FINAL WARNING: Setting the Stage for Destruction
Also in Acts, the Church leadership is shown to be made up of twelve
Apostles, which according to Galatians, were led by James (the
brother of Jesus), John and Peter. In the Community Rule, the Qumran
group were governed by a ‘Council’ of twelve people, with three priests
that were in leadership roles, though it is not known if they were part
of the twelve.It also talks about a ‘Meal of the Congregation’ which is a ritual very
much like the ‘Last Supper’ and the subsequent communion
ceremony; while other documents contain parallels with the Sermon
on the Mount, and the concept of the battle between the darkness and
the light.The Qumran texts contain references to what’s been identified as a
messianic figure known as the “Teacher of Righteousness,” which
some have tried to identify as being Jesus, however, there are no
references as to the divinity of this person, so it couldn’t be Jesus. In
addition, because of the age of the document, this person would have
been living well before the time of Christ. However, recently released
fragments do allude to Jesus. An unpublished Aramaic scroll fragment
out of Cave 4, mention the “Son of God” and the “Son of the Most
High,” in a similar manner as Luke 1:32, 35. It is the first time these
references have appeared in any outside text. Newly released
fragments out of Cave 4 even prophecy the coming the coming of
Jesus, as the Messiah. Fragment 4Q285 said that a “staff shall rise
from the root of Jesse ... the Branch of David ... and they will put to
death the Leader of the Community.” Fragment 4Q521 said: “The
Heavens and the earth will obey his Messiah ... He will not turn aside
from the Commandments of the Holy Ones ... For the Lord will visit the
Pious Ones and the Righteous will call by name ... He shall release the
captives, make the blind to see, raise up the downtrodden ... He will
heal the sick, resurrect the dead, and to the Meek announce glad
tidings.”Much has been made about this small group of men, who for forty
years had been silent about the contents of the Dead Sea Scrolls
which were in their possession. With some being considered as
emissaries of the Catholic Church, was it because the Scrolls are
contrary to the Bible in respect to the origin of Christianity, or was it,