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was also employed in consecrating priests, prophets and kings, and the places and instruments appointed for worship. special secret teachings, special titles and knowledge given under was also employed in consecrating priests, prophets and strict vows of secrecy. Josephus recorded that the Essenes kings, and the places and instruments appointed for worship. "considered it a grave sin to reveal their secret knowledge to outsiders, with death preferable by comparison". Obelisks, images and statues had long been consecrated by the To further establish that much of what the New Testament con- devotees of the earlier oriental systems. The Old Testament tains is directly related to the doctrines of the Essenes, Paul, for records the anointing of ten stones set up by Joshua, and also the example, mentioned his Essene community in Hebrews (8:7), stone upon which Jacob slept at the time of his vision. Aaron, where he said, "For if that first Covenant had been faultless, there Saul, David and Solomon were anointed with oil in the same way would be no occasion for a second". This narrative indicates that _as the sick were anointed on the Sabbath.'* It would seem that in new religious documents had been written. Paul also quoted from ancient Palestinian tradition, kings, political and military chiefs, the Old Testament Book of Jeremiah (31:31-34), relating to the village heads and, in fact, any claimants to high office were "prophecy" of the creation of a "New Covenant". From this and _ anointed and hence called "anointed ones", leaders or messiahs in other New Testament verses, it can be ascertained that the now- the true sense of the word. Interestingly enough, some leaders called Christian authors were firm supporters of the Essene New and village heads, after anointing, were then called "lord" (as in Covenant idea, and this can be confirmed in many other places "landlord" or "lord mayor"). throughout the writings attributed to Paul.'” The Church agreed, Origen (185-251), one of the shining lights of the early Church, for the introductory page of the Revised Standard Version of the said on the matter, "There are some who said of John [the Baptist] King James Bible (1971) describes the Christian writings of today that he was anointed".'"* St Epiphanius also said John the Baptist as "The New Covenant, commonly was "one of the anointed", confirming called the New Testament". there was more than just one "anointed" The publication and subsequent man in the Gospel story. Roman interpretation of most of the Dead Sea Emperor Julian (361-363), in his book Scrolls has established direct and The Arguments of the Emperor Julian, close relationships between the sect of | The word "Krist" seems to have supported the opinion and introduced the Scrolls, the Epistles and the entire an extraordinary word by stating: substance of the Gospels. had its origin in ancient Egypt At any rate, neither Paul nor A close study of those documents and was the name of a highly Matthew nor Mark dared to say has resulted in a growing consensus that Jesus is God, but only the that Judas and Jesus’ cousin, John the regarded early god. Krist John, they adventured to Baptist, was also directly associated assert this. with the sect of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Gospels say that John was of priestly stock and lived in the Judean wilderness facing the Dead Sea "until and Julian the Emperor all clearly the day of his manifestation" (Luke recorded that John the Baptist, the 1:80). From this Gospel information, John the Baptist is now cousin of Judas and Jesus, was a "Krist" figure, but made no refer- generally recognised, like Paul, as an Essene. Dr Franz Hartmann __ ence to Jesus himself attaining that status. Bishop Theodoret, added further information, saying in his book The Life of writing in the fifth century, provided further confirmation that Jehoshua'" that John the Baptist "was of a noble family and had _ Jesus was not one of the "Krist" personalities, although many oth- The "Krist" Figures The Krist John... Origen, Epiphanius many influential friends". The discovery in 1929 by Hugh J. ers of his time were.'” Schonfield of the lost Book of the Nativity of John (the Baptist) But what was a "Krist" figure? The word "Krist" seems to have revealed that originally: had its origin in ancient Egypt and was the name of a highly John the Baptist [as a baby] was considered by the early regarded early god. This ancient name was found extensively Church as the infant messiah. Its loss [of this document] at a inscribed into the Palermo Stone, the largest and best preserved of very early date is not to be wondered at, as the Church had six basalt stones uncovered in Egypt. The ancient hieroglyphic the best possible reasons for suppressing it. The fact that inscriptions helped archaeologists to date the early pharaohs up to John the Baptist was regarded as the messiah by a numerous the Fifth Dynasty. These original Egyptian records were carved following may be a new one to many people.'" into tablets of stone and deposited in the tomb of a pharaoh more than one thousand years before the New Testament was written. Schonfield then set out a chapter outlining the features of the In these old records, now in the Palermo Museum, Horus, the Baptist's messianic mission and traced the fortunes of the sect | Egyptian god of Light, was called "Krist" or "Krst". His mother which accepted him as their leader. The Dead Sea Scrolls record —__ was the goddess Isis, who conceived him as a virgin. that the "Community of the New Covenant" possessed a hierar- "Krist", according to St Epiphanius,''® was the spiritual Self in chy, an inner circle of initiated members, and their leader was each and every living person. This explains why Epiphanius was known as "the anointed one". The practice of greasing or smear- baffled when he said he could find no writings to confirm his own ing with oil is supposed by many to be an exclusive Christian cer- later orthodox views concerning "Jesus Christ" as an actual living emony, but was actually in vogue in pre-Christian oriental person. He was naturally puzzled at the unhistorical nature of his nations. A statement in the New American Cyclopedia'” confirms Christian god. Bishop Epiphanius added to the concept of the that: Krist figures. He frankly recorded that Alexander of 100 BC was ..anointing with perfumed oil was in common use among the "one of the anointed"''"—a statement which clearly establishes a Greeks and the Romans as a mark of hospitality to guests. long history of Krist figures preceding the canonical date of Judas Anointing was an ancient custom throughout the East, by and Jesus. In fact, the "anointed" or Krist figures actually preced- pouring aromatic oils on persons as a token of honor ... it ed the writing of the Old Testament in the story of Krishna. The had its origin in ancient Egypt and was the name of a highly regarded early god. Schonfield then set out a chapter outlining the features of the Baptist's messianic mission and traced the fortunes of the sect which accepted him as their leader. The Dead Sea Scrolls record that the "Community of the New Covenant" possessed a hierar- chy, an inner circle of initiated members, and their leader was known as "the anointed one". The practice of greasing or smear- ing with oil is supposed by many to be an exclusive Christian cer- emony, but was actually in vogue in pre-Christian oriental nations. A statement in the New American Cyclopedia'” confirms that: ..anointing with perfumed oil was in common use among the Greeks and the Romans as a mark of hospitality to guests. Anointing was an ancient custom throughout the East, by pouring aromatic oils on persons as a token of honor ... it 42 ¢ NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2002 WWW.NeXU smagazi ne.com