Essenes, Therapeutae & Second Temple Gnosticism

It’s an honor to host Gnostic Bishop and researcher Nathan Wilson at the Virtual Alexandria. He’ll share that Second Temple–era Judaism reveals a landscape of diverse sects, scriptures, and competing visions of God that challenge modern assumptions about ancient faith. He’ll trace mystic and proto‑Gnostic groups such as the Essenes, Therapeutae, and related movements, highlighting their cosmology, practices, and conflicts with temple authority. We’ll reframe Jesus and his operation within this contested religious world, using original Greek and Jewish sources to reinterpret figures such as the Devil, Archons, and the “ruler of this world.” In the end, you’ll find that early mystical movements emphasized liberation, justice for the vulnerable, and resistance to corrupt power structures. This is a partial show. For the second half of the interview, please become a member or patron at Patreon Get The Occult Elvis Get The Gnostic Tarot Gnostic Tarot Reading Join the Virtual Alexandria Academy Get the simple, effective, and affordable Red Circle Private RSS Feed for all full shows