2Esdras:13

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* And it came to pass after seven days , I dreamed a dream by night : * And , lo , there arose a wind from the sea , that it moved all the waves thereof . * And I beheld , and , lo , that man waxed strong with the thousands of heaven : and when he turned his countenance to look , all the things trembled that were seen under him . * And whensoever the voice went out of his mouth , all they burned that heard his voice , like as the earth faileth when it feeleth the fire . * And after this I beheld , and , lo , there was gathered together a multitude of men , out of number , from the four winds of the heaven , to subdue the man that came out of the sea * But I beheld , and , lo , he had graved himself a great mountain , and flew up upon it . * But I would have seen the region or place whereout the hill was graven , and I could not . * And after this I beheld , and , lo , all they which were gathered together to subdue him were sore afraid , and yet durst fight . * And , lo , as he saw the violence of the multitude that came , he neither lifted up his hand , nor held sword , nor any instrument of war : * But only I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had been a blast of fire , and out of his lips a flaming breath , and out of his tongue he cast out sparks and tempests . * And they were all mixed together ; the blast of fire , the flaming breath , and the great tempest ; and fell with violence upon the multitude which was prepared to fight , and burned them up every one , so that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing was to be perceived , but only dust and smell of smoke : when I saw this I was afraid . * Afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain , and call unto him another peaceable Multitude . * And there came much people unto him , whereof some were glad , some were sorry , and some of them were bound , and other some brought of them that were offered : then was I sick through great fear , and I awaked , and said , * Thou hast shewed thy servant these wonders from the beginning , and hast counted me worthy that thou shouldest receive my prayer : * Shew me now yet the interpretation of this dream . * For as I conceive in mine understanding , woe unto them that shall be left in those days and much more woe unto them that are not left behind ! * For they that were not left were in heaviness . * Now understand I the things that are laid up in the latter days , which shall happen unto them , and to those that are left behind . * Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities , like as these dreams declare . * Yet is it easier for him that is in danger to come into these things , than to pass away as a cloud out of the world , and not to see the things that happen in the last days . And he answered unto me , and said , * The interpretation of the vision shall I shew thee , and I will open unto thee the thing that thou hast required . * Whereas thou hast spoken of them that are left behind , this is the interpretation : * He that shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself : they that be fallen into danger are such as have works , and faith toward the Almighty . * Know this therefore , that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be dead . * This is the meaning of the vision : Whereas thou sawest a man coming up from the midst of the sea : * The same is he whom God the Highest hath kept a great season , which by his own self shall deliver his creature : and he shall order them that are left behind . * And whereas thou sawest , that out of his mouth there came as a blast of wind , and fire , and storm ; * And that he held neither sword , nor any instrument of war , but that the rushing in of him destroyed the whole multitude that came to subdue him ; this is the interpretation : * Behold , the days come , when the most High will begin to deliver them that are upon the earth . * And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth . * And one shall undertake to fight against another , one city against another , one place against another , one people against another , and one realm against another . * And the time shall be when these things shall come to pass , and the signs shall happen which I shewed thee before , and then shall my Son be declared , whom thou sawest as a man ascending . * And when all the people hear his voice , every man shall in their own land leave the battle they have one against another . * And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together , as thou sawest them , willing to come , and to overcome him by fighting . * But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion . * And Sion shall come , and shall be shewed to all men , being prepared and builded , like as thou sawest the hill graven without hands . * And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations , which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest ; * And shall lay before them their evil thoughts , and the torments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented , which are like unto a flame : and he shall destroy them without labour by the law which is like unto me . * And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him ; * Those are the ten tribes , which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king , whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive , and he carried them over the waters , and so came they into another land . * But they took this counsel among themselves , that they would leave the multitude of the heathen , and go forth into a further country , where never mankind dwelt , * That they might there keep their statutes , which they never kept in their own land . * And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river . * For the most High then shewed signs for them , and held still the flood , till they were passed over . * For through that country there was a great way to go , namely , of a year and a half : and the same region is called Arsareth . * Then dwelt they there until the latter time ; and now when they shall begin to come , * The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again , that they may go through : therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace . * But those that be left behind of thy people are they that are found within my borders . * Now when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations that are gathered together , he shall defend his people that remain . * And then shall he shew them great wonders . * Then said I , O Lord that bearest rule , shew me this : Wherefore have I seen the man coming up from the midst of the sea ? * And he said unto me , Like as thou canst neither seek out nor know the things that are in the deep of the sea : even so can no man upon earth see my Son , or those that be with him , but in the day time . * This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest , and whereby thou only art here lightened . * For thou hast forsaken thine own way , and applied thy diligence unto my law , and sought it . * Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom , and hast called understanding thy mother . * And therefore have I shewed thee the treasures of the Highest : after other three days I will speak other things unto thee , and declare unto thee mighty and wondrous things . * Then went I forth into the field , giving praise and thanks greatly unto the most High because of his wonders which he did in time ; * And because he governeth the same , and such things as fall in their seasons : and there I sat three days .

---