The Essenes and the Advent of Jesus

The Essenes and the Advent of Jesus is an eight-lesson biblical study guide for the Advent and Christmas season that brings to life the events leading to the birth of Jesus the Christ. This guide integrates Bible verses about the birth of Jesus with invaluable background information from the readings of Christian psychic Edgar Cayce. The readings bring to light considerable background material covering the years before the birth of Jesus, fill in some of the historical gaps in the biblical material, and correct some misperceptions prevalent in the traditional interpretation of these biblical verses. The story begins with the formation of a School of Prophets some four hundred years before Jesus's birth. This school eventually became the center of a religious Jewish sect called the Essenes (the group that compiled the Dead Sea scrolls), who dedicated their lives to preparing for the birth of the Messiah. The Essenes prepared for the Messiah by providing for the education and protection of Mary, a far more likely scenario than the traditional idea that Mary was a village girl assigned the role of motherhood with no prior knowledge on her part and with complete disregard for her free will. The Essenes also educated Jesus during his childhood and saw that he was given higher education in spiritual matters as a young adult. Each of the eight lessons provides information on a specific topic or individual associated with the birth of Jesus and ends with a series of questions to encourage discussion.