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Is JUDAISM the Religion of Moses? 53

maintained their hereditary religious right mainly for political purposes in order for them to more
easily pursue their worldly-minded aspirations, not out of any desire to teach the people the truth of
God.

The Essenes had accepted many heathen customs and beliefs without reservation. Almost
all their doctrines were antagonistic to the Law of Moses.

The writers of the Apocalyptic books also show, in varying degrees, an impress of foreign
doctrines and philosophies. All of the books are different from one another and represent the con-
tradicting opinions of certain individuals or minor sects. The writers of the Apocalyptic books were
probably, in one way or another, connected with the Essenes.

Thus, all the religious sects of the Jews can be adequately shown to be schismatic deviations
from the pure and simple Law of Moses. They were all affected by the beliefs that were encoun-
tered by the Jews during the period of religious anarchy when Egyptian and Syrian Hellenism were
rampant throughout Palestine.

The combined numbers of the Jews who belonged to the religious sects of Judaism, how-
ever, numbered less than 5% of the total Jewish population of Palestine in the days of Christ. The
great majority, the Common People, were not overly interested in religion. From the time of the re-
ligious anarchy, there was never any real collective religious authority among the Jews like the
Sopherim. All the people went their own ways. The majority never got back to religion as during
the days of the Sopherim. Outside of a nominal adherence to some basic forms of religion, the
masses were not zealously concerned. And, there can be no doubt that the confusing and contradic-
tory examples of the various sects were discouraging to the populace. Truly, Christ came to a peo-
ple who had no shepherd to guide them into the truth of God (Matt. 9:36).

(To Be Continued Next Issue)

The time has come to expose the growing worldwide religion
of Islam.

Many are totally unaware of what Islam really stands for. Cer-
tain well known Muslim leaders are labeled as “extremist” be-
cause they want to export Islam by force, and order the
execution of those who disagree with them. In fact, these lead-
ers are just conservative Muslims who want nothing more than
to follow the teachings of their prophet Muhamed. Many are
not even aware of what some of these teachings are.

This simple, easy to understand book reveals Islamic teachings
using intensified, scientific research.

Behind the Veil: Unmasking Islam. $12.00 postage paid
from: Hope of Israel Ministries. (See address inside cover).

The Berean Voice March-April 2003