The Essenes (/ˈɛsiːnz, ɛˈsiːnz/; Hebrew: אִסִּיִים, Isiyim; Greek: Ἐσσηνοί, Ἐσσαῖοι, or Ὀσσαῖοι, Essenoi, Essaioi, Ossaioi) or Essenians were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE
Most scholars think the Essenes seceded from the Zadokite priests.
They saw themselves as the genuine remnant of Israel, upholding the true covenant with God, and attributed their interpretation of the Torah to their early leader, the Teacher of Righteousness, possibly a legitimate high priest. Embracing a conservative approach to Jewish law, they observed a strict hierarchy favoring priests (the Sons of Zadok) over laypeople, emphasized ritual purity, and held a dualistic worldview.
They flourished during the Second Temple period, roughly from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. They are primarily known through historical accounts by writers like Josephus, Philo, and Pliny the Elder, but much of what we understand about their beliefs comes from the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956. These scrolls, which include biblical texts, commentaries, and sectarian writings, are widely attributed to the Essene community at Qumran, who lived in isolation as a way to maintain ritual purity and prepare for the end times. The Essenes viewed themselves as the "Sons of Light" or the righteous remnant of Israel, separating from what they saw as a corrupt Temple priesthood and broader society in Jerusalem.
The historical/apocryphal link between the Essenes (an ascetic, proto-Gnostic Jewish sect near the Dead Sea), the early life of Jesus, and the possible origins of some Templar secret knowledge is a critical piece. They were Temple reformers, focused on purity and esoteric scripture. This group forms a bridge between the prophetic tradition and the Christic/Gnostic current.
Josephus gave a detailed account of the Essenes in The Jewish War (c. 75 CE), with a shorter description in Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94 CE) and The Life of Flavius Josephus (c. 97 CE). Claiming firsthand knowledge, he lists the Essenoi as one of the three sects of Jewish philosophy[7] alongside the Pharisees and Sadducees. He relates the same information concerning piety, celibacy; the absence of personal property and of money; the belief in communality; and commitment to a strict observance of Sabbath. He further adds that the Essenes ritually immersed in water every morning (a practice similar to the use of the mikveh for daily immersion found among some contemporary Hasidim), ate together after prayer, devoted themselves to charity and benevolence, forbade the expression of anger, studied the books of the elders, preserved secrets, and were very mindful of the names of the angels kept in their sacred writings.
The Essenes have gained fame in modern times as a result of the discovery of an extensive group of religious documents known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are commonly believed to be the Essenes' library. The scrolls were found at Qumran, an archaeological site situated along the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, believed to have been the dwelling place of an Essene community. These documents preserve multiple copies of parts of the Hebrew Bible along with deuterocanonical and sectarian manuscripts, including writings such as the Community Rule, the Damascus Document, and the War Scroll, which provide valuable insights into the communal life, ideology and theology of the Essenes. According to the conventional view, the Essenes disappeared after the First Jewish–Roman War, which also witnessed the destruction of the settlement at Qumran.[3] Scholars have noted the absence of direct sources supporting this claim, raising the possibility of their endurance or the survival of related groups in the following centuries.
According to Josephus, the Essenes had settled "not in one city" but "in large numbers in every town".[32] Philo speaks of "more than four thousand" Essaioi living in "Palestine and Syria",[33] more precisely, "in many cities of Judaea and in many villages and grouped in great societies of many members".[34] Pliny locates them "on the west side of the Dead Sea, away from the coast... [above] the town of Engeda"
Their strict initiation system, solar calendar, angelology, and apocalyptic worldview show debts to:
- Zoroastrianism (dualism of light/dark, angelic hosts, eschatological war).
- Greek philosophy (their Pythagorean communalism, numerology, and sacred geometry echoes).
- Hebrew prophecy (deep engagement with Isaiah, Daniel, Habakkuk).
Jesus training as an Essene meant that his teaching was already embedded in this syncretic “mystery Judaism.” His message would be the flowering of a current that integrated Moses’ synthesis, Zoroastrian cosmology, and Greek mystical mathematics.
Essene Communities & Locations
First Essene communities were established
- Lake Mareotis near Alexandria - “Mother House”
- Qumran by the Dead Sea - “Father House”
- Damascus These three communities were the main stem of the plant
Smaller communities (3 north and south of Qumran)
- Ein Gedi
- Arad
- Hebron
- Rama
- Jenin
- Mount Carmel - Yeshua’s community
Who Were the Essenes?
The jewish, Egyptian, pythagorean occult society and mystery school that was being taught and guided by beings on higher planes in order to keep the light burning through the dark ages and in order to foster the birth of the Christ light and it’s implantation into Humanity and Earth.
They(the Kaloo) made sure the Essenes were never confined to one religion. The Essene Way was created from four sources: Egyptian, Zoroastrian and Pythagorean ideas and the Jewish law.
Says that the Gnostic stream was the evolution of the Essenes after Yeshua’s crucifixion They considered the heart of what Jesus was teaching as “The Way”
- From The Magdalene Version book
In his books, “Hidden Mysteries” and “The Complete Ascension Manual,” Joshua David Stone described some mind bending information about the source of various teachings that are now called religions. According to Stone:
- The Essene movement started about 2000 B.C. with the spiritual master called Melchizedek, who also gave his teachings to Abraham, the father of the Jewish religion.
- The Essenes evolved within an esoteric aspect of Judaism. They believed in reincarnation, astrology, channeling, prophecy, soul travel, psychic development, etc. They facilitated the beginning of the Christian religion and taught Jesus as a youth, who later traveled worldwide to learn the ways of many other teachers and masters.
Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes
Judaism splits into factions: Pharisees (legalistic), Sadducees (aristocratic), Essenes (mystical, ascetic), with Essenes preserving esoteric traditions.
Essenes and Preparing for the Teacher of Righteousness
Essenes anticipate a messianic figure, the Teacher of Truth, linked to Dead Sea Scrolls (Community Rule, 1QS).
Rise of Sects:
• Pharisees – Legalistic defenders of tradition.
• Sadducees – Priesthood power structure.
• Essenes – Hidden mystics preserving the inner gnosis.
Research into Essenes
(From the books done through hypnosis, Prentis, …. )
Essene way was primarily a synthesis of
- Jewish tradition
- Egyptian
- Zoastrian
- Pythagorean
They studied the Isis cult and the Egyptian ascension rite of the sun. Excerpt: “Father Sun, whose golden disc is the symbol of the Inner Light, touch our hearts with your Sacred Fire at the dawning of this new day. As you ascend in the Heavens inspire us to follow you, so we may rise in Ascension and dwell always in the Realm of Light.”
Archangels are called “Beni Elohim” - the sons of the Elohim
Elohim Archangels Angels
The “core group”
- Joseph, Mary his sister, Joseph her husband, their son James, Mary magdalene, John. After the death of Joseph, Thomas replaced him. The seventh person “The Silent One”
First Essene communities were established
- Lake Mareotis near Alexandria - “Mother House”
- Qumran by the Dead Sea - “Father House”
- Damascus These three communities were the main stem of the plant
Smaller communities (3 north and south of Qumran)
- Ein Gedi
- Arad
- Hebron
- Rama
- Jenin
- Mount Carmel - Yeshua’s community
Brotherhood of Light
“And some three hundred years before the final descent of Atlantis, there was an emigration that took place. Those who were known as the mystics, those who were in tune with the Heavenly Father and the Light that you are, made trek to a land that is now known as Egypt, taking with you the knowledge and some of the writings for the generations to come. And out of this history, as you would see it, came a group known as the Brotherhood. It has always been known as the Brotherhood, the Brotherhood of Light – both those that you would see in the unseen realm – now, there is a play on words for you – and those who had chosen to express with the design of the body upon this realm, the Brotherhood. And out of that came the group that was known as Essenes. This was the group that I was born into: my mother, Mary, being an Essene and my Father, Joseph, being a monk at Mount Carmel, the Essene community and monastery.”
- The Christmas Story: Remembrance, Jeshua ben Joseph
Based on Texts found, Scholars believe this about the Essenes…
Dualism: They saw the world as divided between forces of good (God, angels, light, righteousness) and evil (Satan or demonic powers, darkness, sin). Humans had to choose sides, with the Essenes positioning themselves as the "Sons of Light" in an ongoing cosmic struggle against the "Sons of Darkness," which included not just gentiles but also other Jews they deemed impure or unfaithful.
The present age was one of inevitable suffering and decline, dominated by evil forces. Conditions would worsen until a climactic end, with no human effort able to reverse this—only divine action could bring change. This reflected their withdrawal from society, viewing the world as irredeemably corrupt.
Vindication: God would ultimately intervene in a cataclysmic event, destroying evil and redeeming the faithful. This included a final judgment, bodily resurrection of the dead, eternal reward for the righteous, and punishment for the wicked. The outcome would be a renewed creation, free from pain, war, and death, restoring Israel to a golden age like that of David and Solomon.
Imminence: The end was not distant but approaching soon, within their generation. They interpreted scriptures (e.g., prophets like Isaiah and Habakkuk) as prophecies of their own time, urging repentance and preparation. This sense of urgency drove their communal lifestyle.
These ideas are vividly captured in scrolls like the War Scroll (1QM), which details a seven-year apocalyptic war where the Sons of Light, aided by angels, battle the Sons of Darkness in a series of campaigns leading to ultimate victory. Other texts, such as the Habakkuk Commentary (1QpHab), apply prophetic warnings to contemporary events, seeing their community as living in the "last days."
Unlike some Jewish groups that did not emphasize a messiah, the Essenes anticipated multiple messianic figures to lead the apocalyptic events. This "messianic dualism" is a distinctive feature:
- Messiah of David (Kingly Messiah): A warrior-king descendant of David who would lead the faithful in battle against evil forces, restoring political and military glory to Israel.
- Messiah of Aaron (Priestly Messiah): A high priestly figure who would purify the Temple, restore proper worship, and ensure ritual holiness in the new age. This reflected the Essenes' criticism of the existing Temple as defiled.
- Prophet Figure: Often a third anticipated role, possibly modeled after Elijah or Moses, who would announce or interpret the end times. Some scrolls, like 4Q246 (the "Son of God" text), describe a divine-like figure called "Son of God" or "Son of the Most High" who judges the earth and brings peace, with nations submitting to him.
Additionally, the Messianic Apocalypse (4Q521) portrays a messiah performing miracles—such as healing the sick, raising the dead, and preaching to the poor—drawing from Isaiah's prophecies (e.g., Isaiah 35 and 61). This text emphasizes the messiah as an agent of God's redemptive power.
The "Teacher of Righteousness," a historical leader mentioned in scrolls like the Damascus Document (CD), is sometimes seen as a messianic prototype. Persecuted by enemies (possibly the "Wicked Priest"), he founded or led the community, teaching a "New Covenant" and salvation through righteousness.
To ready themselves for the apocalypse, the Essenes lived ascetically in Qumran, functioning as a surrogate temple. The Community Rule (1QS) outlined strict initiation, communal property, daily immersions for purity, and obedience to leaders. They practiced celibacy (in some branches), avoided oaths and animal sacrifices (deeming the Temple impure), and held messianic meals with bread and wine symbolizing the coming banquet in the new kingdom. Their calendar, based on solar cycles, was believed to predict the messiah's arrival, further heightening eschatological anticipation.
Their community was likely destroyed during the Roman-Jewish War in 70 CE.