How much of the Human Genome is Functional?
I searched the two links provided, but could find absolutely no mention of Giovanni Pomarelli, supposedly the originator of this mutated Milano gene. One of the links described detailed studies on only three closely related Italians. The other link had an Abstract that pointed to uncertainty: “Despite intensive study, it is not clear whether the removal of the arginine or the introduction of cysteine is responsible for this altered functionality.” That same paper concludes with: “Whether or not alterations in HDL caused by the R173C mutation alter the anti-atherogenic properties of HDL compared with WT apo AI is still controversial.”

I did, however, search for Mr. Giovanni Pomarelli and caught up with him in a news release which suggested that this man, born in 1780, was indeed the source of this mutation, as a number of his current offspring trace their heredity back to him!! No genetic studies needed. Just a wild assumption.

For me, I don’t have enough faith for wild assumptions. I continue to believe that in a single afternoon, God created a perfect human genome out of a gob of dirt. The two perfect sets of human genomes had no mutations and needed none, because they were already perfect. Instead of worshipping their Creator with extreme thankfulness, they wandered off and did what He had expressly forbidden. That is when those nasty mutations started. It robbed them of their perfection.

In spite of this dreadful mistake, their Creator offered a way out for not only the two guilty parties, but also for all their offspring. He would send His own Son to die an ignominious death to pay the price for such an offense, thus restoring that perfect human genome and simultaneously restoring immortality. What else is necessary to obtain immortality? Nothing more than acceptance of this free gift. Nothing more than a belief in the Creator God and an acceptance of His Son who paid the price for our redemption.

What amazes me is that so few accept this free gift. Brilliant scientists continue searching for their own solutions. Ray Kurzweil, a gifted scientist, innovator, and futurist, is searching for his own immortality, which he believes he can achieve once the human race achieves “singularity”. So, he takes loads of vitamins, nutrients, and assorted substances to stay alive long enough to reach this point of immortality. While one can applaud Kurzweil’s earthly accomplishments, he is dreadfully mistaken in his trust in fellow scientists. While he is correct that we are heading toward a point of “singularity”, he denies that at that point, human ingenuity will have nothing to do with determining who achieves immortality and who doesn’t.

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How much of the Human Genome is Functional?
Please forgive me for posing too many questions. But, did those ancient church records come with genetic mapping? Is it conceivable that a mutation might have occurred in Giovanni’s father, grandfather, etc.? Perhaps his mother, grandmother, etc.? Do you even suppose that the mutation extends back to Noah or his 3 sons? What if this Milano “mutation” isn’t a mutant at all, but rather, someone near Noah mutated and this gene was original? I struggle to see how we can assume these conclusions without church records that are accompanied by complete sets of genomic mapping.

As for the question of when the human race will become extinct, might I suggest that it has nothing to do with the human genome? Jesus explained that nobody knows, not even the angels in heaven. However, he also suggested that people will be able to determine seasons as the fig tree demostrates its seasonal changes. Do you see any seasonal changes? At that point, a large segment of the human population will be sublimated regardless of the condition of their genomes. The remainder will have their genomes restored back to the original, with never ever a chance of another mutation.

The beautiful thing about this is that we can be absolutely certain which group we will be in, as Jesus promised in John 3:18: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

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How much of the Human Genome is Functional?
We all agree that the human genome is extremely complex. There are essentially two ways of approaching its origin:
1. It developed over billions and billions of years, beginning with the Big Bang, and subsequently refining itself without any guidance and strictly by accident, so that sentient humans ultimately evolved on their own. It was a slow, tedious, uphill road. While some “scientists” have served up some “evidence” to support this, I find it impossible to muster up enough faith to believe it is scientifically true. For one thing, human mutations do not improve the human model, but rather, damage it.

2. God created the human genome in a single day. It was perfect. Flawless. Could not be improved upon. It was created to last forever. Mutations were not part of the original model. Mutations came after Adam and Eve’s disobedience. From that point forward, it was a slow, tedious, downhill road. While Adam and Eve lived circa 9 centuries, what else would you expect if they started with perfect, flawless genomes? However, after the Noah’s Flood, lifespans were sharply decreased. Do you suppose God might have allowed mutations to increase? After all, if He created Adam out of dirt in an afternoon, it would seem a simple matter to increase the mutation rate, don’t you think?

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31. I would suggest that calling His creation “very good” was equivalent to calling it perfect. When Jesus was addressed as “Good Master” in Matthew 19:16, He responded, “There is none good but one, that is, God.” So, if God’s creation was perfect to begin with, would we be so bold as to suggest that natural and sporadic mutations might improve that perfect model? Do you suppose God saw the evil of the antediluvians, and decided to shorten human longevity by turning up the mutation rate? Don’t you think that God views bacterial mutation differently than human mutation? Do you even suppose that God might provide for certain bacterial mutations (such as antibiotic resistance)?

The ccr5 mutation is posited by “scientists” to have arisen more than 5,000 years ago. That would place this “mutation” squarely in the antediluvian age, if not back to creation itself! Wow, these learned “scientists” must know a lot more about the antediluvians than I do. If, indeed, this “mutation” occurred 6,000 years ago, is it possible that it was actually God’s original model?

These ccr5 “scientists” further suggest that this “mutation” was a selective agent in the bubonic plague and smallpox. In order to prove that such a “mutation” indeed had a protective effect against these diseases, and indeed did exist in these survivors, one would expect that these researchers would need to unearth quite a few corpses of survivors and non-survivors and study their genomes. On the other hand, do you suppose that some survivors might have acquired some immunity in one way or another? Do you suppose some were younger, healthier, etc.? Look at Ebola today, with its very high death rate. There are some survivors, however. Would we agree that those survivors might be constitutionally stronger, healthier, etc.? We certainly would not suggest that those victims would mutate in order to achieve some degree of protection, would we?

I would suggest that vaccine protection against viral and/or bacterial diseases should NOT be confused with any sort of genetic mutation. These are two entirely different processes.

As for articles dealing with “mutations” of atherosclerosis genes, we all know that there are definite genetic predispositions related to numerous genes. Yet, who knows when and which genes mutated? None of these articles offer any hard evidence of such information.

Yes, indeed, there are some people who have strong bones, while others have weak ones. However, they all break if enough force is applied. Just because some people escape fractures while in an auto accident is no proof beneficial mutation. However, one might postulate a possibility of harmful mutations occurring many centuries ago, followed by a mutation back to the original one created by God in the first place? I don’t know.

I would suggest that there is a lot of bad science out there, and we should be very wary of accepting interpretations, regardless of how eloquently they are produced. For me, the evidence is clear: God created a perfect human genome in His own image, and it has been down hill ever since. I am eagerly awaiting the Restoration, when all those mutant genes are forever discarded.

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Summary of 60th General Conference Session (2015)
First of all, you are to be strongly commended for your steadfast advocacy of the teaching of Creationism in a Christian educational institution. There isn’t the remotest rationality behind the promotion of evolutionary theory along with the teaching of salvation through Jesus. After all, if God did not create us in the first place, why would he redeem us?

While there are some who claim to be Christian believers who simultaneously hold to some type of evolutionary theory, the vast majority of evolutionists I encounter are those who do NOT believe in God at all. They ignore Him, deny His existence, and ridicule those who believe in Him. The term generally used for these people is “atheist”. Sadly, there are a number of former SDA’s in this category. At any rate, opening the possibility that there will be atheists in heaven not only shocks me, but again, is contrary to the words of Jesus.

As for American Indians who existed prior to the arrival of Europeans, I am more than willing to allow an honest God to be the judge. For one thing, these folk are long gone, and their destiny is determined. They cannot be reasoned with at this point. For another, I have no say in the matter at all. Thirdly, they were not atheists. They believed in some sort of a Great Spirit. While that Great Spirit was NOT the God of the Bible, there is abundant evidence of supernatural manifestations in the lives of their leaders and witch doctors. Thus, it can be safely assumed that their “Great Spirit” was reptilian in origin. I am much more concerned about those who adhere to those forms of spiritualities today. There are many who continue to revere the Indian “culture” and its many spiritual ramifications. It is glorified in the schools and promoted strongly. Not only American Indian false spirituality, but also Hindu Indian spiritualities, such as yoga, meditation, etc. are being widely used today. Sadly, these are promoted in many SDA facilities and are also diametrically opposed to Christianity. Do you think salvation through Jesus is possible for those participating in these dark forces?

You correctly say “Of course, we are not saved by the law. . .” The Biblical verses you quote do indeed support this. Hebrews 8:10 refers to a new covenant made with Israel which replaced the old covenant made after Egypt. That covenant is, indeed, outside the law, and only through the blood of Jesus.

Quoting Zechariah 13:6, however, does not exactly address a covenant, but refers to the wounds in Jesus’ hands. Consider also that Zechariah lived half a millennium or more prior to the coming of Jesus.

You quoted John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is precisely the point. Atheists refuse to confess their sins. They do not see themselves as being sinful. Furthermore, they do not believe in a Creator God, let alone a Redeemer in Jesus. If they did confess their sins to Jesus, the promise of God’s redemption is every ready to wipe their sins clean. Thus, their sins will be judged after the 2nd resurrection.

As for Ellen White, I cannot reconcile many of her statements with Scripture. That is perhaps why The Clear Word “Bible” was published, which adds and subtracts various texts to reconcile the Word of God with EGW.

I will let you decide whether or not she is indeed a “prophetess of God”. Consider the case of a lack of water at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, and how she directed that a well digger living in Nebraska be called to dig a well. He used the “wizard water stick” to determine where to dig the well, and indeed found water. This account is found in volume 5, pp 365, 366 of the Biography of Ellen G. White as written by her grandson Arthur L. White. Why did she call a man to dig a well who used an occult power to find water? Would God not have reprimanded her for using an alien power? Did He not condemn the use of divination of any and all types?

Also, why did she take her own children to Dr. James Caleb Jackson in Danville, New York to have phrenology done? Phrenology is the practice of palpating the bumps on the skull to determine personal characteristics and the future. It can be correctly likened to palm reading, which is clearly an occult practice. She pronounced Dr. Jackson’s diagnosis to be good. Do you believe God winks at prophets and prophetesses who engage in Satanic powers? Does He reveal “truth” to them?

If there was another method by which atheists could arrive in heaven, Jesus would not have had to die such a painful death on the cross. Jesus could have rightly argued that His death was unnecessary if there was a different path where unbelievers could be offered eternal life. I am confident I will not encounter any atheists in heaven. I am equally concerned about those who practice alien forms of spirituality. Thank you again for your diligent efforts in preserving the teaching of Creationism.

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The Adventist Accrediting Association is Still Reviewing LSU
Ken Ham has developed a wonderful Creation Museum near Cincinnati, Ohio. It is full of evidence of God’s creation of this world (he does not subscribe to Intelligent Design, and neither do I, because this opens the door to some other entity having created the world). The museum experience ends with a beautiful narrative of Jesus death, paying the full price for sin, thus offering salvation for each and every one.

It is incongruous for one to be a Christian while adhering to a theory that denies God’s creation. Why would Jesus die on the cross to save a bunch of creatures that simply “evolved”?

Perhaps church administrators should send ALL LSU professors (including LSU administrators) for a 3-day Creation Museum experience, listening to lectures, videos, etc. At the conclusion, they should indicate whether they believe in a literal 6-day creation by the God of the Bible. If they do not, one can safely assume they are not Christian.

One would assume that if an institution of higher learning is to be labeled “Christian”, its professors and leadership would be believers.

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Bringing the Real World to Genesis: Why Evolution is an Idea that Won’t Die—IV [A Review]
While it is sad that Jan Long has rejected Adventism in favor of neo-Darwinism, it is particularly unfortunate that he has taught at La Sierra University. What has happened at La Sierra? Six or seven decades ago, La Sierra pre-med students could not be admitted to Loma Linda School of Medicine if they even questioned the inspiration of Ellen White. Now, it seems as if the prevailing sentiment is toward complete rejection of the Biblical account of Creation. How tragic. Does this disqualify La Sierra Univ. as a Christian institution?

I applaud Sean Pitman’s review of the science (or lack thereof) on the issue of common ancestry between primates and humans. One would certainly expect a greater genetic concordance between primates and humans.

Has anyone ever attempted procreation between humans and primates? Yes, but it has always failed. Thus, there is no science to confirm procreation between these species, and thus, no science to even hint at possible common ancestry, in spite of DNA similarities. Why not just accept science and the Biblical creation account?

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Summary of 60th General Conference Session (2015)
Allow me to clear up your confusion. I am not willing to “allow for at least some heathen who have never heard the story of Jesus to be saved.” Rather, I prefer to not engage in speculation as to what God will do about long-departed atheists/evolutionists. Based upon the words of Jesus, I do not anticipate bumping into evolutionists stumbling around the streets of the New Jerusalem. There are too many heathen, evolutionists, atheists, and even Christians that we need to worry about who are still living. That is why you are providing a valuable service in leading people to an understanding of Biblical Creationism. I simply do not possess the knowledge, influence, or audacity to speculate on what God is going to do and what He is not going to do.

You said that “In short, there will only be one question asked in the judgement: Did you love your neighbor or not? Did you strive to follow the Royal Law that was written on your heart?”

While this may be the teaching of EGW or other contemporary theologians, it does not synchronize well with the words of Jesus, who maintained that there will be two classes of people–those who believe in Him and those who do NOT.

John 3:18 “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:16 . . . whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life.”

Your assertion that people’s eternal destiny hangs on how they treated others regardless of whether they knew the story of Jesus is impossible for me to reconcile with the above words of Jesus,

Thank you for quoting John 1:9, which simply states that Jesus is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. However, every person is not given a “measure of light”, but rather the opportunity to follow the TRUE LIGHT or to reject it. If Jesus is indeed THE TRUE LIGHT, there is no need to follow a lesser light.

Yes, I have heard all the accusations that Biblical prophets made mistakes, as did Paul, and even Jesus. Thus, Ellen White made a lot of errors, was inconsistent, spoke against the Bible, plagiarized, participated in occultic activities, and that all this is excusable!

Well, is it logical for her to take her own children to a phrenologist while simultaneously speaking against it? While no Biblical prophet was perfect and all lived imperfect lives and were in need of a Savior, do you know of any who participated in occult activities? There was Moses, who smote the rock more than he should have. There was Jonah, who ran away from his duty. Yes, there were many disobedient prophets, and they generally paid for their disobedience. There was King Saul, however, who did actively seek out the witch of Endor, participating in an activity that was prohibited by God. His fate was a sad one. Yet, is it somehow O.K. with God for Ellen White to direct a man to come dig a well using such a wizard water stick? Would God not have revealed to her the awful act that was about to be committed? Do you think God would warn a prophet against palm-reading? Divination of any other kind? Phrenology? Do you think God does not care if His followers use occult powers?

You excuse the practice of using water witching because Ellen White was involved in it and because you have seen it used by “Godly men”. I actually know ministers and missionaries who have used it, but that does not mean that God condones it. Before I go any further, please be aware that I am not perfect either. I have done things in my ignorance that I had no idea were in the occultic realm. I have repented, will never do them again, and know that God forgives me just as He will forgive any other sinner who ceases to use Satanic powers.

Please be aware that there are many, many words for water witching: divining, pendulum dowsing, radiesthesia, rhabdomancy, or map dowsing. Yes, people even place pendulums over maps to divine the location of water, oil, treasures, gold, etc. The Mormon prophet Joseph Smith used it extensively.

I have spoken to many people over the years. Two independent practitioners informed me that it will not work for everybody. But, they said, if it doesn’t work for somebody, all that they had to do was to touch the other person’s hands and it would then work for them as well! This takes this matter completely out of the realm of science. There is a power behind it, and if it is God’s power, why do they call it the wizard stick or water witching? Why is the practice listed as an occult science? I would strongly urge you to investigate further. Ben Hester wrote a book entitled DOWSING–An expose of hidden occult forces. Find it and read it. Then ask yourself if God gives messages to prophets who use occult forces? Why would He not warn them against using such forces?

We have THE TRUE LIGHT. We have the Bible (The greater light). We don’t need any more lights. We have truth. By all means continue your fine work of defending Creation Truth.

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La Sierra University Looking for New Biology Professor
Well, they did not come right out and say that preference would be given to atheists/evolutionists, even though professors are increasingly coming from that camp.

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