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world are broad and safe, and yield the fruit of immortality. Therefore
un l e s s t he l i v i ng pas s t hr ough t he d i f f i cu l t and f u t i l e expe r i enc e s , t he y
c an ne v e r r e c e i v e t ho s e t h i ng s t ha t hav e be en r e s e r v ed f o r t hem
. Now
therefore why are you disturbed, seeing that you are to perish? Why are you
moved, seeing that you are mortal? Why have you not considered in your
mind what is to come, rather than what is now present?”’
“Then I answered and said, ‘O sovereign Lord,
y ou hav e o rda i ned i n y our
l aw t ha t t he r i gh t e ous sha l l i nhe r i t t he s e t h i ng s ,
but that the ungodly
shall perish. The righteous, therefore, can endure difficult circumstances
while hoping for easier ones; but those who have done wickedly have
suffered the difficult circumstances and will never see the easier ones.’ He
said to me, ‘You are not a better judge than the Lord, or wiser than the
Most High!
Le t many pe r i sh who ar e now l i v i ng , ra t he r t han t ha t t he
l aw o f God t ha t i s s e t be f o r e t hem be d i s r e garded
!
For the Lord strictly
commanded those who came into the world, when they came, what they
should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid punishment.
Nevertheless they were not obedient, and spoke against him; they devised
for themselves vain thoughts, and proposed to themselves wicked frauds;
they even declared that the Most High does not exist, and they ignored his
ways. They scorned his law, and denied his covenants; they have been
unfaithful to his statutes, and have not performed his works. That is the
reason, Ezra [Esdras] that empty things are for the empty, and full things
are for the full.”’
‘
“For indeed the time will come, when the signs that I have foretold to you
will come to pass, that the city that now is not seen shall appear, and the
land that now is hidden shall be disclosed.
Ev e r y one who has be en
de l i v e r ed f r om t he e v i l s t ha t I hav e f o r e t o l d sha l l s e e my wonde r s
. For
my s on t he Me s s i ah sha l l be r e v ea l ed wi t h t ho s e who ar e wi t h h im,
and
those who remain shall rejoice four hundred years. After those years my son
the Messiah shall die, and all who draw human breath. Then the world shall
be turned back to primeval silence for seven days, as it was at the first
beginnings, so that no one shall be left. After seven days the world that is
not yet awake shall be roused, and that which is corruptible shall perish.
The earth shall give up those who are asleep in it and the dust those who
rest there in silence; and the chambers shall give up the souls that have been
committed to them.”’
‘
“The Most High shall be revealed on the seat of judgment, and compassion
shall pass away, and patience shall be withdrawn. Only judgment shall