Dead Sea Scrolls

[Chad]

Dead Sea Scrolls: What are They?
The Dead Sea Scrolls have been called the greatest manuscript discovery of modern times. They were discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea. This is an arid region 13 miles east of Jerusalem and 1,300 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea Scrolls are comprised of the remains of approximately 825 to 870 separate scrolls, represented by tens of thousands of fragments. The texts are most commonly made of animal skins, but also papyrus and one of copper. They are written with a carbon-based ink, from right to left, using no punctuation except for an occasional paragraph indentation.

Dead Sea Scrolls: Why are they Important?
The Dead Sea Scrolls can be divided into two categories—biblical and non-biblical. Fragments of every book of the Old Testament (Hebrew canon) have been discovered, except for the book of Esther. Now identified among the scrolls are 19 fragments of Isaiah, 25 fragments of Deuteronomy and 30 fragments of the Psalms. The virtually intact Isaiah Scroll, which contains some of the most dramatic Messianic prophecy, is 1,000 years older than any previously known copy of Isaiah.

In addition to the biblical manuscripts, there are commentaries on the Hebrew canon, paraphrases that expand on the Torah, community standards and regulations, rules of war, non-canonical psalms, hymnals and sermons. Most of the texts are written in Hebrew and Aramaic, with a few in Greek.

The Dead Sea Scrolls appear to be the library of a Jewish sect, considered most likely the Essenes. Near the caves are the ancient ruins of Qumran, a village excavated in the early 1950’s that shows connections to both the Essenes and the scrolls. The Essenes were strictly observant Jewish scribes, who appear Messianic and apocalyptic in thinking. The library appears to have been hidden away in caves around the outbreak of the First Jewish Revolt (66-70 A.D.) as the Roman army advanced against the Jews.

Based on various dating methods, including carbon 14, paleographic and scribal, the Dead Sea Scrolls were written during the period from about 200 B.C. to 68 A.D. Many crucial biblical manuscripts (such as Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 61) date to at least 100 B.C. As such, the Dead Sea Scrolls have revolutionized textual criticism of the Old Testament. Phenomenally, we find the biblical texts in substantial agreement with the Masoretic text, as well as variant translations of the Old Testament used today.

Dead Sea Scrolls: Dramatic Evidence for the Reliability of Messianic Prophecy
The Dead Sea Scrolls comprise the oldest group of Old Testament manuscripts ever found, dating back to 100--200 B.C. This is dramatic, because we now have absolute evidence that Messianic prophecies contained in today’s Old Testament (both Jewish and Christian) are the same Messianic prophecies that existed prior to the time Jesus walked on this earth. It goes without saying, manuscript reliability and textual criticism have taken cosmic steps forward! Check it out – There is no question that Jesus Christ was the Messiah that the Jews were waiting for!

 

[Ms Chanandler Bong]

Unfortunately, like most of the non-canonical scripture (except the Apocrypha), we will never get to fully understand the contents as the release of details are censored by the Churches who control the Canon of Scripture.

Like the Gospel of Thomas, supposedly the most revealing Gospel of the man Jesus was, but will never be released, just eluded to and contained in films that make its existence seem like fiction. Sad but true.

 

[Chad]

I guess certain things happen for certain reasons. It could be possible that GOD doesn't want certain things released for whatever reason. But again I wouldn't know that.

 

[Ms Chanandler Bong]

Like making the same post appear three times!!! :wink:

 

[Chad]

Accident. Fixed it

 

[Ms Chanandler Bong]

Actually, it made me smile! The Dead Sea Scrolls are an intriguing one though. Strangely, the Church allowed them to be studied and discussed for a long time. Whereas, all other "scriptures" that have turned up since the C.O.s was created have been vaulted.

I don't think that there is any major conspiracy, but I do believe that Churches are afraid that they may have to relinquish soem of their control.

 

[Coolguy]

The Dead sea scrolls have been used to create the NIV and the New american standard versions. Unfortunately the modern church hasn't taken up either of these modern translations. They still stick to what i call "The "might be" inaccurate" translation known as the king james version. New archeolgical discoveries from Egypt that contain fragments of The book of revelations shows there might be some translation error with a modern version. Though as not to peeve any people in this community i'll not tell you what inaccuracy was found (If anyones curious pm me)

 

[OneHeart4Jesus]

Hello yall,
i have a copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls, put out in 1996, bye Michael Wise, Martin Abegg Jr. , and Edward Cook , through the Harper Collins Publishers company.

 

[sojourn4Christ]

Beware!

Regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls, let the discerning beware. The Dead Sea Scrolls were written in Hebrew. The books of Tobit, Leviticus, and Job were written in Aramaic. They have found a few manuscripts that were written in Greek. All of the books of the Old Testament, except Esther, Nehemiah, and some of the minor prophets, have been discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The group who created the Dead Sea Scrolls were Essenes. This was a community of esoterics who were in rebellion against both the Old Testament sacrifice system and the New Testament Messiah. So they are not a good source for correcting the historic rabbinic bible. However, all new versions, including the NIV and the NKJV, consult the Dead Sea Scrolls, and this is a grievous mistake.

Something kind of sinister is happening. The Rockefeller Foundation -- infamous for its involvement in one-world political organizations like the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission -- is funding the research on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Also, the U. S. Government's top-secret research lab at Los Alamos, New Mexico, is digitizing these Dead Sea Scrolls so that they can be more clearly read. Anyone might ask, "Why would these parties be interested in this material?" This is happening because the Dead Sea Scrolls prescribe all of the elements needed to coerce people to adapt to the one-world political and religious system advocated by these parties. The Dead Sea Scrolls advocate:

1. The confiscation of personal property to the group.
2. The coming of two Messiahs: one a religious prophet, the other a civil leader.

Students of bible prophecy know that this corresponds exactly to the beast and the false prophet of Revelation. The Dead Sea Scrolls say that the Essenes are "sons of the light," ruled by the "angel of light." Bible students know that the "angel of light" is Satan.

The Dead Sea Scrolls also call for an initiation and for receiving a "Name," capital N-a-m-e. Revelation 13 warns against taking the name of the beast. The Dead Sea Scrolls say instead that people who will not take the "Name" during a seven-year period should be killed. John 16:2 says, the time commeth, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." The older printings of the NIV, in Leviticus 24:11 said, "the name of the Lord" (small "n" and "of the Lord"). The most recent printing of the NIV has dropped "of the Lord," and capitalizes the "N" in "Name," just like the Gastner's Dead Sea Scrolls translation. We see this happening in Acts 5:41, where the KJV says, "his name," with a small "n"; the NIV says, "the Name," with a capital "N." The NIV now capitalizes "the Name" seventy-seven times. They are, as new printings come out, dropping "of the Lord" (e.g. Lev. 24:11 and 24:16). Acts 22:16 says, "calling on the name of the Lord,"; they are dropping "of the Lord," and putting "calling on his name."

They are also changing the way "name" is used in the bible. In the King James Version, John 17:11 says, "those whom thou hast given me," but new versions say, "the name which thou hast given me." Daniel 9:19, in the KJV, says, "thy people are called by thy name." It does not say "called" in some new versions now; it says, "they bear your Name," capital N-a-m-e.
We are warned against receiving "his name" (the name of the beast), but in Revelation 14:1 the NIV adds "his name" to "his Father's name," thereby scrambling the timing and recipients of the name given in Revelation 3:12, 7:3, and 22:4. In Galatians 6:17, the NASB says people receive "brand-marks of Jesus." The apostle Paul's marks ("I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus,") are beating marks he received from the people, just like the Lord Jesus Christ received. They did not "brand" Paul, they beat him. In the Living Bible, we see something very dangerous happening in Isaish 44:5. It says people should receive a tattoo. ("'I am the Lord's,' they'll proudly say, or 'I am a Jew,' and tattoo upon their hands the name of God or the honored name of Israel" -- LB.) The rendering of that verse in the KJV shows that this is something we should not do. It is not "the name of God or the honored name of Israel," but "another" name. This is a warning about the antichrist. The Living Bible tells the reader it is a good thing to do; the KJV tells its readers it is a bad thing to do.