The Riddle of Extraterrestrials

A classic article from December 1982.

Hollywood has put out many movies and TV shows with extraterrestrials. George Lucas and his creation Star Wars and Steven Spielberg and his creation E.T. are only two out of many. 

These kinds of movies and any alien related are attended by record-shattering crowds. As the theater empties after the E.T. movie, children are heard sobbing in sympathy for the strange little creature, and adults also tear up with pathos and even affection for the little alien.

To what can we attribute this outpouring of emotion to such an unlikely recipient? E.T. is certainly not pretty, definitely not cuddly. Just what is the attraction that he holds? 

I read a pamphlet titled “E.T., You’re more than a movie star” by Dr. Al Millar. He suggests a solution to the puzzle. In examining the story of E.T., Dr. Millar points out numerous parallels between the attributes of the beloved alien and Jesus Christ. Look at all the similarities. It is staggering: 

• E.T. had a prior extraterrestrial existence. (Jesus is not of this world either but He is the I Am, the Beginning and the End.)

• His early life on Earth was “submerged” or hidden. (Jesus was 30 before any knew Him as more than Mary’s son.)

• He came to little children. (Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me.) 

• The three admirers – Elliott, Gertie and Michael – knelt before him. This occurred when E.T. had run to the closet after being frightened by the little girl. And can that really be a stained-glass window we see behind them? (Matthew 11:28 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.)

• E.T. had to feel rejected and forsaken on Earth. (Mark 8:31 – The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected.)

• E.T. has a reverence for nature and was seen with passive animals such as rabbits and deer.
(Ephesians 3:9 – And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.)

• Groups of men pursued him carrying lights and weapons in the night. (This makes you think of the Garden of Gethsemane.)

• E.T. also had an “involvement” with an alcoholic beverage. (Jesus turned the water into wine.)

• Yet E.T. was innocent of any wrongdoing. (Jesus never sinned.)

• E.T. spun spheres in space in imitation of our solar system. (Jesus is the true Creator.)

• E.T. healed the physical pains of those who loved him. (Luke 9:11 says He healed those who needed healing.)

• E.T. caused a plant to wither. (In Matthew 21:19, fig tree withered away.)

• E.T. wore robes. (Revelation 7:9 says …before the Lamb, clothed with white robes.)

• And as E.T. emerged from the van after regaining life he was shrouded in white (In Matthew 17:2, The transfiguration of Jesus is described in terms of His “white raiment.”)

• E.T. communicated with “home.” (Jesus prayed to Father God.)

• E.T. was also seen lying wounded and rejected. (Jesus was wounded for our transgressions by hanging on the cross.)

• E.T.’s followers for a time denied his existence to others. (In John 29:25, even Simon Peter denied Jesus.)

• E.T. encountered much trouble from the governmental authorities. (Elders, and of the chief priests and scribes were against Jesus.) 

• E.T.  encountered much trouble from U.S. governmental authorities. (Jesus had encountered trouble from the  government, the  Pharisees, Sadducees and His own people.)

• E.T. emitted a light from his tomb (1 John 1:7 says Jesus is the Light.)

• E.T. wept  (John 11:35 says Jesus wept.)

• E.T. seemed to be the epitome of love. (Romans 5:8 says Jesus is true love for us even unto death.)

• E.T. could defy gravity  (Matthew 14:29 depicts Jesus walking on water)

• E.T. had a method of non-verbal communication. (1 Thessalonians 4:8 says,  ...but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.) The Holy Spirit speaks spirit to spirit which is non-verbal.

• E.T.  suffering and dying calls out “Mom” (Jesus said from the cross. in Matthew 27:46, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?)

• E.T. died at 15:36 (3:35 p.m.) (Matthew 27:45 says, Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour, and Matthew 27:50 says, Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.) The ninth hour would have been 3 p.m.

• It seemed that E.T. died so Elliott could live – (Jesus died so all of humanity could live. John 3:15 says that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.)

• E.T. attained resurrection from the dead. (Luke 24:23 says, And when they found not [Jesus’] body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive.)

• E.T. also said to Elliott, “Come” in his final moments on Earth (Matthew 19:21 Jesus said, Come follow me.)

• E.T.  ascended to his “home” (Acts 1:9 Jesus was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.)

• When E.T. returns to his origins, a rainbow flashes across the sky – (Genesis 9:13 says, I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth, and Revelation 4:3 says, I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.)

Some have suggested that the movie has occult overtones, though we cannot attest to the motives of the producer or behind the plot.

The parallels that have been compiled in just this movie alone are remarkable. There are many TV shows and movies that are promoting the same ideas. One thing is obvious, the plots for the most part are taken from the life of Jesus Christ. No wonder they became  box office sensations! Over centuries the life of Jesus Christ presented in its proper perspective, has been widely acclaimed.  It is no surprise that the movie is thought to be a terrific story. 

But the flip side of it is that most of the aliens on the screen are scary, but they are here to help mankind and save us. I wholeheartedly think that this has been used as a type of brainwashing technique. The Bible tells us “Do not be deceived.”

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them (Luke 21:7&8).