2 ESDRAS: The Hidden Book of Prophecy With 1st Esdras - Book - Page 22
I N T R O D U C T I O N
there was a Dead Sea perhaps which was likely created by the destruction of
Sodom. This has been known all along even on many maps until the 20th century
[previous page].
Matthew 3:13 KJV: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be
baptized of him.
Where did Jesus(Yahusha) come from? Galilee. He travels South to Jordan. Where
in Jordan? This verse is not specific.
John 1:28 KJV: These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John
was baptizing.
Now, we have details rather than a general area. Jesus(Yahusha) came from Galilee
heading South. He enters the Jordan Valley region and he travels “beyond” the
Jordan Valley to a place called Bethabara. Where is this? The Jordan ends to
the South at the Dead Sea and on the Northwest corner of the Dead Sea is
Bethabara where John operated and baptized Messiah. It does not say he crossed
the Jordan changing directions to go to the East. It says he travels South beyond
Jordan to Bethabara. This is very clear and maps agree. This is Qumran.
The word beyond in Greek here is peran (πραν) meaning “other side, beyond,
over, farther side.” This is where many scholars go wrong by forgetting the
orientation of the region from Galilee South which does not enter the East side of
the Jordan which is still the Jordan Valley. It progresses beyond the Jordan Valley
to the Wilderness of Yahudea where John is said to be based. There is a reason.
John was an Aaronic bloodline Levite Priest qualified to be of High Priestly
caste. He was not some hermit living under a tree eating locusts and honey. He
was a righteous Aaronic Levite Priest operating in the place where his people
had been exiled in the Wilderness of Yahudea in Bethabara which today is called
Qumran. This forerunner to Messiah, the Elijah come again, wore camel’s hair
clothing (Mt. 3:4, Mk. 1:6) akin to sackcloth as in mourning. John ate locusts and
honey which are both in the Biblical, covenant diet. He was essentially living the
oath of a Rechabite but he was not poor and he did not live under a tree. He also
is in no way the same as Banaah from the Talmud though attempts are made as
Banaah lived 2-3 centuries later. John the Baptist was no Essene nor Pharisee nor
was anyone in the Qumran community. John baptized mostly in fresh springs in
clean water not the muddy waters of the Jordan River that few would desire to
participate. Bethabara (Qumran) had fresh water. There is no disputing Qumran is
Bethabara where Messiah was baptized and John and the Levites operated. This
is the new location of the Temple practice where scripture was kept thus Bible.
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