March equinox, 29 AD

      The gospel accounts of the ministry of Jesus begin in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, AD 29.

       At the March equinox of that year, Jesus underwent a renewal of his baptism at the hands of John the Baptist.  But as he came up the steps of the cistern, "he saw a schism in the 'heavens'" ["heavens" here meaning the Qumran monastery, where the "angels" do not marry].

     By this time, both kinds of Hellenist, those for war and those for peace, had been repelled by the priestly arrogance of the Baptist.  In the guise of reform, he had been attempting to restore the ritualism and exclusiveness of the old Essenes.  Only the true priests and levites, those born into the tribe of Levi, had rights before God; laymen were far below them.   Married men, Gentiles and women were outside the ranks of the elect."

     Diaspora Essenes were accustomed to letting laymen perform levitical functions, dressed in long white robes called stoles.   Peace Hellenists under the Annas priests were accustomed to promoting villagers, Gentiles, and women.  In a time when the issue of war was quiscent, these two groups were driven together against the Baptist to form an opposition, determined to get their candidate into power."

     The council they founded may be called the Twelve Apostles, a name used in the surface narrative of the gospels.   It came into existence as a counter-government of the potential empire, each of its members representing an order or province.

     In the list of names given, the order is reversed, the most important members being named last.  The six real leaders were Judas Iscariot, Simon the Zealot, Thaddaus, Jacob of Alphaeus, Thomas, and Matthew."Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls --- page 77, 78

A New Pope in 29 AD

     "The two candidates for Pope were Simon Magus, for war, and Jonathan Annas, for peace. [The war envisioned was the "Holy War" of the Dead Sea Scrolls, promoted in the newly discovered "War Scroll"  1QM ]   page 78.

     "Jonathan became Pope immediately followingr the fall of the Baptist, as both the pesher and the Clementine books show.  He took from the Baptist the name and discipline of "Elijah" (that is, the life of a hermit).   Thus when Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration, speaking with Jesus, it was Jonathan."

      Judas Iscariot is the next leader of importance in the list.  As the chief of the Scribes until the crucifixion, he was committed both to zealotry and eastern views.  The successor to Judas the Galilean, he was called "Satan" , and under this name debated with Jesus at the Temptations.   On this occasion (which took place near Mird, the Wilderness), they were together  working out the differences within the newly-formed anti-Baptist party.   Showing Jesus a map of the world as it was then known, he said: "If you worship me , it will all be yours."  The concealed meaning was: If you will accept me as Priest and Pope, I will make you King."

     Jesus replied: "you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve".  He is declaring his support for the head of the peace faction, Jonathan."  Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls --- page 78, 80, 81.