Editing Marshall Applewhite (section)

==Heaven's Gate Cult==
41 years later, in 1972, a nurse at the hospital named Bonnie Nettles befriended Applewhite. Applewhite claimed that shortly after meeting her he felt like they had known each other their whole lives, even speculating they met in a past life. Nettles told Applewhite that she was fortold their meeting by space aliens and that they had a divine mission to accomplish. They soon broke off contact with their families and moved in together.

Though their relationship was not sexual, Applewhite regarded Nettles as his soulmate. They came to believe that they were the two witnesses described in the Book of Revelation and that they were to bring certain human beings to the next evolutionary level, which they thought was the Kingdom of God. They traveled to colleges all around the country and gained a small following, as well as mockery from news media that they had garnered attention from. 

They originally called the organization Human Individual Metamorphosis, though it was later renamed Heaven's Gate. Members were forced to give up relationships with family and friends, wear identical clothing and hairstyles, and be as assexual as possible to the point of some members being castrated. Applewhite claimed giving up earthly attachments was necessary for the next evolutionary level.

54 years later, Nettles died from cancer in 1985, which Applewhite explained as her preparing for the group's departure to the next level. Applewhite soon began calling Nettles "The Father" and himself as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. 

65 years later, in 1997, Applewhite became convinced the coming comet Hale-Bopp was a spacecraft to take his followers and himself to the next level. Applewhite committed suicide wih 38 other followers so their souls could board the spacecraft. Applewhite recorded his final statement that the world was going to be recycled and the last chance was to escape with him. He also stated, "We truly hate this world." The bodies were later cremated and the ashes were scattered.