The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls - Part 3

This article post (Part 3) will conclude the series on "The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls". We learned in Part 2 the Essenes were an apocalyptic movement within Judaism and were on a mission to help mankind [both Jew and Gentile]. Flavius Josephus describes them as living simple lives, strictly adhering to the law, communally owning property, and focusing on ritual purity. It has been generally agreed upon by the scholars of religion that the Essenes were the likely candidates for authorship of the Dead Sea Scrolls...

"The Essenes and Dead Sea Scrolls"

Part 3: Dead Sea Scrolls

Definition of the Dead Sea Scrolls:
(from Dictionary.com)

• noun - a number of leather, papyrus, and copper scrolls dating from c100 b.c. to a.d. 135, containing partial texts of some of the books of the Old Testament and some non-biblical scrolls, in Hebrew and Aramaic, and including apocryphal writings, commentaries, hymns, and psalms: found in caves near the NW coast of the Dead Sea beginning in 1947.

(from World English Dictionary)

• - pl n - collection of manuscripts in Hebrew and Aramaic discovered in caves near the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956. They are widely held to have been written between about 100 bc and 68 ad and provide important biblical evidence.

The Dead Sea Scrolls:       

Dead Sea Scroll 

It was not long after World War II came to an end that the 20th century would discover its greatest ancient find: the Dead Sea Scrolls. These ancient scrolls are a collection of 972 texts discovered between 1947 and 1956. The Dead Sea Scrolls are of great historical value; the religious and linguistic significance has preserved evidence of the diversity of religious thought in late Second Temple Judaism.     

The Dead Sea Scrolls are written in four languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Nabataean, mostly on parchment, but with some written on papyrus and bronze. Carbon-dating of the scrolls is placed between 408 B.C. and 318 B.C. While the ancient scrolls are identified with the Essenes, other scholars argue that the writings were possibly penned by the Zadokite priests in Jerusalem. There are other theologians who claim the writings are the Essenes, who were renegade Zadokites to begin with. Hence the controversy of authorship and the recent interpretations currently being challenged. 
   

Dead Sea Scroll Fragments

Some of the scrolls are in poor condition and most are just fragments, thus not all of them have been identified. The scrolls that have been identified can be divided into three (3) groups:

• 40% are copies of text from the Hebrew Bible
• 30% are documents from the Second Temple Period 
• 30% are sectarian manuscripts on the rules and beliefs of a particular group(s) within greater Judaism.

The ancient texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls provide scholars today with incredible insight on the religious developments within ancient Judaism just prior to the advent of Christianity. There are some interesting parallels between what they [Essenes] wrote and what later Christian authors would write, especially regarding messianic prophecies.

Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls:

The Caves of Qumran

The Dead Sea Scrolls were first found in the Spring of 1947 by goat-herder tending his flock. The Bedouin shepherd, Muhammad Ahmed el-Dhib, was searching the area for his lost goat when he came upon a small cave opening in Qumran.

Fearing the poor creature had fallen through the hole (of what was the cave ceiling), he lowered himself carefully into the cavern. His discovery of clay pots that held the ancient leather documents [later to be named the "Dead Sea Scrolls"] would become the 'greatest ancient find of the 20th century'. Not sure what language the scrolls were written in, Muhammad took seven of the best scrolls [and leaving behind many fragments scattered on the cave floor] to an antiquities dealer in Bethlehem, who in turn turned the ancient scrolls over to a Syrian Orthodox Archbishop named Athanasius Yeshue Samuel (1909-1995). 

Examination of a Dead Sea Scroll

Mr. Samuel recognized the language as Hebrew and suspected the ancient artifacts were valuable; he turned the scrolls over to John C. Trever (1916-2006) at the American School of Oriental Research (ASOR). Mr. Trevor immediately contacted the world's most prominent Middle East archaeologist, Dr. William F. Albright (1891-1971). These two scholars worked together and confirmed the authenticity of the ancient scrolls and dated them sometime between the 1st and 2nd century B.C. 

Between the years of 1952 and 1956, thousands of fragile fragments of biblical and early Jewish documents were discovered in eleven (11) different caves near the site of Khirbet, Qumran, on the shores of the Dead Sea... hence the name "Dead Sea Scrolls". Archaeologists would go on to uncover thousands of ancient documents inside these other caves. 

Revelation Within the Dead Sea Scrolls:

Depiction of Essenes writing scrolls

It has been determined by most religious scholars that the Dead Sea Scrolls are commonly attributed to the Essenes. Some scholars believe the Essenes were of Zadokite heritage, which would link them to the Sadducees. 

Within the ancient scrolls, the Sadducees are often referred to as Manasseh. The ancient scrolls suggest that the Sadducees (Manasseh) and the Pharisees (Ephraim) were religious communities that were distinct from the Essenes, who claimed to be the true tribe of Judah. Clashing ideologies and social positions between the Essenes and Sadducees are depicted in the Pesher on Nahum, which states:

 “They [Manasseh] are the wicked ones...whose reign over Israel will be brought down...his wives, his children, and his infant will go into captivity. His warriors and his honored ones [will perish] by the sword.”

The reference to the Sadducees reigning over ancient Israel suggests that the Essenes blamed the aristocratic faction of the Sadducees for the downfall of ancient Israel and the siege of Jerusalem. The Dead Sea Scrolls brand the Sadduceean elite as those who broke the covenant with God in their rule of the Judean state, and thus became targets of divine revenge due to their impiety.   

Influence of the Dead Sea Scrolls:

Many scholars, theologians and archaeologists have described the Dead Sea Scrolls as the most important discovery of the 20th century, which defines not only a great historical piece of writing, but a considerable influence upon mankind's understanding of the Bible. The Dead Sea Scrolls have shed tremendous light on the accuracy of the Holy Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament).

Palestine c/100 AD according to Ptolemy
(map by Claude Reignier Conder)

These important texts have revolutionized mankind's understanding of the way the Bible was written and transmitted. The Dead Sea Scrolls illuminates the general cultural and religious background of ancient Palestine, out of which both Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity arose. 

Patrick Zuckeran writes: "After years of careful study, it has been concluded that the Dead Sea Scrolls give substantial confirmation that our Old Testament has been accurately preserved. The scrolls were found to be almost identical with the Masoretic text."

Millar Burrows (1889-1980) writes: "It is a matter of wonder that through something like one thousand years the text underwent so little alteration. As I said in my first article on the scroll, ‘Herein lies its chief importance, supporting the fidelity of the Masoretic tradition."

The Nash Papyrus (2nd century BC)
contains a portion of a pre-Masoretic
 Text, specifically the Ten Commandments
and the Shema Yisrael prayer.

Gleason Archer, Jr (1916-2004) examined the two Isaiah scrolls found in Cave 1 and wrote, "Even though the two copies of Isaiah discovered in Qumran Cave 1 near the Dead Sea in 1947 were a thousand years earlier than the oldest dated manuscript previously known (A.D. 980), they proved to be word for word identical with our standard Hebrew Bible in more than 95 percent of the text. The five percent of variation consisted chiefly of obvious slips of the pen and variations in spelling."

Despite the thousand year gap between the ancient writings, scholars have found the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls to be nearly identical. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide valuable evidence that the Old Testament had been accurately and carefully preserved. The ancient scrolls have definitely altered the way we look at ancient Judaism and the Bible, which is considerably significant to the Jewish and Christian religions.

List of the Dead Sea Scrolls:

The 972 manuscripts discovered at Qumran were found primarily in two separate formats: as scrolls and as fragments of previous scrolls and other texts. While the Dead Sea Scrolls are comprised of almost a thousand texts and would be incredibly difficult to condense into this article, the following Dead Sea Scrolls listed below are the seven (7) original scrolls which the Bedouin shepherd, Muhammad Ahmed el-Dhib, turned over to the proper authorities in 1947:

Clay pots found at Qumran
 that housed the scrolls

• Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa^a)
• Second Copy of Isaiah (1QIsa^b)
• Community Rule Scroll (4QS^a-j)
• Pesher on Habakkuk (1QpHab)
• the War Scroll  (1QM)
• Thanksgiving Hymns  (1QH)
• Genesis Apocryphon (1QapGen)

The Who's ? Right Blog has not been able to find a free 'complete' listing of the 972 Dead Sea Scrolls and fragments, but the following websites will expand further upon the list of ancient scrolls: 

> Texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls
> Wikipedia's List of Dead Sea Scrolls   

Dead Sea Scrolls on Display:           

Temporary Display:

Viewing the scrolls at the Museum of Science
at Boston, Massachusetts

Small portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls collections have been put on temporary display at various locations around the world beginning in 1965. The majority of the 1965 exhibits took place mainly in the United States and the United Kingdom.

From 1993-2013, the scrolls have graced many museums and public venues, and granted an average of three to six months per length of exhibition. The current location of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit is at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) and will be on display until October 20, 2013.

Long-Term Display:

The majority of the Dead Sea Scrolls collections were moved to the Shrine of the Book (a part of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem) after its completion in April, 1965. The museum falls under the auspices of an official agency of the Israeli government known as the Israel Antiquities Authority. This permanent exhibition at the Israel Museum features a reproduction of the Great Isaiah Scroll and reproduced fragments that include the War Scroll, Community Rule, and the Thanksgiving Psalms Scroll.

Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls collections are located in Amman, Jordan. Prior to 1967 [and the Six Day War], the ancient documents were stored in Amman rather than the Palestinian Archaeological Museum in East Jerusalem, which resulted in that part of the collection remaining in Jordanian hands under their Department of Antiquities. There has been an ongoing dispute between Jordan and Israel about the ownership of some of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Israeli possession and claim the Palestinian Museum in East Jerusalem did house some of the ancient scrolls prior to the Six Day War. The dispute continues unto this day as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan continues to claim rightful ownership of the ancient documents. Parts of the Jordanian Dead Sea Scrolls collection are anticipated to be on display at the Jordan Museum in Amman, Jordan in the near future. Among the exhibit items are artifacts from the Qumran site and the Copper Scroll.   

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"For without Thee no way is perfect and without Thy Will nothing is done."

 - Dead Sea Scrolls, Community Rule (1QS)

More on the Dead Sea Scrolls:

Dead Sea Scrolls

The Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library

Related Articles:

Ancient Jewish History: The Dead Sea Scrolls

West Semitic Research Project: Dead Sea Scrolls

The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls - Part 2

The original article on the Who's ? Right blog entitled "The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls" is by far the most viewed article post on this web-blog to date [over 5,000 views]! The comments are many, more questions have arisen and the curiosity of my followers have led me to expand this information. "Part 2" will expound upon the Jewish sect known as the Essenes. "Part 3" will conclude the series on the "Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls" and will cover the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947 A.D.

"The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls"

Part 2: The Essenes

Origin & Definition:

Word Origin & History of Essene:  

(Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper) 

1553, member of a Jewish sect (first recorded 2c. B.C.E.), from L., from Gk... Essenoi, of disputed etymology, perhaps from Heb.tzenum "the modest ones," or Heb.hashaim "the silent ones." Klein suggests Syriac hasen, pl. absolute state of hase "pious." - 

Definition of Essene: 

(from Dictionary.com)

• Es·sene [es-een, e-seen] - noun - (Judaism)... a member of a Palestinian sect, characterized by asceticism, celibacy, and joint holding of property, that flourished from the 2nd century b.c. to the 2nd century a.d.

Ancient Writings About the Essenes:

Depiction of an Essene Scroll

One of the earliest reports concerning the Essenes comes to us from Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, Philo of Alexandria, who lived during the Egyptian dispersion. Philo's writings about the Essenes comes down through two scholarly works, "Quod omnis probus Fiber sit" and "Apologia pro Judais". The second work was lost to antiquity, but the information was carefully retained in Eusebius' "Praeparatio Evangilica".

Flavius Josephus, a Pharisee and ancient Jewish historian, was one of the earliest theologians to impart an in-depth description of the Essenes in his writings entitled, "The Jewish War" (written between 70-75 A.D.) and a lesser detailed account in "Antiquities of the Jews" (written between 75-100 A.D.).

Another first-hand account concerning the Essenes comes from the Roman writer, Pliny the Elder, who, in his work entitled "Natural History", incorporated some information about the ancient sect during the 1st century A.D. Pliny died in 79 A.D.

Dio Chrysostom was a Greek philosopher and historian [who lived around the turn of the 2nd century A.D.] and briefly mentioned the existence of an Essene community near the Dead Sea in his Discourses. His report is dated somewhat later [early 2nd century A.D.] than Pliny the Elder [late 1st century A.D.]

During the 3rd century A.D. Hippolytus of Rome detailed a long account of the Essenes in "Refutation of all Heresies", that is said to have paralleled Josephus' information. However, a few instances provide unique material, although he was never personally associated with the Essene sect. His works unfortunately are in such a fragmentary condition that it is difficult to surmise the exact notion of his intellectual meaning.

Birth of the Essenes:

Depiction of an Essene

While there is no definite proof concerning the formation and beginnings associated with the ancient Judaic race, it has been estimated the Essenes came into existence sometime during the 2nd century B.C. (201-101). Some scholars proclaim this ancient race of Jews seceded from the Zadokite priests (a priestly order descended from the first High Priest, Zadok, of the First Temple of Solomon).

Most scholars of religion agree the Essenes were one of three Jewish sects during the Second Temple period. The Essenes broke away from the other two groups, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, due to the longstanding conflicts of social and religious beliefs; they formed their own religious order. The following conflicts were instrumental in aiding the birth of the Essenes:

• Cultural differences; between those Jews who favored the Hellenization movement [Sadducees] and those who resisted it [Pharisees].
• Social standing of class; between the wealthy and the poor, as the Sadducees mainly consisted of the priestly and aristocratic families and the Pharisees were counted among the common and lower class.
• Jurisdiction boundaries; between those who placed importance of the Second Temple rites and services [Sadducees] and those who emphasized the importance of Mosaic laws [Pharisees].
• Religious conflicts; between those who only recognize the Torah  and the ancient interpretation of the scriptures [Sadducees] and those who believed in such doctrines as the Oral Torah and the Resurrection of the Dead; which involved different interpretations of the Torah and how to apply it to Jewish life [Pharisees].

Had the conflicts between the Sadducees and the Pharisees never existed, the ancient sect known as the Essenes possibly would have never been born.

Note: According to the Essene Church of Christ, the origins of the Essenes are incredibly ancient and date back to the time of Enoch and Moses. While the Essene Church of Christ claims the ancient Essenes origins were lost to pre-flood history, there are certain legends that link them to Enoch. During the post-flood days of Moses, it was said that there was a major re-manifestation of the Essenes encouraged by Moses at Mount Sinai. Further information please visit: Introduction to the Ancient Essenes and the Modern Essene Church of Christ

Life of the Essenes:   

Depiction of communal life

Pliny the Elder places the Essenes in the desert near Ein Gedi on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, but did not expound upon any other locations. According to Pliny, the Essene did not marry and remained celibate, they possessed no money and had existed for thousands of generations. 

According to Josephus, the Essenes consisted of large numbers and were scattered throughout Roman Judæa in various cities, but congregated in a communal life. One [Essene] man was chosen to administer each community as priest and guardian. They were dedicated to asceticism, voluntary poverty, daily immersion, and abstinence from worldly pleasures, including (for some groups) celibacy. The ancient historian stated the Essenes were committed to a strict observance of the Sabbath, as well.

The Essenes were reputed to ritually immerse themselves in water every morning, eat together after praying, and devoted themselves to charity. Their daily water immersions is believed to be associated with the concept of baptism (in Christianity). They were a benevolent order that forbade any expression of anger, carefully studied the books of the elders, preserved sacred secrets, and were very attentive when it came to the names of the angels [kept in their sacred writings].

They also faced hardships and opposition (mainly from the Romans). In the Talmud, there is a story about Onias the Righteous, who was considered saintly. He was reputed to be able to bring rain by simply praying. Onias was stoned to death circa 65 B.C. Josephus also recorded a similar story in his writings and, according to Millar Burrows, Onias the Righteous was thought to have been an Essene.

Mission of the Essenes:

Depiction of the Essenes writing
the Dead Sea Scrolls

According to Philo of Alexandria and Flavius Josephus, the Essenes were virtuous people. Philo writes that the Essenes were celibate and spent their lives studying ethics and ancestral laws. Josephus added in his writings that they [Essenes] were generally continent, recited daily prayers, engaged in purification rituals and were gifted with ultimate prophecy. 

"Forgiving was as essential in their [Essenes] life as breathing in and out. Giving thanks for everything that came their way, both the good and the bad, the sunrise and the sunset, comfort or discomfort. All was a blessing from God and could be turned to good." - (from HisHolyChurch.org)

The Essenes were practical when it came to their faith; they were humble and efficient in the performance of their service. Many called them 'healers', and in some instances, referred to them as 'physicians'. They were renowned for using natural herbs, natural minerals and the use of oils. The content of natural minerals and diet was specifically used in healing.

The ancient Essenes devoted themselves to help mankind, Jew and Gentile alike. The ancient sect studied and meditated daily on the issues of man and God. The Essenes were distinguished for their prophetic summations, which some scholars believe initially started the apocalyptic movement. Josephus wrote about Menahem the Essene who prophesied Herod the Great's rise to kingship long before the ancient emperor had any royal expectations. The Essenes talent as healers and prophets were well noted by the people of that time. They were hailed for their honesty, temperance, reasoning and justice.

Doctrine of the Essenes:

The doctrine of the Essenes was simple and can be summed up in one paragraph:

"...The Essenes or Essæans, in the days of Philo and Josephus, were imbued with the utmost reverence for Moses and the Law. They believed in the creator (God), in the immortality of the soul, and in a future state of retribution....Their chief characteristic was the doctrine of love--love to God, love of virtue, and love of mankind--and the practical way in which they carried out their precepts aroused the admiration of all." - (excerpt from Fragments of a Faith Forgotten by G.R.S. Mead) 

Disappearance of the Essenes:    

Remains of the probable Essene community at Qumran.

There are many theories floating around about the sudden departure of the Essenes from history. They were purported to be chosen as the "sons of light" to fight the "sons of darkness" [as the end of the world approached] yet, the Essenes were killed during the Maccabees's uprising in 68 A.D.

Some scholars commonly attest the simplistic order of the Essenes were murdered by the Roman soldiers during one of the three the Jewish-Roman Wars (between 66-135 A.D.); the first one occurring when the Second Temple was conquered by the Roman Empire in 70 A.D.

A small minority of theologians believe the entire sect of Essenes committed suicide atop Mount Carmel as they opposed Roman rule and refused to renounce their sacred faith. And, there are other savants that deem the ancient sect was never completely destroyed and the Essenes became a secret society.

Regardless of the various hypothesis of the learned scholars, no one has ever been able to exactly acknowledge or prove the theories of when or why the Essenes were lost to history.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

The ancient Essenes, who lived in righteousness through faith, hope and charity, regarded themselves as a 'people on a mission'. They lived a simple life in purity and truth, in temperance, and in humility towards mankind. The Essenes were not just the servants of the Creator, but they were sons and daughters of the Most High. They even considered themselves to be the depository of God's secret knowledge and wisdom... henceforth, making them workers for the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

“He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Matthew 13:11

More on the Essenes:

Essenes
History and the Essene

Josephus on the Essenes

Related Articles:

Second Temple Period
Josephus wrote about the Essenes
Essenes: Profile of the Essenes - Jewish Religious Group, Creators of the D...

Prophetic Fall of Damascus

Depiction of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah
at the Most Russian Church
of St. Petersburg 

According to the ancient biblical prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, the city of Damascus [in the country of Syria] will be totally destroyed during the "End Times". With so much Middle East unrest in the world today, the clash of civilizations intensify with each passing year.  Wars and rumors of wars have become commonplace, people are fleeing from not only the destruction of war, but from the corrupt governments that are internally displacing their own people. 

It is interesting to note that the current upheaval in Syria, with the turmoil of civil war and the alleged use of chemical weapons, seems to link an interesting connection with the Bible prophecies. Let's start at the beginning...

The city of Damascus was first mentioned in the Book of Genesis, making this prophetic city the oldest city in the world that has been in continual existence [over 5,000 years] since the time of the ancients. 

"During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.". - Genesis 14:15

"But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” - Genesis 15:2

Damascus has never been completely destroyed, even during the siege of the Damascus in 732 BC by Tiglath-Pileser III, who captured the prophetic city, but did not completely destroy it. 

"Tiglath-Pileser III accordingly "marched against Damascus, defeated and put king Rezin to death, and besieged the city itself". Leaving part of his army to continue the siege, he advanced, ravaging with fire and sword the provinces east of the Jordan (Nabatea, Moab and Edom), Philistia, and Samaria; and in 732 BC he took the chief Aramean state of Damascus, deporting many of its inhabitants and the Israelite inhabitants of Samaria to Assyria. He also forced tribute from the Arabs of the deserts in the Arabian peninsula." - from Wikipedia.com (Neo-Assyrian Empire)

Depiction of Tiglath-Pileser

Isaiah was a young man when the city of Damacus was captured by Tiglath-Pileser and made an Assyrian state. (2 Kings 15:19)

Twenty years later, Ahaz (king of Judah), refused to co-operate with the kings of Israel and Syria in opposition to the Assyrians. As a result, the kingdom of Judah was attacked and defeated by Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Israel. (2 Kings 16:5; 2 Chronicles 28:5–6) 

Eventually, Ahaz succumbed to Assyrian rule and sought the assistance of Tiglath-Pileser to help conquer Israel and Syria. Rezin and Pekah were consequently defeated and many of the people of Israel and Syria were carried captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29, 16:9; 1 Chronicles 5:26). 

It was during this era of time, the prophet Isaiah made known this particular prophecy:

"The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts. And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean." - Isaiah 17:1-4

While it was a tumultuous time during 8th century BC, many scholars believe Isaiah's prophecy was intended for future reference, not during his own lifetime. Other theologians heartily disagree and believe the conquest of Damascus and the concurrent Assyrian reign fulfilled the prophecy.

The prophet Jeremiah lived during the turbulent era of the 7th and 6th centuries BC when the Assyrian Empire began to diminish and the Babylonian Empire made its grand entrance into history. His prophecy about Damascus and the destruction of that city seems to imply that it will occur in the future, as well. (It is interesting to note if the prophecy had been fulfilled during Isaiah's lifetime, then why would Jeremiah expound upon the same prophecy a hundred years later?) In Jeremiah 49:23-27, the prophet predicted the following would occur:

"Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad." 

The New Testament makes a reference to Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul) and his conversion to Christianity occurring on the 'Road to Damascus'. The Apostle Luke presented Saul of Tarsus as a hateful beast on a rampage against the disciples of the Lord, highlighting his violence and execution, but never really gave any indication of Saul's inner thoughts or motives before, during or after his conversion. However, without this conversion, Saul of Tarsus would have never ceased to be and the Apostle Paul would have not been re-born into Christianity. Some scholars of religion believe Paul's conversion is symbolic of God promising to destroy the city of Damascus just as he had destroyed the rampaging beast known as Saul of Tarsus. Other religious theologians dismiss such a theory as whimsical.

Damascus, Syria

Regardless of the pros and cons of the fulfillment of the Damascus prophecy, it has been forewarned by the prophets of antiquity that the disappearance of Damascus will be included in a series of horrible events that will take place in the Middle East. The prophet Isaiah provided mankind with the Creator's commentary on a future conflict between Damascus and Israel, while the prophet Jeremiah was chosen [by God] to expound upon this same prophecy.

Damascus, the planet's oldest city, has seen a myriad of mayhem over the course of its' 5,000 year history, but the prophecy of its ultimate destruction will play a major role in the events of mankind's future.

“We don’t know the timing of those verses and passages in Isaiah 17, it could be tomorrow, it could be in 10 years, in 100 years. To say what’s happening now [in Syria] is going to lead to that would be pretty reckless, but I think it’s safe to say what’s happening could lead to that.” ~ Jan Markell, founder and program host at Olive Tree Ministries

Commentary by Joel Rosenberg, American Author and Strategist 

For further commentaries on the "Prophecy of Damascus", please visit the following links:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/22237215-418/turmoil-in-syria.html

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/12/end-times-bible-expert-delivers-3-reasons-why-those-dismissing-syria-related-prophecies-may-be-dead-wrong/

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/08/why-some-believe-these-end-times-bible-verses-could-hold-the-key-to-the-syrian-crisis/

The Branches of Christianity

Depiction of Jesus and the Disciples

While Christianity actually started with Jesus Christ and his disciples, it was not recognized until after Jesus’ crucifixion in c/28 of the 1st century A.D. In the year 65, an organization was founded at Antioch, in Syria, which assumed the name “Christians”; soon the doctrine of Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire by traveling apostles. 

Before the end of the 1st century, Christian societies were founded in Palestine, Asia Minor, Syria, Greece, Italy, northern Africa and the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. 

The earliest followers of Jesus Christ composed an apocalyptic Jewish assemblage, which scholars and historians refer to as Jewish Christianity. The Apostles disseminated from Jerusalem, founding the Apostolic Sees [presumably following the Great Commission's decree to spread the teachings of Jesus to "all nations"] with great success spreading this new religion to the Gentiles. Peter, Paul, and James the Just were the most notable of early Christian leaders. Though Paul's influence on Christian thinking is said to be more significant than any other New Testament author, the relationship of Paul of Tarsus and Judaism is still disputed and contested among the theologians today. Rather than having a sudden split, early Christianity gradually grew apart from Judaism as a predominantly Gentile religion.

By the beginning of the 4th century, one-third of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire had embraced the Christian religion, which was credited to the edicts of Constantine the Great. Those same proclamations made Christianity a state religion by the year 326. These early Christians were responsible for paving the way for a religious creed that has last for nearly 2,000 years.

Christianity is divided into three main branches: Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Protestant. The Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox, by far, are the oldest Christian sects and was once united as a singular creed. It was during the Medieval Era (2nd to 8th century) that divisions appeared in the form of political opposition and the two churches separated. The separation became definite in the 11th century.

The Roman Catholic Church declares that on the basis of Christ’s original teachings, the authoritative doctrines are guided by the Spirit of God. The teachings are based on scriptures and tradition, which is set forth distinctly in the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed. There are seven sacraments recognized: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony and extreme unction. In 1564, Pope Pius IV added the articles on the veneration and invocation of Saints. The dogma of the immaculate conception of the Holy Mother Mary was added in 1854. And, in 1870, the papal infallibility was recognized and accepted. The Roman Catholic Church also added the belief in Purgatory and the necessity of confession.

Depiction of Great Schism between the Roman
Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches, 1054 AD

The doctrinal creeds of the Greek Orthodox Church, even today, are essentially those of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the authority of the Greek Orthodox Church does not reside in one person or structure, but the limits of jurisdiction have followed the national lines. Hence the political difference that divided the Roman and Greek Churches and brought about what was known as the Great Schism of 1054. There is no recognizable unity among the national groups and the Greek Orthodox Church, other than the fact that they do not acknowledge the authority of the Pope. The only other difference between the Roman and Greek Churches is that Greek Orthodox allows the priest to marry and have families, but only if he is unwed before he accepts the priesthood. Over the years, several attempts were made to reunite the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox, notably at the Council of Florence (in 1498), but none have fully succeeded in bringing them back together, even unto this day.

The Protestants include Christian denominations which are not Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox. The Protestant Movement was started by Martin Luther, a German priest, in the early 16th century when controversy arose in the form of Luther’s published 95 Thesis (in 1517) which theologically laid importance on faith in salvation by grace.

Luther believed every Christian was directly responsible to God and did not need the mediation of a priest (the Islamic and Jewish faith believes this as well). This belief thusly broke down the distinction between the religious and the secular, which brought about what was known as the Reformation.

Among the fundamental doctrines of Protestantism are: supremacy of the Holy Bible above bishops and councils, individual responsibility and justification by faith, prayer, and worship. The Protestants, like the Greek Orthodox, deny the authority of the Pope and hold to the right of private judgment in the matter of religion.

The universalism of Western civilization was inexplicably destroyed, causing the Christian world to disassemble. Today, many branches of the Protestant Church are widely distributed throughout the world. Among the major Protestant denominations are the Lutherans, Presbyterians, Reformed, Anglicans, Baptists, and Methodists. There are many smaller Protestant sects that branched off the major denominations, such as Evangelicals, Unitarians, Episcopalians and more.

While Christianity is divided into many religious creeds and sects, nearly all Christian bodies agree, with respect to certain cardinal doctrines, and are united in the acceptance that Jesus Christ is the Revealer of God and the Savior of mankind. Today, the majority of Christians are found in Australia, Europe, and North America, with smaller sects spread out worldwide.