Essenes

Pre-reformer's Era (Post Apostolic Era)

For the quest to rediscover the true Assembly of Yahoshea's set standard, many seekers or faithful conceived numerous theologies and movements to counter the blood – sucking Roman Church and its bunch of pagan doctrines and ordinances. These groups were subjected to torture, persecution and elimination by the Roman Church, some of them are treated below:

This is one of the three major religious sects that existed in Hebrew nation by 2nd and 1st century B.C.E. Other recognized sects were the Pharisees and the Sadducees and they were active during the Second Temple Yahudaism.

The movement took its name from “Osey Hatorah” which means the “Observers of Torah”.  This name was confirmed by the Dead Sea scrolls but has metamorphorsed into various forms and lately taken as the “Essenes”. It is assumed the “Hassidim” (“the pious ones”) replaced the Essenes in Hebrew during its medieval age.

The Essenes were Hebrew citizens who scattered all over the land of Palestine and Syria but had their territorial stronghold at Qumran - a plateau in the Yahudean Desert along the Dead Sea.  It is believed that the Dead Sea scrolls which were discovered in 1947 by two Bedouin shepherds of the Ta'amirah tribe may have been preserved by the Essenes.

The myth hold that the Essenes religious movement and community was founded by a Hebrew High-Priest whom the movement often identify as the “Teacher of Righteousness”.  The “Teacher of Righteousness” has been tied to mean the “Hebrew Messiah” – Yahoshea Ha Meshiyach by some scholars.

The movement was mentioned in the works of apostolic fathers like Jospehus  that refrenced of a “gate of the Essenes” in his description of the most ancient of the three walls of Yerusalem in the Mount Zion area.  That suggests that the Essenes had a regular gathering at this part of the Temple site.

Practices And Tradition

The Essenes was one of the philosophical sects amongst the Hebrews but they emphasis to a stricter discipline, have more affection for each other than as available within the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Of other religious sects in Hebrew nation, Essenes was one of the sects that relate to Yahosheanism basically on doctrinal practices and creeds.  They lived a strict communal lifestyle that can be compared to Monastic living.

Many of the Essenes were celibates or under a compulsory observation of celibacy for three years period by converts before marriage.

The “order of the Essenes” provide for collective ownership of properties, they forbid swearing of oaths, non-sacrifice of animals, high rate of vegetarianism, no carrying of weapons, non-possession of slaves, service to each other, no engagement on trading or monetary affairs.

The movement had lengthy communal meetings, engaging in collective meals and religious celebrations.  One of the essential creeds of the movement was that after three years of probation of a convert, he or she will take a covenant that include commitment to righteousness to Yahweh and piety towards humanity. Others include strict observation of Sabbath rest and worship, daily ritual purification (daily emersion), purity and cleanliness, electing leaders to attend to the interest of the group and obedience to the order of the leaders.

An Essene must maintain a pure lifestyle, to abstain from criminal and immoral activities, to preserve the books of the order and to transmit the rules uncorrupted to further generations.

Essenes acknowledge that Prophet Moses was sent by Yahweh but were against the books of the prophet because of corruption that they felt that associated the passage of the scriptures over the years.  The movement differentiated itself from other Hebrew related sect who they often label as the “breakers of the covenant”.

The mystic philosophy of the Essenes was highly pronounced as it is held that the Kabbalistics tradition  of Hebrew pantheon emerged from the movement. The Hebrew legend held that one of Essenes called “Manechem” passed most of the Essenes mystical knowledge to the Talmudic mystic Nehumja Ben Hakanah that laid the tradition of Kabbala.

Influence And Spread

Some of the practices of the Essenes were in agreement with Yahosheanism and modern scholars agree to such conclusion. Based on these conclusion, some modern Christian Gnostics claim to have been originated from the Essenes tradition.  Such movements include the Order of the Essenes founded by Grace Mann Brown in the 19th century and the Rosicrucianism that later took it under its curriculum.

In conclusion, the Essenes movement may have existed before the birth and ministry of Yahoshea Meshiyach but both movements share many doctrinal views and enjoyed same location especially after the Yahudean - Roman war in 67 – 70Ad and the Second Yahudean-Roman War in 135Ad.

Both movements were persecuted by the mainstream Yahudeans and Roman authorities. Though they related on doctrinal matters but existed separately and Yahosheanism been the true path to Yahweh as it was founded by Yahoshea Meshiyach the true son of Yahweh.

Therefore, any sect that claim continuity to both movements must not be engrossed in pagan traditions as found in Christianity and Roscrucianism.

Those who have ears must listen well and abide in this truth.