From what the scrolls and the New Testament tell us, the Essenes and Jesus strongly opposed Jewish authorities. It is also agreed upon by many scholars, that the Jewish Pharisees, and Sadducees treated the Essenes with intense cruelty. Now this is where heated debate exists surrounding the Scrolls. At around 104 B.C. the Essenes believed to be hiding from Roman invasion or persecution, went underground and became a secret cult. They forbade its members to discuss any of its beliefs with outsiders. Then at about 70 B.C. the "Teacher of Righteousness," also known as the Essene leader, made an appearance in a temple in Jerusalem. There he denounced the Jewish Pharisees, and as a result, he was executed, supposedly by crucifixion. After his death, his followers declared that he had risen from the grave on the third day, ascended to heaven, and would send a great messiah before the end of the generation to conduct the Last Judgment and inaugurate the Kingdom of the Saints on earth. (Mansoor 157). The strong accusation of this story runs parallel with the story in the New Testament about Jesus and his crucifixion. …
