The Final Prophet

The following are excerpts from - The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand -

Isaiah 42:1     This is My servant, whom I uphold,
(Tanakh)        My chosen one, in whom I delight
                     I have put My spirit upon him,
                     He shall teach the true way to the nations.
                     He shall not cry out or shout aloud,
                     Or make his voice heard in the streets.
                     He shall not break even a dim wick.
                     He shall bring forth the true way.
                     He shall not grow dim or be bruised
                     Till he has established the true way on earth;
                     And the coastlands shall await his teaching.

     Who is this servant? He teaches the true way (or true religion, mishpat in Hebrew) to the gentile nations. The true way is the Kingdom of Heaven within, Jesus’ true message, and the main subject of the Urantia Book.

UB                True religion consists in the experience that "the Spirit
                     itself hears witness with our spirit that we are the children of
                     God. (Also see chapter True Religion Urantia Book
                     and Jesus’ Discourse on True Religion Urantia Book)

     True religion, the true way, is a way that has never yet been taught "to the nations". Elsewhere in scripture we are told that before the end of the age the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven will be proclaimed to all the world. Who in the present world knows about the Kingdom of Heaven? Certainly not the popular scholars. Read their work! Certainly not those who espouse the gospel about Jesus Christ. Then, just who might this be? It would appear that the servant in Isaiah 42 is an individual that will teach about the Kingdom of Heaven within.  Note that God ‘puts his spirit’ on the servant, therefore God ‘anoints’ the servant!  Anointment is what happens to make someone a messiah. This is why the Dead Sea Scrolls speak of more than one messiah. The Messiah is Melchizedek a divine being, another messiah is God’s servant, the Final Prophet whom God has ‘put His spirit upon’ (anointed). Also note that God calls His servant My chosen one. This provides a link to a Dead Sea Scroll fragment, which describes a chosen one who reveals God’s truths and wisdom at the end of the age. The fragment gives us physical characteristics, education, life history and purpose. I believe this Scroll fragment describes the end of the age, final prophet to come:

4Q534   …of his hand: two…a birthmark. And the hair will be red.
            Chosen One And there will be lentils on…and small birthmarks on his thigh.
            And after two years he will know how to distinguish one thing
            from another. In his youth he will be like…a man who knows
            nothing until the time when he knows the three Books.
            And then he will acquire wisdom and learn understanding…
            vision to come to him on his knees. And with his father and
            his ancestors…life and old age. Council and prudence will be
            with him, and he will know the secrets of man. His wisdom
            will reach all the peoples, and he will know the secrets of all
            the living. And all their designs against him will come to
            nothing, and his rule over the living will be great. His designs
            will succeed, for he is the Elect of God. His birth and the
            breath of his spirit…and his designs will be forever…

     One can speculate that this information regarding the final prophet was part of the revelation to the Teacher of Righteousness of the Qumran community. More on this topic will come later. We also note the coastlands again; they are the ones who "await the teaching" of God’s servant. Next, the Lord further addresses the coastlands:

Isaiah 42:9      See, the things once predicted have come,
                      And now I foretell new things,
                      Announce them to you ere they sprout up . . .

Isaiah 42:10    You coastlands and their inhabitants! . . .

Isaiah 42:11     Call out from the peaks of the mountains.
                       Let them do honor to the Lord,
                       And tell His glory in the coastlands . . .

Isaiah 42:16     I will lead the blind
                      By a road they did not know,
                      And I will make them walk
                      By paths they never knew.
                      I will turn darkness before them to light,
                      Rough places into level ground.
                      These are the promises—
                      I will keep them without fail.

     First, God tells us that he is announcing something new. Since the described events have not yet happened, we can be sure that they will happen in the future. (The near future, in my estimation). The Lord tells us that He will lead those who live in the coastlands by roads and paths they never knew, turning darkness into light, and rough places into level ground. These promises will definitely be kept. Now, if we are falling asleep while reading this, God says:

Isaiah 42:18    Listen, you who are deaf;
                      You blind ones, look up and see!
                      Who is so blind as My servant,
                      So deaf as the messenger I send?
                      Who is so blind as the chosen one,
                      So blind as the servant of the Lord?
                      Seeing many things, you give no heed;
                      With ears open, he hears nothing.
                      The Lord desires His servant’s vindication,
                      That he may magnify and glorify His teaching.

     Here we have a comical account of the servant—who is as blind or more so than the rest. He needs God’s vindication as he stumbles along. We are also told here that this servant in the coastlands is a messenger as well as a servant, thus linking the servant of Isaiah to the "messenger" and "interpreter of the law," both of which are terms used to describe the final prophet in the Scrolls. Only God could love such a foolish sounding person. God loves to bring his truth through the lowly and humble. (Out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom.) Some may be disappointed if they have unrealistic expectations regarding this servant. God now reassures those who love Him:

Isaiah 43:1    Fear not, for I will redeem you;
                    I have singled you out by name,
                    You are Mine.
                    When you pass through water,
                    I will be with you;
                    Through streams,
                    They shall not overwhelm you.
                    When you walk through fire,
                    You shall not be scorched.
                    Through flame,
                    It shall not burn you.

Isaiah 43:4    Because you are precious to Me,
                    And honored, and I love you,
                    I give men in exchange for you
                    And peoples in your stead . . .
                    Bring My sons from afar,
                    And My daughters from the end of the earth—

     This passage is one of the most touching expressions of the Father’s love for His children. Truly, "the hairs on our heads are numbered." Also, notice again the theme of God’s protection of His people through "water and fire." Lastly, note that His sons and daughters are located far away from the central location Israel. This must be the Lost Israel remnant as the Judah remnant (Jews) are already gathering in modern Israel.  Now we have:

Isaiah 43:9     All the nations assemble as one,
                     If only you would heed My commands!
                     Then your prosperity would be like a river,
                     Your triumph like the waves of the sea.

     That about sums the problem up. God offers man the universe for free, and man, too smart to be tricked, turns his back; and walks blindly off a cliff. Now listen! God’s servant is addressing the coastlands:

Isaiah 49:1   Listen, O coastlands, to me,
                   And give heed, O nations afar:
                   The Lord appointed me before I was born,
                   He named me while I was in my mother’s womb.
                   He made my mouth like a sharpened blade,
                   He hid me in the shadow of His hand,
                   And He made me like a polished arrow;
                   He concealed me in His quiver
                   And He said to me, "You are my servant
                   Israel, in whom I glory."

Isaiah 49:5  And now the Lord has resolved –
                  He who formed me in the womb to be His servant –
                  To bring back Jacob to Himself,
                  That Israel may be restored to Him.

     The servant’s "mouth is a sharpened blade" to pierce deeply the enemies of God. The servant must be the final prophet because he is charged with ‘bringing back Jacob’ (Lost Israel and faithful Jews) to God, which only happens at the Messianic end of the age. Therefore, the messianic, final prophet is also God’s servant of Isaiah. The Jews are already re-gathering to modern Israel, but Lost Israel needs to be identified and brought back still. "Bring back Jacob," means reconstituting original Israel, the two tribes of the South and the lost ten tribes of the North. This time around they together will make right the wrongs of the past. Love reigns over judgment and wisdom reigns over ignorance. Also note the phrase "you are my servant Israel." The servant is an individual by the context of the passage and it makes no sense for the nation Israel to be the servant here. Perhaps this is an error or an addition to the original text? In Jeremiah the Lord gives further instruction.

Jeremiah 31:7    For thus said the Lord:
                        Cry out in Joy for Jacob,
                        Shout at the head of nations!
                        Sing aloud in praise and say:
                        Save, O Lord, your people,

The servant next says:

Isaiah 49:4 I thought, "I have labored in Vain,
                 I have spent my strength for empty breath."
                 But my case rested with the Lord,
                 My recompense was in the hands of my God.
                 And now the Lord has resolved –
                 He who formed me in the womb to be His servant –
                 To bring back Jacob to Himself,
                 That Israel may be restored to Him!
                 And I have been honored in the sight of the Lord,
                 My God has been my strength.
                 For He has said:

Isaiah 49:6 "It is too little that you should be My servant
                 In that I raise up the tribes of Jacob
                 And restore the survivors of Israel:
                 I will also make you a light of nations
                 That my salvation reach the ends of the earth."

     At first the servant feels that his efforts are "in vain" but notice his total reliance on the Lord. He cares nothing about human opinions, only God’s. God is the source of his strength and he is ultimately honored by God with an even greater service to the nations of the world, in addition to his service in ‘bringing back Jacob’. The servant experiences an initial, seeming failure in his mission (I have labored in vain) and this is why "the Lord desires His servant’s vindication" in Isaiah 42:21. Notice carefully that the servant of this verse has a specific job to do and that is to "bring back Jacob to Himself (God), that Israel may be restored to Him!" To do this the servant must "raise up the tribes to Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel." This equates to the re-gathering and re-unification of the original tribes of Israel; the northern Lost Ten Tribes (Israel) plus the southern tribes (Judah, Jews). This event occurs at the end of the age before and during the coming of the Messiah. In fact, it has already started, the Jews are gathering in modern Israel. The Lost Ten Tribes remain to be identified, re-gathered, and re-united with the Jews, eventually reconstituting the original whole House of Israel, as in the beginning. Since the servant is given this task in Isaiah 49:4, the servant of this passage must be an individual living at the end of our age which lies shortly ahead of us. Very likely this servant is one and the same as Malachi’s "Elijah to come" of the messianic period, the final prophet. Now we have:

Isaiah 49:14  Zion says,
                   The Lord has forsaken me….

Isaiah 52:6    Assuredly, My people shall learn My name,
                    Assuredly, They shall learn on that day
                    That I, the One who promised,
                    Am now at hand.

     Melchizedek’s people have lost all knowledge of him and his selfless service in their behalf. He returns to us like a father we never knew we had. Judah will wake up as from a long sleep. Israel will wake up to their true identity and then to Melchizedek’s unrecognized relationship to themselves therefore: "My people shall learn My name." "Judah" are the Jews of modern Israel, but "Israel" remains for us to identify. Now:

Isaiah 52:7 How welcome on the mountains
                 Are the footsteps of the herald
                 Announcing happiness,
                 Heralding good fortune,
                 Announcing victory,
                 Telling Zion, "Your God is King!"

     The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment, 11Q13, the Coming of Melchizedek, interprets this verse (Isaiah 52:7) in the following way. The herald is the final prophet who announces and "prepares the way of" Melchizedek, just as John the Baptist announced and "prepared the way of" Jesus. The mountains are interpreted to be a symbol of the Old Testament Prophets. The final prophet thus stands on the shoulders of the olden prophets, meaning that the final prophet bases his message on his interpretation of Old Testament prophecy. This is why the Teacher of Righteousness, the leader of the Qumran community of the Dead Sea Scrolls, refers to this final prophet as the "interpreter of the Law." The "Law" here being the Old Testament including the prophets. We can now also understand why the Urantia Book refers to this coming prophet as "another and greater John the Baptist," because the final prophet, like John, will announce and "prepare the way of the Lord," this time the Lord Melchizedek. The prophet proclaims to Zion (all those faithful to the One God), "your God is King," or rather; "The Lord Melchizedek is King," as interpreted by the Teacher of Righteousness in 11Q13 of the Scrolls. 11Q13 is thus an extremely important document that binds together the Urantia Book and Old Testament prophecy. It will be discussed again later in the Dead Sea Scrolls chapter. Continuing with this subject we also have:

Psalms 102:14    You will surely arise and take pity on Zion,
                          For it is time to be gracious to her;
                          The appointed time has come.
                          For the Lord has built Zion;
                          He has appeared in all His glory.

Nahum 1:3  The Lord is slow to anger and of great forbearance,
                  But the Lord does not remit all punishment.
                  He travels in whirlwinds and storm,
                  And clouds are the dust on His feet.
                  He rebukes the sea and dries it up.

     Actually God never angers, we project our human feelings onto him. He is an infinite, never changing, and perfect Being. He is the source and center of all existence, all creation, and all reality. Perhaps the prophet is referring unknowingly to Melchizedek here, but much more likely he is projecting his own feelings and emotions upon a God that he reveres but does not fully understand. The Urantia Book teaches us that it is our perceptions of God that change and that God is eternal and unchanging. When we are at the beginning of our development we fear the great and powerful God, but as we develop, we begin to understand that God’s true motive towards us is one of love. Our fear evolves through awe, reverence, and appreciation, and finally to love. "Fear is the beginning of wisdom, but love is at its end." And so, this passage above is one of many in scripture that misunderstand God’s true motives and intentions. The Urantia Book tells us that "Jesus did not hesitate to appropriate the better half of a scripture…" and that he "appropriated the positive portion…" (Paper 159). All human truth is partial and incomplete. We must always separate the wheat from the chaff, using both the external facts available and the internal guiding of The Spirit of Truth. Logic and intuition are both necessary and interdependent. The approaching age will be the age of Faith and Reason; Science and Religion; Intuition and Logic; Divine and Human; Matter and Spirit. And is replacing either/or in the harmonized philosophy of our near future as the Cartesian dichotomy is sealed by new revelation. The Urantia Book is the stone on which such a philosophy will be built. And so, we proceed, appropriating the best in scripture, as did Jesus himself.

Nahum 2:1   Behold on the hills
                   The footsteps of a herald
                   Announcing good fortune!
                   "Celebrate your festivals O Judah.
                   Fulfill your vows.
                   Never again shall scoundrels invade you,
                   They have totally vanished."

Isaiah 52:13  "Indeed, My servant shall prosper,
                    Be exalted and raised to great heights…
                    Just so he shall startle many nations.
                    Kings shall be silenced because of him
                    For they shall see what has not been told them,
                    Shall behold what they never have heard."

     The servant of Isaiah is the end of the age final prophet, the interpreter of the law of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the another and greater John the Baptist of the Urantia Book. He will startle nations and shut the mouths of kings because he will reveal and inform them of their soon to be ill-fated destiny (as foretold by The Prophets) if they fail to heed their warning. As always, the door will be held open for any that will turn from their way. God desires man to correct his ways. He does not desire their punishment. However, the innocent must be protected, and poor choices have poor results.  Returning to Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 10:23    I know, O Lord, that man’s road is not his to choose,
                          That man, as he walks cannot direct his own steps.

     Secular humanism assumes that man is capable of building his own world and using his own rules and values. The only problem with this assumption is merely that it is false and is being proven false as we speak. Man not only should want God, but more importantly man needs God and is dependent on Him for everything. This layer of necessity will be laid bare for all to see. The failure of man’s sovereign rule is a valuable lesson for all who look upon us. Man and God are incomplete without one another. They are related as parent is to child. Now, Jeremiah asks the Lord:

Jeremiah 12:1   Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
                        Why are the workers of treachery at ease?
                        You have planted them and they have taken root,
                        They spread they even bear fruit
                        You are present in their mouths,
                        But far from their thoughts.

The Lord answers:

Jeremiah 12:7   I have abandoned my House
                       I have deserted my possession,

     They are the masters who understand…(Wise, Abegg & Cook) 4Q 243, (In that time) those who are called by name shall be gathered…244, 245 from among the Gentiles, and it shall be, from that day…the holy DSC ones…(missing text) (Wise, Abegg & Cook)

     The above passages from the Dead Sea Scrolls, describe a group of people who: take refuge from the rage of its enemies, are ultimately glorified by God, are perfected by trials, who practice the "whole law," and are "masters of understanding." Finally, we learn that these people are "called by name" (by God and Melchizedek) and are found among the gentiles in the latter days. These individuals match up with what we already know about the elect from prior descriptions. This group, by many names, is found consistently from among diverse sources of scripture including 1Enoch, Revelation, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Isaiah and Jeremiah among others. In fact, a high percentage of unfulfilled scripture, regarding the end of the age, is about this group and its experiences. Further, we have further scripture interpretation by the Teacher:

4Q171  This (Psalms 37:14-15) refers to the wicked of "Ephraim and
DSC     Manasseh," who will try to do away with the Priest and the
            members of his party during the time of trial that is coming upon
            them. But God will save them from their power and afterward
            hand them (wicked) over to the wicked Gentiles for judgment.
            (Wise, Abegg & Cook)

4Q171   Interpreted (Psalms 37:16), this is the congregation of His elect who
DSC     do His Will. (Dead Sea Scrolls, Vermes)

     The reference in the first stanza (4Q171) to "the Priest and members of his party" is to the Messianic final prophet to come and "his party" is the "congregation of the elect." The wicked of "Ephraim and Manasseh" are members of "Lost Israel" (leaders of America and England, discussed later) who try to destroy the congregation of the elect. (Probably because they reveal the truth about these corrupt leaders.) Further interpretation by the Teacher of Righteousness:

     DSC This (Psalm 6:1-4) refers to the Last Days, about (the righteous, pg. 234 when) Belial (devil) planned to destroy them in his fury, so that Wise none would remain of…God will not allow Belial…But the Angel of God’s truth will help keep the Children of Light from the power of Belial. But the righteous are always beloved, and the Great power of God is with them, (Wise, Abegg, & Cook) (… represent missing original text) Why Belial is so angry at this group is not explicit, but is presumably due to the promulgation of truth, which discloses and sets up resistance to Belial’s activities. The divine protection of the elect and righteous, during the messianic period, is described over and over in scripture across many different sources. It has a very high probability of happening. This is similar to the protection afforded the ancient Israelites by "the Lord" as his servant Moses led them out of Egypt. The end is very much like the beginning in sacred history. From Dead Sea Scrolls by Geza Vermes, we continue on the subject of the elect:

4Q381 DSC     Man will not be strong and will not rise
Vermes Fr.46   …and Thou hast tested all.
Noncanonical   And the elect, like an offering;
Psalms.          Thou wilt purify before Thee,
Thanksgiving    Light shines and joy bursts forth;
Hymns            Morning vanishes and sorrow flees.
                       Peace is revealed, dread ceases…
                       Iniquity has stopped, plague has ceased
                       With no more illness
                       For He humbles the proud spirit with no remnant
                       And from the dust He lifts up the poor to eternal heights
                       He raises freely the totterers of the earth,
                       And His might is with their steps.

4Q267             … He established appointed times of goodwill for those who
Fr. 1               search His commandments and walk in the perfection of way.

4Q4l8   And you, elect of truth
Fr. 69   and pursuers of righteousness and justice
            … guardians of all knowledge,
            How will you say:
            We labour for understanding
            And keep awake to pursue knowledge.

     The answer to "Why allow evil to triumph?" is that those who live by faith are rewarded with infinity and those who choose evil also choose extinction. In addition, the prophet is told that justice will be achieved at the end of The Age, after the full harvest is reaped. Everything has its season, "even if it tarries, wait for it still." "Write down this prophecy, it will be a truthful witness for a time that will come." That time is now almost upon us. The prophecy will be fulfilled and thus it will be a "truthful witness" to God’s foreknowledge. Lets look at part of this passage from another source the Septuagint.

Habakkuk. 2:1      And the Lord answered me and said. Write the vision,
Septuagint            and that plainly on a tablet, that he that reads it may run.
                           For the vision is yet for a (set) time, and it shall shoot forth
                           at the end, and not in vain: though he should tarry wait for
                           him; for he shall surely come, and will not tarry.

     I think the true flavor of this passage is caught in the Septuagint. The ‘vision’ is for a set time ‘at the end’ of the Age at which time it will ‘shoot forth’ by means of the interpretation of prophecy by the final prophet ‘in whose heart God has placed understanding.’ This prophet must ‘read’ this prophecy from the already existing prophecy writings of the Olden Prophets, which has been sealed by God up until that set time. This final prophet must ‘read on the run’ for presumably he is busy with other activities.

4Ezra 4:27  …this age is full of infirmities and sadness. For the evil has
                  been sown but the harvest of it is not yet come.

Daniel 12:4      But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book
(Amplified)       until the time of the end. Then many shall run to and fro
                      and search anxiously (through the Book), and knowledge
                      [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be
                      increased and become great.

Amos 8:12  And (the people) shall wander from sea to sea and from
(Amplified)   the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek
                  the word of the Lord (inquiring for and requiring it as one
                  requires food), but shall not find it.

     These two verses above reveal that there will be a great thirst for the proper understanding of prophecy near the end of the messianic age, and that God’s purposes will be progressively revealed through "greater understanding of His prophets of old." Many will be confused in their search for God’s truth. The Qumran community, of the Dead Sea Scrolls, foretell a final prophet called "the interpreter of the law" who reveals God’s truth through an inspired interpretation of the Olden Prophets. This demonstration of God’s omniscience through His prophets is one of the major events to unfold during the end and completion of this age.

     Since we haven’t ended the age yet, this means that transgression (against the will of God) is not yet finished, that the "full measure of sin" has not yet been attained, that full righteousness has not yet come, and that prophecy remains incompletely fulfilled and incompletely interpreted. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the ending of the age. Natural disasters, wars, famine, droughts, military events, and overpopulation are all becoming progressively worse. Will all of these mounting problems be solved by human beings before they reach a crisis? There really are no solid arguments or facts that support such an optimistic thesis? Are world leaders committed to creating a peaceful, free, and healthy world? The Dead Sea Scrolls in speaking about the "last days" of the messianic period identify a figure they call "the Liar" who comes to power from among the gentiles of Ephraim, whom we have previously identified, generally as Christians and specifically as Americans:

DSC 4Q171 (I)…Be silent before the Lord and long for him, and be not heated
                     against the successful, the man who achieves his plans (Psalms 37:7a)

     Its interpretation concerns the Liar who has led astray many by his lying words so that they chose frivolous things and heeded not the interpreter of knowledge in order to…(II) they shall perish by the sword and famine and plague. (Teacher of Righteousness) The interpreter of knowledge here is the messianic prophet who is also referred to as the interpreter of the law. The people seem to heed "the Liar" and not the interpreter of knowledge. This is a repeat of all the prophets’ experiences who have gone before – nothing changes. Ends of ages have a leader, character type that personifies deceit, here referred to as "the Liar." Are there any such character-types in view? If so this would be another indicator of an ending age.

DSC 4Q171   The wicked draw the sword and bend their bow to bring down the
                     poor and needy and to slay the upright of way. Their sword shall
                     enter their own heart and their bows shall be broken (Psalms 37:14-15).

     Interpreted, this concerns the wicked of Ephraim and Manasseh, (the deceitful leaders) who shall seek to lay their hands on the Priest and the men of his Council at the time of trial which shall come upon them. But God will redeem them from out of their hands. (Teacher of Righteousness) The Priest is another designation for the interpreter of the law, the messianic final prophet. The men of his council are the congregation of the elect. Here we establish that Ephraim and Manasseh, the nations of the Lost Ten Tribes, i.e. primarily America and Britain, are the likely nations of residence of the Liar, the Priest, and the men of his (the priest’s) counsel (the elect). Further:

DSC 4Q169   Woe to the city of blood; it is full of lies and rapine (Psalms 3: 1)

Malachi 2:8   You have made the many stumble at your rulings…
                    You disregard My ways…
                    You have wearied the Lord, with your talk.
                    But you ask, "By what have we wearied Him?"
                    By saying, "All who do evil are good in the sight of the Lord,"
                    And in them He delights, or else,
                    "Where is the God of Justice?"

     God explains through His prophet exactly what it is that "His people" do that He finds so displeasing. The lack of justice makes "many stumble at your rulings" God says to man. "The disregard of His Ways" means the lack of compassion and love as well as of justice. On top of it all, the people show no understanding of what they are doing wrong and "weary" God by excusing and confusing evil for good and asking incredible questions such as: "where is the God of Justice?" In the first instance, this means that the people mistake evil for good, as evidenced by the false shepherds, they follow and support. In the second instance, the people project their own failings onto God Himself blaming Him for their own failures, thus washing their hands clean of all responsibility. And so it is, we so easily deceive ourselves, preferring fantasy to reality. Living honestly and sincerely requires effort, courage, and self-sacrifice. Rather than an escape from reality, the opiate of the masses, true religion requires the full engagement of reality with body, mind, and spirit. Malachi continues:

Malachi 3:1 Septuagint   Behold, I send forth my messenger, and he will prepare the way
                                     before me: and the Lord you seek, shall suddenly come into his
                                     temple, even the angel (messenger) of the covenant; whom you
                                     take pleasure in: Behold, He is coming, saith the Lord Almighty.
                                     (parenthesis from Amplified Bible)

     God is speaking through Malachi: "Behold, I send my messenger…" The messenger of the first sentence is either John the Baptist or the "greater" John the Baptist to come, both of whom are sent to announce the coming of a Son of God. First Jesus, and then later Melchizedek in the Messianic period forthcoming. Just as John the Baptist "prepared the way before" the Lord, Jesus; the "greater John the Baptist" to come (final prophet) will "prepare the way before" the Lord, Melchizedek. This verse, "Behold I send My messenger," can apply equally to both messengers (prophets). This similarity between the two prophets is why The Urantia Book refers to the final prophet as "another and greater John the Baptist" to come. God tells us that our rebellion from his laws/ways has been from the ancient times of Israel to present. He does not want to see anybody suffer or "be punished." He simply wants us to turn back to Him for our own good. All who respect and revere God’s name are invited to be healed, made whole, and welcomed into the kingdom of God. Malachi ends with the well known:

Malachi 3:2   Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of
                    the awesome, fearful day of the Lord. He shall reconcile fathers
                    and sons and sons with their fathers, so that, when I come, I do
                    not strike the whole land with destruction.

     God tells us in the final stanza that He will raise up and send a final prophet "Elijah" before the coming of the Lord (Melchizedek). Who is this "Elijah" and why is he called by this prophet’s name? John the Baptist came before the Lord (Jesus) but he was not "the Elijah" to come. John the Baptist:

UB  1499       was especially impressed by Isaiah and by Malachi…He read and
                     re-read the last five chapters of Isaiah…Then he would read in Malachi
                     "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of…the
                     Lord."…John’s expectation of the coming of Elijah held him back (from
                     proclaiming the kingdom) for more than two years. He knew he was not
                     Elijah…He finally dared to think that the first of the prophets was called
                     Elijah that the last of the prophets (himself) would be known by the same
                     name. Nevertheless, he had doubts, doubts sufficient to prevent him from
                     ever calling himself Elijah. Also consider:

UB  1754         …the three apostles perceived that He (Jesus) referred to John the Baptist
                     as Elijah. Jesus knew that if they (the apostles) insisted on regarding him
                     as the Messiah, then must John be the Elijah of the prophecy. (My
                     parentheses)

     In other words Jesus knew he himself was not the Messiah and that John was not the "Elijah" to come prophesied in Malachi. Jesus agreed to the use of the reference to Elijah only because he knew the apostles insisted on viewing himself as the Messiah. Elijah comes before the Messiah, identified previously as Melchizedek. Therefore, "Elijah" comes before Melchizedek and is the messianic final prophet. Also, ends of ages are very similar. John the Baptist was certainly the Elijah-type prophet for his end of the age, completed in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. In fact, The Urantia Book tells us that:

UB  1866       Sooner or later another and greater John the Baptist is due to arise proclaiming the ‘Kingdom of God is at hand,’…Just as     John did.

     And so we can see that the Messianic final prophet will in some ways be like John the Baptist and also like Elijah in other ways as well. The Urantia Book calls the final prophet to come "another and greater John the Baptist" because this prophet, like John the Baptist, will also "prepare the way of the Lord," this time the way of the Lord Melchizedek instead of the Lord Jesus. But why is this final prophet called "Elijah" in Malachi? First we need to know more about Elijah himself. The Urantia Book tells us:

UB  1064       In the tenth century before Christ, the Hebrew nation became
                     divided into two kingdoms (north and south)…many truth teachers
                     endeavored to stem the reactionary tide of spiritual decadence that
                     had set in…but these efforts did not prosper until that fearless
                     warrior for righteousness, Elijah, began his teaching…he was
                     kept busy…overthrowing the altars of Baal and demolishing the
                     idols of false gods. He carried forward his reforms in the face of
                     the opposition of an idolatrous monarch; his task was even more
                     gigantic and difficult than that which Samuel had faced.

UB 1074        Thus Elijah, one of the greatest prophets, began his teaching as
                     a defender of the old land mores… and against the attempt of the
                     cities to dominate the country… But by this time there ruled in Samaria a
                     gangster nobility…State and church went along hand in hand. The
                     attempt to suppress freedom of speech led Elijah, Amos, and Hosea to
                     begin their secret writing, and this was the real beginning of The
                     Jewish and Christian Bibles.

UB  514         Elijah was a translated soul of brilliant spiritual achievement
                     during the post-material Son (Adam) age.

From scripture we have the following about Elijah:

1Kings17:2-2        he restores a widow’s dead son to life.

1Kings17:3-18:41  he declares a drought of approximately two years and ends it with his prayer.

1Kings17:1-7        he is miraculously fed by ravens in the wilderness.

1Kings 17:2          he is persecuted by the corrupt King Ahab.

1Kings 18          He arranges, on Mount Carmel, a contest between the priests of Baal (450
                         priests) and the true God. Priests of Baal ask Baal to send down fire on
                         their sacrifice. After hours of trying, no response is obtained. Elijah is
                         successful and the sacrifice is burned in a large flame of fire immediately
                         after Elijah asks the true God to do this. Elijah and the people who
                         witness the result, seize the prophets of Baal and slaughter them.

1Kings 17:14    he multiplies food of a widow (flour and oil) miraculously.

1Kings 17:9      he converses with "the Lord" in a cave on Mount Horeb.

     In summary, the main characteristics of Elijah are courage in the face of overwhelming odds, miraculous activities, being taken up in a "chariot of fire," and persecution by the highest leader in the land, King Ahab. He also stands up against the entire ancient world singlehandedly. Perhaps these will give us clues about the characteristics of the "Elijah" to come. The final prophet is referred to by many different names. The Urantia Book calls him "another and greater John the Baptist." Isaiah refers to him as "God’s servant." Malachi calls him "Elijah." The Dead Sea Scrolls refer to him as "the interpreter of the law" and "the Priest." 1Enoch calls him "the dabela" which is a mountain goat with a large single horn. The names are different but the activities and the messianic time of his appearance are all the same. " The rebellion will end when Melchizedek arrives and overcomes Caligastia at the time of harvest, depicted in Revelation:

Revelation 14:14   Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud
                           was what looked like a son of man. With a crown of gold on his
                           head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

     Continuing on with the Teacher of Righteousness and his interpretations of scripture found in 11Q13 of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we find:

11Q13      How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who
                proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation,
                who says to Zion: Your ELOHIM reigns. (Isaiah 52:7)

     It’s interpretation; the mountains are the prophets (Old Testament)…and the messenger is the Anointed one of the spirit concerning whom Daniel said, Until an anointed one, a prince…(missing text). (Daniel 9:25) (TR, Teacher of Righteousness) To comfort all who mourn, to grant to those who mourn in Zion. (Isaiah 61:2) Its interpretation, to make them understand all the ages of time… In truth… (missing text) will turn away from Belial…by the judgments of God, as it is written concerning him, who says to Zion; your Elohim reigns. Zion is…, those who uphold the Covenant, who turn from walking in the way of the people. And your Elohim is Melchizedek, who will save them (those who uphold the Covenant) from the hand of Belial. (TR) (End 11Q13) As for that which He said, "Then you shall send abroad the trumpet in all the land."

     The Teacher of Righteousness tells us in his interpretation of Isaiah 52:7 that the final prophet is a "messenger" who stands on top of the mountains, the Prophets, by interpreting "all that they wrote," and who then proclaims "Your Elohim reigns." By reading between the lines one can also infer that the messenger, or final prophet makes them (the elect) understand all the ages of time in some way. The final prophet is an "anointed one" whom God has put his spirit upon "Behold my servant…I have put My spirit upon him" (Isaiah 42:1). Elohim means divine being and is identified as Melchizedek by the Teacher. The Lord of the Old Testament is Melchizedek (when not referring to God), and he is the one who comes to deliver us at the end of the age (messiah).

     The final prophet depends on the olden prophets to explain and interpret the events unfolding in the messianic age and to "make them (the elect) understand all the ages of time." The final prophet is also God’s servant of Isaiah who addresses the coastlands, and who "brings forth true religion (or the true way)" in Isaiah 42:10, which is the kingdom of heaven within. He is also the "Elijah to come before the end" of Malachi. The Urantia Book calls this prophet "another and greater John the Baptist." Why is he greater? Remember that Jesus said that "there had not been any one greater (man) than John the Baptist" but that anyone who entered the kingdom of heaven "was greater than John." This was true because John as a human being was unsurpassed. He was courageous, faithful, and steadfast, even in the face of death. But as a son of the living God, he had not yet entered the joyful and transcendent kingdom of heaven within. Therefore, greater means that the final prophet will have entered this kingdom of heaven within, which is the "true way" that he helps bring forth in Isaiah 42:1-4.

     Next, consider the Teacher’s comment that "those who uphold the covenant (do God’s will), turn from walking in the way of the people." It may be necessary for those who follow God’s will, to separate themselves from the opinions, people, and possessions of our present culture to follow the truth on an isolated, lonely, and perhaps dangerous road. Family fault lines may sever; persecution, ridicule and danger could be ahead. Such painful and trying choices will act to establish our priorities and expose them to view. Choosing God’s will in the face of such trials will be the "flame of affliction," which will soften our mettle (metal) for the anvil of adversity and the hammer of mercy. And so we will count the cost and remember that this road is also called the ‘Sacred Way’, and that the ‘redeemed shall walk it.’

Isaiah 40:3   The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, prepare
KJV             the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

     John the Baptist, took up this verse unto himself to prepare the people for the Lord Jesus’ arrival. "Another and greater John the Baptist" (UB) the Final Prophet, will use this same verse to prepare the way for the Lord Melchizedek’s arrival. This highway in the desert is a literal road, the Sacred Way, that will be used by the remnants to travel to Canaan to be reunited by Melchizedek. The term God in Isaiah 40:3 is an error of designation by which Lord God is confused with Lord Jesus or Lord Melchizedek.

Isaiah 27:13  And it shall come to pass that day, that the great trumpet shall
KJV              be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the
                    land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

     "In that day" and the blowing of the "great trumpet" indicate that these verses apply to the messianic end of the age. Melchizedek is said to arrive at the beginning of the tenth Jubilee, on the day of atonement, as discussed in the last sentence of 11Q13; The Coming of Melchizedek.  There will be remnants coming from many countries all over the world. Their commonality will be their love and respect for God. Also note that both Egypt and modern Syria are slated to be foremost among the countries who come against Modern Israel during the near future. The leaders make the wars, but the people may still be among the faithful.  But who will make this road; this Sacred Way?

Isaiah 43:19  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;
KJV             shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness,
                   and rivers in the desert.

God seems to make this road for His returning sons and daughters. He tells us:

Isaiah 43:5   Fear not, for I am with thee.KJV

Isaiah 43:6   bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of
KJV             the earth.

Isaiah 43:7   even everyone who is called by my name. KJV

Isaiah 43:13 Yea, before the day was, I am, and there is none that can
KJV             deliver out of my hand.

Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth
KJV             my praise.

Thanksgiving Hymns, Dead Sea Scrolls

     The Teacher of Righteousness is the founder and leader of the Qumran community beginning sometime around 196 BC. The Qumran community is the community that dwelled in the Judean desert; who preserved, copied, and sometimes authored the scrolls found by the Dead Sea. Through the Thanksgiving Hymns, the Teacher of Righteousness tells us much about his deep convictions, personal history, and intimate relationship with God. The Teacher of Righteousness is God’s servant and is a precursor of the Final Prophet to come who is also God’s servant, but of our time and age. As such, much of what the Teacher of Righteousness says about his own experiences and convictions may be mirrored in those of the Final Prophet. Therefore, as we read the Thanksgiving Hymns, we are looking into the hearts and minds of both of these servants; the one who has been and the one who will be.  Like all other prophets of God, the Teacher of Righteousness experienced ridicule, persecution, and wrath from the hand of man for telling them the truth about themselves and their world.

Hymn 13  The wicked and fierce have stormed against me…

Hymn 14  All who have eaten my bread
               have lifted their heel against me…
               have mocked me with their lips.

     The Teacher of Righteousness suffers greatly from spiritual, emotional, as well as physical causes. His closest friends and family have rejected him.

Hymn 13  For Thou, God, didst widen my heart
               but they straighten it with affliction
               I eat the bread of wailing
               and drink incessant tears
               Sorrow encompasses me.
               Ignominy covers my face…
               causing my spirit to stagger
               and my strength to fail

Hymn 18  Behold, I am carried away with the sick;
               I am acquainted with scourges…
               my heart laments within me
               my soul languishes day and night without rest

     In modern terminology, Hymn 18 could be a description of severe depression, which is often associated with sleeplessness so that "the soul languishes day and night without rest" and where the ‘heart laments within.’ Perhaps the Teacher did, and/or the Final Prophet will; suffer from severe depression. And now, the Teacher describes physical suffering as well.

Hymn 18  My arm is torn from its socket…
               My foot is held by fetters…
               My arms and legs are bound by shackles…
               I have no word for my disciples
               to revive the spirit of those who stumble
               and to speak words of support to the weary.

     The last stanza above causes one to think of John the Baptist, imprisoned and chained in the dungeon waiting for death. However, this is written a hundred years before John’s time and John the Baptist was not a literary prophet as far as we know. Teacher of Righteousness is probably congregations of the elect; both are led from within through God’s indwelling spirit. Both are persecuted by "the wicked of Ephraim." Although not stated, perhaps both suffer physically and emotionally in similar ways. Perhaps both are imprisoned. Perhaps both confront iniquity boldly. Many of these characteristics also apply to John the Baptist as well, excepting only the role as prophetic interpreter. John the Baptist was a "Teacher of Righteousness" character type for his time. We are told in the Urantia Book that "sooner or later another and greater John the Baptist" will arrive, thus confirming this model of "character types" repeated through the ages.

     The Final Prophet will be like both John the Baptist and like the Teacher of Righteousness. The messianic age is a consummation and completion of the precursors expressed earlier in history. The number seven symbolizes this completion and is found frequently throughout the text of "Revelation."

     Next in the Commentary on Psalms section of Geza Vermes' Dead Sea Scrolls we have Psalm 37:  "And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied, but the wicked shall perish." (Psalms 37:196) Interpreted, this means that He will keep them (the elect) alive during famine and the time of humiliation, whereas many (others) will suffer from famine and plague, all those who have not departed from there to be with the Congregation of His elect. (TR, Teacher of Righteousness) (my parentheses)

     Hard times will come and those that know and understand, the elect, will try to lead everyone to safety but many, and probably most, will not follow. Notice that the congregation of the elect depart from somewhere, possibly from America the home of Ephraim and the elect. God is actively leading and protecting the elect throughout this trial period, just as he did once before when He led Israel out from Egypt to Canaan. The end is like the beginning.

     "Vain is it for you to rise up early and lie down late. You shall eat the bread of toil; he shall feed those who love them in their sleep." (Psalms 127:2) Its interpretation is that they (elect) shall seek…(missing text) Teacher of Righteousness…priest at the end of the age…

     Before leaving the study of the Psalms and the Final Prophet, I would like to present to you a deeply penetrating portrait of the Final Prophet as revealed in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Biblical Psalms. This portrait is given to us by Bobby Rich, Eliyahu (Elijah) – Online Prophet:

     The following quote is verbatim from pages 42 through 46 of a 62-page text about a variety of prophecy subjects. The "Online Prophet", Bobby Rich identifies the Teacher of Righteousness of the Dead Sea Scrolls as John the Baptist. With this and a few other interpretations I would disagree, but for the most part I find this portrayal of the Final Prophet completely convincing. Remember, even the prophetic passages about Jesus were a "mixed bag," with some information specific to him and other information not specific to him. We shouldn’t perhaps, therefore expect a 100% match with the Final Prophet. Also note that not all of the following piece, Final Prophet, by the Online Prophet is taken from the Psalms themselves. Much of the information about the Final Prophet below is taken from the Thanksgiving Hymns by the Teacher of Righteousness of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In my opinion, some of the information in the Thanksgiving Hymns specifically reflects the life of the Teacher of Righteousness of Qumran, rather than the life-to-come of the Final Prophet. However, the lives and thoughts of the two prophets may be so similar that there may be a lot of overlap of the attributes of one to the other. With these qualifying remarks we can now begin. (The italics and bold text stylings are my own.)

     The third individual identified in the Thanksgiving Hymns is the latter "Elijah" yet to be manifested, and will be considered in the next chapter.  This "Elijah" come alive is derived from the book of Malachi and the New Testament gospels. A specific promise is made by God that He will send ELIJAH the Prophet before the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD to reveal and restore all things. Some expected an actual resurrection of Elijah but Jesus made it plain that John the Baptist was the symbolic ELIJAH (Matthew 11:11-14) of his time and that YET ANOTHER was to come later (Matthew 17:10-13) preceding the yet future DAY OF THE LORD. So much hinges on the ELIJAH to come that some Jewish believers have a chair reserved for this individual. At least one Karaite priest recognized the "Teacher of Righteousness" of Qumran as being the former Baptist. This Karaite was correct! (Bobby Rich, Online Prophet)

The Final Elijah – Portrait of a Prophet

     The prophet Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den. The people and the rulers wanted to kill Jeremiah and he was placed in a dungeon like a slime pit where he sunk into the mire. Isaiah may have been sawn apart alive. John the Baptist’s head was served up on a platter. Elijah was forced into exile with Ahab and Jezebel after his hide. Biblical prophets are not always the epitome of popularity. As the Scrolls describe the final symbolic "Elijah" prophet we see the same opposition exists to his message, especially among the "seekers after smooth things", who prefer their own mental delusions to the vision the prophet carries as given to him by God. As with Elijah this Final Prophet will also be forced into exile from his land and be hunted by those who wish to kill him. Perhaps this "Elijah" will also have his "Ahab and Jezebel" to contend with. The Scrolls explain that some will understand and believe him and his vision but some will neither understand or believe him, and thereby make a distinction between the wicked and the just. What sort of individual would the average person expect the end of age prophet to be?  One might imagine him to be a well known evangelist, a successful businessman with church connections, a family man, pious with an unquestioned reputation, with many loyal friends and family members around him for encouragement. One might also expect him to be wise,witty, stable, and financially sound. It would help if he were young, charismatic, and handsome in a rakish way with a lovely wife and several well behaved children. Perhaps he would be the son of a famous tycoon or a war hero or a respected Senator, or was the semi-retired owner of a fast food chain and involved in human rights or environmental issues. Most of all perhaps – he would be a SOMEBODY! Considering the Scrolls and Psalms description this last prophet will be a disappointment to many people, being VERY different than we might envision! In a nutshell he appears to be a "MAN OF CALAMITIES", of stumbling rather than success. Instead of a staunch family man and pillar of integrity we see in this final prophet a man BETRAYED by those who "eat his bread" and MALIGNED in gossip with a resultant loss of reputation, ridiculed and scorned, beset by serious illnesses, financially unsuccessful, a victim of schemers, being scourged by God for unknown reasons. He has visited the gates of death and commonly experiences pain on an ongoing basis. He is waiting in bitterness, sorrow, and anger for God to redeem him – and probably asking why! Perhaps he feels like Job. This individual is even at odds with the church group he had been connected with. Who would ever choose such an unfortunate to be the last prophet? Perhaps only God!  Not likely any human would have made this particular choice. We would look for stability at the very least. But it appears God does not operate like we do, because He has chosen an individual that most of us would likely consider "a broken vessel" just as some of the Prophet’s friends and family do count him to be. The reader may be acquainted with this very prophet today! As you read briefly in the introduction, this coming prophet is beset by bad health and serious personal problems and a variety of trials. However as time advances a different aspect will emerge because at some point God will begin to establish and lift up this prophet, and the prophet’s situation makes a dramatic change.  Concerning the Last Prophet’s end time vision the Scrolls indicate God at first keeps the vision hidden and obscured. However, in the meantime some have "borne the yoke" (made privy) to the mysteries of the vision and BECAUSE of the vision have struck out against the Prophet and hold him in ridicule, perhaps his church group. We see his message as not well received by some! The attitude of these first to know is addressed by God who instructs them to "mend their ways". The Scrolls make no bones about the fact that the final prophet has been given all understanding concerning the Bible. As we look at the diversity of beliefs and doctrines among Christianity alone we can certainly see the need for a "Plumb line" to set the Biblical meaning straight. Everyone simply cannot be correct regardless of sincerity. The Scrolls also make it clear that God will not allow this prophet to be put down by others forever because in due time God Himself will strengthen the Prophet and the mysteries he holds will no longer be hidden. What if you met a genuine prophet who knew all of the mysteries and the prophecies of the Bible because it was given him from God? Would you ask him the name of the beast or what events would take place or some mystery of life you’ve wondered about for many years? Consider what you might ask or say because we may indeed meet this Last Prophet who is described in the Dead Sea Scrolls by John the Baptist (Teacher of Righteousness) and his disciples of Qumran. In addition to being called "Final Teacher of Righteousness" in the last days he is also described as the "fountain of knowledge" bringing rain for the thirsty. Bible students may easily equate this prophet to the "latter rain" of the book of Joel which the "teacher of righteousness" corresponds. As you will see, the vast majority of the details for this coming Prophet are provided by the Baptist (the Teacher of Righteousness) in the Thanksgiving Hymns and for the most part are based on a specific set of Biblical Psalms. Why no one has recognized this before is not clear but most Scrolls researchers assumed these verses were made up by the mind of the Teacher of Righteousness. The first and major evidence of exactly which Psalms may be seen by an examination of the Scrolls interpretations of Psalms 37 & 45:1. In these commentaries most of the verses are identified as concerning the Teacher of Righteousness and the people of his council and his enemies. Upon examination of the Psalms falling between 37 & 45 it is clear the context continues in 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43. A close examination of the Thanksgiving Hymns of Qumran reflect a heavy correspondence with these very Psalms. The Scrolls introduces most subjects concerning the final Prophet based on this specific set of Psalms but expands upon them and adds other details not found in the Psalms.

     There are several portions which are inspired from Psalms 35 and 88 and an examination of Psalms 35 & 88 show them to be very similar to Psalm 38. Psalms 44, the remainder of 45 & 88 are two of the "Sons of Korah" Psalms which we will discuss in more detail later. Therefore it is rational to state that the biblical Psalms which pertain to the coming prophet are 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, and 88 and that some of these verses will also apply to the elect of God in the Last Days, according to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Just as all details provided in the Scrolls are not found in the Psalms, some details are provided in the Biblical set of Psalms which are not found in the Scrolls. An example is the repeated admonition in Psalm 37 "not to fret" indicating the prophet has a particular problem with fretting or anger over injustices done against him. This does not seem to be in the Scrolls texts restored to date. Also we find in Psalm 37:25 a statement which implies the prophet lives in a land where food is plentiful and easy to obtain. A reverse example found in the Scrolls is that God has caused the prophet to "dwell with the many fishers-and with the hunters-" which connotes residence near waters for fishing and woods for hunting. The writer finds no counterpart for this in the above mentioned Biblical Psalms. No doubt more Scrolls information will come to light, whether not yet reconstructed or not yet released for public use.

     The Habakkuk and Nahum pesherim and other texts contain information concerning the Prophet and the people who listen to him, especially what appear to be later attacks and persecutions from the Wicked Priest and men of Ephraim and Manasseh. The name "Amon" (or "No-Amon") is equated to Manasseh (the United States/Bobby Rich) in the book of Nahum. Fittingly No-Amon was the principle city of Egypt in its day.

     This certainly sounds like the world ruling Beast Power often mentioned by prophecy writers and later verses serve to affirm the identity. Then of Habakkuk 2:1-2: --"he who reads it may read it speedily" [as concerning the Teacher of Righteousness to whom God made known all the mysteries of the words of His servants the Prophets]…". There is a delay spoken of in this commentary which apparently involves the "waiting" of the prophet and uncovering of the vision, but there is no indication how far the delay has progressed, except the obvious fact that the delay is over when the Last Prophet becomes public. Certain of the descriptive verses from the Thanksgiving Hymns concerning this Final Prophet (Teacher of Righteousness) are presented along with the numbers of verses they correspond with in the particular Psalms: Scrolls Verses Corresponding Biblical Psalms (Physical circumstances) (Vs Nr.] Until I’m old-until old age 37:25 [Psalms 37:25 states he is old and some Scrolls texts on –age rules for positions suggest he would be between 50-60 years of age] Dim eyesight from waiting 38:10 Lives among woods and waters/fishers and hunters Poor health, pain, chronic loss of strength-heart fails 38:3-8, 40:12 My soul has journeyed to the gates of death- 88:3 God has not placed my support in gain-no fleshly refuge- 40:17 (the Prophet’s opponents) All who have eaten my bread have lifted their heel against me- 41:9 Opponents hate wrongfully and render evil for good- 38:19-20 By their affliction bitterness-sorrow-ignominy 42:5, 43:5 You (God) widened my heart- they narrow my heart with affliction- 39:3

     Psalm was not speaking of Jesus at all. By part of this verse and His own authority Jesus predicted His betrayal, though even the first "trusted" part could not have applied to Him. We find another instance on one of these Psalms being applied to Jesus in Hebrews 10 beginning in verse 5 (quoting Psalms 40:6-8): "sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me-Then I said ‘here I am-it is written about me in the scroll-I have come to do your will O God-’ (NIV). The portion which reads "a body you have prepared for me" is derived from the Septuagint and this is the text used in Hebrews. However in most Biblical Psalms the Masoretic (Hebrew) is used and it reads, "my ears you have pierced (opened)", which is quoted in the scrolls pertaining to the final Prophet. The verse certainly seems to be speaking of the Prophet and the Scrolls while the slightly different version applied only to Christ. The personal betrayal of the Last Prophet might be connected to the estrangement of friends and loved ones if the betrayal involves a marital dispute. Friends and relatives become very uncomfortable around those involved in serious domestic disputes or divorce. "Eaten my bread" seems to connote those who have lived in his household rather than someone who shared a picnic lunch. There is also a time when the Prophet will be on trial but God will not allow the prophet to be convicted. There is no evidence this betrayal is to the death as it was for Christ. One or several of these identifying clues might well be applied to a wide number of people but as each is added on the odds diminish. With these Dead Sea Scrolls painting a veritable "portrait" of the final Prophet it will be pretty difficult for a phony "Elijah" prophet to impersonate the real one even if the Creator would allow it. (Online Prophet, Bobby Rich)

     One portion of this portrait of the Final Prophet is taken directly from the Psalms, which were inspired directly by Melchizedek 4000 years ago, at which time he already knew the future history of "Israel." Another portion is taken from the Thanksgiving Hymns written by the Teacher of Righteousness of the Dead Sea Scrolls. A large amount of Old Testament prophecy is concerned with the messianic, end of the age scenario, at a time today, when prophecy is nearly forgotten and largely ignored. Ironically, this ignorance occurs at the very time of its relevance.

     The physical traits and the education of the Final Prophet are described in the Dead Sea Scrolls and are discussed earlier in this book, in the chapter on Isaiah, near Isaiah 42. One of the major roles of the Dead Sea Scrolls is to convey this hidden information about the Final Prophet over thousands of years of time, until today when the day of its usefulness and relevance comes due. I would now like to offer my own composite sketch of God’s servant, the Final Prophet that is based on a complete analysis of the information contained in the Biblical Psalms, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Prophets. Information from the Thanksgiving Psalms is not included here because it has been covered above and because it is not clear to me whether the Teacher of Righteousness intended his Thanksgiving Hymns as a prophesy of the final prophet to come or was speaking about himself, or both. Separating out this information we have:

. Elijah to come (Malachi 3:23)
. another and Greater John the Baptist (UB)
. interpreter of the Law (DSC)
. the Priest (DSC)
. interpreter of Knowledge (DSC)
. God’s servant (Isaiah)
. dabela (mountain goat, large horn) 1Enoch

. lentil shaped marks on body (DSC 4Q534 & Merkabah)
. marred appearance (possibly due to the lentil shaped marks above) (Isaiah 52)
. thick thighs (3Enoch, Merkabah texts)
. tiny marks on thighs, different from one another (DSC 4Q534)
. Red hair (DSC 4Q534)

. the 3 books, before which he knows nothing (DSC 4Q534)
. God makes known all the mysteries and revelations of His servants the prophets to him  (DSC 4Q171)
. foretells, through the interpretations of the Prophets, all that will happen to His people and His land.(DSC)
. God teaches him knowledge and to understand His message (Isaiah 28:9) . Spirit of God
  alights upon him bringing wisdom, insight, valor, devotion, reverence.
. knows the secrets of men (understands their inner workings) (DSC 4Q534)
. knows the secrets of living things (Biologist?, Health Science?) (DSC 4Q534)
. reveals secrets like Most High (DSC 4Q536)
. senses truth by reverence for the Lord (Isaiah 11)
. God’s servant blind, deaf, gives no heed (Isaiah 42)
. taught from his youth by God (Psalm 71)
. mouth like a sharpened blade (Isaiah 49).
. Lord gives a skilled tongue (Isaiah 50:4)
. God rouses His servant’s ear morning by morning (Isaiah 50:4)
. zeal for his tasks) (Psalms 69)
. jeered at, humiliated (Psalms 71)
. at times acts foolishly and blunders (Psalms 69)
. loved ones, friends, stand afar off, aloof (can not understand him) (Psalms 38)
. challenges authority – ‘who dare contend with or be my opponent’ (Isaiah 52)
. Kings (rulers) silenced because of him (reveals to them their negative standing and destiny according to prophecy) (Isaiah 52)
. grows (spiritually) like a tree-crown by God’s favor. (Isaiah 53)
. speaks to God’s people about deep things and future events (DSC 4Q268 fg. l)
. God will hold accountable all those who will not hear his words DSC 4lQ175)
. ? goes to prison (Psalms 142)
. is a speedy scribe (writes quickly ?), who must read and interpret prophecy while ‘on the run’ (Habakkuk)

     We now have quite a bit of information and should be able to recognize the final prophet with a fair degree of certainty based on these characteristics. Though again, we probably should not expect a 100% match up. Much of what the servant goes through also applies to those who elect God’s will because they too will be called ‘to walk not in the way of the people’ (DSC) and to leave behind family, friends, lovers, and material possessions. The Thanksgiving Psalms are an expression of the suffering, as well as the joy, for those who would choose this path. Emily Dickinson refers to this way as the ‘interdicted way’ because it is a path reviled and ridiculed in man’s world, although sacred and exalted in God’s. When we are called to follow God’s way we are also called to leave behind man’s. We must count the cost, weigh the balance, and make the choice.  How we choose and why we choose determine what we will become.

     The appearance of a final prophet. Referred to variously as Elijah to come, another and greater John the Baptist, God’s servant, and the interpreter of the law among others. The final prophet "teaches the true way" of the Kingdom of Heaven within, "helps brings back Jacob," who are the re-identified "lost" ten tribes, and "interprets the law" of the Prophets through understanding bestowed by God. Through this interpretation of, scripture the final prophet tells "all that will happen to the elect (those who elect God’s will)." He also announces: "Your divine being (the Messiah) reigns" to the long-suffering but faithful Jews still awaiting their Lord and Messiah who is revealed to be Melchizedek in the Dead Sea Scrolls.