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PRESTON LEWIS Preston Ivan Lewis (born 1956 in Mississippi) is a Language and Linguistic Specialist and Translator, Author, Editor, and Publisher for Nasoraean and Mandaean Books and Literature. His books focus on the historical and religious background of the Mandaeans and Nasoraeans, extrabiblical and biblical references and teaching of John the Baptist, comparisons and contrasts of the Mandaeans and Nasoraeans with Judaism and Christianity. Background[edit] Lewis was born in Mississippi, but has lived all over the world. He was raised in the Southern Baptist tradition and swept through the Charismatic movement of the 1970s. He admits he enjoyed the music more than the traditional hymns of the Baptist church but was never a full-blown believer or disciple of the movement. From high school, Preston attended Bristol University and Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He attained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, Specialist, and PhD degree in English Education, Educational Specialist, Building-Level Educational Management, and Central Office Educational Management.

In the 1970s, Preston came into contact with Hugh Schonfield who put him in touch with a Nasoraean group who conducted secret initiations. Dr. Lewis does not give technical details of when and where but does give an overview of what the initiation process involved in his book Nazorean Initiation and Discipleship ©2021.

Major books publications and research[edit] The Complete Ginza Rba in 11 languages: 

•	THE GINZA RBA: DEN STORE SKAT (Danish Editions) HC ISBN-13-979-8377002864 SC ISBN-13-979-8377004608

•	THE GINZA RBA: THE GREAT TREASURE (English Editions) HC ISBN-13-979-8374560336 SC ISBN-13-979-8374598513

•	LA RBA DE GINZA: LE GRAND TRÉSOR (French Editions) HC ISBN-13-979-8375404400 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8375443690<P>

•	AN GINZA RBA: AN SEOID MHÓR (Irish Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8375455983 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8375542102<P>

•	LA RBA DI GINZA: IL GRANDE TESORO (Italian Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8375927800 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8376070130<P>

•	THE GINZA RBA: WIELKI SKARB (Polish Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8376998151 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8376999660<P>

•	A GINZA RBA: O GRANDE TESOURO (Portuguese Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8376207468 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8376216484<P>

•	EL RBA DE GINZA: EL GRAN TESORO (Spanish Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8375127866 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8375242446<P>

•	THE GINZA RBA: DEN STORA SKATTEN (Swedish Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8376188200; <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8376203811<P>

•	ГІНДЗА РБА: ВЕЛИКИЙ СКАРБ (Ukrainian Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8376986288 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8376996072<P>

•	Y GINZA RBA: Y TRYSOR MAWR (Welsh Editions) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8375622866 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8375792651

<P>Other books by Dr. Lewis: <P>

•	NAZOREAN INITIATION AND DISCIPLESHIP (English) <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8770367041<P>

•	THE COMPLETE NAZOREAN SCRIPTURES: The Gospel of the Way (English OOP) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8763473117<P>

•	THE NASRAYA PROPHET JOHN THE BAPTIZER (English) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8849217376 <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8849518626 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8849769820s<P>

•	NASRAYIM & MANDAEAN SACRED WRITINGS The Lost Manuscripts (English) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8359319393 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8359347273<P>

•	THE DISCIPLES of the PROPHET JOHN THE BAPTIZER (English) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8374743135 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8374721935

<P>The latest publication is a Full Color Collector’s Edition of all the major Mandaean/ Nasoraean manuscripts in English. <P> •	THE MAJOR MANDAEAN & NASORAEAN SCRIPTURES in one volume (English) <BR>HC ISBN-13-979-8377587668 <BR>SC ISBN-13-979-8377848653

<P>This Collector’s Edition includes:<BR> a)	The Ginza Rba (complete; Right & Left) <BR> b)	The Mandæan Book of John<BR> c)	The Qolastā (Prayerbook) <BR> d)	The One Thousand and Twelve Questions (incomplete manuscript) <BR> e)	The Wedding of the Great Sislam #1<BR> f)	The Haran Gawaitha<BR> g)	The Diwan Abathur<BR> h)	The Wedding of the Great Sislam #2<BR> i)	The Coronation of the Great Sislam<BR> j)	The Scroll of Exalted Kingship<BR> k)	Appendix (a very useful glossary) <BR> l)	Illustrations (full color Mandaean drawings and photos) <BR> m)	Index (a full, nearly exhaustive index)

<H3>John the Baptist</H3>[edit source] <B>Who was John the Baptist?</B> </BR> Christianity has a hard time dealing with John. Why?</P>

<P>John started the practice of baptism for the remission of sin. According to the Bible, John’s baptism was for repentance. According to Christianity the repentance was because of sin. According to Christianity sin is disobeying God; not doing his will; breaking the Law of Moses; and they believe that everybody sins; no one is sinless. All commit sin. The problem: Jesus was baptized by John. The implication: Jesus was a sinner. </P>

<P>The Christian who is well-versed and indoctrinated will explain: Jesus was sinless, and it is because Jesus was sinless that we have hope of an eternity in heaven. If Jesus were not sinless, there would be no sacrifice for sin. Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden ushered sin into this world (Genesis 3:6). With their sin came death, just as God had warned (Genesis 2:17). As a result, mankind is now born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12–19), and it is with us from the time we are conceived (Psalm 51:5). The Bible makes it clear, however, that Jesus Christ, though tempted in every way just as we are (Hebrews 4:15), never committed a sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5). The apostle Peter stated it clearly: “He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). Indeed, as Jesus Christ is God, He has no capacity to sin.</P>

<P>If Jesus was sinless, why was he baptized. Here’s what the best Christian minds have decided:</P> <P>Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness (Matt 3: 15). So, John complied. But the answer “to fulfill all righteousness” doesn’t really clear things up for us, does it? What did Jesus mean? Well, there are at least three theorized possibilities.</P> <P><B>Possibility #1:</B> Jesus was baptized in order to identify with those he came to save. According to the theologian Albert Barnes, “When John emerged, the people flocked to hear him and to be baptized. Throughout the whole country there was an unprecedented movement towards God. And Jesus knew…that he too must identify himself with this movement towards God” John’s baptism was part of the people’s turning from sin and turning toward God. Jesus wanted to identify with this turning. That makes sense, doesn’t it? To me, this sounds like a pretense; no real reason and yet they will insist that Jesus did everything with a reason and sincerity.</P>

<P><B>Possibility #2:</B> Jesus was baptized in order to mark the official start of his ministry. Since John would be handing the ministry baton over to Jesus when Jesus was ready to begin his ministry, what better place to do that than in the Jordan River where John — for quite some time — had been helping people turn from their sin and prepare themselves for Jesus’ coming? This possibility makes sense, too, right? There is no evidence whatsoever that John ended his ministry and told his disciples to move on over to the Jesus camp.</P>

<P><B>Possibility #3:</B> Jesus was baptized in order to ceremonially cleanse himself before being filled with the Holy Spirit. According to Old Testament law, the Jewish high priest was the only man authorized by God to enter the Holy of Holies, the most sacred room in the temple where God’s Spirit dwelled. And before entering the Holy of Holies, the high priest would always wash his hands as part of a ceremonial cleansing. Well, in Jesus’ case, heaven was about to open above the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit was about to leave heaven and come down to get up close and personal with Jesus. So, possibly, Jesus was baptized as a sort of ceremonial washing to prepare himself for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. My opinion; it makes no sense. According to Christianity, Jesus fulfilled the Law and ended its hold on his people. The New Testament narrative insists that Jesus broke the Law because he was over the Law and embodied the Law. His disciples broke the Sabbath. He broke the Sabbath. Jesus had little respect for the Law of Moses. </P>

<P><B>The bottom line:</B> John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Jesus was baptized. That means that Jesus considered himself a sinner and John considered him a sinner. I know you may want to explain it away. I gave you scholarship’s explanation. They come up with excuses because they have no answer. </P>

<P><H3>WHY DID JOHN BAPTIZE? </H3> According to John, the people of Israel had turned from the Path of the Nasoraean Hayyi-Rba Way, and turned to the demonic religion of YHWH (Yahweh/ Jehovah), EL, and ELOHIM. You don’t read this in the Bible. The Bible is deceptive. It tells a story that is counter (i.e., Counterfeit) to the Truth. Internally, scholars explain that there are four authors/ strings of contradictory doctrine throughout the Old Testament: The Yahwist/ Jahwist, the Elohist, the Deuteronomist, and Priestly—hence J, E, D, and P. The four strands contain innumerable contradictions. Atheists have a field day arguing with Priests, Evangelists, and Rabbis who say the Bible is literally true and inspired when they can go through the list and point out contradictions.</P>

<P>What John required was to turn from your current path (the Hebrew/ Jewish way) and return to the Nasoraean Path. The Jews already had a cure for sin; the Temple. They made sacrifices and their sins were eliminated until the next round of sacrifices. The people believed in their Jewish Temple. They did not need remission from sin by baptism. Baptism was not for sin; it was for turning from the adopted religion of the priests and prophets and return to the original Path.</P>

<P>Jesus turned from the Jewish Law to the Nasoraean Path. He became a disciple of John. He received the typical baptism from John. There is no evidence whatsoever that Jesus and John were relatives or that Jesus became John’s number one representative. Jesus became involved with communication with Ruha (Aramaic), whom Jews call the Ruach haKodesh (Hebrew for the holy spirit). The Nasoraean Path warns with many stories that the Ruha is demonic and the queen of deception. She works with Pthahil, her son, who is known as the Fourth Life and father of daemons. Jesus, with the Ruha, established an alternate way that is a Counterfeit of the True Path. It is loaded with nice ways of acting and half-truths, but it is not the True Path. The Ruha made Jesus into a God-man, equal to the false god – Elohim, and inspires millions of followers to enthusiastically proclaim Jesus as God and pray to him as God. Ever wonder why Sins against the son will be forgiven and sin against the father will be forgiven but SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN? Now you know. Jesus removed himself from the Society of John and established his own rival society. He readopted the Hebrew scriptural base and twisted it into a charity that replaced Moses and the temple cult with himself as the embodiment of both. </P>

<P>This explains why the Nasoraeans do not use the word God; it is a meaningless cliché full of false ideas and assumptions.</P>

<H3> THE JUDAEAN SCREWJOB</H3> At the time, John the Baptist was leader of the biggest movement ever since the Maccabean Revolt. It permeated all Jewish Society, the Samaritans, the Herodian rulership, and the Romans themselves. </P>

<P>The New Testament book of John made a claim concerning John the Baptist that Christianity denies. The NIV says: 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. </P>

<P>This admits that John, not Jesus, was ordained as the one by whom ALL might believe. </P>

<P>When asked if John was Elijah to come, he said NO, I am not! John Chapter One: </P>

<P>19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? <BR>20 And he confessed, and did not deny; but confessed: I am not the Christ. <BR>21 And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias (Elijah)? And he said: I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered: No.</P>

<P>Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 11, calls John a liar from the mouth of Jesus:</P> 10 For this is he, of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before you. <BR>11 Verily I say to you: Among those born of women there has not risen a man greater than John the Baptist. <BR>12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. <BR>13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.</BR> 14 And if you will receive it, this is Elias, who was to come.</P>

<P>The testimony of John outside the Bible tells a story that John does not believe Jesus or trust him. The Bible authors tell a story that makes John a believer and servant and one whose sole purpose was to introduce Jesus as the messiah and then get out of the way.</P>

<P>If that is the case, why does John come across skeptical of the Jesus movement even in the Bible? </P>

<P>Matthew 11: 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”</P>

<P>John supposedly had it revealed that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of God with outstanding evidence; why would he doubt it? John was a prophet, a true prophet. Did he not know the voice of God? Why would he question it? Challenge it? Ask for proof?</P>

<P>The Mandaean Book of John tells a different story. Here is a sample of how John truly felt about Jesus:</P>

<P>Thereon John answered Jesus the Jewish Messiah in Jerusalem: You have lied to the Jews and deceived the priests. You have cut off their seed from the men and from the women bearing and being pregnant. The sabbath, which Moses made binding, have you relaxed in Jerusalem. You have lied to them with horns and spread abroad disgrace with the shofar.</P>

<P>John was not a man who believed in Jesus. From the same chapter in the Mandaean Book of John, we read:</P>

<P>(Jesus is speaking) Therefore, baptize me, O John, with your baptizing and utter over me the Name your practice is to utter. If I show myself as your pupil, I will remember you in my writing; if I attest not myself as your pupil, then wipe out my name from your page. You will for your sins be fit to account, and I for my sins will be fit to account.</P>

<P>When Jesus the Jewish Messiah said this, there came a Letter out of the House of Abathur: John, baptize the deceiver in Jordan. Lead him down into the Jordan and baptize him, and lead him up again to the shore, find there set him.</P>

<P>Then Rūhā made herself like to a dove and threw a cross over the Jordan. A cross she threw over the Jordan and made its water to change into various colors. O Jordan, she says, you sanctify me and my seven sons.

<P>What do we learn from this small portion of Mandaean scripture? Jesus requires the baptism of John for his own purposes. Jesus admits himself to be a pupil of John. Jesus recognizes John as a sinner and himself as a sinner. After all, that is the purpose for John’s baptism. John did not want to baptize Jesus but he was overruled by the House of Abathur, the Third Life. The House of Abathur recognizes Jesus as a deceiver. The Ruha, the mother of daemonic deception became the dove and she caused signs to appear over the Jordan.</P>

<P>The disciples of Jesus came from the followers of John. A close examination shows that ALL of them came from John. Jesus, who came from John, called disciples from the Society of John because these had a solid base in Truth. Jesus twisted John’s Truth into a reconstruction of Judaism. He convinced them that he was the embodiment of the Law. In contrast, John preached the True Gospel that the people must turn from the Law and the Priesthood and Temple cult, and adopt the Truth that reigned before David, before Moses, and before Abraham. But the disciples never completely abandoned their love for John. After the alleged demise of Judas, the disciples made a proclamation about anyone who might become one of the Twelve, an apostle: He must be chosen from the “men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us.” He must have been with them from the beginning of John’s baptism. This is why Paul was not qualified to be a member of the Twelve or claim the position of apostle. The nullifies the untold thousands of Christians who have claimed the title of apostle in past and modern times. They can claim an exception based on secret revelation but secret revelation is an excuse, not a reason based on fact.</P>

<P>I use the term Judaean Screw Job because the voices of the Jesus Movement made claims and accusations about the Society of John that were untrue. John did not endorse Jesus as messiah. John believed Jesus to be a deceiver. Jesus left the followers of John and established a rival faction based on the premise that he alone was the true, Jewish Messiah. John never told his own disciples to abandon him and become disciples of Jesus. As a matter of fact, John’s movement was bigger than Jesus’s, and only lost steam when the Romans began persecuting all rival religions. The Nasoraeans and Mandaeans were pacifists. They did not defend themselves with counter force or violence. They were victims of the Christian militants, the Jews, and the Romans. </P>

<H3>GOING BACK TO THE START </H3> The Mandaean and Nasoraean Societies are similar, overlap in many respects, and yet different.

<P>The Mandaeans are a closed society. They do not take converts. They have a rigid priesthood. They baptize frequently, except during forbidden holy days. Mandaeans adopt the terms Nasoraean Mandaean and Mandaean Nasoraeans as a self-designation. </P> <P>The Nasoraeans are an open society. They take converts. They require the convert to adopt a minimum of doctrinal beliefs. They do not have a rigid priesthood. They baptize frequently. Nasoraeans use the term Nasoraean and not the addition of Mandaean attached to the name. </P> <P> Both Mandaean and Nasoraean societies have mutual respect for each other and do not try to change or impede each other in their distinctiveness. They both have distinctive Initiation processes. </P> </P> <P>If your faith does not feel right... If you wish to become a member of the Nasoraean Society, please write Dr. Lewis at Nasoraean Publications, PO Box 1032, Southaven, Mississippi 38671. Leave an email contact address and enough information to constitute a reply. </P> <P>The Life is victorious over all works! </P>