The first century BCE text was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in Cave 11, composed of 13 fragments, focused on the end time & THE COMING DELIVERANCE OF MELCHIZEDEK.
This non-canonical text speaks of the rebellion of Satan/Belial & of the promised destruction of Satan in the end times.
pre-dates Christ by at least a century.
adds credibility to the doctrine that Melchizedek & Christ are one & the same.
adds weight to the
Book of Hebrews' account of describing Jesus as being a priest of the order of Melchizedek because here Melchizedek is described as performing the same function Christ is
prophesied to fulfill in
:
Hebrews 5:5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the
glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I
have become your Father. 6 And he says in another place, "You are a priest
forever, in the order of Melchizedek." The author of Hebrews is quoting: Psalm 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
Satan's demise is supposed to happen on the Day of Atonement at the end of the tenth Jubilee cycle. This supports the teaching that the Day of Atonement is a Holy Day that depicts, via the ritual of the Scapegoat (Azazel goat), of Satan's banishment for 1,000 years. Leviticus 16:8-10. Young's Literal Translation uses the more accurate phrase 'goat of departure.'
from http://www.gnosis.org/library/commelc.htm DEAD SEA SCROLLS TEXTS
The Coming of Melchizedek
11Q13 - Col.2
(...) & concerning what Scripture says, "In this year of Jubilee you shall return, everyone of you, to your property" (Lev. 25;13)
& what is also written; "& this is the manner of the remission; every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because God's remission has been proclaimed" (Deut.15;2) the interpretation is that it applies to the Last Days & concerns the captives, just as Isaiah said: "To proclaim the Jubilee to the captives" (Isa. 61;1) (...) just as (...) & from the inheritance of Melchizedek, for (... Melchizedek) , who will return them to what is rightfully theirs. He will proclaim to them the Jubilee, thereby releasing them from the debt of all their sins. He shall proclaim this decree in the first week of the jubilee period that follows nine jubilee periods.
Then the "Day of Atonement" shall follow after the tenth jubilee period, when he shall atone for all the Sons of Light, & the people who are predestined to Melchizedek. (...) upon them (...) For this is the time decreed for the "Year of Melchizedek`s favor", & by his might he will judge God's holy ones & so establish a righteous kingdom, as it is written about him in the Songs of David ; "A godlike being has taken his place in the council of God; in the midst of divine beings he holds judgement" (Ps. 82;1).
Scripture also says about him ; "Over it take your seat in the highest heaven; A divine being will judge the peoples" (Ps. 7;7-8) Concerning what scripture says; "How long will you judge unjustly, & show partiality with the wicked? Selah" (Ps. 82;2), the interpretation applies to Belial & the spirits predestined to him, because all of them have rebelled, turning from God's precepts & so becoming utterly wicked. Therefore Melchizedek will thoroughly prosecute the vengeance required by God's statutes. Also, he will deliver all the captives from the power of Belial, & from the power of all the spirits destined to him. Allied with him will be all the "righteous divine beings"(Isa. 61;3).
(The ...) is that whi(ch ...all) the divine beings. The visitation is the Day of Salvation that He has decreed through Isaiah the prophet concerning all the captives, inasmuch as Scripture says, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion "Your divine being reigns"." (Isa. 52;7) This scriptures interpretation : "the mountains" are the prophets, they who were sent to proclaim God's truth & to prophesy to all Israel. "The messengers" is the Anointed of the spirit, of whom Daniel spoke; "After the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed shall be cut off" (Dan. 9;26) The "messenger who brings good news, who announces Salvation" is the one of whom it is written; "to proclaim the year of the LORD`s favor, the day of the vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn" (Isa. 61;2)
This scripture's interpretation: he is to instruct them about all the periods of history for eternity (... and in the statutes) of the truth. (...) (.... dominion) that passes from Belial and returns to the Sons of Light (....) (...) by the judgment of God, just as t is written concerning him; "who says to Zion "Your divine being reigns" (Isa. 52;7) "Zion" is the congregation of all the sons of righteousness, who uphold the covenant & turn from walking in the way of the people. "Your divine being" is Melchizedek, who will deliver them from the power of Belial. Concerning what scripture says, "Then you shall have the trumpet sounded loud; in the seventh month . . . " (Lev. 25;9)