The subject of the Essene’s is a fascinating and complex
study that has its roots in the school of the prophets and the Zedek
priesthood. As we noted in our last two studies, the school of the Zedek
priests and prophets originated with Enoch before the flood; and after the
flood Shem and Eber founded their school in Jebus. This is the origin of the
Christian faith. Even though Christ had not started his ministry until about 30
CE, there were people who were redeemed since the time of Adam because they had
the faith that the Messiah would come (Genesis 3:15). They also had the Holy
Spirit on them and followed in the ways of the Lord. The Good News, the Gospel,
was written in the stars as we have previously studied, and many of these
redeemed patriarchs lived before Moses wrote the law. After Jesus came, the
Holy Spirit was able to reside within those who have their faith in Jesus as
Lord and Messiah. The name Essene has
a confusing history as it means “religiously pious” in Hebrew, hasideka (Not to be confused with people
who are Hasidic Jews today. Same word different people). The Greek word is hosios, “holy, pious, or Godly”. But
people were not known as Essenes until about the first century BCE. This group
of holy men and women were the same holy men and women we studied about last
week in the school of the prophets. These are the Nazerenes who vowed a vow to
purify oneself in purity, Numbers 6:2. The priests and prophets/prophetesses
who were schooled in the ways of the Lord, lived communally, and guided kings.
They were not Levites, and they did not serve in the tabernacle until the time
of David. They did not live with the Levites, and as we saw last week they
lived in many different areas. Some of these holy ones served in the temple but
many did not, and the defilement of the temple did not affect their
communities.
We have to work a little to make sense of all the written
materials regarding the Essenes. We have a few first century writers, Philo,
Josephus, and Pliney, who made comments about the Essenes, but until 1947 when
the Dead Sea Scrolls were found we did not have any concrete ideas about them.
Prior to 1947 many mystic religious orders sprang up claiming to be from the
Essene roots of faith. What we can now determine is that almost all of those
religious groups claiming to be like the Essenes that were founded prior to
1947, were very wrong. For example, one widely proclaimed attribute of the
Essenes was that they were gentle and peace loving, and did not fight or war.
That sounds so nice, one might think ‘where can I join?’ However, once the war
scrolls were found and interpreted we find that the Essenes had plans for arming
regiments with weapons, including swords. Some claim that the Essenes were
trapped at Masada, those people were known as the sacarii, “dagger wielders or dagger men”. They were also known as “Zealots”,
leading a rebellion against Rome. Again we see some of the mystic religions may
have had their messages crossed as dagger men occupied Masada. Even though the
people on Masada committed suicide rather than being captured and brutalized by
the Romans, they were not the first century version of happy flower children.
Some odd speculations were made that the Essenes were
vegetarians, because they didn’t sacrifice in the temple like the Levites, but
again that is not true. The Essenes provided animals for sacrifice but in their
own practice they did not sacrifice as they were not in need of the atonement.
They lived a holy life. By the time the first century writers noted the
Essenes, the temple was back to defilement. Some Essenes were also shepherds,
so eating meat was not forbidden.
Another misconception about the Essenes was that they were
all celibate. That is also not true, in fact there is great provision written
about men, women, and children in their community rules. We have to realize,
Qumran was not the only place the holy ones (hasideka) lived. There were
communities as far north as Damascus, Syria, and as far south as Alexandria,
Egypt, and as far east as India. There was a large community that inhabited the
region between Mt Carmel and the Sea of Galilee. The area today is called
Nazareth, but that is a name that came during the first century CE or so, as
Josephus never mentions it as a city, but NT Biblical writers mention it as a
place. In Matthew 2:23 we see in the Greek the words “the city being called
Nazareth” indicating the region didn’t have that name officially as a city but
was used to note the region.
Matthew 2:23G2532And G2064having
come, G2730he
dwelt G1519in G4172a city
G3004being
called G*Nazareth;
G3704so
that G4137should
be fulfilled G3588the thing
G4483having
been spoken G1223through
G3588the G4396prophets, saying,
G3754For G*he
shall be called a Nazarene.G2564
This tells us that the community of Nazarenes existed in
that region and later the name Nazareth was used to note the area. Nazarenes
were later known as Christians. In speaking of Paul we see that he was accused
of being the front rank of the Nazarene sect. The word sect is interesting to note here as well.
Acts 24:5G2147For
having found G1063 G3588 G435this
man G3778 G3061mischievous,
G2532and G2795moving
G4714insurrection
G3956among
all G3588the G*Jews G3588 G2596in G3588the G3611habitable
world, G4414and
front rank G5037 G3588of the
G3588[2of
the G*3Nazarenes
G1391sect];
G139 αἵρεσις hairesis hah'ee-res-is From G138;
properly a choice, that is, (specifically) a party or
(abstractly) disunion . (“heresy” is the Greek word itself.)
Paul was being accused of being a Nazarene, however Paul
had actually been a Pharisee. The three main religious branches during the
first century in Israel were the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes. If
we remember from Acts 21, Paul took a vow to purify himself, but this is not
the vow of a Nazarene, as Paul and the other men shaved their heads. Remember
Numbers 6, no cutting the hair? This vow is a vow of allegiance to the law and
as we see it was done in the temple. Because Paul had been a Pharisee, this was
a vow under the auspices of Pharisaical allegiance. The Nazarene vow was not a
ritual in the temple, but instead people were to separate themselves from
others and not cut their hair the entire time of the vow. The differentiation
here may seem small but the details are important as there are some mystic
religions who point to Paul’s vow as a Nazarene vow. But clearly that is not
the case. The contention regarding Paul was that he was being accused of
teaching people to forsake the Law of Moses. We see here that the Pharisees and
the Essenes were at odds with each other. So the Pharisee vows were to shave
one’s head and pay money to make a vow in the temple. The Nazarene vow was to
not cut one’s hair and separate one’s self from all others.
Understanding this aspect of the Nazarenes’ culture gives
us insight as to why Nazareth was not known as a city, because those who make a
vow of a Nazarite do not live among non-Nazarites. The Nazarites and Essenes
lived in rural communities and they lived communally sharing all property and
possessions among everyone in the group. This group of the Zedek’s grew large
in that region between Carmel and Galilee. Eventually there was a synagogue in
the region but the synagogue was not exclusive for the
Nazarenes/Essenes/Zedek’s, it was to promote the Mosaic laws in the community
and more likely run by Pharisees and Sadducees. The Zedek prophets (aka the
Nazarenes and Essenes) did not run synagogues or city religious services for
people who were not of their sect. We will come back to this idea next week
when we look at Jesus’ life as an Essene who came for the lost sheep of the
house of Jacob.
Before we go much further we want to note the word hasideka; Ha means “the”, and sideka
is “holy” but notice Zideka, or Zedek or Zadok.
Remember that vowels are interchangeable in Hebrew as to pronunciation,
then we have the correlation of the Zedek and the Sidek, or Zdk and Sdk.
|
2623
µ¦sî¼e½¹ |
OT:6663 tsadaq (tsaw-dak'); a primitive root; to be
(causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense):KJV - cleanse,
clearself, (be, do) just (-ice, -ify, -ifyself), (be turn to) righteous
(-ness).
OT:6664 tsedeq (tseh'-dek); from OT:6663; the right
(natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively)
prosperity:KJV - even, (X that which is
altogether) just (-ice), ([un-]) right (-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded
Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and
International Bible Translators, Inc.)
This is the connection between the order of Melchizedek and
the Essenes. If we stick with the older names as Melchizedek and Zedek and
Sidek, we can see that these are the same people noted through history from the
time of Shem. These are the holy ones, the righteous ones, the saints, and as
Samuel’s group was named, the called out (ekklesia) prophets. This is the part
that the mystical religious groups failed to notice. The Essenes didn’t pop
into the first century scene from tree hugging, mother earth loving communes.
They weren’t singing songs like ‘Give Peace a Chance’ they were fiercely
reverent to Yahweh, dedicating hours in devotion and worship to Him. They
separated themselves from others so as to stay pure.
Now let’s note the words for priest, Kohen, and Levite.
OT:3548 kohen —a priest, a principal officer or a chief
ruler a)
a priest-king (for example: Melchizedek, the Messiah) b) pagan
priests c) the priests of Jehovah (Yahweh) d) Levitical
priests e) Zadokite priests f) Aaronic
priests g) the high priest (from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek
Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993,
Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for
Creation Research.)
OT:3881 Leviyiy or Leviy —Levite = see Levi "joined
to"the descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob by Leah the tribe
descended from Levi, specially set aside by God for His service (from The
Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew
Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed
from the Institute for Creation Research.)
All priests are called “Kohen/Cohen”, but not all Kohen are
exclusively Levites. It is a mistake to think that the Levites are the only
priesthood as clearly we can see seven different types of priests including
Melchizedek, Zadok, Aaron, and Yahweh. As I mentioned last week, the Levites
will be the priests during the tribulation as the Melchizedek/Zedek priests
will not be on earth. If we remember the called
out school of the prophets from last week’s study, we have to notice that
the called out of today are also the ekklesia. The ekklesia, the church, are
the redeemed, the hasideks, and they
will make up the episunogogue, the “above
congregation”. The name Essenes is just a first century name given the same
called out school of the prophets, or the Zedek’s. Christian was a first century CE derogatory name for those who
believed in Christ and that Christ was “in” them. Yet both the Christians and
the Essenes were derived from the called out Zedek’s. This is one of the
reasons we have so many levels of confusion with who the Essenes were and what
they believed. But the Essenes believed a Messiah would come from their group
and they were correct. Jesus was not a Levite, he was from the tribe of Judah,
a priest in the order of Melchizedek as we studied two weeks ago. But John was
also of the Essenes, or the Zedek’s. We should get our foundation of John’s history
from the Bible. Of the Gospel writers, we have Luke, who was not an eyewitness,
but was given the accounts by Thomas. Luke then researched the details of the
accounts of the time, adding background information for us future readers.
While Luke was not a Jew, he was a physician and may very well been a Zedek, as
the Zedek’s were from many tribes and nations, including the sect known as the Therapeutae’s who lived in Egypt and
were known for miracle healings.
Luke 1:1-4 SINCE [as is well known] many have undertaken to
put in order and draw up a [thorough] narrative of the surely established deeds
which have been accomplished and fulfilled
in and among us, 2 Exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from
the [official] beginning [of Jesus' ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers
of the Word [that is, of the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ
of salvation in the kingdom of God], 3 It seemed good and desirable to me, [and
so I have determined] also after having searched out diligently and followed
all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the
minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most
excellent Theophilus, [Acts 1:1.] 4 [My purpose is] that you may know the full
truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts
(histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in
which you have been orally instructed. AMP
This is Luke’s reason for writing this account, so that we
may know the full truth. Luke tells us of John the Baptist and his beginnings. John’s
father was a priest, he was from the line of Aaron, but he was not a Levite.
Notice that Zachariah and Elizabeth were both righteous. This informs us that
they were both Zedek’s.
Luke 1:5-6 In the days when Herod was king of Judea there
was a certain priest whose name was Zachariah, of the daily service (the
division) of Abia; and his wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name
was Elizabeth. 6 And they both were righteous in the sight of God, walking
blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. AMP
Zachariah received a visit from Gabriel. Just as other
Zedeks received help or information from angels, Zachariah gets some
information and direction. Aaron’s lineage was charged with burning incense in
the temple and it was Zachariah’s turn to do this.
Luke 1:11-17 And there appeared to him an angel of the
Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zachariah
saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him. 13 But the angel
said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and
your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John [God
is favorable]. 14 And you shall have joy and exultant delight, and many will
rejoice over his birth, 15 For he will be great and distinguished in the sight
of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled
with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother's womb. [Num
6:3.] 16 And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel
to the Lord their God, 17 And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and
the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright
[which is the knowledge and holy love of the will of God] — in order to make
ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and
disposed and placed in the right moral state]. [Isa 40:3; Mal 4:5,6.] AMP
The baby would come in the spirit and power of a former
Zedek, Elijah. He would have the Holy Spirit in him while in utero. He would
adhere to the Nazarite vow of not drinking as well. Unlike Mary, Zachariah
questioned Gabriel.
Luke 1:18-20 And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall
I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced
in years. 19 And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very]
presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good
news. [Dan 8:16; 9:21.] 20 Now behold, you will be and will continue to be
silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because
you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be
fulfilled in the appointed and proper time. AMP
After Zachariah’s turn in temple service Elizabeth became
pregnant, and when Mary came to visit Elizabeth in her sixth month, the baby,
John, was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:41-45 And it occurred that when Elizabeth heard
Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with and
controlled by the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud cry, and then
exclaimed, Blessed (favored of God) above all other women are you! And blessed
(favored of God) is the Fruit of your womb! 43 And how [have I deserved that
this honor should] be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me? 44 For behold, the instant the sound of your salutation reached my ears,
the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she
who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken
to her from the Lord.
Mary and Elizabeth were cousins, they were of the same
Nazerene order and both women were chosen to bring babies into the world who
would save many. The Essenes believed that the Messiah would come from their
order and he did. Notice Elizabeth’s words to Mary, ‘the mother of my Lord’.
Mary had traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem and the Zedek community knew and
understood that Mary was a virgin and she conceived supernaturally. They also
knew that she would birth the Messiah. We have a lot of religious stories about
Mary but simply put, she was a Zedek who separated herself in purity and she
and her cousin both changed the course of History. There was no question about
what was going to take place with these two boys. Mary stayed with Elizabeth
for three months, probably until John was born. John was born around the time
of the Passover, and that was also the time Zachariah’s voice came back.
Luke 1:56-66 And Mary remained with her [Elizabeth] for
about three months and [then] returned to her [own] home. 57 Now the time that
Elizabeth should be delivered came, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her
neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy on her, and
they rejoiced with her. 59 And it occurred that on the eighth day, when they
came to circumcise the child, they were intending to call him Zachariah after
his father, [Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3.] 60 But his mother answered, Not so! But he
shall be called John. 61 And they said to her, None of your relatives is called
by that name. 62 And they inquired with signs to his father [as to] what he
wanted to have him called. 63 Then Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and
wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished. 64 And at once his mouth
was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising
and thanking God. 65 And awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors;
and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66
And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Whatever will this
little boy be then? For the hand of the Lord was [so evidently] with him
[protecting and aiding him]. AMP
Notice that all these miraculous things were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea. Who lived in the hill country of Judah?
The prophets as we saw last week, the people we have come to call the Essenes. This
is an important detail and is often overlooked. No one in Jerusalem was excited
about the birth of John, or Zachariah’s inability to speak until John was
circumcised. But the people living outside of Jerusalem, in the hill country,
were hiding these things in their hearts. Now if we had any other question
regarding Zachariah and Elizabeth being Zedeks, we have Zachariah’s prophecy,
telling us that he was of the called out school of the prophets.
Luke 1:67-80 Now Zachariah his father was filled with and
controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed (praised and
extolled and thanked) be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and
brought deliverance and redemption to His people! 69 And He has raised up a
Horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Helper, the Author of salvation] for us
in the house of David His servant — 70
This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient
times [in the memory of man] — 71 That
we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of
all who detest and pursue us with hatred; 72 To make true and show the mercy
and compassion and kindness [promised] to our forefathers and to remember and
carry out His holy covenant [to bless, which is all the more sacred because it
is made by God Himself], 73 That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather
Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes,
might serve Him fearlessly 75 In holiness (divine consecration) and
righteousness [in accordance with the everlasting principles of right] within
His presence all the days of our lives. 76 And you, little one, shall be called
a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to
make ready His ways, [Isa 40:3; Mal 4:5.] 77 To bring and give the knowledge of
salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins. 78
Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our
God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us] [Mal 4:2.] 79 To shine upon and give light to
those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our
feet in a straight line into the way of peace. [Isa 9:2.] 80 And the little boy
grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts (wilderness) until
the day of his appearing to Israel [the commencement of his public ministry].
AMP
Let’s examine this prophecy. Verse 68, Kurios the Theos of Israel
has brought deliverance and redemption, and verse 69, salvation. Verse 70, this
was promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times in
the memory of man. What time would that be? Genesis 3:15 would be the earliest
announcement to Adam, continuing through Enoch, then Shem; the Gospel written
in the stars. Then Zachariah speaks directly to John in verse 76. John will be
called prophet of the Most High, El Elyon. John then spent his life in
schooling in the desert until his public ministry, when he turned 30. By thirty
years of age, Essenes completed their fourth degree of training. Not all people
completed that level of schooling, in fact schooling of these Zedek’s went from
12 years of age to 20 years of age. Then additional schooling was available
until 30 years of age. Public ministry however was not revered until the fourth
degree of schooling was complete at 30 years of age.
We want to make a distinction here. The Levitical priests
and the Pharisees and Sadducees were building religions based on the Mosaic
Law. They were arranging and modifying laws to their liking, as Jesus
repeatedly points out. The Pharisees especially enjoyed riches and luxury, but
this was very different from the Essenes/Nazarenes/Zedeks. The Zedeks were
prophets and because they were led by the Holy Spirit, change was a normal part
of their lives. While the Zedeks were concerned with the move of the Holy
Spirit, the Pharisees and Sadducees were concerned more about the laws. If we
notice, most of our Bible was written by Zedeks, prophets, who repeatedly
warned people and nations in light of the Holy Spirits leading. Pharisees and
Sadducees did not write letters and historical accounts for us to learn from.
The Zedeks are the one’s responsible for teaching us today. Now notice John, he
came out of the desert and taught in the country around the Jordan. Remember
from last week we noticed three schools for prophets in that region from the
time of Elijah and Elisha.
Luke 3:2-6 In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the
kingdom of God] came to John son of Zachariah in the wilderness (desert). 3 And
he went into all the country round about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance
(of hearty amending of their ways, with abhorrence of past wrongdoing) unto the
forgiveness of sin. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the
prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness [shouting in the desert]:
Prepare the way of the Lord, make His beaten paths straight. 5 Every valley and
ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be leveled; and
the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough roads shall be made
smooth; 6 And all mankind shall see (behold and understand and at last
acknowledge) the salvation of God (the deliverance from eternal death decreed
by God). [Isa 40:3-5.] AMP
John declares that deliverance from eternal death is near,
get ready for the Messiah, the Lord. This declaration would have made the
Pharisees and Sadducees very upset. Not only because they each had differing
ideas regarding eternity and humans’ eternal destiny, but also because they
both were going to lose followers and money from this announcement. If one
announces the Messiah is here, and he’s a Zedek, Essene, then the established
regime of the Pharisees and Sadducees who do not have a Messiah, is shaken and
disregarded for the Essene savior. Politically this was a nightmare for the
Pharisees as they lived quite the opposite lifestyle from the Essenes. While
the Essenes lived communally and took care of one another, especially the old
people, the Pharisees were stealing widows’ homes. Remember Jesus called them
out on this? We can see why Jesus and John were not popular and we can also see
the perspective that Jesus was teaching from. So let’s recognize, the Zedek’s
were the ones who brought salvation to the world, not the Jews in general, nor
the Pharisees, nor the Sadducees, nor the Christians. The Zedeks brought redemption
through their holiness and piousness to a lost and dying world. Again it was
the prophets who brought salvation to the world because of their own holiness,
two men were birthed among them that opened the way of redemption.
Luke 3:7-9 So he said to the crowds who came out to be
baptized by him, You offspring of vipers! Who secretly warned you to flee from
the coming wrath? 8 Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with [your]
repentance [that is, conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin].
And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I
tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up descendants for
Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, so that every tree
that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. AMP
John is not a sweet teddy bear type of man, promoting
peace, love, and higher consciousness. John is tearing away at the religions of
the day, down to their very foundations. He was pointing out the sins of
everyone and not especially excited that they wanted to get baptized. Remember
the Zedeks cloistered themselves away from the world and the people who did not
live holy, set apart, and consecrated lives. So John is sent by the Holy Spirit
to prepare the way for Jesus, but he has to start chopping away at all the sin,
like using a machete to chop through the jungle. The secrets of the prophet
schools were not to be made known to everyone, so John is not holding a Holy
Ghost, Spirit filled prayer meeting like Samuel had. But instead he was using
the purification rites of water cleansing for people’s vows of purity. This was
not to be taken lightly, it was a time for people to separate or consecrate
themselves in righteousness.
Luke 3:10-11 And the multitudes asked him, Then what shall
we do? 11 And he replied to them, He who has two tunics (undergarments), let
him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do it the same
way.
This is the communal way of life of the Zedek’s/Nazarites/Essenes.
Remember last week’s study, Hulda’s husband was the keeper of the wardrobe? We
noted that in their communities everyone had all things in common, and Hulda’s
husband was the laundry service of the common clothing. Notice what Matthew
records regarding John’s clothes.
Matt 3:4 This same John's garments were made of camel's
hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts
and wild honey. [Lev 11:22; 2 Kings 1:8; Zech 13:4.] 5 Then Jerusalem and all
Judea and all the country round about the Jordan went out to him; 6 And they
were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing their sins. AMP
John started a new thing, baptizing for the non Zedek
people in the region. Notice Elijah’s clothes.
2 Kings 1:7-8 The king asked, What was the man like who
came to meet you saying these things? 8 They answered, He was a hairy man with
a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
AMP
It was common for the Zedek’s, the prophets to wear camel
hair tunics girted with leather. It was a cultural thing, such as wearing a
turban for a Sikh or a habit for a Nun. Now notice Zechariah’s prophecy
regarding water for cleansing and the clothing of the false prophet.
Zech 13:1 IN THAT day there shall be a fountain opened for
the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem [to cleanse them from]
sin and uncleanness. AMP
Zech 13:4And in that day the [false] prophets shall each be
ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, nor will he wear a hairy or rough
garment to deceive, AMP
In the day that a fountain opens for cleansing from sins
and uncleanness the false prophets will be ashamed and not wear the culturally
acceptable garment a true prophet wears. Jesus did not wear a camel skin
garment. Today, people put on silly outfits to make themselves look like first
century Pharisees. Other people wear the most expensive suits to preach. Either
way, it is not the clothing that sets a person apart as a true prophet, there
are a lot of wolves in sheep’s clothing as Jesus mentioned.
Luke 3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they
said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? 13 And he said to them, Exact and
collect no more than the fixed amount appointed you. 14 Those serving as
soldiers also asked him, And we, what shall we do? And he replied to them,
Never demand or enforce by terrifying people or by accusing wrongfully, and
always be satisfied with your rations (supplies) and with your allowance
(wages).
Essenes were not so cloistered that they didn’t interact
with others, instead they did work among other people, buying and selling, or
even as tax collectors. The Zedek priesthood was not a group formed by
heredity, nor occupation. One did not have to be a priest or serve in the
temple or synagogues to be a Zedek. All nations and all tribes were allowed to
participate if they subscribed to the schooling and purity of the community.
Luke 3:15 As the people were in suspense and waiting
expectantly, and everybody reasoned and questioned in their hearts concerning
John, whether he perhaps might be the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
16 John answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is
mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing shovel
(fork) is in His hand to thoroughly clear and cleanse His [threshing] floor and
to gather the wheat and store it in His granary, but the chaff He will burn
with fire that cannot be extinguished. 18 So with many other [various] appeals
and admonitions he preached the good news (the Gospel) to the people. AMP
John says Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and
fire. A fire baptism is the burning of the chaff in one’s life. What do you
think might have been happening to Saul as we saw last week, when he tore off
his clothes in the prophet school of the ekklesia? Notice John’s reference to
the threshing floor? Remember that David bought the threshing floor of a
Jebusite, the very place where Shem and Eber had their school, when David had
to make an offering because of his sin of numbering the people. What happens on
a threshing floor? The grain is separated or consecrated from the stems and
hulls. The chaff is burned and the grain is stored. John was quite sure of this
new ministry that Jesus would bring to the world. Look at this record from the
Gospel of John.
John 1:19-28 And this is the testimony of John when the
Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? 20
He confessed (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but
acknowledged, I am not the Christ! 21 They asked him, What then? Are you
Elijah? And he said, I am not! Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No! [Deut
18:15,18; Mal 4:5.] 22 Then they said to him, Who are you? Tell us, so that we
may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? 23 He
said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness [the voice of one
shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord [level, straighten out,
the path of the Lord], as the prophet Isaiah said. [Isa 40:3.] 24 The
messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, Why then
are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? 26
John answered them, I [only] baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands
One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom
you know nothing. [Mal 3:1.] 27 It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred
before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These
things occurred in Bethany (Bethabara) across the Jordan [at the Jordan
crossing], where John was then baptizing. AMP
John said he was not the Messiah, nor was he Elijah or the
Prophet, he had a humble opinion of himself. But there is a double meaning
here. John says he is not Elijah, but the prophecy was that he would come in
the Spirit of Elijah and Jesus says John is Elijah. There are two answers here.
Matt 11:7 Then as these men went their way, Jesus began to
speak to the crowds about John: What did you go out in the wilderness (desert)
to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 What did you go out to see then? A man
clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the
houses of kings. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you,
and one [out of the common, more eminent, more remarkable, and] superior to a
prophet. 10 This is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger
ahead of You, who shall make ready Your way before You. [Mal 3:1.] 11 Truly I
tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than
John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than
he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the
kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by
force [as a precious prize — a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with
most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law
prophesied up until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive and accept it,
John himself is Elijah who was to come [before the kingdom]. [Mal 4:5.] 15 He
who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive
and comprehend by hearing. AMP
First, John came in the Spirit of Elijah, meaning he had
the power of the Holy Spirit on him like Elijah. John says he is not Elijah as
a reincarnation of the prophet who was taken up and did not die. Jesus says he
is the Elijah who comes to announce the kingdom of heaven, John is the
messenger just like Elijah was. But then Elijah comes before the great and
notable day of the Lord, which is the exact Elijah that was taken up, and did
not die as of yet. That Elijah is one of the two witnesses, Elijah and Enoch,
who will be witnesses on the earth utilizing great miracle working power and
both will be killed by Apollyon. The Elijah that John is like is not a reincarnation
but one who comes in the same spirit, while the exact Elijah indeed does return
to earth during the first half of the tribulation.
Luke 16:14-16 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and
lovers of money, heard all these things [taken together], and they began to
sneer at and ridicule and scoff at Him. 15 But He said to them, You are the
ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your
hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and
abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God. [1 Sam 16:7; Prov 21:2.] 16
Until John came, there were the Law and the Prophets; since then the good news
(the Gospel) of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone strives
violently to go in [would force his own way rather than God's way into it]. AMP
Until John came all people had were the Laws and the
Prophets, the Laws of Moses and the Zedeks. But now John is bringing the
Gospel, the good news of the kingdom of God. Now the people strive violently in
an attempt to force their way into the kingdom of God rather than to follow
God’s way of purification and faith in Jesus as Messiah and Lord. Jesus notes
that John was doing a new thing. That is normal for Zedeks but not for Levites,
Pharisees, and Sadducees. But people were feeling desperate for salvation and
they were coming to John to get clean, baptized. Jesus partook as well
Luke 3:21-23 Now when all the people were baptized, and
when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the
[visible] heaven was opened 22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily
form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My
Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight! [Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1.] 23
Jesus Himself, when He began [His ministry], was about thirty years of age,
being the Son, as was supposed, of Joseph, the son of Heli, AMP
Now Jesus’ lineage is mentioned, and his earthly parents
noted as they were of the Essene/Nazarene community up north. The voice from
heaven was a sign that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. But notice the sign was
given before he fulfilled Isaiah 61, opening the eyes of the blind. Let’s look
at Matthew’s account
Matt 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to
John to be baptized by him. 14 But John protested strenuously, having in mind
to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You
come to me? 15 But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the
fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform
completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him. 16 And when Jesus was
baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were
opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and
alighting on Him. 17 And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My
Beloved, in Whom I delight! [Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1.] AMP
Both John and Jesus were concerned about fulfilling
righteousness. Both came from the same cultural group of Nazarenes/Essenes/Zedeks
and both considered water baptism part of the purity and separation of the
covenant. John’s father was a prophet and John lived with the Qumran Essenes
and came into his public ministry wearing the prophet clothing of camel hair
and leather. He was not a shy, quiet, or passive man. He had a specific call on
his life and like Elijah he fulfilled it. John paved the way for Jesus to be
able to work miracles by helping people be cleansed from their sins. John’s
opinions of the Levites, Pharisees, and Sadducees was that they were poisonous
snakes. That means that John and Jesus came from the cultural heritage of a
better way of living for God. We know that to be the Zedek way, the way Shem
taught Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is the root and foundation of Christian
faith and practice. We will explore the idea of the Zedeks/Nazarenes/Essenes
being the foundation for Christendom next week when we look at Jesus’
ministry.
