Final Events III: Chapter 1 Review: Satire Und Theology Version

Final Events III: Chapter I

Preface

Part three of a book review I began 20210118. I have revised part one and two and continue this process 20260426.

a Previously

Thursday, August 27, 2020: Final Events II: Introduction Continued

Friday, August 07, 2020: Final Events I: Introduction

Author Redfern explains that Ray Boeche, an Anglican priest and Rector at Celebration Anglican Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, is also the founder and former director of the Fortean Research Center. He is as well a former Nebraska State Director for the Mutual UFO Network. In 1991, Boeche, after being contacted, met with two United States Department of Defense physicists in regards to the subject of UFOs. (I). 

Redfern learned about these meetings when he met Boeche in 2006 and then interviewed him in 2007. (I). The book states Boeche had a shorter, and then a longer meeting with the two physicists from the Department of Defense. (I). This led to Boeche being 'plunged headlong into a strange and surreal world of classified Department of Defense projects, secret meetings and follow-up dialogues...'(2). 

What was presented to Boeche from these Department of Defence physicists was descriptions of NHE's or Non-Human Entities, which many within UFO research and analysis reason are aliens (extraterrestrials, my add). (2). However, in contrast, certain persons within the Department of Defence reason these are 'deceptive minions of Satan.' (2).

b August 27, 2020

The two men Boeche met with were 'physicists' (2). They were both Christians and while working for the US Department of Defense, an aspect of their work was to contacts NHE's. (2). The next part of this text is revealing:

Quote:

'And part of this effort was to try and control the NHE's and use their powers in military weapons applications and in intelligence areas, such as remote-viewing and psychotronic weapons.' (2).

These two Department of Defense, physicists reasoned the NHE's 'were not extraterrestrial at all; they believed they were some sort of demonic entities.' (2). Further the scientists stated that all the benevolent or beneficial contacts with these entities were 'tainted'. (2). Eventually the results of the contacts worked out to be 'bad'. (2). The scientists therefore viewed these encounters as demonic as opposed to extraterrestrial. (3). From a biblical context, the entities were viewed as deceivers of humanity. (3).

The two scientists that held to Christian faith and philosophy reasoned that others with the US Department of Defence were 'being lulled into a false sense of security' (4). The text explains that the supposed technology provided by the NHE's, such as psychotronic weapons and  remote viewing was not really being done by the Department of Defence, but the entities 'were always the causal factor'. (4). 

January 18, 2021: Chapter I: The Quest Begins

The book written in 2010, explains that the author, Redfern, since meeting with Boeche has 'dug deep into the central theme of his revelations.' (8). Redfern states that this secretive group of American government, military, and intelligence employees collectively call themselves the 'Collins Elite'.

Redfern opines

Quote:

'Yet for all their military-swagger, ingrained machismo. and bravado, the Collins Elite live in a perpetual state of overwhelming apprehension, fear and absolute dread.' (8).

This state of mind arises from the actions of what this group perceives as 'hostile and ominous intruders from a realm of existence far different than the one we now inhabit..' (8). According to the Collins Elite, states Redfern these aliens/extraterrestrials are not 'friends and allies' (8) of humanity. (8).

Interesting

Quote:

'In essence , the Collins Elite utterly refute and reject any and all notions that extraterrestrials have ever visited planet Earth or have abducted human beings for the purposes relative to medical examination, scientific study, and hybridization-a scenario that many UFO researchers strongly assert is taking place. Instead, the conclusion of the group is that we have in our midst a cold-hearted and sinister intelligence of demonic origins that masquerades as alien, whose presence in our world threatens each and every one of us, and that consigns all of us to, perhaps quite literally a living hell.' (8).

I will continue to work through this chapter within my next related entry however: I note that at the end of this chapter Redfern explains 'the accounts, beliefs, theories and conclusions that I have uncovered are strictly those of the people who have been willing to have them published. (11). Redfern is providing a message as a messenger. (11).

Academically, it would better to have primary citations from people such as Boeche, the Collins Elite and the United States, Department of Defense. That being stated, I am reviewing this book as a secondary source, and do not academically dismiss it as such.

My expertise is not in UFO research or the occult. But biblically and theologically, I am at least, allowing the intellectual possibility the United States, Department of Defense has been dealing with demonic entities pretending to be aliens. I realize this is less palatable than actual extraterrestrials for many within present, Western and American, secular worldviews. I am claiming no level of relative certainty here in regards to the content of the book under review.

What if there are actual aliens?

If they are actual aliens working with the American military and the Department of Defense, or there are actual aliens that exist, these entities are still finite, created, beings. From my perspective as a philosophical theologian and philosopher of religion; if is stated, as I have read many times, that the aliens created human beings, I ask then who made the aliens? An infinite regress of causes is a vicious regress.

Time is caused by time, is caused by time, is caused by time, ad infinitum, is an infinite regress. It is a vicious regress, because it does not solve its own problem and requires a first cause, without a cause. 

(If there is an infinite distance between Los Angeles and New York, one will never arrive in New York, is also a similar problem of vicious regress) 

In the Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Simon Blackburn discusses ‘infinite regress’ and mentions that this occurs in a vicious way whenever a problem tries to solve itself and yet remains with the same problem it had previously. Blackburn (1996: 324) 

A vicious regress is an infinite regress that does not solve its own problem, while a benign regress is an infinite regress that does not fail to solve its own problem. Blackburn (1996: 324). Blackburn writes that there is frequently room for debate on what is a vicious regress or benign regress. Blackburn (1996: 324). An example of a benign regress is infinite numbers both plus and minus, as they in reality represent conceptualized things as opposed to being real things. 'Problem' solved. Therefore: Based on my philosophical reading and Blackburn's explanation, it can be deduced that philosophers would debate whether a particular vicious regress is illogical and whether it is using a logical fallacy. 

Further: An argument can be logical and not sound, as sound arguments are not the only valid arguments but are those where 'all the premises are true'. (1997: 35). Whether or not a particular vicious regress, and the examples I raised, are illogical and using a logical fallacy in the sense of invalid argument is of secondary importance. It is of primary importance when a vicious regress is not reasonable and does not solve its own problem and is fallacious as in faulty reasoning. Bradley (371) mentions that it is not illogical, and not a vicious regress that each act of free choice is caused by another act of free choice. I agree that it is not necessarily illogical, but disagree that the argument as described is not a vicious regress.

If there are actual aliens, then like all that is finite, they are created by the infinite, eternal, uncaused, first cause, God. If they are in obedient, relationship, fellowship and respectful worship with God, they are not going to counter and contradict the gospel message for humanity. Even if aliens had created human beings, which is really, extremely far-fetched, in my mind, especially as the biblical revelation supports that humanity has a physical/spiritual nature; the human being's ultimate moral accountability would still be to the first cause creator, not alien entities. In other words, opining that aliens created humanity does not eliminate moral accountability to a first cause, God, for either the aliens or humanity.

As I state somewhat satirically, for the human being post-mortem:

Is it heaven or hell, or the NHL

(I read that in a cartoon as a child)

Brief on Satan

Satan is also known as the devil and other biblical names. But in this limited website context, in regards to Satan, according to Greek scholar, Walter Bauer:

σαταν ὁ,indeclinable (no change of form of word, my add)  and σατανᾶς  ὁ, ᾶ (Bauer 744).

Walter Bauer (1979) in agreement with Strong, Strong (1890)(1986: 152), describes ‘Satan’ or ‘Satanas’ as the Adversary, enemy of God and those who belong to God. Bauer (1979: 744). Bauer goes on to note that Revelation, Chapter 2, verse 13, is describing Satan as persecuting the Church. Bauer (1979: 745). It appears by studying the Greek copies of the New Testament and assuming a type of contextual, literal hermeneutical method of examining Scripture, it is possible to view satanic beings as literal and historical beings…

Bible Hub: Encyclopebia of the Bible–Satan

'Bibliography F. C. Jennings, Satan: His Person, Work, Place and Destiny (n.d.); D. L. Cooper, What Men Must Believe (1943), 234-279; E. Langton, Satan, A Portrait, A Study of the Character of Satan Through All the Ages (1945); L. S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, II (1947), 33-112; C. T. Schwarze, The Program of Satan, A Study of the Purpose and Method of the Adversary (1947); K. L. Schmidt, “Luzifer als gefallene Engelsmacht,” TLZ, VII (1951), 261-279; J. M. Ross, “The Decline of the Devil,” ExpT, LXVI, No. 2 (Nov. 1954), 58-61; F. J. Rae, “The Two Circles of Faith,” ExpT, XLVI, No. 7 (Apr. 1955), 212-215; D. G. Barnhouse, The Invisible War (1965); J. Kallas, The Satanward View (1966); F. A. Tatford, The Prince of Darkness (1967); F. J. Huegel, The Mystery of Iniquity (1968); J. D. Pentecost, Your Adversary, the Devil (1969).'

Cited 

'The NT reveals that Satan is the ruler over a powerful kingdom of evil which he rules with intelligent consistency. In refuting the charge that he was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, Jesus pointed out the absurdity of the charge since it meant that Satan “is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?” (Matt 12:26).'  

Courson opines that this charge against Jesus Christ was both illogical and hypocritical (89). I take it by illogical, Courson means, contradictory, as God would be working against himself in Christ. Hypocritical because the Pharisees were supposedly also working on God's behalf. But in reality, this religious leaders were being deceived by their own sinful natures and by Satanic entities opposed to the Son of God and his gospel work. 

Back to Bible Hub: Encyclopebia of the Bible–Satan

Cited 

'Satan is also described as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). The “world” (κόσμος, G3180) which he rules is the present world system organized according to his own principles, methods, and aims...'

Courson explains that because of the gospel, the believer in Jesus Christ can grasp onto God and Satan will be cast out. (542).

Satan is called the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4: 4). According to Courson, Satan must be bound for people to be set free (1114). He explains that we should pray that the work of Satan is bound (1114) and that the power of God is loosed (1114).

Back to Bible Hub: Encyclopebia of the Bible–Satan

Cited 

'In his ambition to assume the place of God Satan is mastered by a consuming passion to receive worship as God. That master passion was revealed in Satan’s bald offer to invest Jesus with authority over the kingdoms of this world on condition that He would worship him.' (Matthew 4, Luke 4 my add).

Satan is looking for God level worship, pretending to be the leader of aliens, and deceiving some within humanity, might suffice.

a From a liberal perspective

According to Richardson, the term 'satan' does indeed mean 'adversary'. (521). He reasons that in the oldest Hebrew Bible contexts, Satan was a member of the heavenly court (521). Richardson writes that in Job 1, Satan's function was to 'identify evil persons and to accuse them before God.' (521). Of course, the hypocrisy, and contradiction here is that in Job 1 from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), Job is described as...

'There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.'

Meanwhile the likely first description of Satan in Genesis 3, is of a deceptive serpent. Even if Job was written before Genesis, the Genesis story precedes the Job story. 

b Genesis v Job

There is some debate in scholarship which book was written first. John J. Collins lists a traditional view of the writing of Genesis as 1400 BC, with the typical more modern view of final completion with final revisions as 400 BC. (pp. 53-70). 

For the book of Job, Hartley argues for a date in the 7th century, roughly 625–600 BCE (11). Terrien opines that Job was likely written in the 5th century BCE and that is was written during the suffering of the Jewish people after the Babylonian exile (361). Williams opines that there is a significant scholarly view that reasons a final version of Job was extant, between 500 and 300 BCE, while acknowledging the much older oral traditions it is based on (26). I am not convinced with a limited review that Job was written and revised before Genesis was written and revised.

The conduct of Satan within Genesis and Job calls what is black, white, and what is white, black. Or just mixing things up to be wrongly grey at times. I am not stating that at times things are not in the grey area, but if things are grey, they should not be deceptively grey. 

c From a liberal perspective continued

Richardson continues that by New Testament times Satan's character had been 'degenerated'  (521), and Satan was shown as the leader of demonic forces (521). Richardson explains that once the enlightenment era (roughly 1700-1800, my add) came an intellectual belief in a person Satan became less prominent among thinkers. (522). Well, this can be explained as roughly from 1700 forward there has been less trust in the scripture and revealed, supernatural truth from God. This theological truth through his prophets, apostles, scribes, and in particular through the life and death of God the Son, God incarnate, Jesus Christ. There has also been, of course, simultaneously, intellectually connected, less trust in a Christian Church that would teach biblical dogma and doctrine that held to such scriptural revelation. 

Richardson reasons that Satan and satanic forces were not a 'satisfactory answer to the problem of evil' (522). Being a scholar on the nature of God, problems of evil, free will and determinism, through MPhil/PhD theses and twenty plus years of online work, I would not, and do not opine that Satanic forces are the answer to the cause of the problem of evil. That is too simplistic, I would view God as willingly, with holy motives creating humanity that would fall, without force or coercion, with satanic influence. Please see my online work in regards to compatibilism and incompatibilism.

God as primary cause with perfectly good motives with all thoughts and actions.

Humanity and Satanic entities as secondary causes, with tainted, sinful motives, to varying degrees, in all thoughts and actions.

The human being, as regenerate can be guided by the Holy Spirit of God to work within God's sovereign plans, not perfectly, but still significantly obediently.

Religious history shows that atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, through his death on the cross, is applied to the regenerate, elect, that would eventually as resurrected, comprise the culminated Kingdom of God. Richardson asks how evil could get into a world that God made 'very good' (522). An answer is that the development of atoned for, resurrected believers within the eventual culminated Kingdom of God, is also considered 'very good' by God. At the same time, God willingly allowing some of his creation, some of them angelic entities (demonic) and some of them human beings, to reject and oppose God and the gospel, could be considered within God's sovereign plans. I reason that God does not want people within his culminated Kingdom of God to everlastingly seriously ponder on possibly not needing God as Lord, and instead trusting in our finite goodness and righteousness (before God). There is an actual alternative in reality, to being a citizen of the Kingdom of God, by grace through faith alone. It is called 'hell'. Death, along with Hades (hell 1) are cast into the Lake of Fire (hell 2) (Revelation 20). Figurative literal language, but with some level of literalness describing post-mortem stages of everlasting separation from God. The second death.

Comments

If the story presented by Redfern is significantly true, again I do not claim relative certainty, the behavior of the evil entities is consistent with the nature and work of biblical, satanic beings. In particular, with ontological deception (nature of existence). Biblically, Satan is the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9: NASB). Satan as the serpent, deceived humanity in Genesis 3, and he with hypocrisy accuses Job of wrong doing in Job 1, where Job, even as a sinner, is nowhere as wicked as Satan. The potential prospect of fake aliens/extraterrestrials attempting to gain human reliance on these entities through the use of great power which also leads to human fear of that same power, is reasonable. The American authorities within the military and government, the hold to forms of naturalism, that dismiss the supernatural and the gospel as relevant, rather could view the knowledge and technology of these 'aliens' as more beneficial than harmful.

For me, I support the West militarily. I appreciate that NATO should be advancing weaponry for defensive purposes. I very much realize that the law, order, and significant freedom within the West that is protected through military technology. I understand and support reasonable secrecy for Western security with military and government. I do not reason military and government secrets should all be an open book. I am a loyal supporter of the Western alliance. But I primarily, also stand with the triune God of the Bible and reason that the infinite, eternal, God should be taken very seriously. At the same time, the documented, biblical existence of finite, everlasting, Satan and his opposition to God and the gospel, also should be taken very seriously. Note, Satanic forces are not for the betterment of humanity, in any context, including if they are indeed pretending to be aliens. They are attempting to lead humanity to death, outside of gospel salvation and to everlasting damnation. Courson explains that in regards to Revelation 20: 14-15, 'all whose names are written in the Book of Life-win.' (1784).

Revelation 20:14-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if [a]anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 

Footnotes Revelation 20:15 Lit anyone was not

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BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

BLACKBURN, S. (1996) ‘Regress’, in Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

BRADLEY, RAYMOND D. (1996) ‘Infinite Regress Argument’, in Robert Audi, (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

COLLINS, JOHN J. (2004)(2014) Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Minneapolis, Fortress Press.

CONWAY DAVID A. AND RONALD MUNSON (1997) The Elements of Reasoning, Wadsworth Publishing Company, New York.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

HARTLEY, JOHN E. (1988) The Book of Job, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

RICHARDSON, ALAN (1999) 'Satan', in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Limited.

STRONG, J. (1986) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Pickering, Ontario, Welch Publishing Company.

TERRIEN, SAMUEL (1978) The Elusive Presence: Toward a New Biblical Theology, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

WILLIAMS, ANTHONY (1996) Job, Oxford, Oxford University Press.