MANY THINK BIBLE EXPLAINS ALIEN ABDUCTION
Even Some MUFON Researchers See "Spiritual Warfare"

[from Michael Lindemann's CNI News]

[The following text is excerpted from an article in Florida Today,
dated August 17, 1997, written by Rita Elkins. CNI News thanks 
Stig Agermose for sending us this item. The full text can be 
found on the web at 
http://www.flatoday.com:80/space/today/081797b.htm]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Religious leaders are alarmed about a growing train
of thought that "wants us to reject traditional Judeo-Christian ideas
about God" in favor of benign "Space Brothers" who will save humanity from
itself, writes journalist William M. Alnor in his book, "UFOs in the New
Age" (Baker, Grand Rapids, Mich.). 

Alnor concludes this new belief is a set-up for apocalyptic deceptions
predicted in the Bible's Book of Revelation. He's not alone. 

Magazine articles, books and even evangelists are engaging in Bible-based
speculations about the nature and intention of entities that allegedly
kidnap, paralyze, physically abuse and sometimes sexually molest victims
-- many of whom come to believe the experience was worthwhile. 

"The similarity between the abduction experience and demonic possession is
very, very close," says Joe Jordan, Brevard/Volusia state [section]
director for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). "These experiences these
people are having are real. It does exist. But you just need to
understand what's doing it." 

Jordan and his partner, Wes Clark, have begun a research group called CE-4
(close encounters of the fourth kind), dedicated to studying alleged alien
abductions. Its 15 members also belong to MUFON, but "nothing we do is
necessarily sanctioned by [MUFON leadership]," says Clark, a quality
control engineer at Kennedy Space Center. 

Jordan, who works in product development and engineering for Sea Ray
Boats, speaks calmly, his voice firm. Kooks don't get to be state
[section] directors with science-oriented MUFON. "This whole thing is
spiritual warfare. And the method the enemy's using is deception. Strong
deception." 

Last year he focused on CE-4 research, and encountered a Central Florida
abductee whose otherwise-typical experience had one unique aspect. "They
had stopped the experience while it was happening. In all the time I've
been researching, I'd never heard that before." 

Jordan and Clark swear they have three verifiable cases in which apparent
abduction experiences were halted by believers who called on the name of
Jesus. And Jordan says as many as 400 cases may be documentable
nationwide. 

"It makes you wonder: If these beings are extraterrestrial at all, why
would they respond to that name?" Jordan asks. "We think we found the
answer in the Bible, in Mark 16:17 where Jesus said, 'In my name, they
shall cast out demons.' That seems to be exactly what we came across." 

Suddenly, the religious press is full of articles about UFOs. 

The May cover story in Central Florida's "Discovery Christian" newspaper
focused on UFOlogy theology, interviewing Berkeley-trained scientist and
Christian author John Weldon. 

July's "Charisma" magazine, a 200,000-plus circulation monthly, featured
Christian evangelist and author Paul McGuire's article, "Alien Invaders." 
McGuire cites the evolution of author Whitley Streiber -- from his first
alien contacts in "Communion", "Transformation" and "Breakthrough" to his
latest titles, "The Secret School: Preparations for Contact" and "Evenings
with Demons" -- as an example of a progressive deception. 

"Both the seemingly benign and the hostile entities ... will play an
increasing role in preparing a segment of humanity for the reception of
the Antichrist," writes bestselling author David Allen Lewis and Robert
Shreckhise in "UFO: End-Time Delusion" (New Leaf Press, 1991). 

The cover of "The Agenda: The Real Reason They're Here" gives this
premise: "In the near future, God will evacuate millions of people from
the horrors to follow. Aliens will take the credit" for the Rapture,
writes B. Fox, a MUFON researcher who resides in -- of all places --
Roswell, New Mexico. 

Back in Titusville at the CE-4 office in Wes Clark's home, Joe Jordan and
Clark continue to study, research and solicit abductees through the
Internet and with classified ads in MUFON's UFO Journal. 

"The one thing we can offer people in this field is hope. Hope that they
can stop this experience," Jordan says.