Many of the [[Disciple|followers]] of John the Baptist in A.D. the first century, who revered him as a true [[prophet]] of [[God]], rejected Jesus as the Messiah<ref>Because they never received Jesus as the true Messiah and therefore had never been believers in Him, they cannot be classed as [[Heresy|heretics]] or [[Apostasy|apostates]]. They are believers in the God of Israel, but like the Jews are unbelievers in Christ.</ref>. Their descendants have continued to this day as members of the sect of the Mandaeans. | Many of the [[Disciple|followers]] of John the Baptist in A.D. the first century, who revered him as a true [[prophet]] of [[God]], rejected Jesus as the Messiah<ref>Because they never received Jesus as the true Messiah and therefore had never been believers in Him, they cannot be classed as [[Heresy|heretics]] or [[Apostasy|apostates]]. They are believers in the God of Israel, but like the Jews are unbelievers in Christ.</ref>. Their descendants have continued to this day as members of the sect of the Mandaeans. |