Question 26 – What about the knowledge of ancient civilizations?
We may suspect that ancient civilizations were not as primitive as modern people might initially believe when we consider what we learned at school, through television documentaries, and various conspiracy theories. There are breathtaking constructions that, in some cases, might not even be possible to build with such precision using the latest technology. Alongside these, there are many mysterious artifacts and signs indicating that ancient civilizations possessed incredible kinds of technology and knowledge of the universe. It is no wonder, therefore, that these mysteries often become a popular subject of speculation.
Many people frequently explain these phenomena with theories about aliens, interventions by advanced cultures from the mythical Atlantis, or even visits from future civilizations through time travel. There is a plethora of books and documentaries available that attempt to explain these mysteries. If we set aside certain types of mysteries that are not truly mysterious (for example, hoaxes or unexplained but not necessarily mysterious phenomena), I personally have no difficulty accepting that there are (or were) within ancient civilizations certain knowledge, constructions, or artifacts that people acquired in an "unnatural" manner. After all, the Bible also indirectly speaks to this. Certainly, the Bible has completely different objectives than clarifying who, where, and how various pagan structures were built or how certain artifacts were created. Nonetheless, from the context of its messages, one can infer "where the wind was blowing from" when discussing "supernatural" occurrences that played a role in humanity's history.
So how is it?
Attentive readers may not be surprised that we are delving into the topic of so-called "demons," or fallen angels. These are spiritual beings who once served God, rebelled against Him, and were thus separated from Him. For this reason, they strive in various ways to thwart and distort God's plans. A crucial activity of demons involves communicating with humans and deceiving them. Their goal is for people to serve anyone or anything except God. This is not solely an ancient matter; the situation is similar today, with only slight changes in their tactics (various occult and esoteric teachings, spiritism, channeling, and many others, which will be discussed in the section on magic and the occult).
When we examine all genuine mysteries through the lens of the reality that a spiritual world exists that influences our world, many interesting questions such as, "How did they do it, and for what specific purpose?" may remain. However, the mystery ceases to be mysterious. Once we understand that demons have no difficulty passing on to human intermediaries information that humans themselves could not know, such as knowledge of astrology or the transmission of certain kinds of technology, then many other connections throughout human history become clearer to us. If demons have been active from the very beginning, not only is their intelligence likely exceed our comprehension, but they are also likely to possess knowledge that surpasses our understanding. This includes knowledge of the universe, methods for processing various materials, physical laws, or the workings of the human body.
Thus, if there has been any "supernatural" occurrence, knowledge, or phenomenon in history, its source is either a God-directed intervention (these are often of a different nature than the construction of artifacts, buildings, or the transmission of mysterious knowledge) or a demonic intervention. Personally, I do not know which of the famous mysteries can be explained simply by natural means or hoaxes, and which are the result of demonic activity. However, I believe that I do not need to search for aliens or devise convoluted theories. I also do not need to fear this kind of enigma. Christianity provides me with a perfect, systematic, and internally consistent answer that makes sense of everything that is truly a "mystery."
As a Christian, I also know that everything, including human history (no matter how demons interfere), is under the control of God Himself, who loves me and offers me the answers I need to know.
Here is a small example to illustrate in conclusion, the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Although I do not know how the pyramids were constructed, nor can I explain many other mysteries associated with Egypt, the Bible says that when Moses sought to free the Hebrews from slavery, he faced Pharaoh's magicians, who, with the aid of demonic powers, were able to replicate many of the miracles Moses performed (Exodus 7:11). It is evident from these texts that there was a connection to demons within the highest governing structures of Egypt. Therefore, it does not surprise me that these people possessed information and knowledge that exceeds our understanding.
Summation
The close interconnection of our world with the spiritual world, where there is intensive demonic activity, is deeply reflected in the history of our planet. Many ancient cultures served demons (whether consciously or unconsciously). In many instances, demons were informants in the realms of technology, science, or biology. When we view many of the world's mysteries through the lens of this reality, many things begin to fall into place, revealing connections that were not initially apparent to us...
Attachment: The highly popular documentary series Ancient Aliens, which first aired in 2010, is well known to many people. Its central idea is the promotion of the theories of Erich von Däniken and like-minded individuals — that extraterrestrials have been visiting our planet for millennia. The documentary presents "evidence" for this claim, focusing on aspects of ancient (and modern) culture, monumental architecture, ancient texts, and various mysteries — all viewed through the lens of their extraterrestrial hypothesis.
The series is divided into seven seasons and is produced in a very compelling and persuasive way. However, what the creators didn't anticipate happened in 2012 — a new documentary emerged, made by a person who took a highly systematic and scholarly approach to expose the specific lies and falsehoods presented in Ancient Aliens. This counter-documentary is called Ancient Aliens DEBUNKED.
It is quite long, but absolutely worth watching — especially if you've seen some episodes of the original series and enjoy exploring the idea of extraterrestrial influence in the history of civilizations.