson:s chie) ob7ec&ion &o
&he %scension passage in &he boo5 o) %c&s is &ha& i& re)lec&s &his :pri.i&i0e: no&ion o) a &hree-dec5er
cos.ology.
I& is wise when reading &he Biblical .a&erial3 a& leas& )ro. an e.pirical poin& o) 0iew3 &o &ry &o separa&e
wha& &he Bible repor&s as apparen& :sense da&a: )ro. &he conclusions &he Bible gi0es us abou& &he
signi)icance o) &he sense da&a i& repor&s. I& .ay be &ha& on .os& occasions we will wan& &o accep& bo&h
&he :sensual: repor& and &he :conclusion.: Thus &he Bible .ay repor& &ha& <esus died on &he cross3 and i&
.ay draw &he conclusion &ha& &he blood o) 2hris& shed on &he cross sa0es us. *e .ay wan& &o accep&
bo&h &he :da&a: and &he :conclusion3: or we .ay wan& &o accep& only &he da&a.
In &he case o) &he =ed Sea inciden&3 I accep&ed &he da&a &ha& an eas& wind was blowing3 bu& I did no&
accep& &he Biblical conclusion &ha& &he wind caused &he wa&er &o par&. Bishop =obinson see.s &o ha0e
reasoned &ha& since he canno& accep& &he Biblical conclusion &ha& we li0e in a :&hree-dec5er: uni0erse3
&his au&o.a&ically per.i&s hi. &o dis.iss &he :sense da&a: which &he Bible repor&s concerning &he )ac&
&ha& <esus was &a5en o)) in&o space by so.e e+&raordinary :cloud.: The :de.y&hologi9ers: ha0e no& .ade
&his epis&e.ological dis&inc&ion clear. I& is en&irely possible &o ad.i& &ha& &he Biblical cos.ology was
pri.i&i0e wi&hou& concluding &ha& &he :sense da&a: &he Bible repor&s was )alse.
*e .ay no& li0e in a &hree-dec5er uni0erse3 bu& &he disciples .ay s&ill ha0e seen 2hris& &a5en o)) in&o
space. %)&er bringing up &he sub7ec& o) &he :&hree-dec5er: uni0erse3 Bishop =obinson &hen ad.i&s &ha&
so.e wri&ers would ha0e regarded &his as :sy.bolic language &o represen& and con0ey spiri&ual
reali&ies.: *ha& does he .ean by :sy.bolic language: and :spiri&ual reali&ies:, He .eans &ha& when .an
s&ar&s &al5ing abou& &he in0isible3 language o)&en beco.es Ao) necessi&yB obscure. Bu& &he Bible .a5es i&
clear &ha& .any o) &he .os& i.por&an& reali&ies in &he uni0erse are in0isible. Scien&is&s who li5e &o :see:
e0ery&hing .ay no& li5e &his3 bu& &he Bible says &ha& &his is &he way &hings are. In 2olossians we read
&ha& <esus 2hris& :is &he F0isibleG i.age o) &he in0isible >od: A2olossians !:!$B. >od is in0isible3 <esus
&augh& his disciples &o pray3 :-ur Fa&her3 who ar& in hea0en.:
I) >od is in0isible3 probably hea0en is in0isible. How does .an ge& &o 5now an in0isible >od, Firs&3
>od3 &hough in0isible3 ne0er&heless li&erally is presen& &o3 and surrounds3 e0ery li0ing being A%c&s
!7:6B. Second3 >od sends his angels &o &he ear&h &o .a5e hi.sel) 5nown3 and )inally re0eals hi.sel) in
<esus 2hris&3 &he 0isible i.age o) &he in0isible >od. This is &he basic Biblical argu.en&. The ;ues&ion
.us& now be raised: How can <esus 2hris& and angels be 0isible on ear&h and in0isible in hea0en,
The answer which .igh& be gi0en by persons who belie0e &ha& 8F-s co.e )ro. ano&her plane& is &ha&
&hey would be &oo )ar away &o be seen. This is a possibili&y3 bu& )ro. a &heological poin& o) 0iew i& .ay
be ob7ec&ionable &o sugges& &ha& hea0en is on ano&her plane&. There see.s &o be a di))erence in &he Bible
be&ween &he :hea0ens: Aplane&s3 s&arsB3 which >od crea&ed wi&h &he ear&h3 and :hea0en3: which does no&
see. &o be crea&ed. AB Hea0en - and hell -should be en&irely di))eren& uni0erses3 as &he :&hree-dec5er:
uni0erse o) &he Bible sugges&s. Bu& our uni0erse see.s &o be ho.ogeneous. Is &here any way in which a
:&hree-dec5er: uni0erse .igh& e+is& in &er.s o) .odern science3 in such a way &ha& &he 2hris&ian idea o)
angels and o) &he resurrec&ion o) &he body .igh& be &rue3 and s&ill per.i& hea0en &o be in0isible,
For &he ne+& &wo chap&ers we will discuss :2hris&ian escha&ology3: &he doc&rine o) &he end o) &hings - &he
)u&ure. I& is e+&re.ely ha9ardous &o &ry &o e+plain wha& happened &o &he %pos&le (aul on &he road &o
Da.ascus3 e0en wi&h &he descrip&ion o) &he e0en& recorded &hree &i.es in Scrip&ure. How .uch .ore
di))icul& &o discuss &he possibili&y o) how &hings .ay be in &he )u&ure in a world we canno& seeE %ll we
can do is &o show &ha& .any ele.en&s o) 2hris&ian escha&ology are no& necessarily in con&radic&ion wi&h
so.e aspec&s o) .odern 0iews o) space. *ha& e0idence do we ha0e, The =esurrec&ion o) 2hris& is a
recorded Biblical e0en& which poin&s &o wha& &he %pos&les: 2reed calls belie) in :&he resurrec&ion o) &he
body3 and li)e e0erlas&ing.:
(sychologis&s ha0e so.e&i.es re)erred &o &his wish)ul &hough& o) e&ernal li)e as :pie in &he s5y bye and
bye.: Howe0er unli5ely &his possibili&y .ay see. )ro. a scien&i)ic poin& o) 0iew3 i) &he Bible has
recorded &he )ac&s correc&ly concerning <esus 2hris& - and i) he really is &he Son o) >od - &hen we are
)aced wi&h &he possibili&y &ha& &he uni0erse really wor5s in .uch &he way as has been ou&lined in
Scrip&ure. I) &he Bible is righ&3 we ha0e &o loo5 no& only )or :pie in &he s5y3: bu& also )or :hea& in &he
deep.:
-ne di))icul&y is &ha& people ha0e argued &ha& hea0en is no& so .uch a place as a s&a&e. -) course &his is
7us& a guess3 &he basis o) which see.s &o be &ha& &he :resurrec&ion body: o) persons will be :spiri&ual:
ra&her &han physical. (aul argues &ha& we are resurrec&ed in&o a :spiri&ual body: A! 2orin&hians !$://B3
which sugges&s &o so.e &ha& &he body is i..a&erial.
In &his sa.e le&&er &o &he 2orin&hians3 howe0er3 (aul was spea5ing abou& &he Israeli&es in &he wilderness
who :all a&e &he sa.e spiri&ual )ood and all dran5 &he sa.e spiri&ual drin5: AI 2orin&hians !0:"3 /B3
al&hough in &he =SJ we )ind &ha& &he word :superna&ural: has been subs&i&u&ed )or :spiri&ual: because &he
&ransla&ors )eared .isunders&anding? bu& &he &ransla&ors did no& spea5 o) a :superna&ural body.: (aul
see.s &o ha0e &hough& &ha& &he :spiri&ual bread: )ro. hea0en A)ro. &he 8F-B and &he :spiri&ual body: o)
&he resurrec&ion were si.ilar. (erhaps &he words hea0enly body and hea0enly bread would be&&er
e+press (aul:s idea - bo&h were .ade o) a :hea0enly subs&ance3: wha&e0er &ha& .igh& be. <esus said &ha&
in &he resurrec&ion we beco.e as angels. I& is ;ui&e clear )ro. &he =esurrec&ion appearances &ha& <esus
did no& see. &o ha0e an ordinary body. Bu& i& was a body his disciples could &ouch3 7us& as angels see.
&o be subs&an&ial beings. In an age in which .ass and energy are &rans)erable3 perhaps &his deba&e is no&
&oo crucial. Bu& i& see.s &ha& we can e+pec& our resurrec&ion bodies - i) we wan& &o &rus& &he Biblical
0iew o) e&ernal li)e3 which I do - &o occupy so.e space so.ewhere. There)ore3 i& is appropria&e &o as5
&he ;ues&ion: *here is hea0en,
I) &he )irs& chap&ers in &his boo5 ha0e bordered on science )ic&ion3 &hen &he )ollowing chap&ers
undoub&edly .o0e al.os& wi&hou& )ear in&o so.e&hing &ha& reads 0ery .uch li5e science )ic&ion. *ha&
)ollows is no& necessarily &rue3 bu& I do belie0e &ha& &he ne+& &wo chap&ers .ay help &o se& our .inds
)ree )ro. &he so.ewha& depressing agnos&icis. we now )ind oursel0es in when we e0en begin &o
en&er&ain &he idea &ha& we .igh& li0e e&ernally - as par& o) >od:s plan. *e ha0e been al.os& &oo
discouraged &o go on loo5ing )or a sign &ha& >od really does ha0e e&ernal plans )or us. I) &he ne+& &wo
chap&ers ser0e &o show &ha& &he Biblical idea o) &he )u&ure - o) &he resurrec&ion o) &he body in&o so.e
hea0enly e+is&ence - .ay be scien&i)ically possible3 &hen I will )eel &ha& &hey ha0e ser0ed &heir purpose:
&o se& .en:s .inds )ree &o en&er&ain a li0ely hope in &he gospel.
To be consis&en& wi&h &he .e&hod we ha0e e.ployed in e0alua&ing &he Biblical .a&erial up &o &he
presen& &i.e3 &o as5 &he ;ues&ion :*here is hea0en,: is also &o as5 &he ;ues&ion3 :*here do )lying saucers
co.e )ro.,: The presen& concensus o) .os& wri&ers is &ha& since &here are perhaps .illions o)
inhabi&able plane&s in &he uni0erse3 )lying saucers probably co.e )ro. one such plane&3 and &he nearer
&o ear&h &he be&&er. % Ti.e .aga9ine essay3 :% Fresh Hoo5 a& Flying Saucers3: poin&s ou& how di))icul&
longdis&ance space &ra0el beco.es. :'0en &he neares& s&ar3 (ro+i.a 2en&auri3 is /." ligh&-years away.
%nd because presu.ably no spaceship - or any .a&&er - can &ra0el a& or beyond &he 0eloci&y o) ligh&3
which is &he uni0ersal speed li.i& according &o &he 'ins&ein &heory o) rela&i0i&y3 i& would &a5e
considerably longer &han /." ligh&-years &o reach &he ear&h )ro. i&s neares& s&ellar neighbor. %& &he
!73$00 ..p.h. &ha& as&ronau&s &ra0el3 i& would &a5e nearly !703000 years.: A"B
*e are s&ill in &he s&one age o) space &ra0el3 so &ha& i& is probably ;ui&e .isleading &o co.pare &he speed
o) our spaceships wi&h &hose o) beings who are really ad0anced in space &ra0el. Bu& Ti.e:s essay raises
an i.por&an& ;ues&ion: *ha& does 'ins&ein:s &heory o) rela&i0i&y ha0e &o do wi&h space &ra0el3 and wha&
sor& o) possibili&ies does &he &heory con&ain concerning our search )or hea0en, %l&hough I a. no
au&hori&y on rela&i0i&y3 I will &ry &o e+a.ine so.e o) &he issues.
-ne o) &he basic assu.p&ions o) 'ins&ein and 'dding&on and o&hers who ha0e de0eloped &he general
:&heory o) rela&i0i&y: is &ha& space3 &i.e3 and gra0i&a&ion are in&erdependen&3 no& independen&. A/B In )ac&3
gra0i&a&ion ca.e &o be unders&ood as ei&her a proper&y o) space3 or o) .a&&er which per.ea&ed and
in)luenced all space. Thus any poin& par&icle is in e))ec& under &he in)luence o) &he whole uni0erse.
Fur&her.ore3 non-'uclidean geo.e&ry had been de0eloped3 and i& was sugges&ed &ha& space .ay no& be
:s&raigh&: or :)la&3: bu& ra&her cur0ed3 and &ha& all ob7ec&s &ra0eling in space )ollow a cur0ed pa&h.
'ins&ein predic&ed &ha& &he gra0i&a&ion o) &he uni0erse would e0en de)lec& ligh& rays3 and &his was la&er
e+peri.en&ally 0eri)ied. He was led &o conclude &ha& &he uni0erse .igh& be :)ini&e3 bu& unbounded3:
.eaning &ha& al&hough &here is no physical boundary &o &he uni0erse3 &he gra0i&a&ional )ield o) &he
uni0erse would ac& as a :)ence3: so &ha& any poin& par&icle &ra0eling in space - e0en a ray o) ligh& -would
be ben& in an arc and would ne0er escape a cer&ain 0olu.e or area o) space. Thus &he )orce o)
gra0i&a&ion would cause our usable space &o be )ini&e. @a&&er in space is so.e&hing li5e a dog on a
leash3 &ied &o a s&a5e. The dog can wander in a circle around &he s&a5e - his world does no& appear &o be
bounded3 bu& i& is )ini&e. He is li.i&ed by &he leash A)orce o) gra0i&a&ionB which pulls hi. in &oward &he
cen&er s&a5e.
%no&her aspec& o) 'ins&ein:s &hin5ing3 which has been 0eri)ied &o so.e e+&en& by e+peri.en&al
obser0a&ion3 is &ha& any .ass which is accelera&ed &a5es on an addi&ional apparen& .ass3 and as &he
.ass approaches &he speed o) ligh&3 &his increase in apparen& .ass beco.es grea&er. This is one o) &he
reasons scien&is&s were led &o conclude &ha& i& would be i.possible &o accelera&e any .ass - including a
spaceship - &o a 0eloci&y which would e;ual or e+ceed &he 0eloci&y o) ligh&.
Since gra0i&y pro0ides resis&ance &o accelera&ion3 we ha0e &o ha0e roc5e&s &o send our spaceships in&o
orbi&. The roc5e&s coun&erac& &he resis&ing )orce o) gra0i&y. %s we ha0e already poin&ed ou&3 howe0er3
.any o) &he )lying-saucer repor&s sugges& &ha& saucer ac&i0i&y is so unusual &ha& so.e ha0e co.e &o &he
conclusion &ha& &he beings who de0eloped &he saucers ha0e so.ehow de0eloped a &echnology which
has se& &he. )ree )ro. &he e))ec&s o) gra0i&y. @a7or Donald '. Ieyhoe3 in his boo5 The Flying Saucer
2onspiracy3 de0o&es a )ull chap&er &o &he idea o) an an&i-gra0i&a&ional )ield. A$B He poin&s ou& &ha&
saucers ha0e been seen &o .a5e righ&-angled &urns a& high speeds3 and &o accelera&e )ro. a 0eloci&y o)
9ero &o eigh&een &housand .iles an hour al.os& ins&an&ly. Saucers ha0e apparen&ly on occasion caused
elec&ro.agne&ic in&er)erence3 such as shor&ing ou& &he elec&rical sys&e.s o) au&o.obiles.
*e assu.e &ha& saucers ha0e so.e 5ind o) propulsion sys&e.3 and ye& &hey usually .a5e no noise.
These are so.e o) &he reasons &ha& ha0e led .en such as Ieyhoe3 'dwards3 and Jallee &o conclude &ha&
saucers are propelled by genera&ing so.e 5ind o) an&i-gra0i&a&ional )ield or shield. *he&her or no& &he
&er. an&i-gra0i&a&ional is &he bes& &er. &o describe &he pheno.enon is no& clear. Bu& in any case3 we
ha0e &o as5 &he ;ues&ion: I) &he ci0ili9a&ion behind &he saucers has )ound a .eans &o escape &he e))ec& o)
gra0i&y3 wha& does &his .ean,
*e ha0e .en&ioned &ha& according &o 'ins&ein our 0isible uni0erse is :)ini&e3 bu& unbounded.: -ur
uni0erse is )ini&e &o us because we are bound &o our uni0erse by gra0i&a&ion li5e a dog &e&hered &o a
s&ic5. I) we were &o be se& )ree )ro. &he e))ec&s o) gra0i&y3 howe0er3 I can see no reason why we would
no& be )ree &o .o0e beyond our uni0erse in&o a new space3 .uch as i) a dog had been cu& )ree )ro. his
&e&her. Scien&is&s ha0e been discussing &he possible e+is&ence o) :an&i.a&&er:? &here is no logical reason
why only one &ype o) .a&&er could e+is&. So.e .a&erial subs&ance .igh& e+is& ou&side our uni0erse i) i&
were so.ehow una))ec&ed by &he gra0i&a&ional )ield o) our uni0erse.
I& .igh& be possible )or se0eral uni0erses &o coe+is&3 .uch as se0eral boa&s sail &he ocean3 pro0ided &ha&
each uni0erse has a di))eren& &ype o) gra0i&a&ional sys&e. so &ha& none are a&&rac&ed &oward any o&hers.
I) gra0i&y is &he proper&y o) &he cur0a&ure o) space3 i& .igh& be possible )or se0eral uni0erses &o coe+is&
separa&ely3 pro0ided &hey were go0erned by di))eren& spa&ial cur0a&ures. Bu& &his s&ill lea0es us wi&h &he
proble. &ha& since according &o &he rela&i0i&y &heory &he speed o) ligh& is &he uni0ersal speed li.i&3 i&
would &a5e .illions o) years &ra0eling a& &he speed o) ligh& &o reach any possible uni0erse ou&side our
own. (erhaps3 howe0er3 since our concep&s o) rela&i0i&y are s&ill being e+plored by science3 &here is a
ye& undisco0ered way &o o0erco.e &his :speed li.i&.: Then al.os& in)ini&e speeds .igh& beco.e
possible.
This is o) course specula&ion3 bu& I do belie0e &he presen& concep&s o) space3 cos.ology3 and &he whole
;ues&ion o) &he na&ure o) &he uni0erse are so open &ha& we do ha0e &he )reedo. &o specula&e in &his way?
howe0er uncer&ain our conclusions3 we can s&ill e+plore &he Biblical )ra.ewor5 wi&hou& ha0ing &o )eel
in&ellec&ually guil&y abou& doing so. %l&hough science has .ade )an&as&ic disco0eries abou& &he
uni0erse3 .any o) &hese disco0eries ha0e si.ply opened brand-new )ields which need &o be e+plored.
I) &he &heory o) rela&i0i&y per.i&s us &o i.agine hea0en as a uni0erse separa&e )ro. and beyond our own
uni0erse3 &his is by no .eans &he only possible solu&ion &o &he proble.3 and I will now sugges& ano&her.
-ur own space .ay be cur0ed3 ei&her in a nega&i0e or posi&i0e direc&ion3 or i& .ay ha0e a 9ero
cur0a&ure. Scien&is&s ha0e no& decided which &ype o) cur0a&ure is charac&eris&ic o) our own uni0erse3 bu&
gi0en &he idea &ha& our space is cur0ed3 i& is in&eres&ing &o consider concep&s in .a&he.a&ical space
&opology such as <ordan:s 2ur0e Theore. which s&a&es in e))ec& :&ha& &here are an inside and an ou&side
o) a si.ple closed cur0e in a plane.: A1B This idea see.s &o i.ply &ha& i) our uni0erse is si.ilar &o a
closed cur0e3 &hen &here .igh& be an :inside: and an :ou&side: uni0erse coe+is&ing in &he sa.e space wi&h
our own uni0erse. *e are led &o as5 &he ;ues&ion: *ould i& be possible )or uni0erses o) di))eren& spa&ial
cur0a&ures &o coe+is& in &he sa.e space,
2ould you .o0e )ro. one uni0erse &o ano&her pro0ided you unders&ood &he spa&ial cur0a&ure3 or
gra0i&a&ional )or.ula )or each space,
This reads li5e science )ic&ion3 bu& i& is in&eres&ing &o e+a.ine one )lying-saucer repor& recorded by
Ieyhoe. He poin&s ou& &ha& &here see. &o be a& leas& &wo &ypes o) 8F-s: &he :)lying-saucer: &ype3 and a
cigar-shaped :.o&her ship: in&o which )lying saucers ha0e been seen &o )ly. Ieyhoe records &his repor&
by 2ap&ain <a.es Howard and &he crew o) a B- %2 air liner:
%s 2ap&ain Howard was chec5ing his arri0al &i.e3 a dar5 ob7ec& appeared a )ew .iles &o &he le)&. Flying
parallel &o &he plane3 i& was clearly 0isible in &he )igh& )ro. &he se&&ing sun. @anoeu0ring around &his
.ys&erious cra)& were se0eral s.all3 round ob7ec&s. For a )ew .o.en&s 2ap&ain Howard and his co-
pilo&3 Firs& -))icer Hee Boyd3 wa&ched in a.a9e.en&. 8n&il &hen Howard had been scep&ical o) )lying-
saucer repor&s3 and Boyd had been only hal) con0inced.
The s.all saucers appeared &o be )lying in and ou& o) &he larger ship3 &hough &he pilo&s could no& be
sure.
Suddenly &he .o&her-ship changed i&s posi&ion3 .a5ing i& appear &o change shape3 7us& as an aeroplane3
seen )ro. di))eren& angles3 assu.es 0arying shapes.
Bo&h 2ap&ain Howard and Boyd were con0inced &ha& &he ob7ec&s were solid. %nd )ro. &he way &he si+
s.all 8F-s .anoeu0red3 circling and apparen&ly boarding &he .o&her ship3 &hey were ob0iously under
in&elligen& con&rol.
2alling >oose Bay %ir Force Base3 Boyd repor&ed &he s&range )or.a&ion. *i&hin seconds &wo 8.S.
Sabre7e& )igh&ers were scra.bled &o .ee& &he 2en&aurus.
By now all &he crew and so.e o) &he passengers had seen &he saucer )or.a&ion. Had &his been a cargo
)ligh&3 2ap&ain Howard .igh& ha0e ris5ed a closer approach. Bu& wi&h &he li0es o) &he crew and )i)&y-
one passengers &o consider3 he decided agains& i&.
The .o&her-ship and i&s s.aller saucers were s&ill )lying parallel &o &he 2en&aurus when one o) &he
Sabre7e& pilo&s radioed &he airliner )ro. a poin& &wen&y .iles away. The saucers3 2ap&ain Howard &old
hi.3 were s&ill pacing his plane.
:I:ll be &here in &wo or &hree .inu&es3: &he %ir Force pilo& answered.
Then a s&range &hing occurred.
Luic5ly &he si+ s.aller cra)& .erged wi&h &he .o&her-ship. %ccelera&ing a& &re.endous speed3 &he larger
.achine 0anished in a .a&&er o) seconds, A7B
I& is possible &o conclude wi&h Ieyhoe and &he pilo&s &ha& &he dar5 ob7ec& was a .o&her ship and &ha& i&
disappeared ;uic5ly because a gra0i&y-)ree spaceship would ha0e &he proper&y o) e+&re.ely rapid
accelera&ion. Bu& gi0en &he idea o) &he :cur0a&ure: o) space3 and o) an :inside: and :ou&side: uni0erse3 i&
would be possible &o specula&e &ha& &he so-called .o&hership in&o which &he saucers )lew was in )ac& a
bend or warp in &he space-&hru con&inuu.3 so.e 5ind o) space :&unnel: )ro. &he :.iddle: uni0erse &o
ei&her &he :inside: or :ou&side: uni0erse. -ne can well wonder why &he saucers see.ed &o be brigh& while
&he .o&her ship was :dar5.: *ere &hey .ade o) di))eren& .a&erial3 or was &he .o&her ship in )ac& no& a
ship3 no& .a&erial3 bu& ra&her so.e 5ind o) s&range 0oid,
This dar5 ob7ec& appeared &o change shape. Is &his because &he :.o&her ship: changed posi&ion as
Ieyhoe sugges&ed3 or .igh& &his ha0e been &he na&ural resul& o) s&ress placed on &he space :&unnel: due
&o &he changing posi&ion o) &he plane&s in our solar sys&e.3 causing a 0aria&ion in &he densi&y o) &he
gra0i&a&ional )ield, Ieyhoe repor&s &ha& &he .o&her ship appeared &o accelera&e 0ery rapidly3 and o)
course &his is possible. Bu& i) &he space &unnel were suddenly &o close3 i& would probably close li5e a
ca.era shu&&er3 gi0ing &he appearance o) an ob7ec& .o0ing rapidly away3 and )inally di.inishing &o a
poin&. Thus gi0en &he idea o) &he cur0a&ure o) space3 and &he )ac& &ha& space and gra0i&a&ion are
in&erdependen&3 i& is possible &o con7ec&ure &ha& .ore &han one uni0erse .igh& coe+is& in &he sa.e space3
and i) you 5new how &o con&rol gra0i&y3 you .igh& also 5now how &o con&rol your space and .o0e )ro.
one spa&ial cur0a&ure &o ano&her.
*he&her &he pilo&s in &he B-%2 liner saw &he saucers disappear in&o a .o&her ship3 or in&o so.e sor& o)
space &unnel leading &o ano&her in0isible uni0erse righ& in &he .ids& o) us3 I do no& 5now. Bu& gi0en &he
0arious cos.ological possibili&ies which see. &o be inheren& wi&hin &he general &heory o) rela&i0i&y3 I
&hin5 &ha& &he idea o) &he space &unnel canno& be ruled ou& i..edia&ely on &heore&ical grounds. -n &he
basis o) &he repor& recorded by Ieyhoe3 I belie0e &ha& a space &unnel is a possible in&erpre&a&ion o) wha&
was obser0ed. I& is easier3 M &hin53 &o belie0e Iey-hoe:s in&erpre&a&ion3 &ha& &he dar5 ob7ec& was a .o&her
ship. Bu& i& would be a .is&a5e a& &his poin& in our unders&anding o) cos.ology3 or in our unders&anding
o) &he poin& o) origin o) )lying saucers3 &o rule ou& any possibili&y be)ore .ore e0idence is a0ailable. A6B
8F-s ha0e been seen &o change shape3 going &hrough so.e&hing li5e a :)olding: process3 and &o
disappear so rapidly &ha& &hey ha0e been described as going :ou& li5e a ligh&.: A#B Since 8F-s and beings
associa&ed wi&h &he. apparen&ly ha0e unusual con&rol o0er gra0i&y Ain &he Bible3 e0ery&hing )ro. &he
par&ing o) &he =ed Sea3 or &he <ordan =i0er3 &o <esus: wal5ing on wa&erB and since .odern science has
sugges&ed &ha& gra0i&a&ional )orces .ay be lin5ed wi&h cur0a&ures o) space3 we .us& re.ain )le+ible in
regard &o &he proble. o) where 8F-s origina&e. I& is i.por&an& &o reali9e &ha& in &he pas& hal)-cen&ury
concep&s o) space ha0e beco.e .uch .ore )luid3 .uch .ore open &han &hose accep&ed by science
be)ore !#00. I& is perhaps bes& a& &his poin& &o re.ain undecided abou& &he &ru&h 0alue o) .y :space
&unnel: in&erpre&a&ion. I& does no& see. &oo probable3 bu& scien&i)ic concep&s see. &o be )luid enough
&ha& we canno& au&o.a&ically rule i& ou&. In &his :undecided: )ra.e o) .ind le& us e+a.ine so.e o) &he
Biblical concep&s o) &he na&ure and loca&ion o) hea0en.
The 4#pirit * (od4 And The 4*penin' * The He!.ens4
*hen <esus was bap&i9ed3 he saw :&he Spiri& o) >od descending li5e a do0e3 and aligh&ing on hi.:
A@a&&hew ":!1B. *here did &his 8F- co.e )ro.3 according &o &he Biblical accoun&, %)&er <esus was
bap&i9ed3 :&he hea0ens were opened: and &he Spiri& see.s &o ha0e descended )ro. &his :opening.: This
idea o) an :opening: represen&s an e+a.ple o) &he :.y&hological: e+pression o) &he Biblical cos.ology
agains& which Bishop =obinson and o&hers ha0e wri&&en. The :opening: sugges&s &ha& in our :&hree-
dec5er uni0erse: :a door: leads )ro. our world below &o &he world abo0e where &he angels li0e in
hea0en. In &he )irs& chap&er o) >enesis we read &ha& >od crea&ed :a )ir.a.en& in &he .ids& o) &he wa&ers3
and le& i& separa&e &he wa&ers )ro. &he wa&ers: A>enesis !:1B. The early Biblical people see. &o ha0e
belie0ed &ha& &here was so.e&hing li5e a glass shee& which held wa&er up in hea0en Aapparen&ly ou&er
space was &hough& &o be .os&ly wa&erB? when rain was needed3 0arious doors were opened in hea0en &o
le& &he rain co.e down. Thus when &he grea& )lood ca.e upon Noah3 we read &ha& :on &ha& day all &he
)oun&ains o) &he grea& deep burs& )or&h3 and &he windows o) &he hea0ens were opened: A>enesis 7:!!B.
*e ha0e &o ad.i& &ha& &here is here a pri.i&i0e cos.ology3 and cer&ainly so.e&hing li5e i& .ay ha0e
pre0ailed during &he whole Biblical period. Bu& &he idea which &he :)ir.a.en&: e+presses .ay be use)ul3
i) so.ewha& .odi)ied3 in order &o unders&and our own rela&ion &o hea0en3 -ur 0isible uni0erse see.s &o
be essen&ially ho.ogeneous and crea&ed. I& see.s unli5ely &ha& no .a&&er how )ar one &ra0eled in&o
ou&er space3 one would )ind hea0en. Bu& &here .ay be so.e&hing li5e a :glass shee&: which separa&es our
crea&ed uni0erse )ro. bo&h :hea0en: and :hell.:
I a. sugges&ing &ha& by using &he concep&s o) &he cur0a&ure o) space in 'ins&ein:s uni0erse3 &here .ay be
so.e&hing li5e a :&hree-dec5er uni0erse.: In =obinson:s :&hree-dec5er uni0erse: hea0en is si.ply &he
:&hird s&ory: on a house3 &he ear&h is &he second s&ory3 and hell is &he )irs& Aor &he cellarB each s&ac5ed one
on &he o&her? &his .ay ha0e represen&ed &he pri.i&i0e Biblical 0iew3 as Bul&.ann3 =obinson3 and o&hers
ha0e argued. Bu& wha& abou& a &hree-dec5er uni0erse in which &he s&ories are no& so .uch 0er&ical &o
each o&her as hori9on&al &o each o&her,
The uni0erses are separa&ed by :walls: ra&her &han by )loors and ceilings3 al&hough &his analogy is no&
ade;ua&e3 because hea0en3 hell3 and our 0isible uni0erse .ay in )ac& occupy a :one-roo. house3: bu& by
.eans o) a 0aria&ion in &he cur0a&ure o) space3 whe&her posi&i0e3 nega&i0e3 or 9ero3 we are able &o ha0e
&hree uni0erses occupy &he sa.e 0olu.e o) space. -ne would perhaps .o0e )ro. one uni0erse &o &he
o&her by :bending space: so &ha& an opening would be .ade.
Ieyhoe3 as we ha0e seen in his Flying Saucer 2onspiracy3 has shown &ha& 8F-s o) &he saucer &ype
ha0e been seen &o )ly in and ou& o) so.e dar5 ob7ec& which we ha0e sugges&ed was a :space &unnel.: I)
&hose presen& a& &he bap&is. o) <esus saw &he :Spiri& o) >od: A&he brigh& cloudB e.erge )ro. so.e dar5
opening abo0e3 &hen perhaps we ha0e here &he lin5 be&ween our world and &he ne+&. This o) course
s&re&ches scien&i)ic 5nowledge3 proper Biblical e+egesis3 and &he i.agina&ion &o a li.i& which perhaps
canno& be 7us&i)ied3 bu& i& is a use)ul .odel by which )ur&her &o e+a.ine Biblical &hough&. -ne
in&eres&ing )ac& abou& &he use o) &he >ree5 word )or opening is &ha& i& re)ers &o opening places which
o&herwise would be closed &o .an. A!0B
*hen S&ephen was abou& &o be s&oned3 he :ga9ed in&o hea0en and saw &he glory o) >od3 and <esus
s&anding a& &he righ& hand o) >od? and he said3 CBehold3 I see &he hea0ens opened3 and &he Son o) .an
s&anding a& &he righ& hand o) >od:C A%c&s 7:$$3$1B. The re)erence &o >od:s :glory: .igh& indica&e &he
presence o) a :brigh& cloud: &ype o) 8F-3 and we )ind S&ephen apparen&ly seeing in so.e 5ind o) 0ision
&he :opening: or bending bac5 o) space. None o) &he o&her persons presen& see.s &o ha0e had &his 0ision3
which shares so.e&hing o) &he apocalyp&ic charac&er o) &he =e0ela&ion o) <ohn. *he&her &he e+perience
o) S&ephen was psychological3 physical3 a co.bina&ion o) bo&h3 or nei&her is di))icul& &o say. Bu& i& is
in&eres&ing &ha& S&ephen see.s &o ha0e sensed &ha& >od was presen& as i) he were in &he :ne+& roo.3: so
&o spea5. The door &o &he ne+& roo. was .o.en&arily opened &o hi..
*hy did S&ephen :ga9e in&o hea0en:, The passage says &ha& S&ephen3 :)ull o) &he Holy Spiri&3 ga9ed in&o
hea0en: A%c&s 7:$$B. The Holy Spiri& in &he Bible is usually in0isible3 bu& ne0er&heless presen& &o each
person. The Holy Spiri& see.s &o be an in0isible power )ro. ano&her uni0erse which is righ& in &he
.ids& o) our uni0erse. %& (en&ecos& &he disciples :were all &oge&her in one place. %nd suddenly a sound
ca.e )ro. hea0en li5e &he rush o) a .igh&y wind3 and i& )illed all &he house where &hey were si&&ing. ...
%nd &hey were all )illed wi&h &he Holy Spiri&: A%c&s :!-/B. I will no& e0en begin &o a&&e.p& &o e+plain
wha& happened a& (en&ecos&3 bu& one gains &he i.pression &ha& &he Holy Spiri& see.s &o ha0e :bro5en
&hrough: &he space o) &he roo. where &he disciples were ga&hered. The :brea5&hrough: was repor&ed &o
ha0e caused a physical dis&urbance3 :li5e &he rush o) a .igh&y wind3: an e))ec& &ha& .igh& resul& )ro. &he
:bending: or :opening: o) space. *hen &he Holy Spiri& ca.e upon S&ephen3 he did no& ga9e :up: &o
hea0en? he ga9ed :in&o: hea0en3 as i) i& were in &he ne+& roo.. <esus did no& ascend :up: &o hea0en? he
ascended :in&o: hea0en3 &o &he :inner sanc&uary: o) &he presence o) >od. (erhaps &he use o) &he
preposi&ion :in&o: is .ore i.por&an& &han we ha0e reali9ed in e+pressing &he loca&ion o) hea0en.
-n ano&her occasion &he %pos&le (e&er )ell in&o so.e sor& o) &rance3 and he :saw &he hea0en opened3 and
so.e&hing descending3 li5e a grea& shee&3 le& down by )our corners upon &he ear&h. In i& were all 5inds o)
ani.als and rep&iles and birds o) &he air.: A%c&s !0:!!3!B. (e&er was &old &ha& he should 5ill and ea& &he
con&en&s o) &he shee&-li5e 8F- which was lowered in )ron& o) hi.. (e&er3 a <ew3 had ne0er ea&en
unclean )ood3 and he was &old &o ea& &o prepare hi. )or his .ee&ing wi&h &he >en&ile 2ornelius3 who had
heard an angel in a 0ision &ell hi. &o send )or (e&er. Bo&h (e&er and 2ornelius reac&ed as i) &hey .ade
con&ac& wi&h a s&range world which was so.ehow in &heir .ids&3 bu& was usually in0isible.
The 9in'do/ * (od )s )n The :idst * ;ou4
-n one occasion <esus &old his disciples3 :where &wo or &hree are ga&hered in .y na.e3 &here a. I in &he
.ids& o) &he.: A@a&&hew !6:0B? how could 2hris& be presen& &o &he disciples3 ye& in0isible, %l&hough i&
is no& clear wha& happened3 Hu5e records &ha& <esus was led by &he 0illagers o) Na9are&h :&o &he brow o)
&he hill on which &heir ci&y was buil&3 &ha& &hey .igh& &hrow hi. down headlong. Bu& passing &hrough
&he .ids& o) &he. he wen& away: AHu5e /:#3 "0B.
This passage i.plies &ha& <esus passed &hrough &heir .ids& wi&hou& e))or&. -ne o) &he .ore deba&ed
passages in Scrip&ure is &he answer <esus ga0e &o &he (harisees concerning &he co.ing o) &he 5ingdo.
o) >od. Being as5ed by &he (harisees when &he 5ingdo. o) >od was co.ing3 he answered &he.3 CThe
5ingdo. o) >od is no& co.ing wi&h signs &o be obser0ed? nor will &hey say3 CHo3 here i& isEC or CThereEC
)or behold3 &he 5ingdo. o) >od is in &he .ids& o) youC: AHu5e !7:03!B.
The )irs& ;ues&ion .us& be3 *ha& is .ean& by &he phrase &he 5ingdo. o) >od, I& .us& be re.e.bered
&ha& @a&&hew al.os& ne0er uses &he phrase &he 5ingdo. o) >od? ra&her3 he spea5s o) &he e;ui0alen&
5ingdo. o) hea0en. Hu5e3 on &he o&her hand3 al.os& always spea5s o) &he 5ingdo. o) >od. The
5ingdo. o) >od Aor hea0enB would necessarily be a place where >od reigned. *ould &his be on ear&h
or in hea0en3 or bo&h, I& is clear )ro. &he &eaching o) <esus &ha& &here is a dis&inc&ion be&ween hea0en
and ear&h. In &he :Hord:s (rayer: we read :&hy will be done3 on ear&h3 as i& is in hea0en: A@a&&hew 1:!0B.
The <ews belie0ed &ha& indeed so.eday &he 5ingdo. o) hea0en would co.e &o ear&h3 and i& was &his
belie) which .o&i0a&ed &he ;ues&ion &he (harisees raised concerning &he co.ing o) &he 5ingdo..
The answer <esus ga0e can be gi0en a nu.ber o) in&erpre&a&ions:
The 5ingdo. .igh& be :in &he .ids& o) you: in &he sense &ha& >od is concerned wi&h .an:s hear& or
.ind3 and he see5s &o co.e in&o &he :.ids&: o) &he li)e o) e0ery person. Thus &he idea o) &he :5ingdo.: is
gi0en a spiri&ual or .en&al in&erpre&a&ion. Bu& &his in&erpre&a&ion is unsa&is)ac&ory because <esus3
5nowing his opinion o) &he (harisees3 would no& ha0e been li5ely &o &ell &he. &ha& &he 5ingdo. was
wi&hin &he.. -ne would no& e+pec& &he 5ingdo. &o be )ound in &he .inds o) &he hypocri&ical (harisees.
The generally .ore accep&able in&erpre&a&ion is &ha& <esus was re)erring &o hi.sel). He was s&anding :in
&he .ids&: o) &he (harisees3 and &he 5ingdo. o) >od was e.bodied in <esus. *hen <esus says &ha& &he
5ingdo. is no& co.ing wi&h :signs &o be obser0ed3: he could ha0e been re)erring &o &he )ac& &ha& in &he
co.ing o) 2hris& &he power o) >od was underplayed? <esus here ac5nowledges his :underco0er agen&:
role which had been de)ined in &he scenes in &he wilderness during his &e.p&a&ions. The 5ingdo. was
hidden in an innocen&-loo5ing carpen&er:s son3 s&anding in &he .ids& o) &he.. <ohn &he Bap&is& ca.e
preaching &ha& :&he 5ingdo. o) hea0en is a& hand: A@a&&hew ":B3 which was &he Biblical way o)
poin&ing &o &he co.ing o) 2hris&.
The .ain di))icul&y wi&h saying &ha& &he 5ingdo. was )ully presen& in 2hris& is &ha& Hu5e3 a)&er
recording &his inciden& wi&h &he (harisees3 .o0es on &o describe an apocalyp&ic passage which <esus
rela&es &o his disciples3 and &his passage spea5s .ore direc&ly &o &he ;ues&ion &he (harisees raised. <esus
says3 :For as &he ligh&ning )lashes and ligh&s up &he s5y )ro. one side o) &he o&her3 so will &he Son o)
.an be in his day: AHu5e !7:/B. <esus &augh& &ha& so.e aspec& o) &he 5ingdo. will be consu..a&ed in
&he )u&ure.
He sugges&s &ha& &he Son o) @an Ai.e.3 hi.sel)B will so.eday in &he )u&ure re&urn wi&h &he suddenness
and brigh&ness o) ligh&ning )lashing across &he s5y. In &he )inal chap&er we shall deal wi&h &he :second
co.ing o) 2hris&3: bu& i& is i.por&an& &o no&ice &ha& &he early 2hurch belie0ed &ha& so.eday 2hris&
would re&urn wi&h a power e0en grea&er &han &ha& wielded by @oses. Thus )or <esus &o say &o &he
(harisees &ha& &he 5ingdo. is already - now - in &he .ids& o) &he. in i&s .os& power)ul aspec& is no&
;ui&e &rue &o .uch o) &he Biblical .a&erial.
The &hird al&erna&i0e is &o dis&inguish be&ween &he 5ingdo. o) >od on ear&h and &he 5ingdo. o) >od in
hea0en. The 5ingdo. o) >od in hea0en is )ully obedien& &o &he will o) >od3 which is why we are &o
pray &ha& >od:s will .ay be done on ear&h as i& is done in hea0en. I) when <esus answered &he (harisees
he was re)erring &o &he 5ingdo. o) >od in hea0en3 and i) &here is so.e 0alidi&y in .y specula&ion &ha&
'ins&ein:s cur0a&ure o) space pro0ides &he clue &o &he :place: where hea0en is3 &hen perhaps <esus .ean&
;ui&e li&erally &ha& &he 5ingdo. o) >od or o) hea0en is :in &he .ids& o) us3 al&hough i& is in0isible.
Hea0en .ay be an en&irely di))eren& uni0erse righ& in &he .ids& o) us.
Fro. an e+ege&ical3 and also )ro. a scien&i)ic3 poin& o) 0iew I .ay be s&re&ching &he i.plica&ions o) &he
ideas o) :in &he .ids& o) you: and :&he cur0a&ure o) space.: Bu& i) we are &o &a5e &he idea o) hea0en
seriously3 &hen we ha0e &o a&&e.p& &o reconcile &wo di))icul& )ac&s: :&he &hings &ha& are seen are &ransien&3
bu& &he &hings &ha& are unseen are e&ernal: AII 2orin&hians /:!6B? and 7us& as angels see. &o by physical3
and as &he resurrec&ion body o) 2hris& see.ed &o be physical3 i& would see. &o )ollow &ha& we need a
:resurrec&ion uni0erse: which is in0isible and ye& allows )or bodily e+is&ence. The Bible co.es close &o
saying &ha& &his in0isible uni0erse is in &he .ids& o) us3 in0isible due &o i&s di))eren& spa&ial cur0a&ure.
The 5o"6ed 1oo/s And The #p!"e Tunnel
-n a& leas& &wo occasions a)&er his =esurrec&ion <esus ca.e and s&ood in &he .ids& o) &he disciples when
&he doors o) &he roo. had been shu&3 and presu.ably loc5ed3 :)or )ear o) &he <ews: A<ohn 0:!#B. -n &he
)irs& occasion Tho.as was no& wi&h &he disciples3 bu& :eigh& days la&er3 his disciples were again in &he
house3 and Tho.as was wi&h &he.. The doors were shu&3 bu& <esus ca.e and s&ood a.ong &he.3 and
said C(eace be wi&h you.C Then he said &o Tho.as3 C(u& your )inger here3 and see .y hands? and pu&
ou& your hand3 and place i& in .y side? do no& be )ai&hless3 bu& belie0ing.C Tho.as answered hi.3 C@y
Hord and .y >odEC <esus said &o hi.3 :Ha0e you belie0ed because you ha0e seen .e, Blessed are &hose
who ha0e no& seen and ye& belie0eC: A<ohn 0:1-#B.
The disciples see.ed &o ha0e had no e+plana&ion o) how <esus could ha0e co.e and s&ood in &he .ids&
o) &he. while &he door was closed. Scholars ha0e so.e&i.es sugges&ed &ha& &he resurrec&ion body o)
2hris& was able &o go &hrough closed doors3 which perhaps i& could3 bu& &he disciples did no& repor&
:seeing: his body so.ehow .o0e &hrough a closed door. The >ospel o) <ohn si.ply says3 :<esus ca.e.:
I& s&ri5es one as peculiar &ha& &he body o) <esus could .o0e &hrough a door and ye& be &ouched by
Tho.as3 as &he >ospel repor&s in &he sa.e se;uence. I) we can suppose3 howe0er3 &ha& we li0e in &he
:.ids&: o) an in0isible spa&ially cur0ed resurrec&ion uni0erse3 &hen perhaps <esus :ca.e: &hrough a :space
&unnel: in&o &he roo. where &he disciples were ga&hered wi&h &he door loc5ed. The i.plica&ion would
&hen see. &o )ollow &ha& <esus did no& need a 8F- or :space cloud: &o &a5e hi. &o hea0en3 bu& ra&her &ha&
&he %scension was a special e0en& s&aged )or &he bene)i& o) &he disciples &o le& &he. 5now &ha& &here was
so.e&hing :)inal: abou& &he way <esus le)& on &his occasion.
*hen <esus appeared &o @ary3 he said &o her3 :Do no& hold .e3 )or I ha0e no& ye& ascended &o &he
Fa&her? bu& go &o .y bre&hren and say &o &he.3 I a. ascending &o .y Fa&her and your Fa&her3 &o .y >od
and your >od: A<ohn 0:!7B. Ha&er <esus in0i&ed &he disciples &o &ouch hi.3 so &ha& i& see.s s&range &ha&
<esus would ha0e )orbidden @ary &o :hold: hi.3 al&hough he .ay ha0e .ean&3 :Do no& de&ain .e.: Bu&
<esus is repor&ed &o ha0e said &ha& he was preparing &o ascend &o his Fa&her3 when in )ac& &he %scension
did no& &a5e place )or so.e )or&y days.
-n &he basis o) &he resurrec&ion appearances o) <esus one could argue &ha& <esus ac&ually :.o0ed bac5
and )or&h: be&ween our world and &he resurrec&ion world )or &he :)or&y-day: period3 appearing &o &he
disciples )or shor& periods o) &i.e and &hen :ascending: or re&urning &o &he resurrec&ion world. <esus was
seen &o ascend on only one occasion3 which was his )inal appearance e+cep& )or his brie) 0isi& &o (aul
on &he Da.ascus =oad. I) we can suppose &ha& &here is an in0isible resurrec&ion uni0erse in &he .ids& o)
us3 &hen we ha0e a possible e+plana&ion o) &he unusual )ea&ures o) &he resurrec&ion appearances o)
2hris&.
There are a& leas& &wo o&her occasions repor&ed in &he Bible which3 while no& duplica&ing &he :closed
door: resurrec&ion appearances o) 2hris&3 .ay be rela&ed &o &he.. -n one occasion &he apos&les were
being 5ep& in a guarded prison3 and an angel ca.e and se& &he. )ree. *hen &he o))icers ca.e )or &heir
prisoners3 &hey said &hey )ound :&he sen&ries s&anding a& &he doors3 bu& when we opened i& we )ound no
one inside: A%c&s $:"B. The disciples were )ound &eaching in &he Te.ple.
-n a second occasion (e&er was i.prisoned3 and :was sleeping be&ween &wo soldiers3 bound wi&h &wo
chains3 and sen&ries be)ore &he door were guarding &he prison? and behold3 an angel o) &he Hord
appeared3 and a ligh& shone in &he cell? and he s&ruc5 (e&er on &he side and wo5e hi.3 saying3 C>e& up
;uic5ly.C %nd &he chains )ell o)) his hands: A%c&s !:137B. (e&er dressed3 &hin5ing all &he while &ha& he
.us& be drea.ing. :*hen &hey had passed &he )irs& and &he second guard3 &hey ca.e &o &he iron ga&e
leading in&o &he ci&y. I& opened &o &he. o) i&s own accord3 and &hey wen& ou& and passed on &hrough one
s&ree&? and i..edia&ely &he angel le)& hi.: A%c&s !:!03!!B. (e&er was on his own3 s&anding alone in a
s&ree& in &he .iddle o) &he nigh&. He )inally ca.e &o his senses and wen& his way.
-ne canno& help wondering how &he angel and (e&er could ge& by &he sen&ries unde&ec&ed3 bu& one also
wonders how &he angel en&ered &he prison. *e read &ha& &he iron ga&e opened &o le& (e&er and &he angel
ou& o) &he prison. Did &he angel close &he ga&e when he ca.e in3 or did he ge& in so.e o&her way, Did
he co.e in &hrough a space &unnel )ro. &he resurrec&ion uni0erse,
(erhaps &his is un)ounded specula&ion3 bu& i& appears &ha& i) we are going &o e+plain .uch o) &he
Biblical da&a3 &he idea o) an in0isible resurrec&ion uni0erse in &he .ids& o) us is an e+&re.ely use)ul idea
by which &o in&erpre&3 or a& leas& .a5e so.e sense o)3 .uch o) &he Biblical .a&erial.
4)n :& F!ther4s House Are :!n& 1oo/s4
There is one aspec& o) &he Biblical 0iew o) space which does no& direc&ly suppor& our &hesis concerning
a :resurrec&ion uni0erse: in &he .ids& o) us. The <ewish &e.ple pro0ided &he :.odel: by which &he
Hebrews unders&ood &he uni0erse? in )ac&3 &he &e.ple pro0ided a .icrocos.ic .odel o) &he uni0erse3
including hea0en and hell. 'ach par& o) &he &e.ple3 &he design o) which was apparen&ly dic&a&ed by an
angel3 was sy.bolic o) so.e par& o) &he :house: o) >od3 &ha& is3 o) >od:s uni0erse. Thus we read in &he
>ospel o) <ohn &ha& in &he words o) <esus3 :In .y Fa&her:s house are .any roo.s? i) i& were no& so3
would I ha0e &old you &ha& I go &o prepare a place )or you, %nd when I go and prepare a place )or you3 I
will co.e again and will &a5e you &o .ysel)3 &ha& where I a. you .ay be also: A<ohn !/:3"B.
To describe &he uni0erse as co.posed o) :roo.s: or :co.par&.en&s: which are spa&ially separa&ed by
:walls: is no& ;ui&e consis&en& wi&h .y sugges&ion &ha& &wo :roo.s: or uni0erses occupy &he sa.e space.
The Bible sugges&s &ha& we can .o0e )ro. one uni0erse &o ano&her3 or one roo. &o ano&her3 &hrough
:doors.: The boo5 o) =e0ela&ion3 which is par& o) &he <ohannine .a&erial3 is )illed wi&h sy.bolis.
rela&ed &o &he <ewish &e.ple. Thus when we read how <ohn recei0ed &he %pocalypse we disco0er3 :%)&er
&his I loo5ed3 and lo3 in hea0en an open doorE %nd &he )irs& 0oice3 which I had heard spea5ing &o .e li5e
a &ru.pe&3 said3 C2o.e up hi&her3 and I will show you wha& .us& &a5e place a)&er &his.C %& once I was in
&he Spiri&3 and lo3 a &hrone s&ood in hea0en3 wi&h one sea&ed on &he &hroneC A=e0ela&ion /:!-B.
*hen we read in &he passages concerning &he bap&is. o) <esus &ha& &he Spiri& o) >od descended a)&er
&he hea0ens had :opened3: we ha0e again an illus&ra&ion o) &he way in which &he Biblical world 0iew
included a .any-roo.ed uni0erse. Hea0en was apparen&ly :abo0e: and one en&ered i& by doors. The
&e.ple could ne0er pro0ide an ade;ua&e .odel )or a uni0erse in which se0eral :uni0erses: coe+is& one
inside &he o&her3 )or &he &e.ple is only &hree-di.ensional3 whereas 'ins&ein:s uni0erse and rela&ed
.odels are .ore co.ple+.
I) one insis&s on &a5ing &he idea o) &he <ewish &e.ple as a precise .odel o) &he uni0erse3 one has &o
assu.e &ha& space is s;uare3 and &hus &he ear&h would ha0e :)our corners3: as would a roo. in &he
&e.ple. This is no& a use)ul approach &o &he proble.. Bu& I do no& wan& co.ple&ely &o abandon &he idea
&ha& &he &e.ple .ay indeed &ell us so.e&hing use)ul abou& our uni0erse3 and abou& &he rela&ion be&ween
our uni0erse3 &he resurrec&ion world3 and hell. These worlds see. &o be separa&ed by :walls: o) so.e
sor&3 and spa&ial cur0a&ures according &o .odern science )or. :na&ural: walls.
<esus &old o) &he )ac& &ha& our s&a&us in &he ne+& world3 whe&her in hea0en or in hell3 depends on our
deeds in &his li)e. He spo5e o) a rich .an who re)used &o )eed &he poor .an Ha9arus. Bo&h died3 &he rich
.an going &o Hades3 and Ha9arus &o &he boso. o) %braha.. The rich .an called &o %braha. )or help3
bu& help could no& be gi0en3 a.ong o&her reasons3 because :besides all &his3 be&ween us and you a grea&
chas. has been )i+ed3 in order &ha& &hose who would pass )ro. here &o you .ay no& be able3 and none
.ay cross )ro. &here &o us: AHu5e !1:1B.
The word chas. is used here by Hu5e3 and &his is &he only occasion on which &he word is used in &he
whole New Tes&a.en&. The >ree5 word ;ui&e li&erally .eans :a yawning:? A!!B a :yawning: or bending
o) space so &ha& i& is i.possible &o .o0e )ro. one space &o ano&her3 sugges&s &ha& &he :roo.s: in >od:s
:house: are separa&ed by so.e&hing li5e a bending or yawning or cur0a&ure o) space.
*e .us& 5eep in .ind &he e+&re.e ha9ards o) &rying &o gi0e a )ac&ual in&erpre&a&ion o) Biblical .a&erial
which is sy.bolic in na&ure. Should one apply &his sy.bolis. &o .odern &heories o) space3 which are
by no .eans uni0ersally accep&ed a.ong scien&is&s and .ay be radically re0ised in &he )u&ure, I do no&
5now. Bu& I do belie0e &ha& &he rela&ion be&ween &he Biblical 0iew o) space and our .odern 0iews o)
space is e+&re.ely open. To spea53 as Bishop =obinson does3 abou& &he pri.i&i0e Biblical &hree-dec5er
uni0erse does no& begin &o e+plore &he delica&e aspec&s o) &he Biblical 0iew o) space. -ur unders&anding
o) space has changed so radically in &he pas& )i)&y years &ha& i& is di))icul& )or anyone e+cep& scien&i)ic
and .a&he.a&ical specialis&s &o unders&and wha& &he .odern 0iews o) space are.
*e should be prepared &o &olera&e a less &han per)ec& spa&ial :.odel: which .ay ha0e been used by
beings )ro. ano&her world who see. &o ha0e helped shape &he Biblical 0iew o) space. I) we allow
oursel0es &o be a li&&le :liberal: in our in&erpre&a&ion o) &he Biblical cos.ology3 and i) we are also a li&&le
:liberal: in our in&erpre&a&ion o) our .odern cos.ologies - &ha& is3 i) we ad.i& &ha& &he si&ua&ion is
e+&re.ely open - &hen I canno& see how &he :de.y&hologi9ers: can be so cer&ain &ha& &he Biblical world
0iew and our .odern world 0iew do no&3 and ne0er will3 )i& &oge&her3 and &ha& as a conse;uence i& is in
Bishop =obinson:s opinion :in&ellec&ually dishones&: )or a 2hris&ian e0en &o go on hoping &ha& <esus
really was :li)&ed up: in&o space by so.e sor& o) 8F- - a space cloud - or &ha& &here .ay really be an
in0isible hea0en and hell.
=obinson can argue &ha& .any o) .y specula&ions are :highly i.probable3: perhaps ridiculous3 bu& we
are a long way )ro. &he poin& where we can say &ha& &he whole Biblical way o) &hin5ing abou& space is
i.possible - which is wha& =obinson is in e))ec& saying. I& would be a .is&a5e &o &a5e e0ery&hing &he
Bible says abou& space li&erally3 bu& I belie0e i& would also be a .is&a5e &o suppose &ha& &he Bible &ells
us no&hing &rue or i.por&an& concerning space.
< - Fl&in' #!u"ers And The Future
Spea5ing abou& :)lying saucers and &he )u&ure: .ay i..edia&ely bring &o .ind &he ;ues&ion o) whe&her
or no& 8F-s carrying beings )ro. ano&her world .igh& so.eday land in )orce on ear&h. This is in )ac&
wha& &he Bible predic&s3 bu& no& in &he sense which .ode. 8F- wri&ers sugges&. I& .ay be &ha& so.e or
.any o) our .odern 8F-s carry beings )ro. ano&her plane&3 and perhaps so.eday &hey will land3 and
we can e+change scien&i)ic in)or.a&ion wi&h &he.3 or &rade ani.als wi&h &he.? we .igh& s&ar& an
:in&erplane&ary 9oo.: There are all 5inds o) possibili&ies in &his real.3 bu& &he possibili&y also e+is&s in &he
Biblical real.3 in &er.s o) &he day o) 7udg.en& and &he second co.ing o) 2hris&.
*hen <esus was &a5en up in&o hea0en in a :space cloud3: &wo .en :in whi&e robes: said &o &he disciples -
:This <esus3 who was &a5en up )ro. you in&o hea0en3 will co.e in &he sa.e way as you saw hi. go in&o
hea0en: A%c&s !.!!B. The New Tes&a.en& indica&es &ha& in &he )u&ure <esus will re&urn &o ear&h in
&riu.ph3 glory3 and 7udg.en&. %& &his &i.e o) 7udg.en& &he :dead: will be raised3 and will be carried &o
hea0en. I& is e+&re.ely ha9ardous3 e0en )ro. &he scien&i)ic poin& o) 0iew3 &o &ry &o :predic&: &he )u&ure3
and ye& e.pirical philosophy is ;ui&e con0inced &ha& &he bes& &ype o) scien&i)ic 0eri)ica&ion - or
)alsi)ica&ion - is based on predic&ion and )ul)ill.en&. Thus a good scien&is& .ay predic& an eclipse - and
i) he is a good scien&is&3 &he eclipse will occur as predic&ed.
The Bible predic&s .any &hings3 bu& in par&icular i& predic&s Aor prophesiesB &ha& 2hris& will re&urn in &he
)u&ure and &ha& all .en will be raised )ro. &he dead3 so.e &o sal0a&ion and so.e &o da.na&ion. The
concep& o) )lying saucers helps clari)y wha& )or so.e people .ay see. li5e s&range doc&rines. In &he
%pos&les: 2reed 2hris&ians s&a&e &ha& &hey belie0e &ha& 2hris& ascended in&o hea0en3 and :)ro. &hence he
shall co.e &o 7udge &he ;uic5 and &he dead. I belie0e in ... &he resurrec&ion o) &he body? and &he li)e
e0erlas&ing.: Thus when we spea5 o) :)lying saucers and &he )u&ure3: we ha0e in .ind no& so .uch
in&erplane&ary cul&ural and scien&i)ic e+change as &he e&ernal )u&ure o) e0ery person on &he )ace o) &he
ear&h.
I& is because o) &he e&ernal i.plica&ions o) )lying saucers &ha& &he idea o) )lying saucers is so i.por&an&.
I) )lying saucers con&ain beings )ro. ano&her plane& who .ay soon con&ac& us3 &his is also i.por&an&.
Bu& i) )lying saucers con&ain beings )ro. &he resurrec&ion world abou& which &he Bible spea5s3 and i)
&he Biblical religion pro0ides &he clue &o e&ernal e+is&ence3 &hen )lying saucers gain e&ernal signi)icance.
'&erni&y .ay be .ore i.por&an& &o so.e people &han in&erplane&ary cul&ural e+changes. In &his chap&er
we shall e+a.ine &wo e+&re.ely di))icul& Biblical concep&s3 bo&h o) which are escha&ological and bo&h
o) which are rela&ed &o 8F-s? )lying saucers and &he second co.ing o) 2hris&3 and )lying saucers and
&he resurrec&ion o) &he body.
Fl&in' #!u"ers And The #e"ond Co/in' * Christ
There ha0e been &wo .a7or pi&)alls &hroughou& &he his&ory o) &he 2hurch in regard &o &he doc&rine o) &he
second co.ing o) 2hris&: There ha0e been &hose who ha0e sough& &o :predic&: &he da&e o) &he second
co.ing3 and &here ha0e been &hose who ha0e sough& &o dis.iss &he doc&rine en&irely.
%& &he %scension &he apos&les were &old by &wo beings )ro. ano&her world &ha& 2hris& would so.eday
re&urn in &he sa.e .anner as he ascended in&o hea0en. Bishop =obinson3 in dis.issing &he %scension
o) 2hris&3 by conse;uence .us& dis.iss &he doc&rine o) &he second co.ing. The disciples3 7us& be)ore
&he %scension3 as5ed <esus :Hord will you a& &his &i.e res&ore &he 5ingdo. &o Israel,: A%c&s !:!1B. The
answer <esus ga0e has un)or&una&ely been ignored by a seg.en& o) &he 2hurch. <esus said3 :I& is no& )or
you &o 5now &i.es or seasons which &he Fa&her has )i+ed by his own au&hori&y: A%c&s !:7B. I) <esus
would no& re0eal &he da&e o) his second co.ing &o his disciples3 we can hardly e+pec& hi. &o re0eal &he
da&e &o so.eone in &he .iddle o) &he &wen&ie&h cen&ury.
I& is possible &ha& <esus hi.sel) did no& 5now &he :da&e: o) his apocalyp&ic co.ing3 )or on one occasion
he said3 :Bu& o) &ha& day and hour no one 5nows3 no& e0en &he angels o) hea0en3 nor &he Son3 bu& &he
Fa&her only: A@a&&hew /:"1B. The only clear ad0ice in &he Bible is shown in &he parable concerning &he
wise and )oolish .aidens wai&ing )or &he co.ing o) &he bridegroo. A2hris&B. <esus concluded3 :*a&ch
&here)ore3 )or you 5now nei&her &he day nor &he hour: A@a&&hew $:!"B.
Isaac New&on3 who is ad.ired as one o) &he grea&es& scien&is&s o) all &i.e3 was also an e+cellen&3 &hough
he&erodo+3 &heologian. His )a0ori&e Biblical boo5 was &he =e0ela&ion &o <ohn3 a boo5 which had o)&en
been used by &heologians as &he basis on which &o :predic&: &he second co.ing o) 2hris&3 &oge&her wi&h
o&her his&orical e0en&s. Bu& New&on .ade no predic&ions concerning &he second co.ing o) 2hris&3
al&hough he was )ir.ly con0inced &ha& &he second co.ing would so.eday occur. New&on said in
re)erence &o &he %pocalypse:
The )olly o) in&erpre&ers ha&h been3 &o )ore&ell &i.es and &hings by &his prophecy3 as i) >od designed &o
.a5e &he. prophe&s. By &his rashness &hey ha0e no& only e+posed &he.sel0es3 bu& brough& &he
prophecy also in&o con&e.p&. The design o) >od was .uch o&herwise. He ga0e &his3 and &he prophecies
o) &he -ld Tes&a.en&3 no& &o gra&i)y .en:s curiosi&ies by enabling &he. &o )ore5now &hings? bu& &ha&3
a)&er &hey were )ul)illed3 &hey .igh& be in&erpre&ed by &he e0en&3 and his own (ro0idence3 no& &he
in&erpre&ers3 be &hen .ani)es&ed &hereby &o &he world. A!B Thus3 while I &hin5 &ha& )lying saucers pro0ide
an e+cellen& .eans o) en&ering in&o &he Biblical &hin5ing concerning &he second co.ing3 we are by no
.eans in any be&&er posi&ion &o predic& any da&es. Nearly &wo &housand years ha0e elapsed since &he
:)irs& co.ing3: and &here .ay be &wo &housand or &wo hundred &housand years be&ween now and &he
second co.ing.
Bu& while I do no& belie0e &ha& we should predic& da&es3 I also do no& belie0e &ha& we should gi0e up &he
idea o) &he second co.ing. The &rend in &heology since &he nine&een&h cen&ury has been &o re7ec& &he
idea o) &he second co.ing o) 2hris&.
This re7ec&ion was su..ari9ed and crys&alli9ed in %lber& Schwei&9er:s wor5 The Lues& o) &he His&orical
<esus. AB The early church apparen&ly e+pec&ed &ha& 2hris& would re&urn in &riu.ph and glory wi&hin a
)ew years - perhaps wi&hin &he li)e&i.e o) .os& o) &he new con0er&s. This e+pec&a&ion o) an early re&urn3
o) :&he escha&on3: helped .issionary )er0or3 bu& as &he co.ing was :delayed3: ;ues&ions arose abou& &he
doc&rine. Schwei&9er and o&hers ha0e argued &ha& since &he second co.ing has been delayed )or nearly
&wo &housand years3 i& appears &ha& <esus3 or &he early 2hurch3 or bo&h3 were deluded concerning &his
doc&rine. I& is clear &ha& in &he Bible3 &he :&i.e: ele.en& was ne0er se&&led. Schwei&9er has argued in
e))ec& &ha& since &he second co.ing has no& occurred ye&3 i& will ne0er occur. %s &i.e goes on &his
argu.en& beco.es .ore con0incing. Bu& i) 2hris&-should re&urn3 &ha& would end &he argu.en&.
*ha& does &he New Tes&a.en& indica&e concerning &he .anner o) &he second co.ing o) 2hris&, The
.anner is usually e+pressed in :apocalyp&ic: language3 which is ;ui&e di))eren& )ro. narra&i0e. @any
2hris&ian scholars ha0e gi0en apocalyp&ic .essages his&orical in&erpre&a&ion3 and &he co.bina&ion o) &he
idea o) :)lying saucers: and cer&ain o) &he apocalyp&ic sayings a&&ribu&ed &o <esus o))ers a possible
his&orical e+plana&ion or predic&ion o) &he second co.ing.
Here is one passage o) Scrip&ure a&&ribu&ed &o <esus which apparen&ly rela&es &o his second co.ing.
:I..edia&ely a)&er &he &ribula&ion o) &hose days &he sun will be dar5ened3 and &he .oon will no& gi0e i&s
ligh&3 and &he s&ars will )all )ro. hea0en3 and &he powers o) &he hea0ens will be sha5en? &hen will
appear &he sign o) &he Son o) .an in hea0en3 and &hen all &he &ribes o) &he ear&h will .ourn3 and &hey
will see &he Son o) .an co.ing on &he clouds o) hea0en wi&h power and grea& glory? and he will send
ou& his angels wi&h a loud &ru.pe& call3 and &hey will ga&her his elec& )ro. &he )our winds3 )ro. one end
o) hea0en &o &he o&her: A@a&&hew /:#-"!B. So.e In&erpre&ers suppose &ha& &he sun3 &he .oon3 and &he
s&ars are sy.bolic o) 0arious early rulers and 5ingdo.s and &hus &end &o gi0e &he passage a &o&ally
his&orical in&erpre&a&ion wi&hou& any unders&anding o) a dis&urbance in na&ure? &ha& is3 &hey do no& e+pec&
&he celes&ial s&ars &o )all3 bu& ra&her &he 5ings and presiden&s on ear&h &o be &he :)alling s&ars: who will be
replaced by &he Son o) @an.
-n &he o&her hand3 &here do appear &o be :hea0enly: aspec&s &o &his passage. There is &he proble. o)
wha& is signi)ied by :&he sign o) &he Son o) .an in hea0en3: and also &he )ac& &ha& all &he &ribes on ear&h
:will see &he Son o) .an co.ing on &he clouds o) hea0en wi&h power and grea& glory.: The idea o) &he
co.ing o) &he Son :wi&h &he clouds o) hea0en: has i&s origin in a 0ision o) &he prophe& Daniel ADaniel
7:!"B3 &he only occasion on which &he phrase clouds o) hea0en is used in &he -ld Tes&a.en&. I& see.s
reasonable &o con7ec&ure &ha& &here is so.e connec&ion be&ween &he :pillar o) cloud: or &he brigh& cloud
o) >od:s glory which led Israel &hrough &he =ed Sea3 and &he idea o) :clouds o) hea0en.: The :pillar o)
cloud: presu.ably origina&ed in hea0en.
In &he -ld Tes&a.en& &here is no&hing &ha& parallels &he New Tes&a.en& unders&anding o) hea0en3
al&hough &he -ld Tes&a.en& people see. &o ha0e belie0ed in li)e a)&er dea&h. I& is only wi&h 2hris& &ha&
&he idea o) hea0en really co.es in&o i&s own3 )or he clai.s &o ha0e origina&ed in hea0en - as he said3 Tor
I ha0e co.e down )ro. hea0en: A<ohn 1:"6B. *hen Daniel uses &he phrase clouds o) hea0en3 he does
no& .a5e any re)erence &o &he glory o) >od3 bu& in &his passage in @a&&hew &he hea0enly clouds see. &o
supply &he :power and grea& glory3: which is ;ui&e consis&en& wi&h &he @osaic &radi&ion and wi&h &he
brigh& cloud o) &he Trans)igura&ion. %& &he %scension i& was repor&ed &ha& <esus was :li)&ed up: and &a5en
away in a cloud3 and &he &wo .en s&anding by in :whi&e robes: repor&ed &ha& <esus :will co.e in &he sa.e
way as you saw hi. go in&o hea0en: A%c&s !:!!B.
I) &he %scension is a his&orical e0en&3 and i) &he prophecies concerning &he second co.ing are &o be
in&erpre&ed in a way which is consis&en& wi&h &he %scension passage3 i& is per.issible &o say &ha& <esus
will re&urn &o 7udge &he ear&h in a )lying-saucer-li5e 8F-3 his space cloud3 @s hea0enly cloud.
The o&her &hing &o no&ice abou& &his whole se;uence in @a&&hew is &ha& <esus does no& in&end &o re&urn
alone. *hereas &hroughou& &he whole New Tes&a.en& &he power o) >od is underplayed3 &he gospel is
hidden in &he lu.p3 a& &he day o) 7udg.en&3 and o) &he second co.ing3 &he power which was seen in &he
8F- a& &he =ed Sea will once again be seen3 &his &i.e in connec&ion wi&h 2hris&. (re0iously &he power
o) 2hris& was hidden3 bu& in &he )u&ure his lordship will be .ade .ani)es& o0er &he whole ear&h3 he will
re&urn in so.e sor& o) 8F- wi&h grea& power and glory Abrigh&nessB3 :and he will send ou& his angels
wi&h a loud &ru.pe& call.:
%& &he second co.ing 2hris& will no& re&urn alone3 bu& ra&her will ha0e a whole ar.y o) angels.
@a&&hew on se0eral occasions connec&s 7udg.en& and &he second co.ing wi&h angels. :<us& as &he
weeds are ga&hered and burned wi&h )ire3 so will i& be a& &he close o) &he age. The Son o) .an will send
his angels3 and &hey will ga&her ou& o) his 5ingdo. all causes o) sin and all e0ildoers3 and &hrow &he.
in&o &he )urnace o) )ire? &here .en will weep and gnash &heir &ee&h. Then &he righ&eous will shine li5e
&he sun in &he 5ingdo. o) &heir Fa&her. He who has ears3 le& hi. hear: A@a&&hew !":/0-/"B. Bo&h @ar5
and Hu5e bear wi&ness in parallel passages &o &his basic apocalyp&ic perspec&i0e. -ne suspec&s &ha& a
whole :)lee&: o) 8F-s would be re;uired &o bring &his :ar.y: o) angels. :For &he Son o) .an is &o co.e
wi&h his angels in &he glory o) his Fa&her3 and &hen he will repay e0ery .an )or wha& he has done:
A@a&&hew !1:7B3 and when he has re&urned wi&h &hese angels3 2hris& :will si& on his glorious &hrone:
A@a&&hew $:"!B.
The >ospel o) <ohn indica&es &ha& &hese angels co.e &hrough an :opening: in &he hea0ens A<ohn !:$!B.
2hris& co.pares his co.ing &o &he )lood which ca.e during &he days o) Noah A@a&&hew /:"7-"#B3 and
also &o &he raining o) )ire and bri.s&one on Sodo. AHu5e !7:6-"0B. %s &he )loods o) wa&er and )ire
ca.e suddenly upon &he ear&h3 so will &he )lood o) angels wi&h &heir leader3 &he Son o) .an. :For as &he
ligh&ning )lashes and ligh&s up &he s5y )ro. one side &o &he o&her3 so will &he Son o) .an be in his day:
AHu5e !7:/B.
@odern )lying saucers ha0e recorded speeds es&i.a&ed on radar in e+cess o) !63000 .iles per hour.
*he&her or no& so.e&hing li5e )lying saucers will e+ecu&e &he second co.ing o) 2hris& &oge&her wi&h an
ar.y o) beings )ro. ano&her world I do no& 5now3 bu& a& &he presen& &i.e I do no& see any way &his can
be ruled ou&. %pocalyp&ic language is :cloudy3: and when 2hris&ians do no& 5now &he e+ac& or proper
in&erpre&a&ion o) an obscure passage3 &hey .us& ha0e &he courage &o say &ha& &hey do no& 5now &he
answer. Bu& &he )ac& is &ha& i) )lying saucers do e+is&3 &hen we would ha0e wha& e.pirical philosophers
such as *i&&gens&ein ha0e sugges&ed &he 2hris&ian )ai&h does no& ha0e? &ha& is3 an e.pirical basis )or &he
0eri)ica&ion Aor )alsi)ica&ionB o) 2hris&ian religious s&a&e.en&s. So.e 2hris&ian scholars ha0e sugges&ed
&ha& li)e a)&er dea&h - li)e in &he resurrec&ion world - .igh& cons&i&u&e a basis )or e.pirical 0eri)ica&ion o)
2hris&iani&y. Bu& philosophers generally ha0e ob7ec&ed &o &he idea o) placing 0eri)ica&ion in an in0isible
real.. Flying saucers3 and &he possibili&y o) &he second co.ing o) 2hris&3 open up &he possibili&y &ha&
&he 2hris&ian )ai&h could be 0eri)ied or )alsi)ied in &his world. This would .ean &ha& religious
s&a&e.en&s are open &o 0eri)ica&ion3 and are ei&her &rue or )alse3 and no& .eaningless as so.e
philosophers ha0e sugges&ed.
*e ha0e no& :pro0ed: &ha& &he 2hris&ian religion is &rue3 al&hough we are &rying &o disco0er e0idence
which will gi0e &he )ai&h a grea&er degree o) probabili&y? bu& ob0iously .any areas o) doub& re.ain.
=i&chie 2alder3 in his boo5 Science and -ur Hi0es3 sugges&ed &ha& :Science has been de)ined as C(roo)
wi&hou& 2er&ain&yC and Fai&h as C2er&ain&y wi&hou& (roo).C: A"B 8n)or&una&ely3 2hris&ians so.e&i.es &ry
&o clai. .ore :cer&ain&y: &han &hey ha0e a righ& &o3 and &hey .ay a&&e.p& &o sha.e &heir )ellow
2hris&ians who ha0e doub&s. 2hris& did wan& .en &o be cer&ain abou& hi.3 bu& one canno& )orce onesel)
&o belie0e by pulling up on @s own boo&s&raps o) )ai&h. Fai&h co.es &hrough hearing and seeing3 as &he
disciples saw and heard 2hris&.
4ou do no& ha0e &o see and &ouch 2hris& &o belie0e? you can &rus& &he eyewi&ness repor&s. Seeing is no&
necessarily belie0ing. *hen 2hris& appeared a)&er his =esurrec&ion &o his disciples3 :so.e doub&ed:
A@a&&hew 6:!7B. *hen we wi&ness an e0en& which is con&rary &o all o&her hu.an e+perience3 we .ay
discoun& i&. The 2hris&ian li)e is no& one o) &o&al cer&ain&y -as (aul .ain&ained3 we wal5 by )ai&h3 no& by
sigh&3 :)or now we see in a .irror di.ly: AI 2orin&hians !":!B. *hen a person con)esses belie) in
2hris&3 >od is a& wor5 A@a&&hew !1:!7B? no one can accep& 2hris& on &he basis o) si.ply seeing 2hris&
per)or. .iracles? no one co.es &o 2hris&3 according &o <esus3 :unless &he Fa&her who sen& .e draws
hi.: A<ohn 1://B.
The whole proble. o) belie)3 doub&3 cer&ain&y3 and proo) is 0ery co.plica&ed in &he ligh& o) &he Biblical
.a&erial3 and &he proble.s )ocus around how one 5nows &he &ru&h. '0en people who see &he &ru&h will
no& recogni9e i& i) &hey are no& prepared inwardly - psychologically - &o accep& &he &ru&h when &hey see
i&. % 2hris&ian is a person who has decided prayer)ully3 in&ellec&ually3 and scien&i)ically &ha& all &he
inward and ou&ward e0idence has led hi. &o base his li)e on &he assu.p&ion Acorrec& or incorrec&B &ha&
<esus 2hris& is &he Son o) >od3 &ha& he died )or &he sins o) .en3 &ha& he rose )ro. &he dead3 and &ha& one
day he will re&urn &o raise all .en )ro. &he dead. This is an :opera&ional de)ini&ion: o) a 2hris&ian.
(hysical e0idence3 or scien&i)ic e0idence3 o) &he resurrec&ion is no& enough &o .a5e a person a
2hris&ian. % person also needs &he resurrec&ed 2hris& :li0ing wi&hin hi..:
% .an needs bo&h physical and spiri&ual e0idence. (sychology and .edicine are now beginning &o see
&ha& &he physical and .en&al are in&i.a&ely lin5ed. @an needs an in&ernal and e+&ernal wi&ness &o &he
resurrec&ion3 and i& would see. &o be a du&y o) &he 2hurch &o .a5e &he Biblical wi&ness &o &he physical
resurrec&ion as probable Ascien&i)ically and BiblicallyB as possible. *hile I would no& say3 using
2alder:s &er.s3 &ha& we can ha0e :proo) o) &he resurrec&ion wi&hou& cer&ain&y3: ne0er&heless I would say
&ha& &here are degrees o) e0idence which .a5e &he physical resurrec&ion ei&her .ore or less probable. I)
<esus really is &he 2hris&3 &he e0idence will e0en&ually show &his &o be &he case.
The sugges&ion &ha& science is proo) wi&hou& cer&ain&y and )ai&h is cer&ain&y wi&hou& proo) .ay arise
)ro. &he Biblical dis&inc&ion be&ween &he sheep and &he goa&s3 or be&ween ligh& and dar5ness. Bu& &here
are shades o) ligh& and dar5ness: so.e sheep are .ore )ai&h)ul &han o&hers? occasionally &here is &he los&
sheep. In one parable <esus spea5s o) a sower who wen& ou& &o sow: so.e seeds were de0oured by &he
birds? so.e )ell on roc5y ground3 sprou&ed3 bu& were ;uic5ly scorched by &he sun? o&her seed )ell
a.ong &horns and was cho5ed ou& by &he.? bu& s&ill o&her seed )ell in good soil bringing )or&h grain3
:yielding &hir&y)old and si+&y)old and a hundred)old: A@ar5 /:6B.
The concep& o) yield .ay poin& &o :wor5s: ra&her &han :)ai&h3: bu& )ai&h and )ai&h)ulness are direc&ly
propor&ional according &o Biblical &hin5ing. Thus i& see.s &ha& &here is so.e&hing li5e a .a&&er o)
:degree: in &he concep& o) )ai&h3 7us& as &ru&h in science is a .a&&er o) degree or probabili&y. % 2hris&ian
.igh& be a person who is con0inced &ha& &here is a 10 per cen& chance &ha& <esus is &he 2hris& - in bo&h a
conscious and subconscious sense - and he .igh& accordingly yield &wen&y)old. I& is concei0able &ha& a
person .igh& &hin5 &here is less &han ! per cen& chance &ha& <esus is &he 2hris&3 and he .igh& decide &ha&
he wan&ed &o li0e ou& his li)e as a 2hris&ian3 al&hough &his see.s unli5ely. This is a ra&her :.echanical:
analysis o) a parable which is e+pressed in organic &er.s o) li)e. Bu& &he breach be&ween science and
)ai&h does no& see. &o be &he di))erence in &he way each in&erpre&s &he na&ure o) proo) and cer&ain&y.
Three decades ago 'nrico Fer.i pos&ula&ed &ha& a 0ery peculiar :so.e&hing: or )or. o) energy was
.issing )ro. an a&o.ic e;ua&ion. Fer.i 5new &he ;uan&i&y o) energy which was .issing3 bu& he
concluded &ha& &his energy had nei&her a posi&i0e nor a nega&i0e charge3 i& had no .ass3 and because o)
&hese proper&ies he na.ed i& &he :neu&rino.: Fer.i:s neu&rino caused a considerable scandal in &he )ield
o) science because no one could cap&ure i& - i& had 0ery elusi0e proper&ies. So.e scien&is&s were cer&ain
&ha& &he whole idea was a )raud3 &ha& such an energy par&icle 7us& did no& e+is&.
So.e scien&is&s &hough& &ha& i& .igh& e0en be In&ellec&ually dishones&: &o con&inue &o discuss &he
neu&rino and i&s role in a&o.ic physics. Bu& o&her .en were con0inced &ha& &he neu&rino was :&here: and
&ha& e0en&ually i& could be cap&ured. S&ubborn scien&is&s who :belie0ed in &he neu&rino: e0en &hough no
one had e0er seen i& or seen any e+peri.en&al sign o) i& &ried e+peri.en&s wi&h scin&illa&ion coun&ers )or
se0eral years un&il )inally &hey succeeded in :cap&uring: &he neu&rino3 in showing &ha& &he neu&rino
e+is&ed. A/B *ha& can be said abou& &he .en&al s&a&e o) &hose scien&is&s who persis&ed in loo5ing )or &he
neu&rino, S&. %nsel. would ha0e said &ha& &hese were .en o) )ai&h who were see5ing unders&anding -
)ides ;uarens in&ellec&ual.
% 2hris&ian can ha0e :)ai&h: &ha& &he second co.ing o) 2hris& will occur? in&erpre&ing &he second co.ing
in rela&ion &o )lying saucers .ay be one way - or perhaps &he way - in which &he second co.ing .ay be
unders&ood. The .an o) science and &he .an o) )ai&h are no& in 0ery di))eren& posi&ions in respec& &o
&heir .e&hods3 al&hough &heir sub7ec& .a&&er is3 o) course3 di))eren&. Bo&h scien&is&s and &heologians 0ery
o)&en ha0e &o repen& - &hey .a5e .is&a5es - bu& occasionally &hey s&u.ble on&o &he &ru&h3 one bric5 a& a
&i.e.
Fl&in' #!u"ers And The 1esurre"tion * The Bod&
The New Tes&a.en& .ain&ains &ha& all .en shall so.eday be raised )ro. &he dead in a new body - a
resurrec&ion body. I& is &his doc&rine abo0e all o&hers which has led cri&ics &o say &ha& &he 2hris&ian )ai&h
o))ers pie in &he s5y bye and bye.
@ore precisely3 howe0er3 all will be raised? no& e0eryone ge&s &o ea& pie. Those who do no& obey &he
gospel o) 2hris& :shall su))er &he punish.en& o) e&ernal des&ruc&ion and e+clusion )ro. &he presence o)
&he Hord: A Thessalonians !:#B. The resurrec&ion o) all .en is usually3 al&hough no& always3 closely
lin5ed wi&h &he second co.ing o) 2hris&? )ur&her.ore3 &he resurrec&ion world is &he world o) angels. *e
.igh& e+pec& &ha& &here would be so.e lin5 be&ween &he idea o) )lying saucers and &he Biblical concep&
o) &he resurrec&ion. *e shall e+a.ine brie)ly only &wo basic ;ues&ions: AiB *hen will &he resurrec&ion
&a5e place3 and AB How will i& &a5e place,
The resurrec&ion will &a5e place ei&her i..edia&ely a)&er a person dies3 or a& &he second co.ing o)
2hris&3 or perhaps a co.bina&ion or 0aria&ion o) bo&h &i.es.
*hile <esus was dying on &he cross3 one o) &he &wo &hie0es who was cruci)ied a& &he sa.e &i.e
apparen&ly accep&ed 2hris& and his 5ingly power. <esus said &o hi.3 :&oday you will be wi&h .e in
(aradise: AHu5e ":/"B. The %pos&le (aul belie0ed &ha& i) he died he would 7oin 2hris& i..edia&ely. He
says3 :I a. hard pressed be&ween &he &wo. @y desire is &o depar& and be wi&h 2hris&3 )or &ha& is )ar be&&er.
Bu& &o re.ain in &he )lesh is .ore necessary on your accoun&: A(hilippians !:"3 /B. He can also say
&ha& 2hris&ians :long &o pu& on our hea0enly dwelling: A 2orin&hians $:B3 &ha& is3 &heir hea0enly body.
*e ha0e also seen in &he >ospels &ha& <esus &hough& %braha. wi&nessed his co.ing. @oses and 'li7ah
apparen&ly .e& wi&h 2hris&3 (e&er3 <a.es and <ohn a& &he @oun& o) Trans)igura&ion. There are cer&ainly
enough passages in &he Bible which indica&e li&&le i) any delay be&ween &his li)e and &he ne+& so &ha& i&
can be argued &ha& li)e a)&er dea&h is i..edia&e. There were only &hree days be&ween &he dea&h and
=esurrec&ion o) 2hris&3 whe&her or no& &his has any rele0ance here:
-n &he o&her hand3 <esus said &ha& :e0ery one who sees &he Son and belie0es in hi. should ha0e e&ernal
li)e? and I will raise hi. up a& &he las& day: A<ohn 1:/0B. The :las& day: is &he <udg.en& Day3 &he day o)
2hris&:s second co.ing. In one o) his le&&ers (aul &al5s abou& &hose 2hris&ians who ha0e :)allen asleep: -
&ha& is3 died - be)ore &he co.ing o) 2hris&. (aul e+plains &ha& in &he day o) 7udg.en& &hose who ha0e
:)allen asleep: will be raised and &a5en &o &he Hord )irs&3 and &hey will be )ollowed by &hose who are s&ill
ali0e on ear&h AI Thessalonians /:!"-!6B. *e shall discuss &his passage in de&ail when we e+a.ine &he
:how: o) &he resurrec&ion. Bu& )or &he .o.en& we can conclude &ha& &here is considerable Biblical
e0idence &ha& &he resurrec&ion will no& &a5e place un&il &he second co.ing o) 2hris&.
The &hird al&erna&i0e is &o belie0e in &wo resurrec&ions. The boo5 o) =e0ela&ion spea5s abou& a special
group o) 2hris&ians3 apparen&ly .ar&yrs3 who were raised &o li)e again3 and &hey :reigned wi&h 2hris& a
&housand years. The res& o) &he dead did no& co.e &o li)e again un&il &he &housand years were ended.
This is &he )irs& resurrec&ion: A=e0ela&ion 0:/3 $B. I& could be argued &ha& >od raises so.e o) &he special
sain&s and prophe&s ei&her i..edia&ely or ahead o) e0eryone else. 'li7ah was &a5en up in&o hea0en
i..edia&ely3 and @oses and %braha. see. &o be ali0e. (erhaps &he apos&les ha0e also shared in an
early resurrec&ion? (aul .ay ha0e 5nown &ha& &his applied &o hi. A(hilippians !:"3 /B.
The proble. o) &he :when: o) &he resurrec&ion has caused considerable con&ro0ersy in &he 2hurch )or
so.e &i.e. 8n)or&una&ely3 &he concep& o) )lying saucers does no& clari)y &he passages which deal wi&h
&he :when: o) &he resurrec&ion3 any .ore &han 8F-s clari)y &he passages dealing wi&h &he :when: o) &he
second co.ing o) 2hris&.
Bu& i) 8F-s do no& sol0e &he proble. o) &he :when: o) &he resurrec&ion3 &hey do shed so.e ligh& in a
possible e+plana&ion o) &he :how: o) &he resurrec&ion. He& us e+a.ine (aul:s descrip&ion o) &he second
co.ing and &he day o) resurrec&ion in I Thessalonians: :For &he Hord hi.sel) will descend )ro. hea0en
wi&h a cry o) co..and3 wi&h &he archangel:s call3 and wi&h &he sound o) &he &ru.pe& o) >od. %nd &he
dead in 2hris& will rise )irs&? &hen we who are ali0e3 who are le)&3 shall be caugh& up &oge&her wi&h &he.
in &he clouds &o .ee& &he Hord in &he air? and so we shall always be wi&h &he Hord: AI Thessalonians
/:!13!7B. The second co.ing o) 2hris& heralds &he day o) resurrec&ion. 2hris& e+pec&ed &o re&urn )ro.
hea0en :in &he clouds: wi&h angels and wi&h grea& power. (aul also adds &ha& bo&h &hose :asleep: and
&hose :ali0e: shall be :caugh& up: :in &he clouds &o .ee& &he Hord in &he air.: I) we subs&i&u&e :8F-s: or
:)lying saucers: )or clouds3 &he passage is consis&en& wi&h scien&i)ic possibili&y.
There is one o&her occasion on which (aul spea5s o) being :caugh& up3: which in &he >ree5 sugges&s &ha&
one is &a5en up by )orce3 and &his is how (aul describes his e+perience in II 2orin&hians. He spea5s
abou& his own :re0ela&ions3: al&hough &o a0oid boas&ing he spea5s as i) he were &al5ing abou& ano&her
.an. He says3 :I 5now a .an in 2hris& who )our&een years ago was caugh& up &o &he &hird hea0en
-whe&her in &he body or ou& o) &he body I do no& 5now3 >od 5nows. %nd I 5now &ha& &his .an was
caugh& up in&o (aradise - whe&her in &he body or ou& o) &he body I do no& 5now3 >od 5nows - and he
heard &hings &ha& canno& be &old: AII 2orin&hians !:-/B. There is a real &ension in &he .ind o) (aul on
&his occasion as &o whe&her he was :caugh& up: in his own body or no&.
Since (aul did no& 5now3 we can hardly 5now3 bu& he hi.sel) could no& rule ou& &he possibili&y &ha& he
was so.ehow :caugh& up3: )orce)ully &a5en &o :(aradise: in his own ear&hly body where he saw and
heard unspea5able &hings. 'i&her (aul was los& )or words3 or else he did no& unders&and &he hea0enly
language. In 5eeping wi&h our earlier discussion on &he :degrees o) )ai&h: and &he degrees o) 0eri)ica&ion
&o which a 2hris&ian .ay be sub7ec&ed3 i& is )air &o say &ha& i) (aul endured &he e+perience o) being
&a5en away &o (aradise in so.e sor& o) 8F-3 a :hea0enly cloud3: &hen we can well unders&and his )ir.
con0ic&ion concerning &he Hordship o) 2hris&3 and &he )u&ure resurrec&ed li)e in (aradise. In &his passage
in II 2orin&hians (aul does no& .en&ion any sor& o) 8F- as being responsible )or &he )ac& &ha& he was
:caugh& up3: bu& i& would probably ha0e been consis&en& wi&h his Da.ascus =oad e+perience3 and his
discussion in I Thessalonians o) &he e+perience o) being :caugh& up: in &he :clouds: a& &he second co.ing
o) 2hris&.
=e&urning &o I Thessalonians3 we ha0e seen &ha& &hose who ha0e been raised )ro. &he dead will be
)orce)ully &a5en :in &he clouds &o .ee& &he Hord in &he air.: I) we in&erpre& &he word cloud in a
s&raigh&)orward sense3 we o) course ha0e di))icul&y scien&i)ically seeing wha& (aul could .ean. Bu& i)
we in&erpre& &he passages in &he ligh& o) .odern 8F-s3 &he si&ua&ion changes.
This passage in I Thessalonians also brings &o .ind &he )ac& &ha& angels3 apparen&ly in charge o) a )lee&
o) :clouds3: will help e+ecu&e &he day o) 7udg.en& and resurrec&ion. In &elling &he s&ory o) &he rich .an
and Ha9arus3 <esus said3 :The poor .an died and was carried by &he angels &o %braha.:s boso.: AHu5e
!1:B. Here again is an indica&ion &ha& angels ha0e so.e&hing &o do wi&h &he &ranspor&a&ion o) &he
resurrec&ed person &o his e&ernal abiding place.
In&erpre&ing &he concep& o) &he resurrec&ion in ligh& o) )lying saucers underlines .ore &han e0er &he )ac&
&ha& .an:s )u&ure li)e in hea0en will be spen& in a body o) so.e 5ind. *ha& will &his body be li5e, (aul
spea5s .uch abou& &he resurrec&ion body3 which he once described as a :spiri&ual body: AI 2orin&hians
!$://B3 bu& we ha0e seen &ha& he si.ply .eans &ha& &his is a body which will be appropria&e )or .an:s
hea0enly e+is&ence. (aul uses &he word spiri&ual here because i& is &he opposi&e o) physical3 and i& )i&s
&he pa&&ern o) opposi&e in &his whole passage. He says3 :*ha& is sown is perishable3 wha& is raised is
i.perishable. I& is sown in dishonor3 i& is raised in glory. I& is sown in wea5ness3 i& is raised in power. I&
is sown a physical body3 i& is raised a spiri&ual body. I) &here is a physical body3 &here is also a spiri&ual
body: AI 2orin&hians !$:/-//B. =eali9ing &ha& &he &er. spiri&ual body is al.os& sel)-con&radic&ory -
spiri&ual and body -(aul adds an e+&ra sen&ence &o apologi9e )or pu&&ing &hese opposi&es &oge&her. :I)
&here is a physical body3 &here is also a spiri&ual body.:
In II 2orin&hians (aul spea5s o) .an:s resurrec&ion body as a :hea0enly dwelling3: which is e;ui0alen&
&o his idea o) a spiri&ual body. He says3 Tor we 5now &ha& i) &he ear&hly &en& we li0e in is des&royed3 we
ha0e a building )ro. >od3 a house no& .ade wi&h hands3 e&ernal in &he hea0ens. Here indeed we groan3
and long &o pu& on our hea0enly dwelling3 so &ha& ... wha& is .or&al .ay be swallowed up by li)e: A
2orin&hians $:!-/B. The &er. hea0enly body would be &he bes& way &o describe our resurrec&ion body3
)or &he &er. spiri&ual body can be so.ewha& .isleading3 as (aul see.s &o ha0e reali9ed. I) &he
resurrec&ion body o) 2hris& is &he pro&o&ype o) &he resurrec&ion body o) all 2hris&ians3 &hen i& see.s
clear &ha& .an:s :hea0enly dwelling: or :spiri&ual body: can be concre&e enough so &ha& Tho.as could
&ouch i&.
-ne can cer&ainly argue3 howe0er3 &ha& &he resurrec&ion body o) 2hris& is no ordinary body3 and
cer&ainly nei&her &he Bible as a whole3 nor &he %pos&le (aul3 .ain&ains &ha& &he resurrec&ion body is
iden&ical in )or. or con&en& wi&h .an:s ear&hly body. *hile Tho.as did &ouch 2hris&3 2hris& appeared
a)&er &he doors were shu& - whe&her 2hris& ca.e &hrough a :space &unnel: or whe&her his resurrec&ion
body could .o0e &hrough closed doors we do no& 5now. <esus appeared &o3 and wal5ed wi&h3 &wo
disciples on &he '..aus =oad3 bu& so.ehow &he disciples did no& recogni9e <esus: :Bu& &heir eyes were
5ep& )ro. recogni9ing hi.: AHu5e /:!1B. Hu5e lays &he )aul& on &he eyes o) &he disciples ra&her &han on
&he body or appearance o) <esus. Their eyes were :opened: when 2hris& bro5e bread be)ore &he.3 and
a)&er &hey recogni9ed hi.3 he :0anished: AHu5e /:"!B.
2hris&ians ha0e long argued concerning &he rela&ion be&ween &he old and &he new body. So.e ha0e
supposed &ha& e0ery :a&o.: which was in a person:s body when he died would so.ehow beco.e
reuni&ed &o )or. &he resurrec&ion body. Bu& .any in)or.ed 2hris&ians ha0e reali9ed &ha& when a person
dies his body decays and .ay beco.e )er&ili9er )or plan&s3 which in &urn can produce )rui& )or ano&her
.an &o ea&. *ha& abou& &he a&o. which belonged &o &he body o) &wo or .ore .en Asepara&ed in &i.eB,
This sor& o) argu.en& &oo5 place be)ore &he a&o. was s.ashed and be)ore de.y&hologi9ing3 so &his
argu.en& see.s peculiar. (ar& o) &he di))icul&y .ay lie in &he )ac& &ha& .en ha0e used &he =esurrec&ion
o) 2hris& as a precise .odel by which &o unders&and our own resurrec&ion3 which .ay no& be &he bes&
policy. Hu5e records &ha& when &he wo.en ca.e &o &he &o.b on &he )irs& day o) &he wee53 &hey )ound
&he s&one rolled away3 :bu& when &hey wen& in &hey did no& )ind &he body: AHu5e /:"B3 &ha& is3 &he dead
body o) 2hris&.
They )ound an e.p&y &o.b3 e+cep& &ha& &wo .en in :da99ling apparel: were presen& &o e+plain &ha&
2hris& had risen. This se;uence sugges&s an al.os& one-&o-one rela&ion or con&inui&y be&ween &he
ear&hly body o) 2hris& and his resurrec&ion body3 bu& are we 7us&i)ied in &rying &o )ind in 2hris&:s
=esurrec&ion a precise .odel )or our own resurrec&ion, 2hris&:s =esurrec&ion did )or &he apos&les wha&
&he e+perience o) being :caugh& up: &o (aradise did )or (aul: i& ga0e &he. a )ir. i.pression o) &he
.essage &hey were &o preach and a .ore co.ple&e perspec&i0e o) >od:s plan )or .an5ind.
(erhaps &he bes& way &o unders&and &he rela&ion be&ween our ear&hly and hea0enly body is &o use3 wi&h
&he %pos&le (aul3 &he analogy o) &he seed. (aul has been s&ressing how i.por&an& i& is &o belie0e in &he
resurrec&ion. He says3 :Bu& so.e one will as53 CHow are &he dead raised, *i&h wha& 5ind o) body do
&hey co.e,C 4ou )oolish .anE *ha& you sow does no& co.e &o li)e unless i& dies. %nd wha& you sow is
no& &he body which is &o be3 bu& a bare 5ernel3 perhaps o) whea& or o) so.e o&her grain. Bu& >od gi0es
i& a body as he has chosen3 and &o each 5ind o) seed i&s own body. For no& all )lesh is ali5e3 bu& &here is
one 5ind )or .en3 ano&her )or ani.als3 ano&her )or birds3 and ano&her )or )ish. There are celes&ial bodies
and &here are &erres&rial bodies? bu& &he glory o) &he celes&ial is one3 and &he glory o) &he &erres&rial is
ano&her .... So is i& wi&h &he resurrec&ion o) &he dead. *ha& is sown is perishable3 wha& is raised is
i.perishable: AI 2orin&hians !$:"$-/03 /B.
There are &wo warran&able conclusions which can be drawn )ro. &his passage concerning &he rela&ion
be&ween &he ear&hly body and &he resurrec&ion body. The resurrec&ion body has a higher degree o)
:glory3: or brigh&ness Aas &he clo&hing o) angels see.s &o be brigh&B3 &han .an:s ear&hly body. I& is .ore
desirable3 as i& is .ore desirable &o ha0e &he body o) a .an &han o) a )ish Apresu.ablyB. No&ice &ha& i)
our ear&hly body is &he :seed: )or our resurrec&ion body3 &hen &here is apparen&ly so.e con&inui&y
be&ween our world and &he resurrec&ion world. Hu.an :seeds3: &he .ale sper. and &he )e.ale egg in
&his li)e3 carry chro.oso.es which de&er.ine &he physical charac&eris&ics which will be par& o) &he new
body which grows )ro. &he union o) &he sper. and egg. How we .igh& )ind an analogy in our own
body and in &he resurrec&ion body &o parallel &he idea o) genes and chro.oso.es is di))icul&.
(erhaps &his is wha& &he Bible .eans by &he idea o) &he hu.an :soul:? i) (aul is correc& in saying &ha&
&here will be so.e con&inui&y be&ween our ear&hly body and our hea0enly body3 &hen perhaps &here is
so.e 5ind o) :energy precipi&a&e: which3 li5e a &ape recording or li5e &he DN% .olecule3 can be carried
&hrough &i.e and space and &hen be :played bac5: when &he desired .o.en& and place are )ound. There
is a new &ype o) ins&an& co))ee which is .ade by percola&ing &he co))ee in &he .anu)ac&uring plan&3
)ree9ing &he :cup: o) co))ee3 and e0apora&ing &he )ro9en li;uid un&il crys&als are )or.ed3 which are &hen
shipped &o .ar5e& )or dis&ribu&ion. *hen co))ee is desired3 ho& wa&er is added &o &he :precipi&a&ed: or
:)ree9e-dried: par&icles o) co))ee. (erhaps when &he hu.an body dies3 &here is so.e hu.an :energy
precipi&a&e: which can la&er &rans)er &he real s&u)) o) hu.an personali&y - &he co))ee - &o a new body.
%bsurd specula&ion perhaps3 bu& analogy see.s &o be &he only rou&e by which &he resurrec&ion can be
unders&ood )ro. &he hu.an side.
In his well-5nown boo5 Jarie&ies o) =eligious '+perience3 *illia. <a.es has recorded e+periences o)
persons )eeling &he presence o) an unseen )orce. A$B -&hers ha0e repor&ed being by &he bedside &o
wi&ness &he dea&h o) an indi0idual3 and supposedly seeing a glowing ligh& energy lea0e &he dead body.
*he&her or no& &his ligh& energy poin&s &o an :energy precipi&a&e: or &o wha& (aul calls &he :seed: which
will so.e&i.e be &rans)or.ed in&o &he resurrec&ion body3 only &i.e will &ell.
$here Do $e (o Fro/ Here%
Firs& o) all3 I belie0e &ha& we .us& be willing &o accep& a 5ind o) principle o) uncer&ain&y in our search
)or &ru&h. This is no& only a scien&i)ic principle3 bu& i& appears &o ha0e been &he basis o) .an:s response
&o >od3 since .en )ro. %braha. &o &he %pos&le (aul ha0e wal5ed by )ai&h3 no& by sure 5nowledge. *e
ha0e &o be willing &o li0e in a s&a&e o) &ension3 a s&a&e o) e+pec&a&ion &ha& in &i.e &he &ru&h will .ore
co.ple&ely un)old. I ha0e )re;uen&ly been as5ed3 :Do you yoursel) belie0e &ha& &he par&ing o) &he =ed
Sea was caused by so.e sor& o) 8F-,: @y answer is :4es3 abou& 60 per cen&.: I say &his because I
belie0e &ha& I .us& lea0e roo. )or doub&3 so &ha& I will be open &o new e0idence when i& co.es in.
@y s&ronges& belie) is &ha& &here is roo. )or .uch .ore research wi&hin &he )ield I ha0e e+plored in &his
boo5. No& only is &here a need )or an e+haus&i0e s&udy o) &he na&ure and )unc&ion o) &he 0arious Biblical
repor&s o) 8F-s and o) &he repor&s concerning &he appearance o) angels3 bu& &here is a need &o s&udy
rela&ed sub7ec&s such as &he glory o) >od and &he &hrone o) >od3 in bo&h &he -ld and &he New
Tes&a.en&s. *e ha0e le)& un&ouched &he whole proble. o) e0il3 including :&he de0il and his angels:
A@a&&hew $:/!B3 al&hough i& is wor&h .en&ioning &ha& by )ar &he .a7ori&y o) Biblical re)erences &o
angels are &o :good: angels.
There is also a need )or &he &heological co..uni&y &o &ry &o .ain&ain be&&er con&ac& wi&h wha& is
happening in &he physical sciences. In an age o) bo&h &heological and scien&i)ic speciali9a&ion &his is
e+&re.ely di))icul&. %n -ld Tes&a.en& archaeologis& .ay no& 5now .uch .ore abou& e+is&en&ial
&heology &han a bioche.is& 5nows abou& geology3 and none o) &hese people .ay 5now .uch abou&
cos.ological specula&ion concerning &he e+panding uni0erse3 or e+peri.en&al con)ir.a&ion o) cer&ain
aspec&s o) &he &heory o) rela&i0i&y. Since new disco0eries are cons&an&ly being .ade in each )ield3 i& is
di))icul& enough &o 5eep up a single )ield wi&hou& &rying &o 5eep up in se0eral )ields and build bridges
be&ween &he.. Bu& I belie0e &ha& .any o) our curren& &heological proble.s ha0e arisen because we
ha0e no& been willing &o build &he necessary bridges be&ween science and &heology.
This canno& be a one-.an e))or&. I& .us& beco.e a special )ield in i&sel). The bridge be&ween &heology
and &he social sciences has been ;ui&e well es&ablished and has beco.e a speciali9ed )ield. Bu& &his
speciali9ed )ield has in )ac& been largly responsible )or &he dea&h o) >od &heology3 which is
o0erwhel.ingly orien&ed &oward &he psychological sciences. I) e;ual e))or& had been placed in &he
a&&e.p& &o 5eep up wi&h &he physical sciences3 we .igh& well ha0e a0oided .any o) &he &heological
proble.s which now surround us.
I a. .os& an+ious &o underline &ha& I consider .os& o) &he hypo&heses in &his boo5 &o be ;ui&e &en&a&i0e.
I do no& doub& &ha& in &i.e .y perspec&i0e will see. 0ery li.i&ed. Bu& i& is .y hope &ha& I ha0e seen
enough &o encourage o&hers &o &a5e a closer loo5 a& &he sa.e &erri&ory3 and &o .a5e &heir repor&s.
Appendi, ) - An"ient Astron!uts And 1eli'ion
Dr. B!rr& H. Downin'
-n <anuary $3 =od Serling narra&ed an N'2 special &ele0ision progra.3 :In search o) %ncien&
%s&ronau&s.: To .any 0iewers &his progra. undoub&edly see.ed li5e &he wor5 o) a science )ic&ion
wri&er3 who so.ehow i.agines &ha& e0ery&hing unusual in &he world is &he wor5 o) ancien& as&ronau&s
)ro. ou&er space who 0isi&ed &he plane& ear&h &housands o) years ago.
=od Serling was no& repor&ing science )ic&ion - a& leas& no& in&en&ionally. This progra. was based on &he
boo53 :2hario&s o) &he >ods,: by 'rich 0on Dani5en3 a bes& selling boo5 in 'urope which has had li&&le
pre0ious a&&en&ion in &he 8ni&ed S&a&es.
-n &he basis o) &he wor5 o) as&rono.er Harlow Shapley3 0on Dani5en es&i.a&es &ha& &here are
:!0030003000 plane&s on which we can specula&e &ha& li)e e+is&s.: %.ong &hese3 perhaps !003000 con&ain
ci0ili9a&ions .ore ad0anced &han our own. *illy Hey3 a scien&i)ic wri&er3 sugges&s &here .ay be !63000
inhabi&ed plane&s in &he @il5y *ay alone.
%l&hough our presen&-day space ships would no& per.i& us &o &ra0el 0ery )ar or 0ery )as& in space3 who
5nows wha& our space &ra0el .igh& be li5e in !03000 years - i) ci0ili9a&ion sur0i0es &ha& long 0on
Dani5en specula&es &ha& space &ra0el .ay be as co..onplace on o&her plane&s as dri0ing &o &he
super.ar5e& is )or us3 and i) so3 .aybe space.en ha0e co.e &o ear&h.
%.ong &he signs le)& behind on ear&h by ancien& in&erplane&ary ci0ili9a&ions3 argues 0on Dani5en3 are
&he (iri =eis .aps3 na.ed a)&er a Tur5ish Na0y %d.iral &o who. &hey once belonged. These .aps da&e
bac5 &o al.os& &he &i.e o) 2hris&3 and ye& represen& &he shape o) &he ear&h as i) &hey were pho&ographs
)ro. ou&er space &a5en by an %pollo roc5e&.
%ccording &o an e+per& car&ographer &he .aps ou&line e+ac&ly &he .oun&ain ranges in &he %n&arc&ic
which were no& disco0ered by e+plorers un&il !#$. These .aps could only ha0e been drawn wi&h
5nowledge gained in &he Twen&ie&h 2en&ury3 and ye& &hey are hundreds o) years old.
I& is in ancien& religious sy.bols &ha& 0on Dani5en )inds so.e o) his .os& in&eres&ing .a&erial. @any
pri.i&i0e people ha0e legends o) gods who ca.e down )ro. &he s5y in )iery chario&s - )ro. whence he
deri0es &he &i&le o) his boo5. Bible s&uden&s will re.e.ber &ha& 'li7ah was &a5en o)) in&o &he s5y in a
:chario& o) )ire: A Iings :!!B.
Jon Dani5en has )ound pain&ings o) god-li5e space.en on walls o) ca0es in Tibe&? hand car0ed beings
wi&h :halos: .ay ha0e on so.e 5ind o) space sui& head gear. He wonders how S&onehenge in 'ngland
was buil&3 abou& &he gian& car0ings on 'as&er Island3 and abou& wha& appears &o be an ancien& airs&rip in
(eru. *he&her all o) &hese archaeological oddi&ies can be e+plained as ei&her &he wor5 o) or inspired by
ancien& as&ronau&s3 is doub&)ul.
Bu& 0on Dani5en is righ& in saying &ha& i& does no& .a5e sense in our presen& unders&anding o)
:pri.i&i0e .an: &o see hi. ei&her able or li5ely &o build .any o) our usual ancien& .onu.en&s wi&hou&
so.e &ype o) e+&ernal s&i.ula&ion. The wonder o) &hese .onu.en&s is .uch .ore i.pressi0e in =od
Serlings TJ re0iew &han in 0on Dani5en:s boo53 so I sugges& 0iewing i& i) i& is re-run.
I a. especially in&eres&ed in &he religious i.plica&ions o) 0on Dani5en:s wor5. %& &he sa.e &i.e his
boo5 was published in 'urope3 .y boo53 The Bible and Flying Saucers3: was published in &he 8ni&ed
S&a&es. In so.e ways 0on Dani5en and I agree3 bu& in so.e i.por&an& ways we do no&3 par&icularly in
regard &o &he proble. o) ancien& as&ronau&s and religion.
I agree wi&h 0on Dani5en &ha& ancien& as&ronau&s3 or a& leas& beings )ro. a Higher 2i0ili9a&ion Awhich
&he Bible calls Hea0enB3 in)luenced &he Biblical religion. For 0on Dani5en3 howe0er3 &his in)luence was
acciden&al3 while in .y opinion &his in)luence was delibera&e.
The Serling TJ broadcas& began by showing so.e pri.i&i0e na&i0es in an underde0eloped par& o) &he
world ga&hered in apparen& worship around a s&raw airplane .odel &hey had cons&ruc&ed. The narra&or
poin&ed ou& &ha& during *orld *ar our %ir Force buil& an air s&rip )or bo.bers &o land and re)uel near
&he na&i0e 0illage.
To &hese pri.i&i0e people3 &he TJ progra. sugges&ed3 we see.ed li5e gods who ca.e down )ro. &he
s5y and re&urned &o &he s5y3 who. &he na&i0es now worship. In o&her words3 &he new religion o) &he
na&i0es is an %22ID'NT%H produc& o) our 0isi& &o &he na&i0e 7ungle.
The cen&ral e0en& o) &he -ld Tes&a.en& is &he '+odus3 and &he 5ey &o &he '+odus is so.e&hing &ha&
appears in .any ways li5e a space ship3 so.e 5ind o) 8F-3 described as a :pillar o) cloud by day and
pillar o) )ire by nigh&.: A'+odus !":!3B. This 8F- is called &he %ngel o) >od3 i& appears &o @oses in
&he .iddle o) &he burning bush3 and is gi0en credi& )or bringing all &he plagues on &he 'gyp&ians.
The pillar o) cloud &hen leads &he Israeli&es up &o &he =ed Sea3 using i&s power &o spli& &he sea le&&ing &he
Israeli&es &hrough3 only &o &urn o)) &he power and le& &he walls o) wa&er )all on &he 'gyp&ians A'+odus
!/:!#-"0B. This 8F- drops .anna &o )eed &he <ews in &he wilderness3 leads &he <ews up &o @oun& Sinai3
gi0es @oses no& only &he Ten 2o..and.en&s3 bu& all &he co..and.en&s o) &he <ewish religion.
I& is 0ery clear )ro. &he '+odus s&ory &ha& i) &he Hebrew people were in con&ac& wi&h wha& 0on Dani5en
calls :ancien& as&ronau&s3: &hen &he <ewish religion is no& an acciden&al .isin&erpre&a&ion o) :gods in &he
s5y: by &he <ews3 bu& ra&her &hese :gods: or :angels: ha0e gi0en &he <ews a religion in &he labora&ory o)
&he wilderness -N (8=(-S'.
I do no& &hin5 0on Dani5en 5nows &he Bible 0ery well3 because while he sugges&s &ha& &he %r5 o) &he
2o0enan& Acarried during &he '+odusB was elec&rically charged3 he ne0er .en&ions &he pillar o) cloud
and )ire. (erhaps he 7us& could no& )ace up &o &he i.plica&ions o) &he idea &ha& &he <ewish religion was
delibera&ely caused by beings )ro. ano&her world.
The i.plica&ions )or &he 2hris&ian religion are e;ually serious. <esus said o) hi.sel)3 :you are )ro.
below3 I a. )ro. abo0e? you are o) &his world3 I a. no& o) &his world: A<ohn 6:"B.
<esus clai.ed &o be &he Son o) >od3 which in &he Bible .eans he was one o) &he angels. He had con&ac&
wi&h beings )ro. ano&her world a& di))eren& &i.es in his li)e3 bu& perhaps .os& i.por&an& &he Bible says
beings )ro. ano&her world were a& &he e.p&y &o.b on 'as&er3 and had so.e&hing &o do wi&h &he
resurrec&ion o) <esus )ro. &he dead.
The space age is )orcing us &o as5 &he ;ues&ion: Is i& possible &he -ld Tes&a.en& and New Tes&a.en&
religions were D'HIB'=%T'H4 brough& abou& by beings )ro. ano&her world, This is a )ear)ul
;ues&ion3 bu& i& is also a hope)ul one. Jon Dani5en &hin5s &he Biblical religion is an acciden&al
byproduc& o) pri.i&i0e con&ac& wi&h ancien& as&ronau&s. I &hin5 &he Biblical religion is &he delibera&e
wor5 o) ancien& as&ronau&s3 or a& leas& o) Higher Beings.
Bu& i) I a. righ&3 where ha0e &hese Beings gone, I &hin5 &hey are s&ill here3 s&ill wa&ching &he progress
o) &heir =eligion. Tha& is wha& &he .odern 8F- proble. is abou& - &hose ancien& as&ronau&s are s&ill
&here3 s&ill wa&ching.
I ha0e gi0en do9ens o) &al5s on .y boo5 in &he Triple 2i&ies3 and ha0e had .any people &ell .e abou&
&heir 8F- sigh&ings a)&er .y &al5. There are probably &housands o) people in Broo.e 2oun&y who ha0e
seen 8F-s3 al&hough &hey .ay be a)raid &o ad.i& i&.
*hen I &al5ed &o Jes&al =o&ary 2lub3 a .an &old .e abou& wa&ching a 8F- &hrough his &elescope )ro.
his bac5yard wi&h )riends. I& was )irs& spo&&ed ho0ering o0er &he Tri-2i&ies %irpor&3 &hen .o0ed o0er &he
Broo.e 2oun&y %irpor&. He said &he &elescope clearly showed &he wings on &he planes landing a&
Broo.e 2oun&y. Bu& &he 8F- had no wings3 and i& ga0e o)) a ligh& A0isible e0en during &he dayB which
al&erna&ed be&ween orange and pure whi&e.
%)&er gi0ing a &al5 &o a @e&hodis& 2hurch in Jes&al a )or.er %ir Force .an rela&ed his e+perience
during &he Iorean *ar. He )lew wi&h a reconnaissance plane a& nigh& &o lead bo.bing .issions o0er &he
Nor&h. The Nor&h Iorean @I>s did no& ha0e &he &echnology &o )igh& a& nigh&3 bu& &he .en )eared &ha&
&echnology would soon be de0eloped3 and &hen &he bo.bers would be de)enseless.
-ne nigh&3 a pie shape blo&&ed ou& on &he plane:s radar3 and loo5ing bac5 all &he .en saw a brigh& ligh&
behind &he.. They all &hough& &he @I>s had a new &echnology3 and &ha& &hey were dead. Bu& &hen &he
8F- caugh& up wi&h &he.3 )lew abo0e &he.3 and )inally beside &he.. These were all .en e+perienced
wi&h air pheno.ena. They had ne0er seen any&hing li5e i& be)ore. The ne+& day &he .e.bers o) &he
bo.ber crew were all &al5ing abou& &he e+perience - abou& !$0 .en had seen &he 8F-.
%l&hough .any do no& agree wi&h hi.3 &he scien&is& and )or.er %ir Force 8F- consul&an&3 Dr. <. %lien
Hyne53 has wri&&en a boo53 The 8F- '+perience3: which concludes &ha& we are now being wa&ched by
beings )ro. ano&her world.
I canno& pro0e i&3 bu& I &hin5 we are s&ill being wa&ched by &hose :ancien& as&ronau&s3: &he ones who
s&ar&ed &he Biblical religion. %s we beco.e .ore conscious o) &his o&her worldly reali&y wa&ching us3
we will ha0e &o begin &o as5: *hy did &hey s&ar& &he Biblical religion, *ha& happens &o our idea o)
)ai&h,
These are hard ;ues&ions3 bu& &hey will be &he ;ues&ions o) years &o co.e. %ll religious ;ues&ions are
hard ;ues&ions3 &ha& is why )ai&h is hard. 'rich 0on Dani5en:s ancien& as&ronau&s are going &o )orce us &o
loo5 a& &he Bible in a new way3 e0en .ore &han 0on Dani5en 5nowsE
Appendi, )) - 1!di!tion #&/pto/s )n E,odus
Dr. B!rr& H. Downin'
-ne o) &he .os& cer&ain )ac&s we ha0e abou& 8F-s is &ha& &hey e.i& 0arious &ypes o) 0isible and
in0isible elec&ro.agne&ic radia&ion. *hile &his is a 5nown )ac&3 i& is also one o) &he leas& unders&ood
aspec&s o) &he pheno.enon: is &he radia&ion a by-produc& o) &he propulsion sys&e.3 is i& a na&ural e))ec&
caused by &he &ype o) .a&erial o) which 8F-s are .ade3 is i& due &o elec&ronic signals used by &hose in
charge o) &he 8F-s )or co..unica&ion and in&elligence ga&hering3 or is i& a co.bina&ion o) all o) &hese,
8F-s gi0e o)) ligh& &ha& ranges &he spec&ru. )ro. whi&e &o blue &o red. In a recen&ly repor&ed case3 on
No0e.ber 3 !#7!3 in Delphos3 Iansas A8S%B3 a)&er a 8F- had landed in a )ield3 i& le)& &he surrounding
area3 including &rees3 glowing )or se0eral days. (ersons &ouching &he soil )el& an unusual :nu.bing
sensa&ion: A!B =epor&s o) 8F- in&er)erence wi&h TJ3 radio3 au&o.obile ligh&s and igni&ion are )re;uen&.
The la&e Dr. <a.es @cDonald3 in an ar&icle en&i&led :8F- S&udy Jia %&.ospheric (hysics3: AB repor&ed
&he case o) a 0isible and radar 8F- sigh&ing )ro. a 8S %ir Force B-/7 plane in !#$7 which was
carrying 'lec&ronic 2oun&er @easure gear.
*i&h &he use o) &his gear &hey were able &o disco0er &ha& &he 8F- was e.i&&ing an elec&ro.agne&ic
signal o) 3600 .egacycles. *e ha0e no way o) 5nowing wha& 5ind o) radia&ion .igh& be de&ec&ed
co.ing )ro. 8F-s unless we ha0e &he righ& e;uip.en& a0ailable a& &he righ& &i.e. Bu& &he radia&ion
sy.p&o.s abound3 and &he indica&ions are &ha& i& could be dangerous )or hu.an s5in3 eyes3 and who
5nows wha&3 &o be o0er-e+posed &o &his radia&ion.
The (illar o) Fire - Jisible =adia&ion
%s I ha0e e+plained in de&ail in .y boo53 The Bible and Flying Saucers3 i& is .y belie) &ha& &he Biblical
religion was brough& abou& by beings )ro. ano&her world under >od:s direc&ion. The <ewish '+odus
)ro. 'gyp& was acco.plished &hrough &he in&er0en&ion o) &ha& brigh& 8F-3 :&he pillar o) cloud by day
and pillar o) )ire by nigh&: A'+odus !":!B3 which led &he <ews ou& o) 'gyp& up &o and &hrough &he =ed
Sea3 and using i&s propulsion sys&e. &o spli& &he sea so &ha& &he <ews could .a5e &heir escape. @y .ain
purpose in &his ar&icle is &o draw a&&en&ion &o de&ails lis&ed in &he Biblical accoun& o) &he '+odus which
indica&e &ha& &he '+odus 8F- ga0e o)) so.e &ype o) radia&ion.
The .os& ob0ious )ac& is &ha& &he :pillar o) )ire: by nigh& ga0e o)) ligh&. This ligh& apparen&ly 0aried in
in&ensi&y3 perhaps e0en pulsa&ing li5e ligh&ning according &o '+odus !#:!1. @odern 8F-s o)&en see.
&o be surrounded by a :cloud3: as was &he :pillar o) cloud: by day3 indica&ing &he possibili&y &ha& so.e
&ype o) '-@ radia&ion was ioni9ing &he a&.osphere in &he i..edia&e 0icini&y o) &he 8F-. '0en .ore &o
&he poin&3 &he >od who is represen&ed by &he 8F- reali&y clai.s &ha& i& is his na&ure &o :radia&e.: The
Biblical &er. :&he glory o) >od: re)ers &o his glowing radia&ion. I& is &he :glory o) &he Hord3: his radia&ion3
which e0en&ually3 &hrough &he :pillar o) )ire3: )ills &he Tabernacle A'+odus /0:"/-"6B.
@oses had his )irs& con&ac& wi&h &he :pillar o) )ire: so.e&i.es called &he angel o) >od A'+odus !/:!#B3
when i& se&&led down in &he .iddle o) a &hic5e& a& @oun& Horeb causing &he )a.ous burning bush. :%nd
&he angel o) &he Hord appeared &o hi. in a )la.e o) )ire ou& o) &he .ids& o) a bush? and he loo5ed3 and
lo3 &he bush was burning3 ye& i& was no& consu.ed: A'+odus ":B. The Bible repor&s no& only &ha& &he
angel o) >od appeared as a :)la.e o) )ire: in &he .iddle o) a clu.p o) bushes3 bu& also &ha& &he &hic5e&
i&sel) glowed3 ye& was no& burned up3 a parallel &o &he Iansas case ci&ed abo0e. The 8F- apparen&ly
passed i&s radia&ion charac&eris&ics on &o &he bushes around i&. This obser0a&ion is suppor&ed la&er in
regard &o @oses: con&ac& wi&h &he pillar o) )ire. :*hen @oses ca.e down )ro. @oun& Sinai3 wi&h &he
&wo &ables o) &he &es&i.ony in his hand as he ca.e down )ro. &he .oun&ain3 @oses did no& 5now &ha&
&he s5in o) his )ace shone because he had been &al5ing wi&h >od: A'+odus "/:#B. This repor& has i&s
New Tes&a.en& parallel when <esus3 in con&ac& wi&h a brigh& 8F- on a .oun&ain3 begins &o glow A&he
Trans)igura&ion - @a&&hew !7:!-#B.
I& is .y opinion &ha& so.e &ype o) radia&ion energy )ro. &he :pillar o) cloud and )ire: caused &he par&ing
o) &he =ed Sea3 ba5ed &he seabed hard and dry3 and la&er 5noc5ed &he 'gyp&ians )la& as &hey dro0e &heir
chario&s in&o &he open sea channel A'+odus !/:!#-#B. The '+odus .o0es )ro. 'gyp&3 &hrough &he =ed
Sea3 &o &he :@oun&ain o) >od: A'+odus ":!B3 also called @oun& Horeb and @oun& Sinai3 where @oses
had his original :bush: e+perience3 and a& &his .oun&ain &he Israeli&es spen& an unde&er.ined a.oun& o)
&i.e -cer&ainly se0eral .on&hs - while @oses wen& up and down &he .oun&ain )re;uen&ly &o recei0e
0arious religious ins&ruc&ions such as &he Ten 2o..and.en&s and plans )or &he Tabernacle3 &he
collapsible Ten& o) *orship A'+odus !#:/0B.
The Danger o) (ries&hood - In0isible =adia&ion
%& @oun& Sinai3 and in &he ins&ruc&ions )or opera&ion o) &he Tabernacle3 we recei0e )ur&her indica&ions
&ha& &he :pillar o) )ire: is dangerous3 &ha& one should no& ge& &oo close &o i&. Be)ore @oses goes up &he
.oun&ain3 he se&s boundaries a& &he )oo& o) &he .oun&ain beyond which &he people are no& &o pass. :>o
down and warn &he people3 les& &hey brea5 &hrough &o &he Hord &o ga9e and .any o) &he. perish:
A'+odus !#:!B. The holy na&ure o) >od is direc&ly &ied &o &he idea &ha& i& is dangerous &o co.e near &he
'+odus 8F-.
%)&er &he Tabernacle is buil&3 &he 8F- ho0ers direc&ly o0er &he &op o) i&. The pries&s who ser0e in &he
Tabernacle are gi0en elabora&e ins&ruc&ions abou& wha& clo&hing &o wear when in &he Ten& o) @ee&ing.
:%nd you shall .a5e &he. linen breeches &o co0er &heir na5ed )lesh? )ro. &he loins &o &he &highs &hey
shall reach? and &hey shall be upon %aron3 and upon his sons3 when &hey go in&o &he &en& o) .ee&ing3 or
when &hey co.e near &he al&ar &o .inis&er in &he holy place? les& &hey bring guil& upon &he.sel0es and
die: A'+odus 6:/- /"B. I& is so.ewha& specula&i0e &o &ry &o separa&e wha& .ay ha0e been na&ural
li&urgical prac&ice )ro. necessary precau&ion in &he presence o) &he 8F-3 bu& indica&ions are &ha& lac5 o)
proper clo&hing could be dangerous. -nly &he pries&s were allowed near &he 8F- a& &he Ten&3 and on
one occasion @iria. was called wi&h %aron and @oses &o &he Ten& )or a .ee&ing wi&h &he :cloud3: and
a)&er &he .ee&ing :when &he cloud re.o0ed )ro. o0er &he &en&3 behold3 @iria. was leprous3 as whi&e as
snow: ANu.bers !:!0B.
The <ewish cus&o. o) wearing s5ull caps in&o a house o) worship is probably deri0ed )ro. &he need &o
be co0ered in &he Tabernacle in &he presence o) &he brigh& 8F-. %aron3 &he high pries& who wor5ed in
&he :inner sanc&uary3: e0en had &o wear a special piece o) headgear .ade o) gold A'+odus 6:"1-"6B3
which .igh& be a good radia&ion shield3 as well as decora&i0e Asee also '+odus 6:/0B. The pries&s had
&o be anoin&ed wi&h oil be)ore ser0ing in &he Ten& A'+odus #:7B3 which .igh& ser0e as s5in pro&ec&ion3
and in )ac& &he con&en&s o) &he Tabernacle as a whole see.ed &o need an oil ba&h A'+odus /0:#B.
Tha& which beca.e :holy: was able &o s&and in &he presence o) &he 8F- wi&hou& being consu.ed by
)ire. >od:s burning :wra&h: was a cons&an& &hrea& A'+odus ":!0B3 and on a& leas& one occasion &wo
pries&s3 Nadab and %bihu3 .ade a .is&a5e in procedure in &he Ten& wi&h &he resul& &ha& :... )ire ca.e
)or&h )ro. &he presence o) &he Hord and de0oured &he.3 and &hey died be)ore &he Hord: AHe0i&icus !0:B.
(ries&s were )orbidden &o drin5 alcohol be)ore .inis&ering in &he Ten& - i& was a sober3 dangerous wor5
AHe0i&icus !0:#B. @oses hi.sel) would no& be sa)e in &he unshielded presence o) >od A'+odus "":!7-
"B.
The ar53 which beca.e &he cen&re o) &he holy in &he Ten&3 was screened o)) )ro. &he res& o) &he
Tabernacle. I& &oo .ay ha0e been dangerous. ADB I& should be no&ed &ha& as &he pa&&ern o) &he '+odus
de0eloped3 wi&h &he 8F- .o0ing )orward occasionally while &he Israeli&es collapsed &heir &en&s and
)ollowed behind3 &he Ten& o) @ee&ing was no& &a5en down un&il a)&er &he :cloud: le)& A'+odus /0:"/-"6B3
and &he cloud apparen&ly did no& se&&le o0er &he Ten& un&il i& was rebuil&. *or5ing under &he pillar o)
cloud and o) )ire was dangerous business.
So.e Specula&i0e -bser0a&ions
(robably &he abo0e re.ar5s are all &ha& I should .a5e concerning such an ob0iously specula&i0e area.
-ne 0ery &roubling issue re.ains in &he '+odus s&ory3 howe0er3 and perhaps 8F- radia&ion is rela&ed &o
i&.
----
FDG FSee also Dr. Bernard '. Finch: The %r5 o) &he Israeli&es was an 'lec&rical @achine in FS= Jol. II3
No. " A@ayN<une !#1$B. Dr. Finch described &he %r5 as being a5in &o an elec&ric s&orage .achine
rese.bling a Heyden 7ar which &he High (ries& was able &o charge &o a high 0ol&age o) elec&ros&a&ic
energy. I) an unconsecra&ed person3 or ene.y o) &he High (ries&3 en&ered &he Tabernacle3 &he %r5 was
discharged and &he 0isi&or was s&ruc5 down wi&h bol&s o) )ire - 'DIT-=.G
----
%ll who ha0e read '+odus are )a.iliar wi&h &he )ac& &ha& a)&er @oses had his burning bush
con)ron&a&ion3 a whole series o) plagues -)rogs3 gna&s3 boils3 locus&s3 a.ong o&hers - ca.e upon &he
'gyp&ians3 repor&edly caused by &he 8F- reali&y which guided @oses. Science has )or so.e &i.e been
aware o) &he )ac& &ha& radia&ion and biological )unc&ion in&erac&3 and e+cessi0e radia&ion can bring abou&
.u&a&ions as well as grow&h o) biological li)e. @y ;ues&ion is: 2ould in&elligen& beings )ro. ano&her
world bring abou& plagues such as &hose described in '+odus by unusual con&rol o0er &he ;uan&i&y and
)re;uency o) cer&ain &ypes o) radia&ion,
*e .igh& also wonder &o wha& e+&en& &he ra&e and shape o) e0olu&ion on ear&h .igh& be in)luenced by
beings possessing s5illed radia&ion &echni;ues. There is li&&le doub& in .y .ind &ha& &he :pillar o) cloud
and o) )ire: in &he '+odus e+hibi&ed .any 0isible and indirec& sy.p&o.s o) radia&ion. Be)ore we can be
cer&ain abou& &he .eaning o) &hese sy.p&o.s3 we need .ore in)or.a&ion concerning &he na&ure o) &he
radia&ion e.ana&ing )ro. our .odern 8F-s.
3otes
Ch!pter )
!. I do no& .ean &o sugges& &ha& I a. &he )irs& wri&er &o consider &he possible rela&ion be&ween )lying
saucers and &he Bible. Fran5 'dwards3 in his boo5 Flying Saucers - Serious Business ANew 4or53 Hyle
S&uar&3 !#11B3 .a5es re)erence &o a possible rela&ion be&ween 8F-s and &he Bible3 and .en&ions a boo5
by @orris <essup en&i&led The 8F- and &he Bible App. !1 ))3 in 'dwards:s boo5B. %l&hough I ha0e no&
been able &o ob&ain a copy o) &he boo5 by <essup3 i& is clear &ha& o&hers ha0e &hough& abou& &he sub7ec&.
Bu& i& is also clear &ha& &he rela&ion be&ween &he Bible and )lying saucers is no& being discussed by &he
pro)essional &heological co..uni&y3 as I belie0e i& should be.
. For a brie) discussion o) so.e o) &he issues in0ol0ed in &he :dea&h o) >od: &heology3 see Ti.e
.aga9ine:s co0er s&ory3 :Is >od Dead,: %pril 63 !#113 pp. 6-67. In &his boo5 we shall re)er .ainly &o
&he wor5 o) Tho.as <.<. %l&i9er o) '.ory 8ni0ersi&y3 one o) &he leaders o) &he dea&h o) >od &heology.
". @arshall @cHuhan3 8nders&anding @edia: The '+&ensions o) @an ANew 4or53 @c>raw3 !#1/B.
/. <ohn %. T. =obinson3 Hones& &o >od AHondon3 S2@3 !#1"B.
$. Ibid.3 p. ii.
1. Ibid.3 p. !".
7. Ibid.3 pp. !"-!/.
6. Ibid.3 p. "$.
#. =udol) Bul&.ann3 <esus 2hris& and @y&hology ANew 4or53 Scribner3 !#$63 pp. "1-"7.
!0. =obinson3 op. ci&.3 p. "".
!!. For an e+a.ina&ion o) &he pa&h by which %l&i9er arri0ed a& so.e o) his conclusions3 see Tho.as <.
<. %l&i9er3 @ircea 'liade and &he Dialec&ic o) &he Sacred A(hiladelphia3 *es&.ins&er3 !#1"B.
!. <a.es %. (i5e3 % Ti.e )or 2hris&ian 2andor ANew 4or53 Harper3 !#1/B.
!"-Bul&.ann3 op. ci&.3 p. "1.
!/. =obinson3 op. ci&.3 p. 6.
!$. Sig.ar 0on Fersen3 in &he Dic&ionary o) (hilosophy3 ed. Dagober& D. =unes A%.es3 Iowa3
Hi&&le)ield3 %da.s3 !#$$B3 p. !0.
!1. Bul&.ann op. ci&.3 p. "1.
!7. Ibid.3 p. "6.
!6. @ichael (olanyi3 (ersonal Inowledge: Towards a (os&-2ri&ical (hilosophy ANew 4or53 Harper3
!#$63 re0. ed. !#1B3 pp. 71-77.
Ch!pter ))
!. See The *or&s o) %ris&o&le Transla&ed in&o 'nglish3 ed. *.D. =oss3 ! 0ols. A-+)ord3 2larendon3
!#6-!#$B3 (hysica3 &rans. and ed. D.(. Hardie and =.I. >aye3 !#"0. See %ris&o&le:s discussion o) &he
:now: poin& in &i.e3 (hysica3 !# b!3 !# b!1-!73 e&c. See also (la&o:s 2os.ology: The :Ti.aeus: o)
(la&o Transla&ed wi&h a =unning 2o..en&ary by F.@3 2orn)ord AHondon3 Iegan (aul3 Trench3
Trubner3 !#"7B. -n &he soul as a sel)-.o0ing uni& poin&3 see Ti.aeus3 //03 /723 e&c.
. See S&. Tho.as %;uinas3 The Su..a Theologica o) S&. Tho.as %;uinas3 &rans. &he Fa&hers o)
'nglish Do.inican (ro0ince AHondon3 *ashbourne3 !#!!-!#!B3 Trea&ise on %ngels3: especially L.$03
pp. 67 )).
". <acob Bronows5i3 The 2o..on Sense o) Science ANew 4or53 Jin&age3 N.D.B3 p. !00.
/. =epor& by *al&er Sulli0an3 New 4or5 Ti.es News Ser0ice3 recorded in &he =oches&er3 New 4or53
De.ocra& and 2hronicle3 Sec&ion %3 page !3 %ugus& !/3 !#11.
$. =epor& by Henry @achirella3 New 4or5 Daily News3 -c&ober 3 !#113 p. 2.
1. I wro&e &o &he Depar&.en& o) &he %ir Force3 (ro7ec& Blue Boo53 and recei0ed in re&urn wha& see.ed &o
be an unda&ed lea)le& en&i&led :(ro7ec& Blue Boo53: and &he enclosed le&&er described &his as :The curren&
repor& on (ro7ec& Blue Boo5.: I a. no& cer&ain when &he repor& was wri&&en. I recei0ed &he repor& in early
!#113 and &he only da&e on &he repor& was :<an 1$.: The ;uo&ed s&a&e.en& is )ound on page / o) &he
repor& I recei0ed.
7. Ibid.3 p. 7.
6. See Donald '. Ieyhoe3 The Flying Saucer 2onspiracy ANew 4or53 Hol&3 !#$$B.
#. 'dwards3 Flying Saucers - Serious Business3 p. !/.
!0. Ieyhoe3 op. ci&.3 2hap&er !73 :-bre&h and &he >-Field3: pp. /7-1. %lso 'dwards3 op. ci&.3 pp. !#"
)).
!!. %ssocia&ed (ress3 'rie3 (a.? repor&ed in &he =oches&er3 New 4or53 Ti.es-8nion3 *ednesday3 %ugus&
"3!#113 p. !0D.
!. Ti.e3 %pril !3 !#113 p.!$.
!". Ti.e3 %pril 63 !#113 p. 70.
!/. <. %lien Hyne53 :%re Flying Saucers =eal,: Sa&urday '0ening (os&3 Dece.ber !73!#113 pp. !7-!.
!$. Ti.e3 %pril 63!#113 p. 6.
!1. @ircea 'liade3 The Sacred and &he (ro)ane: The Na&ure o) =eligion3 &rans. )ro. &he French by
*illard =. Tras5 ANew 4or53 Harcour&3 !#$#B.
!7. 2arl >. <ung3 Flying Saucers: % @odern @y&h o) Things Seen in &he S5ies3 &rans. =.F.2. Hull ANew
4or53 Harcour&3 !#$#B. Ti.e is a& leas& consis&en& in i&s approach &o )lying saucers. The %ugus& /3 !#173
issue o) Ti.e includes &he essay3 :% Fresh Hoo5 a& Flying Saucers3: pp. "-""3 in which &he edi&ors &a5e
a less s5ep&ical 0iew o) saucers3 bu& ne0er&heless re)er &o &he .y&hological 0iew o) saucers pu& )orward
in <ung:s boo53 saying3 :-ne persuasi0e &heory abou& saucers is &ha& &hey are real only in &he .ind.:
!6. Fa&e: True S&ories o) &he S&range and &he 8n5nown3 @ay3 !#11. The ar&icles re)erred &o begin on pp.
6/3 $"3 and " respec&i0ely.
!#. %l&i9er3 @ircea 'liade and &he Dialec&ic o) &he Sacred3 p. !".
0. Ibid.3 p. !$!.
!. =epor& by =ose Sold3 =oches&er3 New 4or53 Ti.es-8nion3 No0e.ber 3 !#113 p. /1.
. %ssocia&ed (ress3 repor&ed in &he =oches&er3 New 4or53 Ti.es-8nion3 No0e.ber !03 !#113 p. oB.
". =obinson3 Hones& &o >od3 p. !$.
Ch!pter )))
!. =obinson3 Hones& &o >od3 p. "".
. <ac;ues Jallee3 %na&o.y o) a (heno.enon: 8niden&i)ied -b7ec&s in Space? % Scien&i)ic %ppraisal
A2hicago3 Henry =egnery3 !#1$B3 p. !0/.
". >. %. Barrois3 in The In&erpre&er:s Dic&ionary o) &he Bible3 ed. >eorge %3 Bu&&ric5 e& al. ANash0ille3
Tennessee3 %bingdon3 / 0ols.3 !#1B3 Jol. III3 p. 6!1.
/. @ar&in No&h3 '+odus: % 2o..en&ary3 &rans. <.S. Bowden A(hiladelphia3 *es&.ins&er3 !#1B3 p. no.
$. This ;uo&a&ion is )ro. &he '+egesis o) &he Boo5 o) '+odus by <. 2oer& =ylaarsda. in The
In&erpre&er:s Bible: The Holy Scrip&ures in &he Iing <a.es and =e0ised S&andard Jersions wi&h >eneral
%r&icles and In&roduc&ion3 '+egesis3 '+posi&ion )or 'ach Boo5 o) &he Bible3 ed. >eorge %. Bu&&ric5 e&
al. ANash0ille3 Tennessee3 %bingdon3 ! 0ols.3 !#$B3 Jol. I3 p. #"6.
1. No&h3 op. ci&.3 p. !!1.
7. %ssocia&ed (ress3 *ana;ue3 N.<.3 repor&ed in 8&ica AN.4.B Daily (ress3 -c&ober !3 !#113 p. ". 6.
'dwards3 Flying Saucers - Serious Business3 repor&s &wo separa&e ins&ances3 in one case saying &ha& :a
circular pa&ch o) &iny wa0es: .o0ed under &he saucer in &he wa&er benea&h as &he saucer .o0ed abo0e
Ap. "0/B. #. No&h3 op ci&.3 p. !!$.
!0 Ibid.3 p. !!1. The :<: &radi&ion &o which No&h re)ers is one o) &he &hree li&erary s&rands3 5nown as <.'.
and (.3 &ha& scholars belie0e were edi&ed &o )or. &he boo5 o) '+odus.
!!. 'dwards3 op. ci&.3 p. "01.
!. Ibid.3 p. "0"3 pho&o3 p. !6.
!". No&h3 op. ci&.3 p. !0#.
!/. %. H. @cNeile3 The Boo5 o) '+odus AHondon3 @e&huen3 N.D.B3 p. 6.
!$. Ieyhoe3 The Flying Saucer 2onspiracy3 pp. $-/1.
!1. Jallee3 op. ci&.3 p. !"1.
!7. No&h3 op. ci&.3 p. !0#.
!6. 2oral and <i. Horen9en3 Flying Saucer -ccupan&s A% Signe& Boo5: New 4or53 New %.erican
Hibrary3 !#17B. ((-/-61.
Ch!pter )=
!. 2.I. Barre&&3 The Holy Spiri& and &he >ospel Tradi&ion ANew 4or53 @ac.illan3 !#/7B3 pp. "$-"#.
. *al&er Bauer3 % >ree5-'nglish He+icon o) &he New Tes&a.en& and -&her 'arly 2hris&ian Hi&era&ure3
&rans. *illia. F. %rnd& and F. *ilbur >ingrich A2hicago3 8ni0ersi&y o) 2hicago (ress3 !#$B3 p.$.
". =obinson3 Hones& &o >od3 p. II.
/ 'dgar <. >oodspeed3 )oul: % -Biography Drawn )ro. '0idence in &he %pos&le:s *ri&ings ANash0ille3
Tennessee3 %bingdon3 !#/7B3 p. !6.
$. Jallee3 %na&o.y o) a (heno.enon3 pp. !/6-!$!.
Ch!pter =
!. =obinson3 Hones& &o >od3 p. II.
2). &he ar&icle by =.-.(. Taylor3 :Hea0en and &he Hea0ens in &he New Tes&a.en&3 a Dis&inc&ion3:
In&erpre&er3 <anuary3 !#!#3 pp. !01-!!.
". Ti.e3 :% Fresh Hoo5 a& Flying Saucers3: %ugus& /3!#17. (."".
/. 2). %lber& 'ins&ein3 The @eaning o) =ela&i0i&y3 $&h ed. A(rince&on3 N.<.3 (rince&on 8ni0ersi&y (ress3
!#$1B. See also Ben7a.in Harrow3 Fro. New&on &o 'ins&ein: 2hanging 2oncep&ions o) &he 8ni0erse
ANew 4or53 Jan Nos&rand3 !#0B? Harrow:s wor5 includes ar&icles by %. 'ins&ein3 %.S. 'dding&on3 and
<.<. Tho.son. See also &he wor5 by *al&er Sulli0an3 *e %re No& %lone3 A% Signe& Boo5: New 4or53
New %.erican Hibrary3 !#11B3 reprin& )ro. @c>raw-Hill edi&ion. See especially Sulli0an:s 2hap&er !13
:2an They Jisi& 8s,: App. $-/!B3 )or discussion and re)erences &o space &ra0el and 'ins&ein:s &heory
o) rela&i0i&y.
$. Ieyhoe3 The Flying Saucer 2onspiracy3 pp. /7-1.
1. B.H. %rnold3 In&ui&i0e 2oncep&s in 'le.en&ary Topology A'nglewood 2li))s3 N.<.3 (ren&ice-Hall3
Inc.3 !#1B3 (. 6#.
7. Ieyhoe3 op. ci&.3 pp. !"$-!"1.
6. -n February !3 !#113 I sen& a le&&er by regis&ered .ail &o &he (ro7ec& Blue Boo5 In)or.a&ion -))ice3
S%F-I3 *ashing&on3 D.2.3 0""03 8.S.%.3 con&aining so.e o) &he sugges&ions discussed here
concerning any possible rela&ion be&ween rela&i0i&y &heory3 cur0a&ure o) space3 and 8F-s3 bu& I
recei0ed no reply &o .y le&&er. Since &he ad.inis&ra&ors o) (ro7ec& Blue Boo5 do no& ad.i& ha0ing any
:)ir. e0idence: o) &he e+is&ence o) 8F-s3 i& would3 o) course3 be di))icul& )or &he. &o reply &o a le&&er
based on &he assu.p&ion &ha& &hey do e+is&.
#. See &he unusual accoun& recorded in Jallee3 %na&o.y o) a (heno.enon3 pp. !$$-!$7.
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