There were numerous male heroes, deities, saviours and good-men within Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Hindu and other pantheons of Gods whose lifes had many point of similarities to Yahoshea Meshiyach.
For instance, the Egyptian God Horus had life events that were attributed to him which were closest match to those of Yahoshea Meshiyach. Horus worship has been in existence thousands of years before the ministration of Yahoshea in Yahuda.
Such related stories are found within other pagan worships as Krishna of Hindustan, Buddha Sakia of India, Odin of Scandinavians, Zoroaster and Mitra of Persia, Baal and Tant – “The only Begotten of God” of Phoenicia, Indira of Tibeth, Bali of Afghanistan, Jao of Nepaul, Wittoba of the Bilingones, Thammuz of Syria, Atys of Phrygia, Zaniolxis of Thrace, Zoar of the Bonzes, Adad of Assyria, Tor, son of Odin of the Guals, Gadmus of Greece, Quirinus of Rome, Prometheus of Caucasus and later Mohammed of Arabia.
Those religious movements had control of various cities before the coming of Yahoshea Meshiyach. Some of the acclaimed Apostolic Fathers were followers or adherents to some of these movements before their purported conversion to Yahosheanity.
Since many of the founders of these religious traditions claimed to be saviours or redeemers at different ages and spaces, some of their practices influenced the gentile Yahosheanity negatively.
Beside these negative movements, there were some movements that were similar to Yahosheanism based on their history, operations and beliefs.
ESSENES – ORIGIN:
This is one of the three major religious sects that existed in Hebrew nation by 2nd and 1st century B.C.E. Other recognized sects were the Pharisees and the Sadducees and they were active during the Second Temple Yahudaism.
The movement took its name from “Osey Hatorah” which means the “Observers of Torah”. This name was confirmed by the Dead Sea scrolls but has metamorphorsed into various forms and lately taken as the “Essenes”. It is assumed the “Hassidim” (“the pious ones”) replace the Essenes in Hebrew during its medieval age.
The Essenes were Hebrew citizens who scattered all over the land of Palestine and Syria but had their territorial stronghold at Qumran – a plateau in the Yahudean Desert along the Dead Sea. It is believed that the Dead Sea scrolls that were discovered in 1947 by two Bedouin shepherds of the Ta’amirah tribe may have been preserved by the Essenes.
The myth hold that the Essenes religious movement and community was founded by a Hebrew High-Priest whom the movement often identify as the “Teacher of Righteousness”. The “Teacher of Righteousness” has been tied to mean the “Hebrew Messiah” – Yahoshea Ha Meshiyach by some scholars.
The movement was mentioned in the works of apostolic fathers like Jospehus that refrenced of a “gate of the Essenes” in his description of the most ancient of the three walls of Yerusalem in the Mount Zion area. That suggests that the Essenes had a regular gathering at this part of the Temple site.
PRACTICES AND TRADITION:
The Essenes was one of the philosophical sects amongst the Hebrews but they emphasis to a stricter discipline, have more affection for each other than as available within the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Of other religious sects in Hebrew nation, Essenes was one of the sects that relate to Yahosheanism basically on doctrinal practices and creeds. They lived a strict communal lifestyle that can be compared to Monastic living.
Many of the Essenes were celibates or under a compulsory observation of celibacy for three years period by converts before marriage.
The “order of the Essenes” provide for collective ownership of properties, they forbid swearing of oaths, non-sacrifice of animals, high rate of vegetarianism, no carrying of weapons, non-possession of slaves, service to each other, no engagement on trading or monetary affairs.
The movement had lengthy communal meetings, engaging in collective meals and religious celebrations. One of the essential creeds of the movement was that after three years of probation of a convert, he or she will take a covenant that include commitment to piety to Yahweh and righteousness towards humanity. Others include strict observation of Sabbath rest and worship, daily ritual purification (daily emersion), purity and cleanliness, electing leaders to attend to the interest of the group and obedience to the order of the leaders.
An Essenes must maintain a pure lifestyle, to abstain from criminal and immoral activities, to preserve the books of the order and to transmit the rules uncorrupted to further generations.
Essenes acknowledge that Prophet Moses was sent by Yahweh but were against the books of the prophet because of corruption that they felt that associated the passage of the scriptures over the years. The movement differentiated itself from other Hebrew related sect who they often label as the “breakers of the covenant”.
The mystic philosophy of the Essenes was highly pronounced as it is held that the Kabbalistics tradition of Hebrew pantheon emerged from the movement. The Hebrew legend held that one of Essenes called “Manechem” passed most of the Essenes mystical knowledge to the Talmudic mystic Nehumja Ben Hakanah that laid the tradition of Kabbala.
INFLUENCE AND SPREAD:
Some of the practices of the Essenes were in agreement with Yahosheanism and modern scholars agree to such conclusion. Based on these conclusion, some modern Christian Gnostics claim to have been originated from the Essenes tradition. Such movements include the Order of the Essenes founded by Grace Mann Brown in the 19th century and the Rosicrucianism later took it under its curriculum.
In conclusion the Essenes movement may have existed before the birth and ministry of Yahoshea Meshiyach but both movements share many doctrinal views and enjoyed some location especially after the Yahudean – Roman war in 57 – 70Ad and the Second Yahudean-Roman War in 135Ad.
Both movements were persecuted by the mainstream Yahudeans and Roman authorities. Though they related on doctrinal matters but existed separately and Yahosheanism been the true path to Yahweh as it was founded by Yahoshea Meshiyach the true son of Yahweh.
Therefore, any sect that claim continuity to both movements must not be engrossed in pagan traditions as found in Christianity and Roscrucianism.
Those who have ears must listen well and abide in this truth.
EBIONITE – ORIGIN:
During the era of early Yahosheanism, there were adherents who observe the laws of Yahweh according to Prophet Moses of old but do not require to impose it on others. There were other Yahosheans who believe the same law of Yahweh and want it to be obligatory upon all Yahosheans. Yames the Just who was a biological relation to Yahoshea Meshiyach was one of the apostles that savour observation to strict Hebrew religious tradition upon all converts though accepted the outcome of the
