The Remnant of the Way
Qumran Community Argued for a Final Jubilee Period to Start in the Calendar Year 2025

Qumran Community Argued for a Final Jubilee Period to Start in the Calendar Year 2025

It is believed that the Essenes were the probable religious group behind the Qumran community, the ruins of which were discovered during 1947 in Israel by a curious shepherd boy (See Britannica).1, 2 The Qumran region is located on the northwester shore of the Dead Sea, and contained numerous ancient scrolls stored in jars in various caves (i.e., Dead Sea Scrolls). Archeological activity since 1949 has revealed the ruins of numerous buildings believed by many scholars to have been occupied by a community of Essenes. Over the years, the scrolls that have been recovered are gradually being translated. The oldest copy of the OT has been discovered among these ruins, with portions of all of the books with the exception of Esther and Nehemiah.3 There were also many original writings specific to this community, which seemed to have broken with the traditions of the priests in Israel (also see Popovic, M., 2017).4

According to most scholars, the Essenes separated from the Jewish community in the 2nd century BC after the Maccabean revolt in Israel. The Maccabees revolted against their Greek oppressors, but also replaced the priesthood of Israel, which had been handed down by family bloodlines.5 The Essenes resisted this change due to the violation of religious law and were seemingly forced to flee to Qumran on these political and spiritual grounds. The Qumran community was said to be led by one referred to as the “Teacher of Righteousness.” There were other Essene communities throughout Judea and they took up a monastic lifestyle. Available scrolls suggest they had an end of the age/apocalyptic focus, and some recent documents have suggested that they were looking for a Messiah who would come and suffer on behalf of Israel as spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Daniel 9:1-27). They realized that the temple would be destroyed and predicted a future restoration as described by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-48). The Qumran community practiced baptism for the repentance of sin, a practice that resonates with the emergence of John the Baptist just before the arrival of Jesus in the early first century AD (previously, baptism had primarily been associated with ritual cleansing).6

The Qumran community was crushed by the Roman legions in approximately 68 AD. The Romans kept troops in Qumran for approximately 5 years.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were primarily written in Hebrew, with some aspects in Greek and Aramaic. Many were found as fragments and scholars have been tasked with translating and piecing together existing parts. This has allowed comparison with existing Masoretic and Greek texts (Septuagint). There were aspects of most biblical books but also manuscripts that had either not been previously known or only through some form of later work (translation).  The most recent translation effort was completed by scholars from the University of Haifa who translated one of the last two remaining Dead Sea Scrolls.7 This scroll demonstrated that the Qumran community used a 364-day Solar calendar. This contrasts with the lunar calendar that was instituted by the Hasmonean dynasty in Israel and the Jewish priesthood.

The book of Melchizedek from the Dead Sea Scrolls appears to suggest that the Messiah will be God incarnate, depict Him as performing the messianic tasks as described by Isaiah and Daniel, and suffering for His people. These ideas were not supposed to have been present in Jewish tradition before the appearance of Christ. The existence of this incomplete document suggests otherwise.

2[…] And concerning what Scripture says, “In [this] year of jubilee [you shall return, every one of you, to your property” (Leviticus 25:13) and what is also written, “And this] 3 is the [ma]nner of [the remission:] every creditor shall remit the claim that is held [against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because Elohim’s] remission [has been proclaimed” (Deuteronomy 15:2):] 4 [the interpretation] is that it applies [to the L]ast Days and concerns the captives, just as [Isaiah said: “To proclaim the jubilee to the captives” (Isa. 61:1).…] and 5 whose teachers have been hidden and kept secr[et], even from the inheritance of Melchizedek, f[or …] and they are the inherit[ance of Melchize]dek, who 6 will return them to what is rightfully theirs. He will proclaim to them the jubilee, thereby releasing th[em from the debt of a]ll their sins. This word [will thus co]me 7 in the first week of the jubilee period that follows ni[ne j]ubilee periods. Then the “D[ay of Atone]ment” shall follow at the e[nd of] the tenth [ju]bilee period, 8 when he shall atone for all the Sons of [Light] and the peopl[e who are pre]destined to Mel[chi]zedek. […] upo[n the]m […] For 9 this is the time decreed for “the year of Melchiz[edek]’s favor” (Isaiah 61:2, modified) and for [his] hos[ts, together] with the holy ones of Elohim, for a kingdom of judgment, just as it is written 10 concerning him in the Songs of David, “Elohim has taken his place in the coun[cil of elohim;] in the midst of the elohim he holds judgment” (Psalm 82:1). Scripture also s[ays] about him, “Over [it] 11 take your seat in the highest heaven; Elohim will judge the peoples” (Psalm 7:7–8). Concerning what scripture s[ays, “How long will y]ou judge unjustly, and sh[ow] partiality to the wick[e]d? [S]el[ah” (Psalm 82:2),] 12 the interpretation applies to Belial and the spirits predestined to him, becau[se all of them have rebe]lled, turn[ing] from Elohim’s precepts [and so becoming utterly wicked.] 13 Therefore Melchizedek will thoroughly prosecute the vengeance required by Elohi[m’s] statutes. [In that day he will de]liv[er them from the power] of Belial, and from the power of all the sp[irits predestined to him.] 14 Allied with him will be all the [“righteous] divine beings” (Isaiah 61:3). [Th]is is that wh[ich … al]l the divine beings. This vi[sitation] 15 is the Day of [Salvation] that He has decreed [… through Isai]ah the prophet [concerning all the captives,] inasmuch as Scripture sa[ys, “How] beautiful 16 upon the mountains are the fee[t of] the messeng[er] who [an]nounces peace, who brings [good] news, [who announces salvat]ion, who [sa]ys to Zion, ‘Your [E]lohim [reigns’ ” (Isaiah 52:7).] 17 This scripture’s interpretation: “the mountains” [are] the prophet[s,] they w[ho were sent to proclaim God’s truth and to] proph[esy] to all I[srael.] 18 And “the messenger” is the Anointed of the Spir[it,] of whom Dan[iel] spoke, [“After the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed One shall be cut off” (Daniel 9:26). The “messenger who brings] 19 good news, who announ[ces salvation”] is the one of whom it is wri[tt]en, [“to proclaim the year of the YHWH’s favor, the day of vengeance of our Elohim;] 20 to comfo[rt all who mourn” (Isaiah 61:2). This scripture’s interpretation:] he is to inst[r]uct them about all the periods of history for eter[nity … and in the statutes of] 21 [the] truth. […] 22[… dominion] that passes from Belial and ret[urns to the Sons of Light …] 23[…] by the judgment of Elohim, just as it is written concerning him, [“who says to Zi]on ‘Your Elohim reigns’ ” (Isaiah 52:7). [“Zi]on” is 24 [the congregation of all the sons of righteousness, who] uphold the covenant and turn from walking [in the way] of the people. “Your E[lo]him” is 25 [Melchizedek, who will del]iv[er them from the po]wer of Belial. Concerning what Scripture says, “Then you shall have the trumpet [sounded loud in] all the land [of …” (Leviticus 25:9, modified).]

11Q13 Melchizedek Scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls

According to some authors, the Qumran community discussed different ages, including the Age of Creation, the Age of Torah (starts with the call of Abraham), and the Age of Grace (which would correspond to the church age, and perhaps started around the death of Christ). They described 3.5 ages, which involved 7000 years of human history. This culminated in a battle between the “Sons of Light” and “Sons of Darkness,” the Day of the Lord, and the establishments of a seeming Messianic kingdom. Some authors are suggesting that the Qumran scrolls were hinting at a 2025 start for a final jubilee period (50 years) to end in a Messianic period8 (see writings of Irenaeus from the Remnant of the Way, as this could correspond to his interpretation of the prophecies of Hosea and the song of Moses).

Michael O. Wise, Martin G. Abegg Jr., and Edward M. Cook, The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation (New York: HarperOne, 2005), 593. (Modified)

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Qumrān”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/place/Qumran. Accessed 30 December 2023.

Roitman, A., Krupp, L., & Krupp, G. The Dead Sea Scrolls. Shrine of the book. https://www.imj.org.il/en/wings/shrine-book/dead-sea-scrolls. Accessed 30 December 2023.

References

  1. encyclopaedia Teo. Qumran2023.
  2. Evans SEPCA, ed. The scrolls and the scriptures: Qumran fifty years after. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, Ltd., 1997.
  3. Drummond J. What is the oldest Hebrew Bible? [online]. Available at: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/what-is-the-oldest-hebrew-bible/. Accessed July 1, 2024.
  4. Popovic M. Reading, writing, and memorizing together: Reading culture in ancient judaism and the dead sea scrolls in a mediterranean context. Dead Sea Discoveries : A Journal of Current Research on the Scrolls and Related Literature 2017;24:447-470.
  5. Grabbe LL. A History of the Jews and Judaism in the Second Temple Period: The Maccabean Revolt, Hasmonaean Rule, and Herod the Great (174–4 BCE). Library of Second Temple Studies 2010;95.
  6. Badia LF. The Qumran Baptism and John the Baptist’s Baptism University Press of America, 1980.
  7. Ratzon E, Ben-Dov J. A newly reconstructed calendrical scroll from Qumran in cryptic script. Journal of biblical literature 2017;136:905-936.
  8. Peck J. The Lost Prophecies of Qumran : 2025 and the Final Age of Man. Bransen, MO: Defender Publishing, 2020.