Can angels and aliens be the same entities? Concerning their differences, most people make two assumptions: 1. Many people think that angels are purely spiritual beings, and can’t assume physical form. This concept is derived from ancient legends, scriptures, and pictures of angels as being glorified and holy, glowing with the power of God, and wearing brilliantly illuminating white robes. People don’t think of angels as needing technology, because they have innate power, and are capable of going anywhere, and doing anything they so desire, simply by the sheer power of their will. In most respects, they are thought of as messengers and guardians; protectors of humanity assigned by God Himself to help us.
Aliens, on the contrary, are usually depicted as physical beings like humans. They depend on their highly advanced technology, which aids them in all of their activities. Aliens aren’t typically thought of as divine helpers on missions assigned by God, but rather, scientists from other worlds. They are keenly intelligent, perhaps much more so than humans judging by the accounts of the sophistication of their technology. At best, they are thought of as helpers, though their methods are chaotic and uncaring on the micro level. Some people think they are simply curious about humans, just as humans are curious about them. Other people, especially those who’ve experience alien abductions, think they are utterly terrifying, and downright evil in their abusive treatment of humans.
2. Most people believe that angels are in heaven, and demons, or fallen angels, are trapped in hell. Aliens, on the other hand, if they exist, are free to roam about in outer space. The confusion here comes from the fact that people generally define heaven and hell as spiritual places beyond our reality, while outer space is within our reality.
Are angels physical beings?
As for the issue of angels being physical beings, the fact of the matter is, some angels can assume a physical form as we might define physical. It may even be the natural state of some of them. In scripture, we find angels performing many tasks that require physical bodies. For an example, examine the angels that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19:1-3 1And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
In order to talk with Lot like a normal person, eat food, and grab and pull Lot’s arm on two occasions, (later in the same chapter), they had to be physical entities.
There are two extreme examples of angels performing activities that make it very difficult to refute their physical nature. The first example is when Jacob, patriarch of the Old Testament, even wrestled with an angel (Genesis 32:24-30, also referred to in Hosea 12:2-4).
Genesis 32:24-30 24And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Hosea 2:2-4 2The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed.
Genesis 6:1-13 1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown
