We live in a world of two opposing forces: good vs evil.
If we weighed all the evidence, what conclusion would we come to about whether God, heaven, and hell exist?
The battle over what is true is more polarizing than ever, complicated by the constant flow of untested information into our lives that tends to shorten our attention spans and cloud our judgment.
Jeff Walton stands for reality, not religion.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, he uses his experience from nearly 35 years of national security and federal law enforcement work to analyze and evaluate information that he passes on to you.
He believes a mountain of evidence exists that confirms there is an afterlife and we do have a loving, just and holy Creator. He also believes forces of evil are at work to suppress or distort the evidence.
Our level of awakening in this life will determine where we go in the next.
Jeff Walton feels an intense need to forewarn people about the consequences of failing to think deeply about the most important choice we’ll ever make – whether we believe in and follow God.
Divine Return picks up where award-winning Final Departure left off… A phone call from a dead friend? Dan Lucas never fully recovered from the shock. But in his former line of work, NCIS, Dan had learned how to brush off death and deception. Until now… Confronted with a man who’d mysteriously come back to life, he has to tell the world about the reality of life after death and the Kingdom of God. But on the way to trumpeting the truth, he gets pulled into the dark and evil world of the satanic elite. Can he save his friend's son, who’s marked for death? Can he convince a pastor of a failing church that he has to preach that the world is coming to an end to save it? Can he...more
Turned off by organized religion? Not sure that God exists? I had the same doubts and feelings not too long ago. That all changed in 2010, when I read a book that turned my world upside down. Suddenly, it was as if God had switched on the lights and I could see. When I looked at myself and realized how I had lived, I was shocked. I had turned my back on God and become totally self-centered. I didn’t know what to do, so I fell back on my training and experience from my NCIS special agent days and started to dig. I had to have answers. Was my newfound faith based on reality or just wishful thinking?
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Writing about UFOs has been a task that I've avoided. For the record, I'm not a UFO enthusiast, although I've always been mildly curious about the subject, as many are. However, I’ve always considered my mission to be spotlighting the truth about Jesus Christ and His rescue mission to save mankind.
Now, because of recent developments, I feel compelled to share what I’ve learned from Christian and secular researchers whom I trust. I’ve confirmed some of the information through my research as well. I think it’s time to pay attention to the UFO phenomenon for several reasons.
Why now – what has changed?
The existence of UFOs is no longer theoretical – the US Department of Defense (DoD) has confirmed their presence.
Probably the most critical development in the world of UFOs has been the US Department of Defense's quiet release of official information into the public domain through television programs. The chronology of some of the critical disclosures is as follows:
July 24, 2020, Tucker Carlson Show, FOX NEWS. During a ground-breaking segment, Tucker Carlson interviewed Commander David Fravor, USN (retired). During the interview, FOX played an official USN video clip of an encounter between an FA-18 piloted by Commander Fravor from the USS Nimitz and an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP – the new DoD official term for UFOs).
The video showed the FA-18’s radar locked on an object that Commander Fravor described as looking like a flying tic-tac. He stated that because of the high-speed maneuvers that the craft engaged in – maneuvers that defied the laws of physics – he determined that the craft was “not of this world.” At the time of the incident, Commander Fravor ran the Navy’s Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATI).
The showing of the video was significant for two reasons. First, I think the video would have been classified because of its content. Commander Fravor would have never taken possession of a copy of the video and shared it with Fox News without the approval from the Department of the Navy and, ultimately, DoD. Had he shared the video without authorization, he would have been at risk of criminal prosecution for unauthorized disclosure of classified information. At the very least, he would have risked losing his USN retirement. The video is proof of DoD’s intent to make an official disclosure.
Secondly, the video showed visual proof of a UAP. By simply displaying and describing what he saw, Commander Fravor provided concrete evidence so that no one would doubt the authenticity of his claims.
October 8, 2020, Tucker Carlson Show. Carlson ran a segment on the documentary film “The Phenomenon,” produced by 1091 Pictures. In the segment, the producers of the film joined Carlson. Tucker then aired a portion of the documentary that showed Senator Harry Reid (Democrat –retired) confirming that UFOs had interfered with the operations of US ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads in the past.
Carlson also played a clip from the film that showed Dr. Jacque Valle working in a laboratory where he was testing materials recovered from UFOs. He stated on camera that his tests proved that the materials were not manufactured on earth.
In the same video clip, Chris Mellon, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, stated the materials recovered from UFOs were manufactured at the atomic level, a capability that doesn’t exist on earth.
December 16, 2021, New York Times. The New York Times published an article that revealed the existence of a DoD program that maintains a stockpile of unidentified alien alloys.
April 6, 2022, Special Report with Bret Baier, FOX NEWS. Bret Baier, the anchor of FOX News’ prime time news hour, ran a segment entitled “Close Encounters with Unidentified Flying Objects.” During the segment, Baier revealed the existence of a 1500-page pentagon report that documents several categories of injuries that DoD personnel have sustained after having physical encounters with UFOs/UAPs.
Baier cited a portion of the official report that documented DoD personnel suffering from radiation burns, brain injuries, and physical abductions by the occupants of the UAPs. In addition, Baier stated that the female victims reported unexplained pregnancies after being abducted.
May 17, 2022. The US House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on Intelligence conducted a hearing on UAPs. While the hearing did not produce any new revelations, the fact that Congress held a hearing on the subject is a further official confirmation of the phenomenon's existence.
Does other credible information from the past exist?
During the same timeframe of the DoD revelations about the existence of UAPs, DoD released information about the USS Omaha (LCS-12) encountering a “self-illuminated spherical craft” that followed the naval warship for more than two hours. Reporter George Knapp on Channel 8 News, CBS Las Vegas, showed a video of the USN radar tracking the craft until it disappeared into the ocean. At one point, the USS Omaha tracked 14 unidentified craft in its vicinity. The encounter took place in 2019. Eight other USN warships reported similar encounters.
Additionally, former military and civilian radar operators have reported tracking unidentified flying aircraft traveling at over 7,000 mph, making a 45-degree right turn, and coming to an instantaneous stop and hovering. They have also reported tracking multiple craft that have changed shape.
Robert (Bob) Lazar, a physicist who previously worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, gained national attention when he reported in 1989 that he was part of a classified US government program that was housed at a facility located near the Nevada Test Site in an area identified as S-4 near the Groom Lake/Area 51. He revealed that his job was to reverse engineer an anti-matter reactor propulsion system recovered from a UFO that used gravity amplifiers that could send out anti-gravity waves and use them to slice a cavity in the air and pull the craft through it.
He reported seeing nine UFO craft of various shapes and sizes in hangers. He was fired after he was caught bringing friends to the perimeter of the desert S-4/Area 51 test range at night to watch the craft being flown.
Today, one can find hundreds of videos of UFOs posted on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and the like. The sheer number of videos captured by everyday people worldwide provides additional proof that UFOs/UAPs are real.
Are all of the aerial craft sighted UFOs?
While I have no definitive proof, I believe some of the crafts sighted are experimental US crafts or crafts from other nations. I also think that some may be satellites, drones, or planets visible in the night sky. With that said, I believe the proof of the existence of UFOs/UAPs is no longer in doubt.
Have there been any changes in UFO sightings?
With the advent of smartphones, more and more people are posting videos of UFOs on the web. Although I have no quantitative data to support my suspicions, I believe the number of appearances of UFOs is increasing significantly.
Since most of the Christian community has not addressed the UFO phenomenon, what has been the impact?
Secular television, Hollywood, and amateur UFO investigators have put forth theories that have created what is essentially a UFO religion – a religion that is taking the place of the Holy Bible.
A case in point is the History Channel, which has been running the Ancient Aliens series for years. The show consistently asserts that what appears to be visible depictions of alien craft in ancient archeological ruins, particularly in Egypt and South America, is evidence that aliens from another planet have been visiting earth throughout recorded history. The Ancient Aliens series also postulates that the aliens were responsible for creating life on earth.
Many people have bought into the ancient alien theory and life on other planets because they believe in the theory of evolution. They assume that if life can originate from inorganic matter on earth – it must be happening on other planets as well – one of the consequences of rejecting the Bible’s documented account of God’s creation.
Are UFOs from another planet?
In 1990, Dr. Jacque Valle, an atheist, published a study in the Journal of Scientific Explorer: Five Arguments Against the Extraterrestrial Origin of Unidentified Flying Objects.
His findings:
(1) Unexplained close encounters are far more numerous than required for any physical survey of the earth. For example, we send several probes to survey other planets; there is no need to send hundreds of thousands of craft to study the weather, geology, and life forms on earth.
(2) The humanoid body structure of the alleged "aliens" is not likely to have originated on another planet and is not biologically adapted to space travel.
(3) The reported behavior in thousands of abduction reports contradicts the hypothesis of genetic or scientific experimentation on humans by an advanced race based on the methods used for sperm and ovum extractions. The procedures leave scars, inflict pain, and are performed in an uncaring, sadistic, and evil manner.
(4) The extension of the phenomenon throughout recorded human history demonstrates that UFOs are not a contemporary phenomenon.
(5) The UFOs have an apparent ability to manipulate space and time; they appear to be interdimensional
In addition to Valle’s findings, other researchers have noted that the shapes of the UFOs have changed over time. In the Roman Empire days, there were sightings of alien beings riding on shields. In Indian lore, witnesses observed alien beings riding in canoes in the sky. In the 1890s, multiple sightings of craft in the shape of airships, like the Goodyear blimp, were recorded.
Experts say that the so-called aliens have tailored their craft to match the culture of the day throughout history. In other words, they are deceptive.
If the UFO craft are interdimensional, why are they here?
If we examine past reports of people having direct contact with “aliens,” we can start to learn their intentions.
Reports of contact with aliens began to surface many decades ago. A case in point is that of Barney and Betty Hill, a couple from rural New Hampshire, who reported being abducted by extraterrestrials on September 19, 1961, while driving on a country road. They claimed they were taken into a spaceship and examined by humanoid beings. When asked where they were from, one of the humanoids showed Mrs. Hill a map of what appeared to be the Zeta Reticuli star system. Their abduction account was later detailed in the best-selling 1977 book The Interrupted Journey and later in a television film, The UFO Incident.
Since the Hill’s public disclosure of their abduction, countless other witnesses have reported sightings, contacts, and abductions.
One of the most famous abductions was chronicled in the movie Fire in the Sky, which featured the account of Travis Walton, who was abducted by “aliens” in full view of several members of a logging crew he was working with at the time. Walton reported fighting with small gray aliens when they attempted to examine him aboard a spaceship.
Christian researcher LA Marzulli has produced a four-part video series that documents, in part, the eyewitness accounts of women who have been abducted and become pregnant. Some witnesses reported having their pregnancies confirmed by a doctor, during which an ultrasound examination of the fetus was performed, and a heartbeat was detected. However, the same women reported that their baby was gone after being re-abducted approximately 12 weeks later.
The late Dr David M Jacobs examined hundreds of patients suffering from psychological problems, and through regressive hypnosis, he determined that most had been abducted by extraterrestrials. He further determined that the abductors were evil and, ultimately, concluded that the so-called “aliens" were conducting a massive breeding program. Most of his patients were abducted and used against their will, and part of their abuse involved training hybrid half-human/half-aliens how to act and think like humans.
Dr. Jacobs documented his work in several books, including The Threat: Revealing the Secret Alien Agenda and Walking Among Us: The Alien Plan to Control Humanity.
Another physician who investigated the actions of “aliens” was the late Dr. John Mack, a professor at Harvard Medical School and head of Harvard’s Psychiatry Department. Dr. Mack, a Pulitzer Prize winner, began encountering patients who had vague mental health complaints in his practice. He initially thought the patients were mentally ill; however, after doing in-depth research and using hypnosis, he realized that his patients had been abducted by aliens. Dr. Mack documented his findings in Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens and Passport to the Cosmos: Human Transformation and Alien Encounters. Unlike Jacobs, he believed the experiences of his patients could be positive – sort of a necessary intervention, in his opinion. He also acknowledged the alien beings seemed to come from the spirit world.
UFO researchers who study the data of sightings and abductions have created a standardized checklist of the typical abduction experience based on the reports of thousands of abductees:
Classic Abduction Syndrome
1. Capture: while driving their car at night or in bed, a strange entity appears and teleports them from their car or bedroom to a ship or cave. Many have missing time associated with the capture.
2. Examination: under hypnosis, they report undergoing crude medical examinations aboard a spacecraft – others in cave-like locations. People report being in an examination room on a metal table.
3. Conference: Abductees have memories of having a telepathic conference with aliens; sometimes, they are told about future events that will happen on earth.
4. Tour: They are given a tour of the ship, which often includes a stop at the ship's incubators (strange rooms for breeding purposes).
5. Journey: They are taken to another environment or planet.
6. Theophany: They report meeting divine beings or religious leaders on the ship, including Jesus Christ.
7. Return: Returned to their environment and told to forget events or their memories are wiped.
8. Aftermath: Often have no recollection of the event but show signs of being interfered with: scars, bruises, or marks; sometimes the skin is scooped, or scrape marks are visible. Many consider their experience to be abuse.
Are Christian churches helping abduction victims?
While most of the Christian community has ignored the abduction problem, secular television, and entertainment have not. For example, the A&E/History Channel has run a series entitled The Unexplained: Alien Abductions.
Abduction victims who have been traumatized by their experiences and seek out the counsel of Christian clergy are largely met with suspicion or apathy. Victims then often gravitate to support groups composed of fellow experiencers, where they are made to feel like they are part of a cosmic plan. In addition, the groups often foster an attitude among the victims that they have a much greater purpose and are recipients of spiritual enlightenment.
The abduction victims then end up being ambassadors for the “aliens” and their doctrines.
Since we have evidence that “aliens” are visiting earth, are interdimensional, and not from outer space, what are they?
The overwhelming consensus among the Christian community is that they are demonic entities from the second heaven.
Some Christian researchers speculate that the often-reported grays are avatars or biological earth suits that house demonic spirits.
Witnesses describe the "aliens" as deceptive, evil, and cruel; their behavior makes sense because if they are demons, they are under the control of the evil one - the father of all lies who prowls like a roaring lion.
Witnesses report that the “aliens” are constantly coming up with new origins in various places in the universe. They also give contradictory messages to different people, later determined to be lies.
Do "aliens" demonstrate traits consistent with the abilities of demons or angels?
"Aliens" can paralyze people while they are conscious. They can also block memories, induce sleep, and implant images and thoughts into people’s minds. The "aliens'" primary means of communication is telepathy, although some have used an audible voice.
Many abductees report being bathed in a beam of intense light and then teleported through car roofs, walls, windows, or ceilings into a ship.
Does the Bible document any angelic activity consistent with the behavior and capabilities of demons posing as aliens?
Acts 12:5-17
Peter Freed from Prison
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the Iron Gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
The above passage documents that an angel performed the following supernatural feats that are mirrored by fallen angels posing as aliens:
Is knowledge of UFOs and “aliens” a salvation issue, and if not, why should Christians care?
Christians should be concerned about UFOs and alien abductions for two reasons. First, from a purely defensive standpoint, followers of Christ should be prepared to pass on knowledge to others who might be victims of abductions. Why? If "aliens" are demons inhabiting biologically constructed humanoid-style earth suits, then they are subject to the power and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. Is there evidence to support the contention that "aliens" can be rebuked in the name of Jesus Christ?
The answer is yes. One witness in Florida reported that in 1997 while being sexually assaulted in his bed by alien intruders, he heard evil laughter. When he yelled, "Jesus help me," he heard shrieking, and the beings left.
A local newspaper reported the story, and then nationally syndicated wire services ran it. What followed was a flood of other witnesses coming forward with the same information.
MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) chapters then began reporting the same type of information; however, they claimed they held on to the reports because they didn't know what to do with them. Targets of potential abductions were able to repel attacks by invoking the name of Jesus.
Other Christian research organizations began reporting the same information. Creation Ministries International produced the documentary Alien Intrusion: Unmasking a Deception, which covers the subject in detail.
Christian researcher L. A. Marzulli has produced four UFO-related documentaries, the last being UFO Disclosure. In the film, he presents a witness who reports asking an alien if it is a demon. The “alien” replied, “We know your Jesus," and vanished.
CE4 Research Group has been the Investigative arm of AlienResistance.org, a clearing house devoted to presenting information that supports the Biblical view of the UFO phenomenon. The website has links to a database that contains scores of documented accounts of witnesses who stopped abductions by rebuking them in the name of Jesus.
The preceding information raises a fundamental question: If aliens with sophisticated technology can fly millions of light years to reach earth, why would they be afraid of the name of Jesus?
The second reason Christians should be concerned about UFOs is that false beliefs about aliens could become a salvation issue for some.
If we have a significant disclosure event in the future in which multiple UFOs appear in a prominent location and remain stationary to be filmed by TV crews, followed by an appearance of "aliens" who claim to be the actual creators of humankind – not God – then many will be deceived. We are facing what many believe to be the coming great deception that will cause a great falling away.
Does the Bible say anything about a significant future deception that could cause a great falling away?
Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 NKJV
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
What does the Bible tell us about how and why the alien intrusion began?
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."
The preceding passage documents God warning Satan in the Garden of Eden that He will confront Satan's offspring. What offspring? How could that be, and why would God say such a thing?
God’s warning to Satan sets up the prophetic narrative; it marks the start of the seed war between Satan and God. Scripture documents that Satan has attempted to destroy the genome of man, and the subsequent line of descendants, to prevent the birth of Christ. If all human seeds or genomes had been corrupted, Mary could have never given birth to Jesus.
How could Satan destroy the genome of man?
Genesis 6: 1-4
6 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in[a] man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
The previous passage documents Satan's first attempt to pollute the gene pool. He induced guardian angels to desert their post of watching over assigned territories of earth, appearing in human flesh, and engaging in copulation with earth women. The resulting offspring were giant half-angel/half-human hybrids who were not made in the image of God and thus could not be saved. Satan’s goal was to pollute the gene pool so that no pure human would be left and Mary could not birth Jesus.
Many scholars agree with the interpretation, including Dr. David Jeremiah and Dr. Michael Heiser, to name a few. In addition to producing hybrid offspring, the fallen angels also taught man such skills as metallurgy, astrology, and genetic manipulation techniques to alter other life forms – according to extra-biblical texts.
Does the Bible document God's attention to the human gene pool and the purity of bloodlines?
Genesis 6:9
These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.
Does the Bible cite evidence of the gene mixing and the resulting Nephilim?
Deuteronomy 3:11
For only King Og of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits (18 feet) was its length, and four cubits (8 feet) is its breadth, according to the common cubit.
(Note: The US measure of feet was added to the text. Rabbah was the chief city of the Ammonites. The Rephaim were one of the tribes of the Nephilim.)
In Numbers 13, we learn that Moses sent spies out into Canaan to surveil the Promised Land clandestinely.
Numbers 13: 33
And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves as grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.
Does the Bible contain any evidence of the genetic manipulation of other animals or plants?
Numbers 13: 23
And they came to the valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs.
Does the Bible contain any references to the production of alien/human hybrids?
Daniel 2:43 NKJV
As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
The preceding scripture is part of a more in-depth prophetic description of the last days before the return of Jesus Christ. While the "they" are not identified, the passage generally describes mixing demonic seeds with human seeds. The quote also alludes to Satan's new strategy in the seed war.
Why is Satan creating human/alien hybrids? Jesus Christ has already been born, and he defeated Satan at the cross.
The late Dr. Chuck Missler, a revered Christian scholar, was asked the preceding question. His answer was immediate: "Satan is outnumbered two to one. So he's building an army."
While the question is not answered in the Bible, some speculate that the hybrids will be mobilized in the last days in some capacity. If a significant number exists, they could be a factor in an armed conflict. Abductees who have interacted with late-generation hybrids report that the hybrids possess some of the mental manipulation powers of pure aliens/demons, i.e., they can read minds, plant thoughts, and incapacitate targets with their telepathic abilities.
Some abductees claim to have been forced to teach hybrids how to act like humans in preparation for an eventual takeover – The Change. Abductees have been told there are eight generations of successive hybrids (which would put the programs start to the late 1800s).
What can we, as followers of Jesus Christ, do?
We must be resolute in our faith in God. Since witnesses have come forward to warn us about the demonic deception masquerading as an alien invasion, we are now mentally prepared to confront the deception that is being perpetrated against us.
We must follow God’s command:
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.
What is the single greatest threat to our existence?
Inflation, disease, crime, or war?
I think the single greatest threat to anyone's existence is hell. Why? Hell is a permanent, eternal destination after physical death for those without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Hell is a place of torment and torture beyond belief. We must never forget that it’s the unimaginable price we’ll pay if we reject Jesus Christ while alive.
If hell is so horrible, why aren't people talking about it?
For most people in the secular world, Christianity is a belief of the past; therefore, the thought of landing in hell is never a consideration.
Further, people don’t understand what happens when they physically die and their soul and spirit separate from their body. Moreover, if they have no faith and reject the Bible, they have no appreciation of sin, judgment, and eternal punishment.
To make matters worse, many Christian churches completely ignore the topic of hell.
Why do Christian pastors avoid talking about hell?
A 2020 Barna Group poll found that only 51% of Americans believe in an all-powerful God, while 56% believe in Satan. In addition, the same 2020 study found that only 4 in 10 believe the Bible to be true and accurate.
Similarly, the Pew Research Center's 2014 Religious Landscape Study found that 57% to 75% of Americans say they believe in heaven (depending on age), while only 55% to 59% believe in hell. A more recent 2018 Pew Research Center study found that 70% of all individuals polled believed in heaven while only 60% believed in hell. Again, the poll sampled groups that ranged from highly religious to highly secular.
With over 40% or more of Americans rejecting the reality of eternal punishment, one shouldn’t be surprised that most people don't want to hear about hell. But if many people don't believe in hell, why don’t most Christian clergy make the teaching about hell, a top priority with their congregations?
Sadly, even some clergy fall into the 40% of nonbelievers, and the result is that they bypass the subject entirely and never preach about hell's existence.
A discussion of hell is a no-go in most churches.
A case in point is Pastor Brian Jones, author of Hell is Real, who admits that he lost his faith while attending Princeton Theological Seminary. Pastor Jones revealed that some of his professors taught that the writers of the New Testament invented the concept of hell. The teachers further claimed that if hell existed, man was living in it in the present day. Because the closet atheists posing as Christian scholars undermined his faith, Pastor Jones didn't believe in hell and never preached about it after graduating from seminary. However, once he discovered that half of Jesus’ parables were about judgment and eternal punishment, he repented and focused on winning souls to Christ.
If the topic of hell is rarely taught or discussed, how many professing Christians give the reality of hell any thought? I suspect the number is small. For those who don't believe in God, Jesus Christ, or the Bible, the idea of hell is a quaint myth at best and an evil fairy tale concocted to scare people into going to church at worst.
What did Jesus Christ say about hell?
When He walked on the earth in human form, Jesus Christ taught more about hell than He did heaven. Although He often used parables to make His point, His words were clear and unequivocal. Christ mentioned hell 46 times in the Bible and the fires of hell 18 times.
“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into Hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” Matthew 5:29-30
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.
So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:47-50
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.
Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’” Luke 16:19-31
What if the unthinkable is true?
My question to unbelievers is, what if hell exists? What if it's as horrific as Christ described? Shouldn't we be doing everything in our power to learn more about it and learn how to stay out of it? And what about Father God? Surely, He knows that the reality of hell is being ignored, and thousands are descending into its hideous depths every day.
God’s Quiet Effort to Reach Millions with the Truth
As we know from studying the Bible, God's ways are much higher than our ways. He uses seemingly bizarre strategies to accomplish His goals. He often uses ordinary people to do extraordinary feats, such as David, the young shepherd boy, or Moses, the inarticulate runaway murderer.
Consider that He chose a young woman, Mary, from a poor family to give birth to the Savoir of mankind. The entire plan of man’s salvation that God devised was certainly not something any mortal would dream up.
I believe God may be using an unusual method to warn people about hell in the final days.
Throughout history, God has used people to deliver critically important messages to the world. Is he still using unconventional messengers today?
Over the past year, I’ve noticed a growing number of YouTube testimonies by everyday individuals who claim to have made out-of-body trips to hell. Some claim to be taken to hell while in a public place such as a church, while others claim that they have been taken on horrific trips while awake in their homes or while sleeping. The number of testimonies seems to be growing.
One could easily dismiss them as dishonest or deluded attempts to gain fleeting fame. But when I watch them, I find that many appear to be sincere testimonies of horrific experiences that God specifically induced.
Of the scores I’ve reviewed that I believe are sincere, I’ve noticed a pattern:
Motive Is Pure: Many individuals who make YouTube videos about hellish out-of-body experiences (OBEs) do not appear to be motivated by financial gain. Almost all do not have a book to sell or a for-profit speaking business to support. Most record their videos in their modest homes or cars, and most do not have professional-grade video production equipment. The few who have ministries are low-key and do not contain aggressive solicitations for donations. I do not give the same weight to YouTube productions that are professional grade with obvious revenue-generating goals.
Demeanor is Appropriate: While anyone can put on an act, I believe the earnest individuals who make truthful testimonies about OBE trips to hell display the appropriate degree of sobriety and respectful reverence to Father God. Some break down into tears when describing the horrific scenes of suffering they witnessed in hell, while others are appropriately somber. Many start their testimonies with a prayer or an acknowledgment of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the universal sovereignty of Father God.
The message is consistent with Scripture: While the Bible does not provide detailed descriptions of any parts of hell, it does give the reader general images of the abode of the dead. Typically, witnesses describe descending into a pitch-black tunnel or pit, sensing extreme heat, smelling putrid odors, hearing deafening screams, and visiting areas where demonic creatures torture humans. Some report seeing areas that have lakes of liquid fire or smaller pits filled with molten lava. Still, others describe observing souls trapped in individual holding cells. Moreover, some report seeing creatures such as worms that are described in the Bible.
In many cases, the witnesses describe being accompanied by either Jesus Christ or an angel. In some instances, they recall being able to communicate telepathically with Christ or their angelic escort.
One recurring theme in many OBE and NDE testimonies is that their escort instructed them to tell others about what they witnessed in hell.
What is most striking about the vast majority of the YouTube testimonies is the consistency of their experiences.
An example of a credible YouTube testimony is a video posted by Ms. Teressa Wright. She recorded her OBE visit to hell in June 2021. She made a simple video of her experience while seated in an outdoor area that appears to be a typical backyard. She claims that she was taken out of her body while she was making an altar call at church and pulled down into hell to observe as a witness. The experience clearly shook her. When she begins to describe seeing large groups of people in individual craters filled with lava, she breaks down into tears.
Her testimony is notable because she confirms the configuration of a massive pit in hell that has a spiral groove carved into the side of the enormous opening. She witnessed that the spiral pathway contained lava-filled craters spaced about five feet apart. She also noted that each cavity was filled with people who were trying to escape the burning lava. She watched as each person who reached the top of the pile of people in the crater would be sucked back down into the molten lava.
Her description of a large pit with a spiral pathway carved into the side matches the extensive and riveting testimony of Bryan Melvin, who documented his NDE visit to hell in his book, A Land Unknown: Hells Dominion. Melvin has since recorded his experience in hell in a two-part YouTube video.
In a separate, unrelated testimony, a contributor to the Near-Death Experience Group on Facebook, Melissa E., reported in April of this year that she experienced an OBE in which she was taken to hell. In her own words, she observed, “Hell is a huge pit. It never ends. It just keeps going down and never stops. Within this pit are layers of chambers that you can't escape from. They each stack one on top of another. Within these chambers are people burning and screaming to break free from these chambers. They are all screaming in different languages. They are burning but their skin is not melting off. Instead of falling down into this pit, I was being lifted but I could feel the heat of the flames. It was so hot. When I got to the top of this pit, demonic beings were running towards me and through me. They were almost like spirits. Running in and out of me over and over. I was able to break free of them…."
Her description matches Bryan Melvin's description of chambers, or cubes as he described them, which are stacked six high and six deep in a huge spiral pathway that encircled the perimeter of an enormous pit.
YouTube videos are entertaining, but are OBEs real?
A skeptic reading this piece might wonder how one can leave their body, travel to hell, return to their body and resume living. However, for Christian readers, the concept is consistent with several Biblical accounts, such as the Apostle Paul’s account of an OBE in 2 Corinthians 12:2.
For a more detailed examination of OBEs and NDEs and their connection to Christianity, my blog post entitled “8 Reasons Why Christians Should Not Ignore Near-Death Experiences,” dated February 11, 2020, delves into the extensive amount of peer-reviewed literature documenting many thousands of cases of individuals who clinically died, visited heaven or hell and returned to their bodies.
Since unbelief in the supernatural realm is a major stumbling block to those with secular views and a belief that the physical realm is the only true realm in existence, what might convince a skeptic that OBEs are possible?
Modern research gives clues about how OBEs work.
Just how, exactly, does one go about separating their soul and spirit – an entity we would call our consciousness – from our physical body? Advanced research in the secular world may give us some clues.
For example, according to whistleblowers, the US government has been experimenting in the realm of remote viewing for decades. Major David Morehouse, US Army (retired), claims in his book, Psychic Warrior, that he was involved in a top-secret remote viewing program that trained him to voluntarily detach his consciousness (soul and spirit) from his body and travel to remote locations to view people, objects, and targets of military significance. Others in similar government programs have also come forward with similar accounts. Further, a search of "remote viewing" online will reveal multiple offerings of courses that purport to teach one how to remote view. While some appear to be spurious at best, some are offered by former US government employees. David Morehouse has his own training program for those interested in leaving their bodies and traveling in the supernatural realm.
Additionally, practitioners of the occult and New Age religions have been experimenting with astral projection for decades. Astral projection is essentially a self-induced OBE – similar to the process used in remote viewing but usually without guidance or supervision. Many have posted descriptions of their out-of-body experiences on websites such as the Astral Pulse. Former New Age blogger and founder of the website spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com, Steven Bancarz, who found Christ and disavowed his New Age beliefs, once promoted the practice of astral projection. Before accepting Jesus Christ as the true savior of the world, he engaged in several out-of-body trips – experiences he now regrets but acknowledges as real.
More recently, Dr. Yuval Noah Harari, an official scientific advisor to the World Economic Forum (WEF), has made many public statements in which he has claimed that "Today we have the technology to hack human beings on a massive scale…the whole idea that humans have this soul or spirit and they have free will is over."
If man can hack a human brain and override a person's free will, how about God? The concept of God temporarily taking control of a person's soul and spirit for a brief supernatural visit to hell no longer seems so farfetched to a secular nonbeliever who puts their faith solely in man-made "science."
The way forward
While we should not become obsessed with the frightening prospects of hell, we should also not refrain from discussing it when the time is right. We must proclaim to nonbelievers the priceless message of Jesus Christ's gift of salvation to all who follow him. At the same time, we should also share, with compassion, the grim reality of hell with those who reject the gospel.
Jesus Christ commanded us to spread the gospel throughout the world. We must interweave into the message of hope the consequences of rejecting the One who suffered a horrific physical death so that we might have eternal life.
After a long and oft-interrupted process, Sunbrook Publishing LLC has completed the production of Final Departure: Death Is Never On Time in audiobook format.
We decided to branch out into the audiobook business in response to repeated requests from potential listeners. I chose to narrate the book rather than trust it with someone who may not be a follower of Jesus Christ. I also decided to use different voices for each character to make the dialogue easier to follow. You can be the judge as to whether my performance is acceptable.
Currently, the audio version is now available at the following retailers:
https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/633196019/Final-Departure-Death-Is-Never-On-Time
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/final-departure-3
https://bingebooks.com/book/final-departure
https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/final-departure-by-jeff-walton
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/final-departure-jeff-walton/1124431364?ean=2940160522005
Our wholesaler has distributed the book to more than 40 retailers; however, the process may take up to thirty days before the book is available at your favorite retailer.
Eventually, the book will be available on Amazon’s Audible platform after they complete their internal quality control check.
Please spread the word among your family and friends.
Thank you, and God Bless.