Wizzstick,
Since I don't believe in an all powerful all knowing god I build my "belief" system around evolutionary materialistic principles.
So I am open to the possibility of other sentient beings on other planets in the multiverse (word describing aspects of the many worlds theory).
Individual organisms can be intelligent but there needs to be a social matrix for the development of really big ideas.
Today we benefit from the accumulated knowledge of billions of individuals.
Social structures rooted in sexual reproduction and long child-rearing are concerned with the survival of society. This springs from concern for those closest to us (relatives) and diffuses outward.
Advanced societies are interested in the welfare of others. By advanced I mean the realization that we are all related and therefore deserving equal rights. It is likely that this concern for others is intrinsic to the ability to build complex machinery including whatever technology might enable interdimensional travel.
This cultural evolution cannot be forced. It must emerge over long periods of time. Although it may be tempting to rescue people from war and starvation it would interfere with the natural development of a deep cultural realization of what is needed for species survival.
So these extradimensional observers would refrain from sharing information that could make matters worse. All species develop because of self interest. At some point that development gets the dominant species to the point where they can destroy themselves with weapons of mass destruction.
Somehow these cosmic older brothers need to introduce the need to survive by building a brotherhood. Nature gives us two methods of survival. Fight and flight. Of the two flight has the greatest possibility for survival because it buys time for thinking and planning. Fighting as an option is summed up by "who ever lives by the sword will die by the sword". When a country is going through a civil war some men fight but others flee with their families. Flight enables survival. Fight secures a boundary or border which is a setup for future disputes and war. A strong brother hood is an advantage in a flight situation.
The Bible is full of scenarios of survival by flight. The Bible is a lesson in the futility of fighting for your country. The nation of Israel fought to maintain its land. Eventually, they lost it. Christians were told to flee Jerusalem when the Roman armies were poised for attack. Likewise Christians were told if they persecute you in one city flee to another.
Eventually conditions will reach the point of a tribulation that will need to be cut short for the survival of all flesh. There will be survivors of that tribulation. They will survive because of flight to a place of protection. At the point where humans are going to destroy themselves these cosmic brothers will appear in the sky and bring an end to the battle.
The prophesies in Daniel, Revelation and other places in the Bible are meant to keep the flight reflex well tuned. These cosmic older brothers have probably saved many planets from losing their sentient species. They no doubt have big data and can look at the configuration of the continents and predict based on advanced statistical analysis who the players will be in the final show down.
This is the "elevator ride" description. There is a lot more. I just don't see any need in elaborating. I think the key is to look for a devastating event that is called the "disgusting thing standing where it shouldn't". That's the cue for flight.
