Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) has been described as “one of the most bewitching and insidious works of literature ever written” Is his work of science-fiction and of engineering paradise coming to pass? Read on… I have been carrying out some continued research of several key sites on the continuing ‘scary’ developments being proposed by transgenics. I am alarmed at the strides of the new medical-gods wanting to produce, ‘all in the name of medicine and science’, new and improved super species. How does this fit into an eschatological framework? Precisely in the arena of species manipulation and the emerging hybridization of the plant, animal, and human. It appears, at least from the reputable sites that it is still at an early stage of development. But if the trend goes unchecked science may end up producing corrupted and horrible creatures. Transgenics raises some serious ethical questions – consider these for example: Is it right for medical and biological sciences to create new life forms and cross a species original boundaries? The more this science advances, what would be the long-term effects on human health and the environment, and even the definition of ‘human’? Is it right to blend nonhuman animal and human DNA to create a human/animal hybrid? What if something goes wrong? What could be the unintended personal, social, and cultural consequences? Genetic engineering involves manipulating genes. Various techniques are used to isolate genes, to modify genes so they function better, to prepare genes to be inserted into a new species, and to develop what is called transgenes. The Action Bioscience website (an educational arm of the American Institute of Biological Studies) explains the process of creating a chimera through genetic manipulation. The process of creating a transgene includes isolating the gene of interest from the tens of thousands of other genes in the genome of a gene-donor species. Once that gene is isolated, it is usually altered so it can function effectively in a host organism. That gene is then combined with other genes to prepare it to be introduced into another organism, at which point it’s known as a transgene. A transgenic organism, sometimes called a chimera, is one that contains a transgene introduced by technological methods rather than through selective breeding. The chimera is the resulting animal hybrid, a mixture of tissues. Transgenic organisms contain altered genes from other organisms. The host becomes the receptor of the foreign genetic information. It is a blending of species. It is believed that this process could change not only the genetic structure of the modified animal and its offspring, but its development, sensory modalities, disease propensity, personality and behavior traits among other things. Chimeras and the Ancients Chimera is an interesting name they chose for their hybrids – I will call it the Chimera Effect. In Greek mythology, the Chimera (Greek Χίμαιρα) was a monstrous creature composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a goat and head of a male lion with a tail that terminated in a dragons’s head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her spine. (check out the picture at the bottom of this post) In the iconography of Hinduism the Yali is similar. The image the yali has a catlike graceful body, but the head of a lion with tusks of an elephant and tail of a serpent. The Chinese have the Qilin, a a creature with the head of a dragon, the antlers of a deer, the skin and scales of a fish, the hooves of an ox and tail of a lion. You may also remember the Manticore (Baricos in Greek). It was a legendary creature similar to the Egyptian sphinx. It has the body of a red lion, a human head with three rows of sharp teeth (like a shark). Why mention these – they are only myths and legend? They are mere fantasies of ignorant days…are they? I think one possibility is that there was a corruption of the species some time in history past that produced these so called hybrid chimera’s. The Bible talks about a flood that came and destroyed the world because of sin – all flesh had become corrupted. What brought about such a devestating judgment from God? Is not sin just as horrific over the last 1000’s of years? What was special about Noah’s day? Is there a possibility that the ‘gods’ and ‘beasts’ of pagan and ancient religion are perverted and distorted tales that may have a psychological link back into ancient events of a pre-flood world? Obviously they have been confused and grossly distorted over time and the only really accurate record is the infallible Word of God, yet to the ancient cultures they believed that some such creatures existed. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great (Gen 6:5) and that ALL FLESH, not just the sin of wicked humanity but ALL FLESH including animal had become corrupted. The Hebrew word for ‘corruption‘ means marred, spoiled, distorted and perverted. Could it be that the word “flesh” refers to man as well as beast? Had something happened in the ancient past that had affected the genetic line through whom the promised Messiah was to come and crush the head of the serpent? We already know that there were Nephalim on the earth as a byproduct of fallen angelic beings coming into the ‘daughters of man’ – human females. (Gen 6:1-4). Some mutation or blending of species took place to produce these Nephalim. The original genetic boundaries (”after their kind”) had been violated. ( See also Lev 18:22-23, Lev 19:19, Deut 22:9) When the Greek Septuagint was created, the Hebrew word Nephalim was translated into Greek as ‘gegenes.’ This is the same word used in Greek mythology for the ‘Titans‘, creatures created through the interbreeding of the Greek gods and human beings. The English words “genes” and “genetics” are built around the same root word as gegenes; genea means “breed” or “kind”. Now what is interesting about Noah at the time of the flood and one of the descriptions the Lord gives of this man is that he was ‘perfect in his generations‘. (Gen 6:9) The Hebrew word for ‘perfect‘ is tamiym and carries the meaning ‘without blemish’, ‘complete’, ‘without spot’, or ‘undefiled’. The Hebrew word for generations, dore, means ‘generations’, ‘condition’, ‘habitation‘. Contextually the meaning could be that the Lord is declaring Noah as ‘undefiled in his genetics or kind.’ His genes had not been tainted. The Greek word genea “generation, race” is where we get the English word gene. Author Steve Quayle in his unique study subtitled ‘Children of the Gods‘, sites various sources and evidence that shows that through genetic manipulations animal hybrids with greater strength can and do appear. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to believe that if such creatures would result with just minor genetic modifications, that the offspring of an angel/human coupling would not be just as–if not more–modified. Because angels are noted for their great physical strength, it isn’t unreasonable to think that the offspring of human interbreeding would also have such strength. This is reflected in the second title given them in the Genesis 6 passage: “mighty men” and “men of renown.” In other words, the “lab rats” of the past were human beings, with the “scientists” conducting their genetic research being fallen angels. Today, it seems that Genesis 1:12, 21, 24, 25) no longer applies. ‘The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kind, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Apparently God’s good is not good enough to the lofty ideals of evolutionary presuppositions and godless science. In a 2007 essay entitled, DID ANCIENT BIOTECHNOLOGY CREATE “NEPHILIM”? researcher Tom Horn states that Such transgenic tinkering already exists in many parts of the world including the United States, Britain and Australia where animal eggs are being used to create hybrid human embryos from which stem cell lines can be produced for medical research. A team at Newcastle and Durham universities in the UK recently announced plans to “create hybrid rabbit and human embryos, as well as other ‘chimera’ embryos mixing human and cow genes.” Spider-Goats and Nexia Genetics There are currently several transgenic avenues of implementation: plant-animal-human combinations animal-animal combinations animal-human combinations One modern example is the mixing of goat and spider genetics. BioSteel is a product created from an animal-animal transgenic combination. Scientists at Nexia Biotechnologies, a company based in Montreal, isolated the gene for silk protein from a spider capable of spinning silk fibers—one of the strongest yet most resilient substances known—and inserted it in the genome of a goat’s egg prior to fertilization. The fiber artificially created from this silk protein has several potentially valuable uses, such as making lightweight, strong, yet supple bulletproof vests. Other industrial and medical applications include stronger automotive and aerospace components and stronger, more biodegradable sutures for closing wounds. Tomorrow’s soldier may be wearing suits made of spider silk and goat, lightweight and 5 times stronger than steel. Maybe the blending of spider genes with troops could also take place in our emerging ’scientific utopia’. Hey, even a spiderman of some sorts might be a possibility. Remember the movie, Peter Parker was bitten by a spider and somehow underwent a genetic mutation – better sight, super strength and other abilities. Hmmm… fiction for now! Transgenic biotechnology is presented as an exciting development of possibilities for society and the human species. Again, the ethical questions still mount up. Are we blurring the lines between species by creating transgenic combinations? Is that in accord with the Lord’s directive that each ‘reproduce after their kind’ What are the long-term effects on the environment when transgenics and chimeras are released in the field? Will dangerous mutations develop? Are genetic scientists inflicting pain and suffering on sentient creatures when they create their chimeras? Will transgenic interventions in humans create physical or behavioral traits that may or may not be readily distinguished from what is usually perceived to be “human”? Will this lead to a new order Nephalim? If the blending of nonhuman animal and human DNA results, intentionally or not, in chimeric entities possessing degrees of intelligence or sentience never before seen in nonhuman animals, should these entities be given rights and special protections? In reference to point 6, will their sentient chimera’s develop into a fully developed post-human life form? Will these genetic manipulations redefine what it means to be “normal” or “human”? A recent issue of the American Journal of Bioethics reflects that the notion of species boundaries is a hotly debated topic. Some bioethicists say the issue of the morality of crossing species boundaries reflects differing world views and may be conceptually unclear. This is the whole point. Evolutionary and atheistic worldviews do not have the “God-and-His-commands” factor as an issue. The presupposition of obedience to a holy Creator does not enter their darkened worldview. They are free to disobey and delight in that disobedience. (Eph 2:2) ‘Scientific ethics’ that have no regard for the authority or commandments of God are not ethics at all. Rather they are excuses from the camp of humanism (i.e. the human decides what is ethically right, not the myth of God) A Real X-Files? Remember the X-Files? They dealt with the issue of transgenics in the following dialogue. It appeared in the Season 7 episode entitled Brand X. DR. LIBBY NANCE: This doesn’t make sense. SKINNER: What doesn’t make sense? DR. LIBBY NANCE: Well, it’s a lasioderma serricorne– a tobacco beetle. Only… I’ve never seen one exactly like this. SCULLY: Hmm. What are the differences? DR. LIBBY NANCE: Physical differences– uh… minor but definitely notable. Deviations in the mandibles, the antennae, the body segmentation. SCULLY: What if such deviations arose from genetic engineering? DR. LIBBY NANCE: Engineering the bugs themselves? SCULLY: No. I was actually thinking about another possibility: Transgenomics. SKINNER: Which is… ? SCULLY: It’s a form of DNA manipulation– alterations made on the genetic level. DR. LIBBY NANCE: It is pretty widely known that tobacco companies have been pouring money into that kind of research– changing the tobacco plant itself in order to make it heartier, give it less nicotine, more nicotine, make it naturally menthol-flavored… you name it. Yes, I know it was only a TV show! But the reference to the ’science’ of Transgenomics (Transgenics) and the DNA manipulation is clear. ‘Engineering bugs’ is happening today. Chimera’s are being created today. Hybrids are being created today, and to what extent and development we do not really know. What this may lead to is anyone’s guess. Are we again entering into the “times of Noah” that the Lord Jesus prophesied would come? (Luke 17:26) Are we touching on ‘forbidden technologies‘ that may release something onto the earth in these perilous times. Will this lead to a gating into our reality of a new order Nephalim? They once roamed the earth and were destroyed by the Lord. Again Steve Quayle writes: Just as God destroyed the Earth with a flood to wipe the Nephilim from the face of the Earth during Noah’s time, so he used the flood of invading Jews flowing into the Promised land to wipe out the giants they encountered. Realizing that some of the cities in the Promised Land were filled with Nephilim explains why God ordered some of the cities totally destroyed with the citizens in them to be put under the edge of the sword. God didn’t want any of these monsters to once again pollute the human gene pool. God dealt out the same total destruction to these beings as he had with Noah’s Flood. There is an interesting prophesy in the mini-apocalypse of Isaiah (Isa 13:1-8). Isaiah relates that there is a coming army the Lord’s ‘sanctified ones‘. Sanctified Ones does NOT mean they are holy, through the regenerating and renewing grace of God, or purified by the blood of Christ; but because they were set apart in the mind and counsel of God for a special work. They are executors of his wrath on the day of the Lord (Isa 13:6-8) God stirs-up His end-time force “that they may avenge my wrath“. His wrath is coming, it will be poured out in great fury. He will use certain of His creatures as instruments of that wrath. They are at His beck and call. They are ministers of His wrath and vengeance. In an English translation of the Septuagint by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton (1807-1862) he translated the ’sanctified ones’ as ‘giants’. ” Brenton’s Isaiah 13:3 was rendered “I give command, and I bring them: giants are coming to fulfill my wrath, rejoicing at the same time and insulting.” (see reference) Is there a connection to the Nephalim of Genesis 6? We must remember that God is Sovereign and will even use the enemy to fulfill His end-time purposes. Look at the wickedness of men and devils in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. God ‘employed them’ and ordained that for the salvation of His elect. (Acts 2:22-24) The Continuing Enigma Several bioethicists have called for a ban on species-altering technology that would be enforced by an international tribunal. (See Bulletin of the World Health Organization) Part of the rationale for a ban is the concern that such technology could be used to create a slave race, that is, a race of subhumans that would be exploited. In April 1998, scientists Jeremy Rifkin and Stuart Newman, who are both opposed to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), applied for a patent for a “humanzee,” part human and part chimpanzee, to fuel debate and to draw attention to potential abuses on this issue. In a similar vein, the International Olympic Committee has expressed concern that athletes will soon employ genetic engineering to get an edge. The New York Times ran an article back in May of 2001 titled, Someday Soon, Athletic Edge May Be From Altered Genes. (See here ) If individuals are willing to genetically manipulate their children to make them better athletes, then it’s likely individuals will be willing to manipulate their children to be brighter, better looking, more musically inclined, or whatever the parents think would give them an advantage. The New York Times report concludes, Our society has already decided partly that maybe there isn’t a lot wrong with it, and that we can build ourselves, change ourselves, as much as we’d like, consistent with safety and medical ethics… if a weight lifter makes massive muscles and with a flinch of the finger can lift a few hundred pounds, what’s wrong with that ethically? The most effective argument against genetic enhancement may be that it will coerce others to alter their fundamental makeup, perhaps at great risk, if they want to compete. The blueprint for chemically-driven happiness may have been delayed for centuries, but research into paradise-engineering for all sentient life continues. Huxley’s emerging Brave New World continues to accelerate. But know this – Scientific utopianism will not come, in fact it could help unleash terrors that cause the hearts of men to fail across the earth. “I give command, and I bring them: giants are coming to fulfill my wrath… Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.” - The Prophet Isaiah “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things whichare coming on the earth” - The Lord Jesus Christ