Fun Facts about the Dead Sea and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Not all history is as dry as desert dust. Some is sprinkled with murder, mystery and intrigue. Now, I’m not saying the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls reads like a James Bond novel, but if written correctly, it’s not far off the mark. And if you’re looking for a romp through history with a scriptural bent, you’ve simply got to tune in to the story of the Scrolls.
Sooo . . . can they be interesting?

Absolutely. But don’t trust me; read the following fun fact and decide for yourself:

FUN FACT TWO

The desert around the Dead Sea receives an average of two inches of rain per year, and mean summer temperatures approximate 1000F. It is barren, dry, and sun-bleached. The only thing that grows on the shores is scant, stunted brush and hotels. Oh, and sinkholes. Well, sinkholes might not exactly grow as much as they (now, stay with me here) sink, but they are a new hazard in the area. Three thousand of them pockmark the area, and an equal number (or more) of subterranean cavities are believed to exist, even now, as we wait for them to collapse. What happens is this: As the sea level sinks, fresh water flowing down into the sea attacks underground salt deposits previously maintained by the brine of the Dead Sea. When the fresh water dissolves these salt deposits away, the resultant cavity collapses, frequently at the blink of an eye, sucking down everything above it. As a result, certain areas around the Dead Sea are becoming geological mine-fields.

Fun Facts about the Dead Sea and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Not all history is as dry as desert dust. Some is sprinkled with murder, mystery and intrigue. Now, I’m not saying the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls reads like a James Bond novel, but if written correctly, it’s not far off the mark. And if you’re looking for a romp through history with a scriptural bent, you’ve simply got to tune in to the story of the Scrolls.
Sooo . . . can they be interesting?

Absolutely. But don’t trust me; read the following fun fact and decide for yourself:

FUN FACT ONE

The Dead Sea is dying—now go and figure that one out. To begin with, at roughly 1400 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on the surface of Planet Earth. And it’s getting lower. Surface evaporation and reduced inflow from the Jordan River have caused the level to drop and the shoreline to recede. Over the past fifty years, the sea has lost one-third of its volume. The only thing that seems to be increasing is its salinity, which at 35% is eight times that of the world’s oceans. Few microbes can survive the concentrated mineral salts, and anything larger hasn’t a chance.

Questions About The Dead Sea Scrolls Answered

Do you know of any scholars that are generally suspicious of the time the Dead sea scrolls were kept away from the public?

The Dead Sea Scrolls were only fully released half a century after their discovery. Even now, we cannot be certain the scrolls have been released in entirety, and since the public version is digitized, we have no way of knowing if the content has been altered. Furthermore, for all we know, there are other scrolls out there, either undiscovered or destroyed in cave collapse or by natural decay. The point is not to speculate on what undiscovered or undisclosed scrolls might contain, but deal with what they most definitely do contain. Our examination of the Dead Sea Scrolls, in this way, parallels the way we must examine books of scripture. We cannot speculate on what we wish was there. Rather, we can only deal with what is there. As you will read in my book, The Eighth Scroll, there is sufficient material in the existing scrolls to allow us to draw some pretty firm theological conclusions, which significantly weaken the Jewish and Christian theological positions. If you wish to carry this analysis further, please read my scholastic works of comparative religion, MisGod'ed and God'ed. Therein, you will find that evidence taken from the Old and New Testaments themselves similarly draws Jewish and Christian tenets of faith into serious question.

Dr. L. Brown

Reader's Review: Third book I've read by this author

Asrai's Pond

Hooked and intrigued from the moment the elder spoke to Jacob .. But, I don't like spoilers nor the subjective views of others (with agendas) it's easy to see why this is a best seller and I can think of only one way to separate fact from those attempting to poison the well!

Reader's Review: An absolutely superb novel, couldn't put it down.

muddy waters

Dr Brown's novel, the "eighth scroll", is a powerful religious thriller that is loaded with adventure and charm. This was my introduction to Dr Brown's works, now I'm hooked. I highly recommend this book, and cant wait to read his others.

Reader's Review: Better Than Da Vinci Code

Charlie Courtland "Bitsy Bling Books" (Seattle, WA)

The Eighth Scroll is an intelligent story that flows smoothly and reads quick without losing the value of its concept with weighty terms or overly academic hodgepodge. It mixes romance with adventure and explores the mysteries of religious history. It's not deeply reflective, but takes the reader on an alternative view and journey that leaves you wondering. It's a wonderful twist on the subject of the Dead Sea scrolls. Although this book has been grouped with the 'Da Vinci Code,' I believe it deserves much better company. First of all, the Eighth Scroll is superbly written and runs a course that is more easy to swallow than Dan Brown's 24-hour whirl wind of solving a historical mystery. If you didn't like the Da Vinci Code, you will love this book because it improves all the elements that the reader probably wished the other book contained. Now, if you liked the Da Vinci Code, you will love this book and realize this is how it should be done! It's a win, win, so pick it up and read it!

The beginning of the book is a touch too reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but since I'm a fan of those films, I went with it, and even enjoyed the comparison. However, I wish the author would have used a different name for the professor. "Tomes" was just too close to "Jones" and it felt kind of commercial and cheapened the richness of the plot. However, this was short-lived and after a few pages I was swept away and thoroughly involved in the story.

Five More Reasons to Get Excited about the Dead Sea Scrolls

5. And finally, what is the main reason we should get excited about the Dead Sea Scrolls? The same reason the world’s great religious and political powers are excited about them! Nowhere in the Bible do we find the gospel of Jesus. In fact, modern Christian scholarship acknowledges that all four of the New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were written anonymously. The religious world would love to find the true gospel of Jesus . . . well . . .  maybe. Perhaps I should say, the religious world would love to find the true gospel of Jesus, but only if it says what they want it to say. If the true gospel of Jesus were ever found, consider the consequences. A gospel that unequivocally proves Jesus’ prophethood would destroy Judaism and negate Israel’s political purpose of creating a Jewish state. If Jesus teaches the monotheism of Unitarian Christianity rather than the Trinitarian mysteries derived from Paul’s teachings, it would tear down the canon of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as that of all other Trinitarian denominations. At the same time, it would challenge the faith (and political support) of all so-called Christian nations. We’re talking major upheaval of the world’s religions and religion-based superpowers. Consequently, if the gospel of Jesus were ever found, these world powers would fight to possess it or kill to suppress it, depending on what it contains. Now that is definitely worth getting excited about.

Five More Reasons to Get Excited about the Dead Sea Scrolls

4. The Dead Sea Scrolls are fun! I mean, come on, those keepers of the scrolls? They were wild men! Talk about guys who really knew how to party, beginning of the first millennium-style. Their sectarian scrolls describe their pure food and drink, daily ritual baths, and nighttimes spent studying scripture and praying. If one of the “Sons of Light” so much as gestured with his left hand, he was punished, and anyone who even whispered against Mosaic law was exiled forever. Giving up all worldly wealth, living a monastic life in the desert, this was a bunch of wool-robed, wild and crazy guys! But seriously, even if you don’t respect their convictions, you’ve simply got to respect their sincerity. The keepers of the scrolls (believed by most scholars to have been Essene Jews) lived a tough life devoted to piety and worship. So once again, what did they know about the scrolls that we don’t know?

Five More Reasons To Excited About The Dead Sea Scrolls

3. The Dead Sea Scrolls excite the imagination. They speak of a Teacher of Righteousness, believed by some scholars to refer to either Jesus or James. They also speak of the Teacher of Righteousness’ antagonist, variously identified as the “Wicked Priest,” the “Man of Scoffing,” “The Man of the Lie,” “The Spouter of the Lie,” and “The Priest who Rebelled.” Some scholars believe these euphemisms refer to Paul, whom the scrolls describe as having been excommunicated from the early Christian church. Now . . . wait a minute. If Paul was an enemy of Jesus or James, and was excommunicated from the early Christian church, what does that say about Trinitarian Christian canon, which is primarily based on the teachings of Paul?

Five More Reasons To Get Excited About The Dead Sea Scrolls

2. Modern biblical scholarship demands re-evaluation of the Old and New Testaments. Scholars such as Bart D. Ehrman and Bruce Metzger have exposed numerous errors and inconsistencies in both the Old and New Testaments. Some of these errors are significant enough to challenge orthodox Jewish and Trinitarian Christian beliefs. In the context of this scriptural and canonical uncertainty, every bit of evidence helps. Again, the Dead Sea Scrolls help in this regard.