More about the Signs of the End

1He answered me and said, ‘Measure carefully in your mind, and when you see that some of the predicted signs have occurred, 2then you will know that it is the very time when the Most High is about to visit the world that he has made. 3So when there shall appear in the world earthquakes, tumult of peoples, intrigues of nations, wavering of leaders, confusion of princes, 4then you will know that it was of these that the Most High spoke from the days that were of old, from the beginning. 5For just as with everything that has occurred in the world, the beginning is evident,9.5 Syr: Ethiop is in the word; Meaning of Lat uncertain and the end manifest; 6so also are the times of the Most High: the beginnings are manifest in wonders and mighty works, and the end in penalties9.6 Syr: Lat Ethiop in effects and in signs.

7‘It shall be that all who will be saved and will be able to escape on account of their works, or on account of the faith by which they have believed, 8will survive the dangers that have been predicted, and will see my salvation in my land and within my borders, which I have sanctified for myself from the beginning. 9Then those who have now abused my ways shall be amazed, and those who have rejected them with contempt shall live in torments. 10For as many as did not acknowledge me in their lifetime, though they received my benefits, 11and as many as scorned my law while they still had freedom, and did not understand but despised it9.11 Or me while an opportunity of repentance was still open to them, 12these must in torment acknowledge it9.12 Or me after death. 13Therefore, do not continue to be curious about how the ungodly will be punished; but inquire how the righteous will be saved, those to whom the age belongs and for whose sake the age was made.’9.13 Syr: Lat saved, and whose is the age and for whose sake the age was made and when

The Argument Recapitulated

14I answered and said, 15‘I said before, and I say now, and will say it again: there are more who perish than those who will be saved, 16as a wave is greater than a drop of water.’

17He answered me and said, ‘As is the field, so is the seed; and as are the flowers, so are the colours; and as is the work, so is the product; and as is the farmer, so is the threshing-floor. 18For there was a time in this age when I was preparing for those who now exist, before the world was made for them to live in, and no one opposed me then, for no one existed; 19but now those who have been created in this world, which is supplied both with an unfailing table and an inexhaustible pasture,9.19 Cn: Lat law have become corrupt in their ways. 20So I considered my world, and saw that it was lost. I saw that my earth was in peril because of the devices of those who9.20 Cn: Lat devices that had come into it. 21And I saw and spared some9.21 Lat them with great difficulty, and saved for myself one grape out of a cluster, and one plant out of a great forest.9.21 Syr Ethiop Arab 1: Lat tribe 22So let the multitude perish that has been born in vain, but let my grape and my plant be saved, because with much labour I have perfected them.

23‘Now, if you will let seven days more pass—do not, however, fast during them, 24but go into a field of flowers where no house has been built, and eat only of the flowers of the field, and taste no meat and drink no wine, but eat only flowers— 25and pray to the Most High continually, then I will come and talk with you.’

The Abiding Glory of the Mosaic Law

26So I went, as he directed me, into the field that is called Ardat;9.26 Syr Ethiop Arpad; Arm Ardab there I sat among the flowers and ate of the plants of the field, and the nourishment they afforded satisfied me. 27After seven days, while I lay on the grass, my heart was troubled again as it was before. 28Then my mouth was opened, and I began to speak before the Most High, and said, 29‘O Lord, you showed yourself among us, to our ancestors in the wilderness when they came out from Egypt and when they came into the untrodden and unfruitful wilderness; 30and you said, “Hear me, O Israel, and give heed to my words, O descendants of Jacob. 31For I sow my law in you, and it shall bring forth fruit in you, and you shall be glorified through it for ever.” 32But though our ancestors received the law, they did not keep it and did not observe the9.32 Lat my statutes; yet the fruit of the law did not perish—for it could not, because it was yours. 33Yet those who received it perished, because they did not keep what had been sown in them. 34Now this is the general rule that, when the ground has received seed, or the sea a ship, or any dish food or drink, and when it comes about that what was sown or what was launched or what was put in is destroyed, 35they are destroyed, but the things that held them remain; yet with us it has not been so. 36For we who have received the law and sinned will perish, as well as our hearts that received it; 37the law, however, does not perish but survives in its glory.’

The Vision of a Weeping Woman

38When I said these things in my heart, I looked around,9.38 Syr Arab Arm: Lat I looked about me with my eyes and on my right I saw a woman; she was mourning and weeping with a loud voice, and was deeply grieved at heart; her clothes were torn, and there were ashes on her head. 39Then I dismissed the thoughts with which I had been engaged, and turned to her 40and said to her, ‘Why are you weeping, and why are you grieved at heart?’

41She said to me, ‘Let me alone, my lord, so that I may weep for myself and continue to mourn, for I am greatly embittered in spirit and deeply distressed.’

42I said to her, ‘What has happened to you? Tell me.’

43And she said to me, ‘Your servant was barren and had no child, though I lived with my husband for thirty years. 44Every hour and every day during those thirty years I prayed to the Most High, night and day. 45And after thirty years God heard your servant, and looked upon my low estate, and considered my distress, and gave me a son. I rejoiced greatly over him, I and my husband and all my neighbours;9.45 Literally all my citizens and we gave great glory to the Mighty One. 46And I brought him up with much care. 47So when he grew up and I came to take a wife for him, I set a day for the marriage feast.