ESSENESThe Essenes were an apocalyptic sect of Judaism. They had a “revelation” that prompted them to eradicate evil and live righteous, holy lives for the God of Israel. Their zeal drove them to live as a community in the desert, separate from the “apostate” priestly religion of the Temple in Jerusalem. Some of their holy scriptures and other writings were found in caves at Qumran and are known today as the Dead Sea Scrolls.
