The Scroll of the Rule
The Scroll of the Rule or Community Rule is the written code for our lives together. It outlines our process of learning, our conduct one to another, how our Men of Service function, our relationship with the outside world, and many other issues. The Appendix is our ongoing adaptation for our Community.
The Community Rule
Introduction
In the Community of the Covenant, it is said that we love repentance and a genuine love of repentance is essential to fully participate in all that we do. By the love of repentance we mean the whole process, which is confession and being responsible for any contrary behavior to the nature of Anokeesed, then meaningful and effective processes of change, followed by enriched meaning and fulfillment in relationships concluded with the blessings of a sure knowledge of forgiveness. To us, loving repentance means we love the process in its entirety with the conclusion being that we are better people and completely fulfilled in our lives and stand clean before the Lord.
In the Community of the Covenant we believe that the Lord, our Creator, gave life and consciousness to everything He created and each form element has taken was created to express some very specific feeling of His heart. Such feelings are constant and unchanging, and they literally form a personality to every form element has taken. The term “righteousness” means that a right relationship is acknowledged and entered into with any and all forms of creation, based on what feelings of the Lord were put there in creation. Of all the forms element has taken in creation, one-third of those fell away from their created order and we avoid them as much as possible, or even completely. The other two-thirds of the elements of creation we love and are companions to; relating to them in various ways each day in very personal ways. The spirits of life in element were called Watchers in ancient times. More recently they have been referred to as angels. We love the spirits of life in our kindred and companions among the Angels of Holiness, who we call the Eerkodeshiy. We dislike and stay separate from the fallen angels which we call the Decadarchiy. For a list of the leaders of these two groups of angels see the appendix of The Book of Remembrance: The First & Second Books of Achee.
In the Community, it is common for element to be used to impact and magnify prayers of righteousness. It must always be used with a clear focus on the Lord, being founded on repentance. We consider the use of element without repentance and without a clear focus on the Lord to be an abhorrence. We know that such use commonly can lead to the unforgivable sin. Careful adherence to the definitions built into the elements of the earth at creation must not be altered or varied away from, for our scriptures say that such changes in definition are viewed by the Lord as rebellion (read Enoch 5:85-86, 6:80, 7:28).
Scholars have, for the most part, not understood the expressions of the community in the Dead Sea Scrolls. What they call “the community rule” (11Q) is really the Watch Rule. I have found 68 places where the wording has been edited to suit the needs of various important prayer vigils or Watches.
What scholars call the Damascus Document (CD) is really the Community Rule. As far as I know, it has very little, if any, editing. The Community Rule (CD - same document) has been written to be a guide to educate members of the community in the religious history of Israel so their members could maintain truthful perspectives concerning true teaching of the law. This rule also outlined religious perspectives for all those who may be deciding to become a member of the community. A core function for this rule was to undergird overall community goals and function in Israel.
On the other hand , the Watch Rule had the purpose of maintaining the highest level of purity in spiritual practice and in effective contribution. It had a very strict code for behavior to ensure the success of vital prayer watches. So one will find strict penalties and clear guidance to promote the highest levels of spiritual power in those involved. The Watch Rule was put into practice in an environment of very intense opposition from the Adversary who had many accomplices among the Romans and those of the Temple religion. Those in a watch were constantly under fire from evil and had to be very strong in their relationship with the Holy Spirit.
In our community we have times when we go on important watches. Those times have been of short duration usually. So we have combined together the Watch Rule and the Community Rules found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and edited it to meet our spiritual situation. The Lord has provided wise counsel to those who are forming righteous communities in Melchizedek 9:91-92, in how to formulate a community Rule. We consider the Watch Rule to be for all periods of time because it can be edited to suit the needs of the time and yet continue to be a clear outline for maintaining the utmost spiritual readiness. So here is our Community Rule (CD & 1Q.)
In the Community of the Covenant, it is said that we love repentance and a genuine love of repentance is essential to fully participate in all that we do. By the love of repentance we mean loving the whole process, which is confession and being responsible for any contrary behavior to the nature of Anokeesed, then meaningful and effective processes of change, followed by enriched meaning and fulfillment in relationships concluded with the blessings of a sure knowledge of forgiveness. To us, loving repentance means we love the process in its entirety with the conclusion being that we are better people and completely fulfilled in our lives and stand clean before the Lord. The Living Water is defined as the process of reproval, repentance, and forgiveness.
In the Community of the Covenant we believe that the Lord, our Creator, gave life and consciousness to everything He created and each form element has taken was created to express some very specific feeling of His heart. Such feelings are constant and unchanging, and they literally become a personality to every form element has taken. The term “righteousness” means that a right relationship is acknowledged and entered into with any and all forms of creation, based on what feelings of life the Lord put there in creation. Of all the forms element has taken in creation, one-third of those fell away from their created order and we avoid them as much as possible, or even completely. The other two-thirds of the elements of creation we love and are companions to and are covenanted to be joined with in rich bonds of affection - relating to them in various ways each day in very personal ways. The spirits of life in element were called Watchers in ancient times. Starting with David, they have also been referred to as angels.[1] We love the spirits of life in our kindred and companions among the Angels of Holiness, who we call the Eerkodeshiy. We dislike and stay separate from the fallen angels which we call the Decadarchiy. For a list of the leaders of these two groups of angels see the appendix of this handbook.
In the Community, it is common for element to be used to impact and magnify prayers of righteousness. It must always be used with a clear focus on the Lord, being founded on repentance. We consider the use of element without repentance and without a clear focus on the Lord to be an abhorrence. We know that such use commonly can lead to the unforgivable sin. Careful adherence to the definitions built into the elements of the earth at creation must not be altered or varied away from, for our scriptures say that such changes in definition are viewed by the Lord as rebellion (read Enoch 5:85-86, 6:80, 7:28).
The Community Rule has a profound influence on the community to bring stability and steadfastness in our relationships with creation, each other, and God. It was first composed by Goker Harim I, about 150 BC, in preparation for the time Christ would be born. Those who composed it often referred to themselves as “the true Israel”. The Essenes (Christ’s community led by Goker Harim II or Zabdee - Zebedee in the Bible) lived by this rule all during Christ’s lifetime. This rule is essential for all holy righteous communities who are tasked with fulfilling the prophecies about Israel, especially those of Ephraim and Manassah, in the Latter Days. Those who choose to live by a rule such as this can be known as the “true Israel.”
[1] See Psalm 148 & the first column of the account of creation in Jubilees.