Lynn Picknett, Clive Prince - Jesus, John the Baptist, the Mandeans and the Real Christ

The Mandaeans are gnostic religion. According to Mandaean beliefs, Earth is a mixture of light and dark created by the demiurge (Ptahil) with help from dark powers, such as Ruha, "the Seven" [=7 Planets], and "the Twelve" [=Zodiac Signs]. They consider Jesus as an “apostate Mandaean”, a liar and false prophet. They revere John the Baptist as the True Prophet of the Christ.