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The Essenes were associated with the creation and structure of the solar calendar.

The Essenes held an unwavering conviction that they had preserved an unblemished divine gift, a solar calendar consisting of 364 days, which they believed was a legacy that stretched from Adam's time to the Maccabean era.

The Essene calendar divided the year into twelve periods, with each period spanning 30 days, and it also incorporated four extra days that were separate from the usual monthly tally, designated to signify the change of seasons at the equinoxes and solstices.

Johnson emphasizes the belief among the Essenes that their 364-day calendar, rooted in the solar cycle, was a gift from the heavens. This calendar, comprising twelve months each lasting thirty days and an additional four special days marking the beginning of spring, the height of summer, the start of autumn, and the peak of winter, has been diligently followed since the time of Adam, passed down through the ages.

The start of every season was marked by a holy event, specifically named Tekufah Nisan, Tekufah Tammuz, Tekufah Tishrei, and Tekufah Tevet. The annual tally of days, which is separate from the monthly cycles, amounted to three hundred and sixty-four. The writer emphasizes that this method ensured perfect alignment between the cyclical progression of time and the changing seasons, while also preserving the uninterrupted succession of the week's seven days.

Context

  • Equinoxes occur twice a year when day and night are approximately equal in length, marking the start of spring and autumn. Solstices occur when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marking the start of summer and winter.
  • The Essenes were a Jewish sect that existed around the Second Temple period, roughly from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. They are often associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were discovered in the Qumran Caves near the Dead Sea.
  • The reference to "the time of Adam" suggests a connection to biblical narratives, where Adam is considered the first human created by God according to the Book of Genesis. This implies a belief in the calendar's divine origin and its use since the earliest times in biblical history.
  • This marks the start of summer. Tammuz is a month in the Jewish calendar, and the period is often associated with the beginning of the harvest season.
  • The seven-day week is historically linked to religious traditions, such as the biblical account of creation in Genesis, where God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, establishing the Sabbath.
The Essenes criticized the Pharisees for depending on a lunar calendar they deemed "corrupt," which led to disturbances in the regular sequence of sabbaths, seasons, and holy celebrations.

Johnson emphasizes the contrast between the Essenes' reliance on a solar calendar and the lunar-based chronology adopted by the Pharisees. The Essenes believed that the Pharisaic approach to timekeeping, which depended on the phases of the moon, deviated from the sacred calendar's original design. The 354-day lunar calendar resulted in a discrepancy with the solar year, which the Pharisees corrected by inserting leap months to preserve the alignment of the seasons.

The writer describes the Essenes as being firmly opposed to this tradition, viewing it as a perversion that disrupted the harmony of the natural order. They firmly believed that the heavenly schedule set by the divine reflected the creation's order, marked by consistent weekly cycles and the alignment of festivities with specific times of the year. They considered the calendar based on the moon's phases to be a cause of chaos and inconsistency.

Context

  • The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish sect known for their emphasis on oral law and traditions. They played a significant role in shaping Rabbinic Judaism and were often in theological and ideological conflict with other groups like the Essenes.
  • A solar calendar is based on the Earth's revolutions around the Sun, typically consisting of 365 days, with an extra day added every four years (leap year) to account for the additional 0.25 days per year.
  • The use of lunar calendars was common in ancient cultures, including the Babylonian and Jewish traditions. The Jewish calendar, used by the Pharisees, was a lunisolar calendar, meaning it incorporated elements of both lunar and solar timekeeping.
  • For the Pharisees, maintaining the alignment of religious festivals with their traditional seasons...

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The Ancient Dead Sea Scroll Calendar Summary The relationship of the Essene's chronometric practices to the chronologies and prophecies within the Bible.

The Essene calendar provides an exact timeline for events described in the Bible, from the beginning of the world up to the first century AD.

The Essene calendar records that the world-altering flood took place 1656 years after the world was formed, and it marks the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt in the year 2448, aligning with the accounts described in sacred scriptures.

Johnson argues that the Essenes' approach to tracking time serves not just as a means to denote the progression of days but also as an essential instrument for decoding the chronology of events in the Bible. He underscores the importance of the Essene calendar for determining an exact and consistent timeline for key biblical events, from the first book to the time of Jesus. He mentions the flood, which according to the Essene chronology, occurred 1656 years after the world began.

The genealogies documented in the fifth and seventh chapters of Genesis align perfectly with this timeline, detailing the exact lifespans of forebears who lived before the flood. Johnson also underscores that, according to the Essene calendar, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt took place in the year 2448 AM. The...

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The Ancient Dead Sea Scroll Calendar Summary The ceremonial practices indicated by the Essene calendar carry considerable significance in terms of prophecy.

The calendar of the Essenes marks several festivals that commemorate the early harvests, which represent important moments in the narrative of redemption.

The initial fruits of the Barley Harvest signify Christ's resurrection, denoting the first instance of Christ having risen from the dead amidst those who have passed away.

Johnson reveals that the Essenes utilized a calendar not merely for tracking time but also as a predictor of future events in the cosmic design. He explores how the Essene calendar incorporates various festivals that honor the early harvests, symbolizing key points in the narrative of redemption. The Essene calendar designates the 26th of Nisan as a day dedicated to celebrating the first fruits gathered from the barley fields, an observance that consistently occurs on a Sunday.

The writer perceives the celebration as a profound emblem of prophecy, representing the resurrection of Christ as the first gathering of the deceased. Johnson cites 1 Corinthians 15:20 to emphasize the clear connection that Paul, as an apostle, made. He argues that just as the offering of the first ripe barley sheaves marks the beginning of the harvest season, so too does...

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The Ancient Dead Sea Scroll Calendar Summary The analysis of the Essene calendar is carried out alongside various historical timekeeping systems.

The Essenes employed a calendar system that was distinctly different from the modern Gregorian calendar and the Jewish calendar of their time.

The Essene calendar was designed to have a year that spanned 364 days, which guaranteed that their yearly celebrations would consistently fall on the same weekday within the cycle of 52 weeks.

Johnson emphasizes the unique features that set the Essene calendar apart from the commonly used Gregorian calendar in contemporary society. The Essenes designed a calendar that spanned a precise period of 364 days each year, corresponding seamlessly with a sequence of 52 weeks, unlike the Gregorian calendar which is solar-based and incorporates an additional day every four years to compensate for the actual length of a year being 365 days. The author highlights that the Essene calendar is structured to start the year on a Wednesday, which guarantees that yearly celebrations fall on the same weekday each time.

Johnson suggests that this consistent cycle ensured that the festival would always happen on predetermined, consistent weekly and yearly timetables. He emphasizes the contrast by noting that, in contrast to the Gregorian calendar...

The Ancient Dead Sea Scroll Calendar Summary The Essenes' contribution to preserving the most ancient solar calendar and their importance in the chronicles of biblical history.

The Essenes considered themselves protectors of the sacred chronology, standing against those they labeled followers of the impure lunar calendar, whom they characterized as children of darkness.

The Essenes meticulously documented their calendar system in the scrolls found near the Dead Sea to ensure its preservation for future generations.

Johnson emphasizes the steadfast dedication of the Essenes to preserving the calendar they believed was consecrated by a higher power. They considered themselves guardians of divine truth and order in a world that had lost its way. They viewed the Pharisees and their complex lunar calendar as advocates of a notion they termed "sons of darkness," a system they deemed corrupt and chaotic, opposing the celestial order that God had envisioned.

Johnson highlights the meticulous recording of the solar calendar system as detailed in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls, hidden in the caves near Qumran, preserved the essential structure and offered detailed instructions for determining the calculations of the calendar, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The author believes this action shows a strong commitment to preserving...

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The Ancient Dead Sea Scroll Calendar Summary The connection between the Essene calendar and the timeline of the initial advent of the Messiah, as well as the revival of Israel.

The Essene calendar's design, which consisted of 364 days, enabled the precise calculation of the dates that align with the Messiah's crucifixion and resurrection.

Calculations from the Essene calendar show that the Messiah's crucifixion aligned with Passover in AD 32.

The author proposes that the careful construction of the Essene's annual cycle, which spans 364 days, enhanced their understanding of the sequence of events that preceded the first coming of the Messiah. He emphasizes that the exact chronology of the Essene calendar aligns with the year 32 CE, the same year when the crucifixion took place at the same time as the Jewish Passover.

Additionally, the approach used by the Essenes to decipher the prophecy of 70 Weeks in Daniel 9, involving detailed computations and the notion of "years structured as weeks," confirms the accuracy of the timeline regarding the arrival and subsequent departure of the Anointed One.

Other Perspectives

  • The 364-day calendar does not account for the additional approximately 11 days of the lunar cycle, which could lead to discrepancies in religious observances when compared to lunar calendars.
  • The prophecy of 70 Weeks...

The Ancient Dead Sea Scroll Calendar

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