The 12 Patriarchs and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Interview with Ken Johnson
Nov 14, 2023
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Guest Ken Johnson, a scholar of ancient patriarchs and the Dead Sea Scrolls, discusses their testaments, moral lessons, and prophecies. He highlights the correlation between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament, the scenes' preparation for the Messiah, the crucifixion timing, the significance of the 12 patriarchs' writings, and the Essene prophecies about the Messiah. The chapter also includes book promotion and sponsor ads.
The Essenes believed in a closed canon consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament, aligning their writings with the prophecies mentioned in the New Testament and rejecting the addition of extra books to their canon.
The Essenes had a deep understanding of Messianic prophecies, believing in a Melchizedekian priest Messiah who would be God incarnate and calculating the date of his coming around 32 AD based on their interpretation of Daniel and other scriptures.
The preservation of certain writings and exclusion of others from the biblical canon suggests intentional tampering by the Pharisees and Sadducees, with evidence that they manipulated messianic prophecies and writings to support their teachings.
Deep dives
The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Essenes were a Jewish sect who believed in the importance of studying and understanding the biblical texts. They preserved and studied the Old Testament scriptures, and their writings often aligned with the prophecies mentioned in the New Testament. The Essenes believed in a closed canon, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament, and they did not add any extra books to their canon. They believed in the Trinity, with God the Father, the Messiah (who was seen as God incarnate), and the Holy Spirit. They considered the Pharisees and Sadducees to be cultic groups who deviated from the true teachings of Judaism.
The Messianic Prophecies
The Essenes had a deep understanding of the Messianic prophecies found in the Old Testament scriptures. They believed that the Messiah would come as a Melchizedekian priest, not a Levitical one, and he would be God incarnate. They knew the exact date of the Messiah's coming, which they calculated to be around 32 AD based on their interpretation of Daniel and other scriptures. They believed that the Messiah would die for the sins of humanity and reconcile them to God, ushering in the Age of Grace. They saw their own writings, such as the Testamental Patriarchs and the 11Q13 manuscript, as affirmations of these Messianic prophecies.
Conspiracy Theories and Canon Closure
There is evidence to suggest that conspiracy or intentional tampering played a role in excluding certain writings from the biblical canon. The Essenes preserved a wide range of writings, including some apocryphal books, but they considered the Old Testament and the New Testament as the closed canon. They believed that adding to the canon would dilute the significance of the scriptures. The Essenes' views aligned with the Dead Sea Scrolls, which matched the writings of the apostle Paul. There are indications that the Pharisees and Sadducees deliberately manipulated certain messianic prophecies and writings to support their own teachings, leading to the exclusion of some books and the preservation of others.
Witnessing with the Extra-Biblical Prophecies
The extra-biblical prophecies, such as the testimonies of the patriarchs, can be powerful witnessing tools when engaging with Jews who have been told to avoid Christianity. These prophecies align with Christian concepts and challenge the prevailing rabbinic teachings, providing evidence that supports the message of the New Testament. By studying and understanding these prophecies, Christians can effectively engage in conversation and share the truth of the gospel, ultimately leading to the salvation of many.
Valuable Insights for Challenging Times
While the majority of extra-biblical prophecies focus on the first coming of the Messiah, they also offer valuable insights for challenging times, particularly the period leading up to the second coming. These prophecies provide guidance on how to navigate apostasy, offer warnings against false teachings, and shed light on the signs and events related to the second coming. By studying these prophecies alongside the New Testament, Christians can gain a deeper understanding of God's plan and be better equipped to face the challenges of the present and future.
Ancient patriarchs and the Bible | ancient patriarchs and the Talmud | ancient patriarchs and the Dead Sea Scrolls | who are the ancient patriarchs? | testaments of the ancient patriarchs | extra Biblical sources of Jesus
The Talmud teaches that the ancient patriarchs were all prophets, and that each one of them left testaments for their descendants to read. These contain commands for their children, moral lessons, and prophecy. This legend is not only repeated among the Essene community, but fragments of twenty such records have been found in the Dead Sea scrolls.
Ken’s book, Ancient Testaments of the Patriarchs: Autobiographies from the Dead Sea Scrolls, shares the testaments of Enos (Adam’s grandson), Enoch, Lamech (Noah’s father), Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Levi, Judah, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin, Kohath (son of Levi, and father of Amram), Amram (father of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam), and Aaron. In addition, he addresses many extra-biblical prophecies of the Messiah, including Aaron’s warning about the Messiah's First Coming.