Secret Teachings of the Angelic Kings: New Translation of the ancient Aramaic "Drashia d-Malkia" scroll, containing lost Gnostic sermons of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and John the Baptist Paperback – Import, 6 April 2007

This book by Davied Asia Israel (David Gilbert), the founder of The Order of the Nazorean Essenes, is remarkable in many ways as is his gorgeous, beautifully designed, and multilevel web site. He launches a claim for Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdelene as husband and wife. So do I. However, when all of Israel's remarkable research seem to exist to the end to support the notion that with the permission of partners it is evolved and desirable to have multiple sexual partners at the same time. On the web there is a drawing of Jesus sitting in a pasture with two women that he implies are both mates. Since I am monogamous, I will not ever be an ideal of a spiritually evolved human being that Isarel describes on his web site referring to his idea of multiple simultaneous sexual relationships.".............. for only very advanced and mature souls can transcend the instinctual urges of jealousy and possessiveness upon which worldly marriages operate. Those who feel called to these special types of spiritual bonding are forced to rise above their lower instincts and abide in a state of continual compassion, patience and awareness that is beyond the normal range of more base souls."Though the personal proclivities of a writer or artist in most cases should not be included in a review of a book, as a visiting member of The Order of Nazorean web site and purchaser of this book, I am have become aware that I may be supporting the hidden agenda of a New Age Mormon Fertility Cult. That being said I am cautious that the translator may skew this translation from German of an ancient Mandaic-Aramaic text. Israel's other book, Yeshu-Essene Jesus of Gnostic Nazoreans with chapter as "Aramaic Hints of Polygamy " clearly philosopically supports the ideal of a new age fertility cult.Carol McKay

This was a disappointment. Most of the content is available in GRS Mead's "Book of John." The parts that aren't have been edited openly by the book's author to suit a particular translation that he feels is most appropriate to his own theology. Consequently, attacks on Jesus that were made in the text by the Mandaean writers are explained away as later abberations. So according to the author, the early Mandaeans - who were followers of John the Baptist - actually revered Jesus, and not John, as the Christ. They were the true Essenes and the true Christians.Not only is this absurd, it contradicts everything that is known about the Mandaeans, and other early groups that followed John the Baptist. They were united by their disdain, not veneration, for Jesus. So this book is a lame attempt to claim original Essenism, and Jesus at the same time.On the previous reviewer's point about polygamy - it is quite possible that it was practiced by Essenes. It was a common practice in ancient Judaism, and throughout the Middle East. That is not to say that it was practiced by Jesus, but there are clues to suggest thst it was practiced by Essene priests.