Devotional For The Week
Blessed New Year Greetings dear friends
May we strive for the perfection that is in Christ Jesus, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, His mind may be in us, the hope of glory. (Phil. 2:5 & Col. 1:26 & 27).
Let us uplift the beautiful name of Jesus Christ, our Wonderful Counsellor, our Prince of Peace, our Mighty God. Blessed is He that will come in the clouds of glory.
May we initially thank all of you who have expressed kindly words following the loss of Ana's father on 22 December. His case is in God's hand and we have full confidence that God will judge righteously. We thank you for your prayers of healing and hope. Very soon dear friends, joy will come in the Morning Resurrection - never to part again. Amen. Continue to pray for our family especially those individuals whose faith is either weak or non-existent. Do pray that their hearts will be drawn to the Comforter and the Spirit of Truth.
You may remember how eventful Sunday 22 December 2002 was. Only the good Lord will one day explain the whys and hows. In the meantime, let us be grateful for the angels that He sends to take charge over us whom excel in His strength.
The Great Controversy continues to rage. Whether willing parties or not, we are ALL involved. The choices we make today will determine which path we progress along - the path of the just and everlasting life or the path of sin and destruction. Let us hear His sweet still voice and always choose the obedient path.
Yesterday, Ana was impressed to visit a dear old lady who is 10 minutes drive from our home. We had not seen her for several months. We were impressed to phone this elderly lady beforehand. To our horror, we learned that Betty had fallen on the floor and was unable to get up. Immediately, Abi, Ana and I rushed to her home. Betty was more concerned about not contacting her son who was 45 minutes drive from the office, and not contacting the emergency services. Before arriving at Betty's home, I was impressed to bring a coat hanger. When we arrived, we peered through Betty's letterbox and saw Betty crawling slowly on the floor. Betty is in her mid-eighties. She was obviously shaken and exhausted, but managed to drag herself to the front door that was locked from the inside. The coat hanger was bent in such a way so that it could be easily pushed through the letterbox and so that Betty could hang her keys on the hook of the hanger. (Believe us friends, this is not our normal custom in entering peoples' homes ! It was a case of immediate improvisation ! Honest !) We obtained the key from Betty then used the key to open the solid wooden front door. There was Betty on the floor, full of relief and gratefulness that we had come. There was no forced entry friends. An object lesson came to mind. Like Betty, we are all helpless, alone and incapable without Christ. Christ seeks our permission first before gaining entrance to the doors of our hearts. It is Christ that holds the keys. Will we permit Him to come in and "dine" with us (Revelation 3:20 & 21) ? May we always be alert to Jesus' sweet still voice. Christ may be whispering in our eyes to contact somebody - don't ignore the impression.
We will commence this new year by sharing with you a compilation of "Christ Our Righteousness" bible studies. They were compiled almost 10 years ago but we believe you will still obtain rich blessings from them. We trust that each of you will be blessed by the reliability and assurance of God's Word. May the Word prepare us for the final events in Earth's probation. The studies will answer commonly asked questions such as; What is righteousness ? What happens after death - are our souls immortal ? How do we obtain the righteousness of Christ ? What is the nature of Christ - is He a lesser God or is He one of three Gods ? How can we understand the plan of salvation through the sanctuary ? What is the purpose of the Cross ? How can we understand the role of Christ as our heavenly Mediator ? What is the Everlasting Gospel ? When will human probation close ? The rapture or the seven last plagues ? What are the signs of the Coming of the Son of Man ? What will we do in heavenly places ? These are just a few of the many questions that will be answered through God's Word.
Please see the prayer requests and the latest worldwide news-breaking events below today's study including UK laws that could quarantine cities in response to biological terrorism, and the much anticipated announcement of the first cloned baby girl named Eve ! Can you hear the words of Matthew chapter 24...
Blessings & Maranatha
Al, Ana & Abi
His Ministry Of Healing Resources
www.ministryofhealing.org
[Print Study For Easy Reading - Share With Your Family & Friends]
.::. Part 1 - Christ Our Righteousness - The Nature Of Christ & The Inspired Word .::.
"Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of me."
(John 5:39)
"SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES"
The Bible is known as the inspiration and voice of the Living God to the human race. The very Pages of Life have captured the minds of the simple, reversed the characters of human beings whose lives prior were merely miserable, unhappy and empty, and has been the basis of many other miraculous influences in the world today. If the Word of God is true, why are there so many Christian denominations with varying doctrinal beliefs ? ( See Note 1). In a world which is full of misery, starvation, poverty, civil and international war, why did God permit sin and suffering to enter this world ? Can the Words of the Bible really change your life ? Has the All-powerful One an answer to the above questions ? Well, God has given you a challenge. He invites you, "Come now, and let us reason together". (Isaiah 1:18). God has promised that if we believe on His Son Jesus Christ and do His will, He will grant us everlasting life. Dear friends, may you allow the love of Christ to abide within your heart and may you believe that God is able to "do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us". (Ephesians 3:20). May you accept His invitation of salvation that He has personally provided for you.
A) HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE
What claims does the Bible make regarding its inspiration ?
"All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2
Timothy 3:16, 17).
" Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
(2 Peter 1:20, 21. See Note 2).
God committed the preparation of His divinely inspired Word to finite man. This Word arranged into books, the Old and New Testaments, is the guidebook to the inhabitants of a fallen world; bequeathed to them, that by studying and obeying the directions, not one soul would lose its way to heaven.
Are we to follow the whole Bible or in part ? Is it true that today we need only to focus on the New Testament ?
"Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of me." (John 5:39).
" And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you,
while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."
(Luke 24:44).
It is interesting to note here that as Christ spoke the above words, the only
part of the Bible that existed was the Old Testament. It is also worth noting
that the prophecies in the Old Testament have been fulfilled in the New Testament.
Without the Old Testament, how could we prove that the events in the New Testament
were predicted and fulfilled ?
B) ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES IN STUDYING THE BIBLE
1.
The spiritual truths of God can only be understood through the Holy Spirit.
We should therefore prayerfully ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us. (See
1 Corinthians 2:9-14, John 16:13, Romans 8:26 & Luke 21:34-36.)
2. In order to have a complete picture of what the Bible is saying on any
given subject, it is important to study all relating scriptures by comparing
verse with verse. (See Isaiah 28:9, 10).
3. We ought to be humble and teachable. (See Matthew 11:25).
The Bible is our guide in the safe paths that lead to eternal life. God has
inspired men to write that which will present the truth to us, which will
attract, and which, if practised, will enable the receiver to obtain moral
power to rank among the most highly educated minds. (The life of Daniel the
prophet is one of many examples. See Daniel 1:17-20). The minds of all who
make the Word of God their study will enlarge. The Bible brings the mind in
contact with broad, ennobling principles of truth. It brings us into close
connection with all heaven, imparting wisdom, and knowledge and understanding.
God designs that the Scriptures, the source of science that is above all human theory, shall be searched. He desires that man shall dig deep in the mines of truth, that he may gain the valuable treasure they contain.
C) THE WORD MADE FLESH
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made
that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the
light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." "And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
(John 1:1-5, 14).
The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ in human flesh is a mystery, "even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations." (Colossians 1:26). It is the great and profound mystery of godliness. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Christ took upon Himself human nature, a nature inferior to His heavenly nature. Nothing so shows the wonderful condescension of God as this:-
"God
so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son." (John 3:16).
Christ did not make believe take human nature, He did verily take it. He did in reality possess human nature. "As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." (Hebrews 2:14). He was the son of Mary; He was of the seed of David according to human descent. He is declared to be a man, even the Man Christ Jesus. (See Note 3).
D) CHRIST'S PRE-EXISTENCE
While God's Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon the earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding His pre-existence. The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with His Father. From everlasting He was the Mediator of the covenant, the one in whom all nations of the earth, both Jews and Gentiles, if they accepted Him, were to be blessed. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1). Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God. For example, notice the emphasis of Paul's writings to the Colossians on Jesus as Creator :-
"Giving
thanks unto the Father, which have made us meet
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into
the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every
creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him,
and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning*, the firstborn
from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell..."
(Colossians 1:12- 19 . *See also Note 4).
Of what fullness does Christ have by divine right and privilege ?
See Colossians 2:9. (See Note 5).
How similar in character & appearance are Christ and the Father ?
See Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:13, John 14:9 and compare Revelation 1:13-16 with Daniel 7:9, 13.
Is Christ honoured less than God the Father ?
See John 5:23, 1 John 2:23 & Philippians 2:6.
As Christ is Creator, Christ is God essentially. Thomas, His disciple, confessed Him as "My Lord and my God". (John 20:28). The apostle Paul when looking toward the Second Advent, addresses Him as "the great God and our Saviour". (Titus 2:13). God the Father refers to His Son as "God", "Lord" and Creator. (Hebrews 1:8-10. See 1 John 5:20).
The
Scriptures declare that the Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed
from eternity. (See Note 6). Jesus Christ is a distinct person, yet one with
the Father. (See John 17:5, 8, 21, 24). He was the surpassing glory of heaven.
He was the commander of the heavenly intelligencies, and the adoring homage
of the angels was received by Him as His right. This was no robbery with God.
(See Note 7).
E) A MYSTERY
That God should thus be manifest in the flesh is indeed a mystery; and without the help of the Holy Spirit we cannot hope to comprehend this subject. (See Note 8). The most humbling lesson that man has to learn is the nothingness of human wisdom, and the folly of trying, by his own unaided efforts, to find out God. He may exert his intellectual powers to the utmost, he may have what the world calls a superior education, yet he may still be ignorant in God's eyes. The ancient philosophers boasted of their wisdom; but how did it weigh in the scale of God ? (See Note 9). Solomon had great learning; but his wisdom was foolishness; for he did not know how to stand in moral dependence, free from sin, in the strength of a character moulded after the divine similitude. Solomon has told us the result of his research, his painstaking efforts, his persevering inquiry. He pronounces his wisdom altogether vanity.
"The
words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in
Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all
is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 2).
"Let
us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God,
and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of
man. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every
secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
(Ecclesiastes 12:13,14).
Through Whom may we obtain understanding of the mystery of God and how may we define what it is ?
"Unto me...I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." (Ephesians 3:8-11).
"...the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2,3).
"Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:25-27).
Christ could have done nothing during His earthly ministry in saving fallen man if the divine had not been blended with the human. The limited capacity of man cannot define this wonderful mystery - the blending of the two natures, the divine and the human. It can never be explained. Man must wonder and be silent. And yet man is privileged to be a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and in this way he can to some degree enter into the mystery.
By Christ's obedience to all the commandments of God (John 15:10), He wrought out a redemption for men. This was not done by going out of Himself to another, but by taking humanity into Himself. (See Note 10). Thus Christ gave to humanity an existence out of Himself. To bring humanity into Christ, to bring the fallen race into oneness with divinity, is the work of redemption. (John 17:11, 21, 23). Christ took human nature that men might be one with Him as He is one with the Father, that God may love man as He loves His only-begotten Son, that men may be partakers of the divine nature, and be complete in Him.
The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only-begotten Son of God (1 Peter 1:11 & Revelation 5:6), binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human nature of Christ. This union is represented by the union of the vine and the branches. (John 15:1-8). Finite man is united to the manhood of Christ. Through faith human nature is assimilated with Christ's nature. We are made one with God in Christ.
F) "TEMPTED IN ALL POINTS LIKE AS WE ARE"
On how many points was Christ tempted during His earthly experience ? Was the way Christ tempted different to how man is tempted ? Was it possible for Christ to sin ?
"For verily he took not him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:16-18).
"For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15).
"...God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8:3).
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Christ
came in the likeness of sinful flesh. In man's behalf, He became subject to
sorrow, to weariness, to hunger, and to thirst. He was subject to temptation,
but He yielded not to sin. No taint of sin was upon Him. He had infinite power
only because He was perfectly obedient to His Father's will. Unless there
is possibility of yielding, temptation is no temptation. Temptation is resisted
when man is powerfully influenced to do a wrong action; and, knowing that
he can do it, resists by faith, with a firm hold upon divine power. The apostle
James admonishes; "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you." (James 4:7). The temptation to which Christ
was subjected were a terrible reality. As a free agent He was placed on probation,
with liberty to yield to Satan's temptations and work at cross-purposes with
God. If this were not so, if it had not been possible for Him to fall, He
could not have been tempted in all points as the human family is tempted.
(See Note 11) .
NOTES:
1) The Bible clearly outlines that there is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism". (Ephesians 4:5. See also 2 Peter 3:16 & 2 Timothy 2:15). Truth which is inconsistent is a lie. The Devil is the father of lies. (John 8:44). God is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33). The Bible foretells a false system that poses to be Christian - Modern Spiritual Babylon. (See Revelations 18:1-5).
2) By what Spirit were the prophets of the Old Testament inspired by ? See (1 Peter 1:10-12).
3) "I am the root and offspring of David" (Revelation 22:16. See also Matthew 1: 6, 16 & Hebrews 2). It was God's mission to reveal Himself to humanity. In order to do this, Jesus Christ our Saviour clothed Himself with humanity. He employed the human faculties, for only by adopting these could He be comprehended by humanity. Only humanity could reach humanity. He lived out the character of God through the human body which God had prepared for Him. He blessed the world by living out in human flesh the life of God, thus showing that he had power to unite humanity to divinity. As a man, he testified that by His connection with God, divine power was not given to Him in a different way to what it will be given to us, otherwise He could not be our example. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2:21, 22). He came in humility, in order that the humblest being upon the face of the earth could have no excuse because of his poverty or ignorance. Christ was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15). In His humanity He understood all the temptations that will come to man.
4) The word meaning "beginning" is arche which means "head" or "chief". Christ is known also as Archangel (Compare Jude 9, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, John 5:28, 29 & Daniel 10:21). This does not mean that He is the first of the angels, for He is not an angel, but is above them (See Hebrews 1:4). It means He is the chief or prince of the angels, just as the archbishop is the head of the bishops. Christ is Commander and Creator of the angels (See Revelation 19:11-14). Hence, the statement that He is the beginning or head of the creation of God, means that in Him creation had its beginning; that, as He Himself says, He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Revelation 21:6 & 22:13). He is the source whence all things have their origin. So, if he created everything that was ever created, and existed before all created things, it is evident that He himself is not among created things. He is above all creation, and not part of it.
5) This fulness may also be ours by faith. (See Ephesians 3:19).
6) Other texts which conform Christ's eternal existence may be found in
Micah 5:1,2 & Isaiah 9:6.
7) Read Philippians 2:5-11, Proverbs 8:22-27 & Hebrews 1:6.
8) The theme of the mystery of godliness appears in several places of the Bible. Paul under inspiration writes; "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16).
9) The False Understanding of the nature of Christ:-
A) The Godhead in Christ. "made like to corruptible man, and to birds,
and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." (Romans 1:20-25).
B) Christ's divine nature. "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus
is the Christ ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."
(1 John 2:22. Note that Christ means Messiah. See Daniel 9:25).
C) Christ's human nature. "And every spirit that confesseth not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it would come; and even now already
is it in the world. (1 John 4:3).
10) Before the world was made, it was arranged that the divinity of Christ should be enshrouded in humanity. "A body", said Christ, "hast thou prepared for me. (Hebrews 10:5). Christ came to our world as a babe in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2 & Luke 2:6-14).
11) Are you thankful that we have a Saviour who perfectly understands our
struggle against temptation to sin, knowing that the very temptation that
presses you touches Him ? It is Christ's work to change our vile, corrupt,
sinful natures into a pure, cleansed vessel of righteousness. Christ's promise
is that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) .
Remember that Jesus came to bring moral power to combine with human effort,
and in no case are His followers to allow themselves to lose sight of Christ,
who is their example in all things. He said, "For their sakes I sanctify
myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth." (John 17:19).
Jesus presents the truth before His children that they may look upon it, and
beholding it, may become changed, being transformed by His grace from transgression
to obedience, from sin to righteousness of life.
.::. Prayer Requests & Praise Reports .::.
1) Please continue to pray for Donovan.
2) Continue to pray for Melba's recovery.
3) Do pray for our neighbour's daughter Amy who was diagnosed with leukaemia. We thank God that she was discharged from the hospital and is now recuperating with family.
4)
Subj: Re: latest news
Date: 26/12/02 14:14:55 GMT Standard Time
From: mhmail@hetnet.nl (Herman en Mirjam de Groot)
To: AlEcMaran@aol.com
Dear
Al,
Thank you for your prayers. I am doing better every day and sleeping better
every night. Please keep my mother-in-law in your prayers as well, as she
has had a shock as well and I have the feeling she is blaming me for the reoccuring
of the seizures. There was nothing I could have done to prevent them, since
they were caused by the lower dose of medicines. She is pushing me to go to
a physiologist and she at first did not want to help us. And do not forget
to pray for my mother, who is having her mother (my grandma who is recovering
from cancer) and us (I have been there twice). Norbert-Jan emailed me this
Tuesday. He is doing fine and our friendship will grow stronger through this
trial, the same way my marriage is getting stronger through this hell. There
is a God behind all these things and He is holding us in His hands. He is
leading the way and all we have to do is follow Him. I do thank Him for my
husband, my family, my friends and my church. Thank you for your kind prayers
and I pray you have had a blessed Christmas.
Mirjam
5)
Subj:Re: (no subject)
Date:28/12/02 07:25:00 GMT Standard Time
From:Swannerdad
To:AlEcMaran
Update. My husband is still at home waiting for the investigation to be completed. He is,however being paid. Please help us continue praying that he will be cleared of this wrongful accusation and his job will not be hurt.
6)
Subj: prayer request
Date: 29/12/02 11:22:48 GMT Standard Time
From: zeljko.porobija@vt.tel.hr (Zeljko Porobija)
To: AlEcMaran@aol.com
Please, pray for our seminary student Tony (22), who began to develop an early schizophrenia. He is a very lovely guy, devoted to Gospel, yet with an unfortunate family heritage. The things are not going well, so please remember Tony in your prayers.
Mr. Z. Porobija, Pastor, SDA College Marusevec, Croatia
7) Please pray for Al as he prepares for next week's sermon that the Spirit of Truth will dictate His message especially for these last days.
.::. Current Breaking News .::.
> QUARANTINE
ORDERS PLANNED TO ISOLATE TERRORIST TARGET CITIES - AOL News 29/12/02
THE Government is looking at redrawing the laws allowing emergency cordons
to be set up around cities targeted in a terrorist attack.
This could mean people living in areas hit by a biological or chemical weapon would be prevented from leaving in order to contain the problem and prevent it spreading.
The Sunday Times reports that ministers are planning to introduce new laws giving the police and military power to evacuate or quarantine swathes of London or other cities by force.
A health cordon would be set up around the affected area and no one would be allowed to pass through it until the all clear had been given or a period of quarantine had been served.
It is believed that the enforcement of a cordon would prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as smallpox.
A Cabinet Office spokesman told the Sunday Times: "There are legal issues around the setting up of health cordons and keeping people in and out of them."
The law may need to be tightened in this area and that is what is being looked at."
The Ministry of Defence told the newspaper that a 7,000-strong civil contingency reaction force would be deployed across the UK next year and would be able to carry live arms.
Experts believe that if terrorists did succeed in releasing the virus, there could be a massive death toll.
Earlier this month, the Government announced that it is to acquire sufficient stocks of smallpox vaccine to inoculate the entire population in the event of a germ warfare attack by terrorists.
A
Cabinet Office spokesman said the plans would provide "a structure for
civil defence for the 21st century", updating legislation from 1948 and
1986 that reflected Cold War threats."
> 'World's first human clone born' - 27/12/02 09:59 - By Ananova
A sect claims the world's first cloned human - a girl - has been born. (Named Eve)
The child was born by caesarean section and the birth "went very well," said Brigitte Boisselier, a French chemist and member of the Raelian sect.
Boisselier has called a news conference in Florida to make the announcement and a spokesman said she would have an "independent inspector" take DNA evidence from the baby and her 30-year-old-mother.
If the baby is a clone of the mother, the two will be genetically identical.
The Raelians, who claim 55,000 followers worldwide, believe that life on Earth was established by extra-terrestrials who arrived in flying saucers 25,000 years ago, and that humans themselves were created by cloning.
The movement's founder, Rael - the former French journalist Claude Vorilhon - lives in Canada.
He describes himself as a prophet and claims that cloning will enable humanity to attain eternal life.
The sect formed the company Clonaid in 1997 to produce cloned humans but many scientists are sceptical about its ability to accomplish the feat.
Cloning produces a new individual using only one person's DNA. The process is technically difficult but conceptually simple.
Boisselier,
who says she has two chemistry degrees and was previously marketing director
for a chemical company in France, identifies herself as a Raelian "bishop"
and said Clonaid retained philosophical but not economic links to the Raelians.
She is not a specialist in reproductive medicine.
The
Sun of Righteousness has healing in His wings. Let us pray for His ministry
of healing today.
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