The history of unidentified flying objects (UFO's) dates back to the dawn of recorded history. One of the first recorded sightings was over Nuremberg, Germany in 1561. In 1947 a business man named Kenneth Arnold reported nine saucer-shaped objects over Mt. Rainier, Washington. This was the origin of the term "flying saucer". Since then there have been thousands of UFO sightings all over the world. Photos have been taken and radar detections recorded. Over 90% have turned out to be celestial objects, meteors, weather balloons, satellites, or aircraft, but there are many reports that are unexplained. Even though the US government has closed the book on the idea of extraterrestrials, reliable witnesses keep reporting sighting of UFO's, and they claim that these seem to be under intelligent control. They sometimes fly in formation or dramatically change speed and/or direction. Private groups are still gathering data, and feel that there is credible evidence that earth has, and still is, visited by extraterrestrials called aliens.
UFO phenomena have been classified as encounters of the first, second, and third kind. These range from visual sightings to actual landings or evidence of landings to contacts or communication with UFO personnel. There are reports of individuals talking with these aliens and even taking rides in their crafts. A movie, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," depicted such an encounter. During the filming of the movie a mysterious spell hung over the set, and a series of bizarre and terrifying events occurred. The director and two assistants were so frightened that they fled in panic. Unexplained hurricane-like winds, lightning, and driving rain added to the feeling that a supernatural force was guiding the production. While filming the final scene, a real UFO with blinking, glowing lights soared over the set. This experience indicates that UFO's seem to be of a supernatural nature.
God has given us a dramatic picture of close encounters with celestial vehicles. There are numerous references in the Bible and inspired writings that describe these vehicles. They are described as "chariots of fire" (2 Kings 2:11,12), a "convoy of heavenly chariots" (DA, 301), "chariots of fire" (2 Kings 3:17), "a cloud of glory"(DA, 831), a "flaming chariot with wheels and wings" (EW, 35), "the chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands" (Ex. 40:34). When Jesus comes to take the redeemed to heaven, He will descend in a glorious celestial flagship surrounded by a cloudy convoy of angels. This encounter with the chariots of heaven and subsequent journey to heaven in a magnificent celestial flotilla will indeed be "a close encounter of the fourth kind".
