It is a deceptive strategy of demons to lead humanity to believe in false deities. The pagan gods, seen as malevolent and misleading idols, are warned against in scripture: “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). Even those who deny faith in such entities are still subjected to deceit. The Fallen continue to desire our misguided reverence, just as they did after viewing films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Are these reports of extraterrestrial encounters simply manifestations of demonic influence?

“The demons of the air together with the Antichrist will perform great wonders on earth and in the atmosphere, and men will become more and more perverted. God will take care of His faithful servants and men of goodwill. The Gospel will be preached everywhere, and all peoples of all nations will get to know the truth.” (Secret of Our Lady of La Salette to Melanie [1879 Version])

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

“The Earth will be covered in darkness, and Hell will be loosed on Earth. The thunder and lightning will cause those who have no faith or trust in my Power, to die of fear. During these three days of terrifying darkness, no windows must be opened, because no one will be able to see the earth and the terrible color it will have in those days of punishment without dying at once…” (Blessed Anna Maria Taigi’s 1880 journal, a vision of the Three Days of Darkness)

Both of these prophetic accounts highlight a troubling trend: the sky will become a prominent battleground in the end times. Blessed Anna Maria Taigi warns against looking outside during this impending darkness, as doing so could lead to immediate death.

These writings originate from the 19th century. Although there were sporadic reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) prior to aviation, the phenomenon largely emerged in the 20th century.

In 1959, noted psychologist Carl Jung published Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of Things Seen in the Sky. Instead of interpreting UFOs as physical entities, he viewed them as reflections of the unconscious mind. “If the round shining objects that appear in the sky are treated as visions, they can be interpreted as archetypal images,” he posited.

The imagination of humanity, fueled by science fiction literature and radio broadcasts like The War of the Worlds, alongside films such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, contributed significantly to this new superstition.

Additionally, the rapid technological advancements post-World War II transformed society. The term "foo-fighter" was coined by pilots to describe mysterious aircraft. Dr. Edgar Vinacke, commissioned by the U.S. Navy to explore the effects of pilot vertigo, noted that pilots often lack a clear understanding of their experiences, leading to a sense of mystery surrounding their observations.

The Roswell Incident on July 8, 1947, marked a pivotal moment. The Air Force initially claimed to have recovered a "flying saucer," only to later assert it was a weather balloon, leading to diminishing public interest.

However, in 1978, Jesse Marcel, an officer involved in the recovery, suggested that the weather balloon explanation was a cover-up.

Three years earlier, Orthodox monk Seraphim Rose published Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future, addressing the shifting religious landscape. Within this work, he devotes a chapter to UFOs.

“UFOs represent the latest mediumistic methods through which the devil ensnares individuals into his occult domain. They are a dire indication of humanity's vulnerability to demonic influence, more so than ever before in Christian history. In the past, one needed to seek out dark seance rooms to commune with demons; now, one simply looks to the night sky.”

Rose critiques modern humanity's fascination with science fiction, stating that such narratives place humanity at the center of the universe, often overlooking divine presence.

It is ironic that the Humanist movement, which began around the Renaissance, culminates in a search for extraterrestrial beings, hoping they might offer enlightenment or escape from human suffering.

Aliens are often portrayed as the pinnacle of evolution.

“The traits attributed to these 'highly-evolved' entities include telepathic communication, the ability to materialize and dematerialize, and a supposed spiritual philosophy that transcends all religions. These claims mirror those of sorcerers and demons.”

Let us examine a prevalent type of UFO report: alien abductions.

“Numerous credible individuals have reported abductions by UFO occupants, typically for 'testing' purposes. Most evidence arises from regressive hypnosis due to the traumatic nature of these experiences, resulting in memory loss.”

As noted by exorcists, memory loss during possession is a critical characteristic of demonic influence, leading to a loss of control over recollection.

A study titled “Beyond Dissociative Disorders: A Qualitative Study of Polish Catholic Women Reporting Demonic Possession” indicates that memory loss is frequently reported during such episodes. Participants often become so engrossed in their internal experiences that they neglect their surroundings, leading to memory gaps.

“While some experiences may stem from hoaxes or hallucinations, dismissing the vast number of UFO reports is impractical. Much of modern mediumistic phenomena are fraudulent; however, genuine mediumistic spiritism produces authentic paranormal occurrences driven by demons. UFO phenomena, sharing this origin, are equally real.”

“The spiritual crisis of contemporary society is evident in how modern individuals, despite their claimed enlightenment, are increasingly aware of such experiences — yet lack the Christian framework to interpret them. Today's UFO researchers, in seeking to understand these undeniable phenomena, often blend psychic and physical realms, yet their scientific approach fails to address the spiritual dimension, which requires faith.”

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth …” (Revelation 20:7–8)

“The ‘message’ of UFOs is clear: prepare for the Antichrist; the 'savior' of a fallen world is approaching. Perhaps he will arrive in the skies, completing his imitation of Christ, or perhaps 'visitors from outer space' will publicly land to offer worship to their master. Expect miraculous events that divert attention from the Christian faith.”

Given the sky's role as a domain of deception, Rose cites Symeon the New Theologian: “The practitioner of prayer should seldom gaze into the sky, fearing the evil spirits that create various deceptions.”

“Historically, Christians approached unusual phenomena with caution, aware of the devil's tricks. However, the modern age of enlightenment has led many to pursue these curiosities, relegating evil to a mythical realm.”

Rose concludes that, while he attributes most alien phenomena to demonic forces, “[the Christian] inhabits a world that is undeniably fallen, both the earth below and the stars above, all distant from the lost paradise he longs for. He understands that humanity will not 'evolve' into something greater and recognizes the existence of advanced intelligences in the universe: angels who serve God and demons who seek to ensnare humanity.”

Be wary of the demons' capacity to deceive, appealing to humanity's fantasies, just as they did with the ancients. The 2nd century Christian Justin Martyr wrote in his First Apology:

“The truth must be told: these malevolent demons, through their apparitions, corrupted humanity, leading them to terrify and mislead. Those who failed to reason about these occurrences were struck with fear, mistaking demons for gods.”

Justin also recounts how demons attempted to mislead humanity regarding Christ's prophecy by promoting false deities.

“The myths propagated by poets lack evidence, and we demonstrate that they originate from wicked demons aiming to deceive and mislead humanity.”

In conclusion, prepare for the end times, for they may arrive unexpectedly. Avoid mortal sin and maintain a state of grace. Pray for divine mercy to guard against demonic deception.

The end times will undoubtedly showcase numerous “miracles.”

“And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22)