Many of the writings deemed 'apocryphal' and 'pseudepigraphical'were in circulation in the early centuries of Judaism and Christianity. Their influences and impacts on the development of early communities, and the development of Jewish and Christian thoughts, have not yet been sufficiently examined. While this judgment is especially true for the so-called Christian Apocrypha, it also applies for other writings that were not included in the Jewish and Christian Bibles and nor in other sacred collections of Scripture,like Rabbinics and Patristics. Most of these ancient writings functioned, to some degree, as sacred texts or scripture-sacra scriptura-in the communities in which they were produced and in others to which they circulated.This volume focuses on how some of these forgotten voices were heard within numerous early religious communities, helping to remove the distressing silence in many areas of the ancient world.

This is the second volume of scholarly studies in Manichaeism which were originally presented before the Manichaean Studies Group of the Society of Biblical Literature from 1997 through 1999. Like its predecessor, Emerging from Darkness: Studies in the Recovery of Manichaean Sources (Brill, 1997), this volume presents the latest international scholarship from leading researchers in the growing field of Manichaean studies. Here the researchers move from the continuing foundational work of recovering Manichaean sources to the necessary task of understanding the relationship of Manichaeans to the larger world in which they lived. That relationship took several distinct forms, and the contributions in this book analyze those forms, examining the relationship of Manichaeism with diverse cultural, social and religious traditions.

Within EGREGOROI are engraved the first two parts of the scripture dedicated to the Cult of Guardians\Watchers. Valentin Scavr utilizes not only occult and spiritual experience within Res Satanae, but long and arduous work with ancient texts, preserved throughout time, as well as pertinent legends and archeological research. And, irregardless of its inherent artistic merit, it can (and should) be used as a practical course. Thus, this book can catch the breath of those few, fellow-travelers who tread the path of Daemonlatry and the orthodox worship of Diabolic Force.

The first book to explore the history and influence of egregores, powerful autonomous psychic entities created by a collective group mind • Examines the history of egregores from ancient times to present day, including their role in Western Mystery traditions and popular culture and media • Reveals documented examples of egregores from ancient Greece and Rome, Tibetan Buddhism, Islam, modern esoteric orders, the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and Kenneth Grant, and the followers of Julius Evola and Aleister Crowley • Provides instructions on how to identify egregores, free yourself from parasitic and destructive entities, and destroy an egregore, should the need arise One of most important but little known concepts of Western occultism is that of the egregore, an autonomous psychic entity created by a collective group mind. An egregore is sustained by belief, ritual, and sacrifice and relies upon the devotion of a group of people, from a small coven to an entire nation, for its existence. An egregore that receives enough sustenance can take on a life of its own, becoming an independent deity with powers its believers can use to further their own spiritual advancement and material desires. Presenting the first book devoted to the study of egregores, Mark Stavish examines the history of egregores from ancient times to present day, with detailed and documented examples, and explores how they are created, sustained, directed, and destroyed. He explains how egregores were well known in the classical period of ancient Greece and Rome, when they were consciously called into being to watch over city states. He explores the egregore concept as it was understood in various Western Mystery traditions, including the Corpus Hermeticum, and offers further examples from Tibetan Buddhism, Islam, modern esoteric orders such as the Order of the Golden Dawn and Rosicrucianism, the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and Kenneth Grant, and the followers of Julius Evola and Aleister Crowley. The author discusses how, even as the fundamental principles of the egregore were forgotten, egregores continue to be formed, sometimes by accident. Stavish provides instructions on how to identify egregores, free yourself from a parasitic and destructive collective entity, and destroy an egregore, should the need arise. Revealing how egregores form the foundation of nearly all human interactions, the author shows how egregores have moved into popular culture and media--underscoring the importance of intense selectivity in the information we accept and the ways we perceive the world and our place in it.

The Prophet tells a story of Alex a young man who is a modern day prophet. Befriended by a mysterious stranger who attempts to protect him from the fallen angel Azaziel who’s plan to destroy mankind by creating an army of his offspring, which does not include the prophet being alive. The Heavenly Host loses no time in sending their own agent to right the wrongs and stop the fallen. The Watchers must look on as circumstances escalate to bring on the end of days. Can the watchers stop Heaven and Hell falling into a full scale war? Or will the Watchers remain neutral and not interfere again in human affairs? Will Alex and his family survive the carnage unleashed? How will Alex be received by a modern society who seems to have lost all faith? How will society fare against the onslaught of the fallen angels? Indeed how will society fare when measured by a heavenly messenger who has no tolerance of doubt?

The structure of the Apocalypse emerges as the key to its understanding. Here this structure is analyzed and shown to be framed upon the repetition of one constant theme. The mode of the repetition is poetic, but not, as the author is at pains to point out, essentially visual.