In 2008, Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit Director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted in the Associated Press as saying that the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
Many people, including professed Christians, welcomed this announcement as a sign of open-mindedness from Christians. Unfortunately, here is another example where liberal elements of “the church,” have ignored the clear teachings of Scripture. In doing so, they repeat the same mistake that was made when the church stated the earth was flat and persecuted anyone who disagreed.
For the record, it is no secret that many people believe that because there are so many planets and solar systems in the vast expanse of space, there must be one that is like ours and is populated with alien life forms, even intelligent ones. Given this evolutionist view, to suggest this possibility would require one to believe that despite the impossible odds of even the simplest life form being able to “evolve” on one planet, it would have to happen again on another planet.
Putting aside all the speculation, the Bible teaches in Deuteronomy 4:32-39 that there is only one earth that has created beings and civilization and there is no other anywhere in heaven:
(Deuteronomy 4:32-39 KJV)Â “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? {33} Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? {34} Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? {35} Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. {36} Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he showed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. {37} And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; {38} To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. {39} Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”
The Bible tells us that God created earth as the place to be inhabited:
(Psalms 115:16 KJV)Â “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”
(Isaiah 45:18 KJV)Â “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.”
Looking at this question from another perspective, In Colossians 1:23 we are told that the gospel was preached to every creature which is under heaven:
(Colossians 1:23 KJV)Â “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;“
It is important to note here that the verse says every creature under heaven was preached to and Paul was made a minister of them. If Paul was a minister to every creature under heaven, then for there to be aliens on other planets under heaven, Paul would have had to been on other planets to be their minister. Likewise, the only way that Paul could have been a minister to every creature under heaven is if every creature under heaven was on the earth.
Peter reinforces this idea of the gospel being preached under heaven in 1 Peter 1:12:
(1 Peter 1:12 KJV)Â “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”
There are many more verses that promote the idea that God created the heavens and the earth and that the earth is the area that God designed to be inhabited. Nowhere do you find any suggestion that there were earths (plural) or any suggestion that God had any creatures in any place other than the earth and heaven.
While some might say that the idea of creatures in heaven could allow the possibility of another inhabited planet, it is very clear that God gives us many verses that describe these heavenly “creatures” as the angels not alien life forms. To believe otherwise would lead one to believe that God is not the Lord of all the heavens and the earth and that when the gospel went out to all creation, it was not given to parts of creation elsewhere.
Many may then ask how it is that many people claim to have seen aliens? The answer is simple. In 2 Peter 1:16-21, it tells us that we can see things and hear things, but only the Word of God is more reliable. In other words, our eyes and our ears can deceive us.
(2 Peter 1:16-21 KJV)Â “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. {17} For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. {18} And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. {19} We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: {20} Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. {21} For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Continuing on in 1 Peter 2:1-3 we are warned that there will be people who will try to deceive us. Likewise, Satan has the power to create miracles and uses them so as to deceive us from the truth of God’s Word (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:11-14).
The thing that we can learn from this is that despite the fact that the Jesuit Director of the Vatican Observatory says that it is possible that there are other life forms outside of this earth, it does not mean it is possible. To believe otherwise would mean that what God said in His Word is a lie.
At the heart of this issue is that Biblical illiteracy or ignoring Biblical truth leads to false teaching, outrageous beliefs, and more ungodliness. In 2 Timothy 2:15-16, God’s Word tells us that to prevent from being deceived we must study God’s Word to know it. It also warns us not listen to those who try to share their profane and vain teachings, which will do little more than lead us to ungodliness:
(2 Timothy 2:15-16 KJV)Â “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. {16} But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
Finally, my motto concerning Biblical application is: “If you know the normal, the abnormal stands out.” Only by knowing the normal according to what God says is normal, can we successfully sort out the facts from fiction. So then, to answer the question using the facts, the answer to the question of are there aliens living on other planets would be no.
