2 Esdras 13

1And it happened after seven days that I dreamed a dream in the night.

2And behold, a wind arose from the sea to stir up all its waves.

3And I looked, and behold, that man was flying with the clouds of heaven; and wherever he turned his face to look, everything seen beneath him trembled.

4And wherever a voice went out from his mouth, all who heard his voice burned, just as wax melts when it senses the fire.

5And after this I looked, and behold, a multitude of men was gathering, whose number was beyond counting, from the four winds of heaven, to make war against the man who had come up from the sea.

6And I looked, and behold, he carved out for himself a great mountain and flew upon it.

7But I sought to see the region or place from which the mountain had been carved, and I could not.

8And after this I looked, and behold, all those who had gathered against him to attack him were greatly afraid, yet they still dared to fight.

9And behold, when he saw the assault of the coming multitude, he did not lift his hand, nor did he hold a spear, nor any weapon of war;

10but I only saw how he sent out from his mouth like a wave of fire, and from his lips a breath of flame, and from his tongue he shot out sparks of storm.

11And all these were mixed together—the wave of fire, the breath of flame, and the great storm—and it fell upon the assault of the multitude that had prepared to fight, and burned them all up, so that suddenly nothing could be seen of the innumerable multitude except only the dust of ashes and the smell of smoke. And I saw it and was astonished.

12And after this I saw that man coming down from the mountain and calling to himself another peaceful multitude.

13And many human faces were coming to him: some rejoicing, some grieving; some were bound, and some were bringing those who were being led. And I awoke from the greatness of my fear, and I made supplication to the Most High and said,

14From the beginning you have shown these wonders to your servant, and you have counted me worthy to receive my supplication.

15Also show me the interpretation of this dream. For as I think

16For in my understanding, woe to those who are left in those days, and much more woe to those who are not left!

17For those who are not left will be sorrowful,

18understanding what is stored up in the last days and not encountering them. But also those who are left behind

19But as for those who are left—woe to them for this reason! For they will see great dangers and many distresses, as these dreams show.

20Yet it is easier for one in danger to come into these things than to pass through the age like a cloud and not see what happened in the last days.” And he answered me and said:

21And he answered me and said, “I will tell you the interpretation of the vision, and I will also explain to you the matters about which you have spoken.”

22For you said about those who are left, and about those who are not left, this is the interpretation:

23he who brings the danger at that time will himself protect those who fall into danger, those who have works and faith toward the Most Mighty.

24Therefore know that those who are left are more blessed than those who have died.

25For this is the interpretation of the vision: because you saw a man coming up from the heart of the sea,

26This is he whom the Most High has kept for many ages, who will by himself deliver his creation, and he himself will direct those who are left.

27And because you saw breath and fire and storm coming out from his mouth,

28and that he held neither sword nor weapon of war, yet destroyed the assault of the multitude that had come to attack him, this is the interpretation:

29Behold, days are coming when

30the Most High will begin to deliver those who are upon the earth.

31And bewilderment of mind will come upon those who inhabit the earth. And they will plan to make war, one against another, city against city, place against place,

32nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And it shall be, when these things happen, and the signs occur that I showed you before, then

33my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as a man ascending. And it shall be, when all the nations hear his voice, each will leave his own land and the war that they have against one another,

34and an innumerable multitude will be gathered into one, as you saw,

35wanting to come and attack him.

36But he will stand upon the summit of Mount Zion. And Zion will come and be shown to all, prepared and built, just as you saw the mountain carved out without hands.

37But he, my Son, will rebuke the impieties of the nations that have come, these things that have drawn near like a storm; and he will reproach them to their faces with their evil thoughts and torments,

38with which they are about to be tormented, which are likened to a flame; and he will destroy them without effort, and the law, which is likened to fire.

39And as for your seeing him gathering to himself another peaceful multitude, these are the ten tribes that were taken captive from

40these are the ten tribes that were led away captive from their own land in the days of King Hoshea, whom Shalmaneser king of the Assyrians led away captive; and he carried them across the River, and they were taken into another land.

41But they formed this plan among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the nations and go on into a more distant region, where no human race had ever lived, so that there they might keep their statutes,

42which they had not kept in their own land. But through the entrances

43And they entered into the narrow passages of the river Euphrates.

44For then the Most High performed signs, and held back the channels of the river until they had crossed.

45For through that region there was a long way to travel, of a year and a half; and that region is called Arzareth.

46Then they lived there until the last time; and now they have begun to come again; again the Most High has stopped up the channels of the river, so that they can cross.

47Again the Most High will hold back the channels of the river, so that they may cross. Therefore you saw the multitude gathered in peace.

48But those of your people who are left, who are found within my holy border, shall be saved.

49Then it will be, when he begins to destroy the gathered multitude of the nations, that he will protect the people who survive.

50And then he will show them very many wonders.

51And I said, “Lord Master, show me this: why did I see the man coming up from the heart of the sea?” And he said to me:

52And he said to me, “Just as no one can search out or know what is in the depths of the sea, so no one on earth can see my Son, or those who are with him, except at the time of that day.”

53This is the interpretation of the dream that you saw, and why you alone have been enlightened concerning these things.

54For you have forsaken what belongs to you and have devoted yourself to what belongs to me, and have searched out my law.

55For you have ordered your life in wisdom, and have called understanding your mother.

56Therefore I have shown you these things; for there is a reward with the Most High. For after three more days I will speak further with you and explain to you weighty and wondrous things.”

57And I departed and went into the field, greatly glorifying and praising the Most High for the wonders that he did in their times,

58and because he governs the times and the things that are brought about in the times. And I sat there for three days.