And measures and matters of The Truth of the "time" we are in ...how "man" ..."thought to change time and times ... Dearly beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, how that one day is with the Lord, as a thousand year, and a thousand year as one day.
The Lord is not slack to fulfil his promise, as some men count slackness: but is patient to us ward, and would have no man lost, but would receive all men to repentance.
creteis@yahoo.com Behold in a dread nightmare of the dark season ...of the times and time ..of the season of man ...see son of man ...
and i was taken and shown a dread deadly utter darkness ...
and out of the shadowing came two serpents against each other. (period)
and the serpent on the Right consumed the serpent on the Left...
and i was able to see ...invisible things ...
even within the serpent on the Right ...
and again as the two heads met ...the head of the serpent of the Left was within the head of the serpent on the Right.
even within the body ...of the serpent on the Right.
Again even as the serpent on the Right consumed the serpent on the Left.
and scripture came back to remembrance ...
And the Lord said unto Moses: behold, I have made thee Pharaos God, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharao: that he send the children of Israel out of his land. But I will harden Pharaos heart, that I may multiply my miracles and my wonders in the land of Egypt. And yet Pharao shall not hearken unto you, that I may set mine hand upon Egypt and bring out mine armies, even my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, with great judgements. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I have stretched forth my hand upon Egypt, and have brought out the children of Israel from among them.
Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them. And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty three when they spake unto Pharao. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron saying: when Pharao speaketh unto you and saith: shew a wonder, then shalt thou say unto Aaron, take the rod and cast it before Pharao, and it shall turn to a serpent. Then went Moses and Aaron in unto Pharao, and did even as the Lord had commanded. And Aaron cast forth his rod before Pharao and before his servants, and it turned to a serpent. Then Pharao called for the wise men and enchanters of Egypt: and they did in like manner with their sorcery. And they cast down every man his rod, and they turned to serpents: but Aarons rod ate up their rods: and yet for all that Pharaos heart was hardened, so that he hearkened not unto them, even as the Lord had said. Then said the Lord unto Moses: Pharaos heart is hardened, and he refuseth to let the people go. Get thee unto Pharao in the morning, for he will come unto the water, and stand thou upon the rivers brink against he come, and the rod which turned to a serpent take in thine hand. And say unto him: the Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee saying: let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: but hitherto thou wouldest not hear. Wherefore thus saith the Lord: hereby thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will smite with the staff that is in mine hand upon the waters that are in the river, and they shall turn to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink: so that it shall grieve the Egyptians to drink of the water of the river.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, say unto Aaron: take thy staff and stretch out thine hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, rivers, ponds and all pools of water, that they may be blood, and that there may be blood in all the land of Egypt: both in vessels of wood and also of stone.
And Moses and Aaron did even as the Lord commanded. And he lifted up the staff and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharao and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the river, turned into blood. And the fish that was in the river died, and the river stank: so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river. And there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.
And the enchanters of Egypt did likewise with their enchantments, so that Pharaos heart was hardened and did not regard them as the Lord had said. And Pharao turned himself and went into his house, and set not his heart thereunto. And the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink, for they could not drink of the water of the river. And it continued a week after that the Lord had smite the river.THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 1
The second book of the prophet Esdras ( the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias the son of Neichia, the son of Sallum, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitou, the son of *Amerias, the son of Azarias, the son of Maraioth, the son of Sahias, the son of Uzi, the son of Boccus, the son of Abisu, the son of Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi ) which was prisoner in the land of the Meedes, in the reign of Artaxerses king of Persia.
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying : go thy way, and show my people their sinful deeds, and their children their wickednesses, which they have done against me, that they may tell their childrens children the same: for the sins of their fathers are increased in them. And why they have forgotten me, and have offered unto strange gods. Am not I even he, that brought them out of the land of egypt, from the house of bondage: But they have provoked me unto wrath, and despised my counsels. Pull thou out then the heart of thy head, and call all evil over them, for they have not been obedient to my law.
This is a people with out learning and nurture. How long shall I forebear them, unto whom I have done so much good: Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes: Pharo with his servants and all his power have I smitten down and slayen: All the nations have I destroyed and rooted out before them, and in the East I brought two lands and people to nought, even Tyre and Sidon, and have slayen all their enemies. Speak thou therefore unto them, saying: Thus sayeth the Lord: I lead you through the sea, and have given you sure streets since the beginning. I gave you Moses to be your captain, and Arron to be the priest: I gave you light in a pillar of fire, and great wonders have I done among you: yet have ye forgotten me, sayeth the Lord.
Thus sayeth the almighty Lord: I gave you quails to eat, and tents for your succor: Nevertheless ye murmured, and ascribed not the victory of your enemies unto my name: yee this same day do ye murmur. Where are the benefits, that I have done for you: when ye were hungry in the wilderness, did ye not cry unto me: Why hast thou brought us unto this wilderness, to kill us: It had been better for us, to have served the egyptians, then to die in this wilderness. Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you manna to eat. Ye ate angels food. When ye were thirsty, did not I hew the hard stone, and cause water to flow thereout? For the heat I covered you with the leaves of the trees. And good pleasant fat land gave I you: I cast out the Canaanites, the Pheresites, and the Philistines before you. What shall I do more for you, sayeth the Lord?
Thus sayeth the almighty Lord: When ye were in the wilderness, in the water of the Amorites, being a thirst, and blaspheming my name, I gave you not fire for your blasphemes, but cast a tree into the water, and made the river sweet. What shall I do unto thee, O' Jacob? Thou Juda wouldest not obey me: I will turn me to another people, and unto those I will give my name, that they may keep my statutes. Seeing ye have forsaken me, I will forsake you also. When ye desire me to be gracious unto you, I shall have not mercy upon you. When ye call upon me, I will not hear you. For ye have defiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter. Ye have not forsaken me ( in a manner ) but your own selves, sayeth the Lord.
Thus sayeth the almighty Lord: have I not prayed you, as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and as a nurse her young babes, that ye would be my people, and I should be your God: that ye would be my children, and I should be your own father: I gathered you together, as an hen gathereth her chickens under her wings. But now what shall I do unto you? I shall cast you out from my face: When ye offer unto me, I shall turn my face from you: for your solemn feast days, your new moons, and your circumcisions have I forsaken. I sent unto you my servants the Prophets, whom you have taken and slayen, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, sayeth the Lord.
Thus sayeth the almighty Lord: your house must be desolate. I will cast you out as the wind doeth the straw: your children shall not be fruitful, for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is evil before me. Your houses will I give unto a people that shall come, and they that never heard me shall believe in me: and they unto whom I never showed token, shall do the thing that I command them. They have seen no Prophets, yet shall they call their sin to remembrance, and knowledge them. I report me unto the grace, that I will do for that people which is to come, whose childern rejoice in gladness: and though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe: the things that I say. And now brother, behold what great worship, and see the people that cometh from the East, unto whom I will give the dukedom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of *Dseas, Amos, and Micheas, of Joel, Abdy, Jonas, Naum, and Abacuc, of Sophony, Aggeus, Zachary, and Malachi; which is called also an angel (or messenger ) of the Lord*Amerias later see the Eagle whose wings cover the earth: note. RN
*Dseas =Hosea, Micheas =Micah, Abdy =Obadiah, Jonas = Jonah, Naum =Nahum, Abacuc =Habakkuk, Sophony =Zephanaih, Aggeus = Haggai, Zachary =Zechariah,THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 3
In the third year of the fall of the city, I was at Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart: for I saw the desolation of Sion, and the plenteous wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon: and my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak fearful words to the most highest, and said: O' Lord, Lord, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou planted the earth ( and that thyself alone) and gavest commandment unto the people, and a body unto Adam, which was a creature of thy hands, and hast breathed in him the breath of life: and so he lived before thee, and thou leadest him into paradise, which garden of pleasure thy right hand had planted, or ever the earth was made. And unto him thou gavest the commandment to love thy ways, which he transgressed, and immediately thou appointedest death in him, and in his generations. Of him came nations, tribes, people and kindreds out of number. And every people walked after their own will, and did nice things before thee: and as for thy commandments, they despised them.
But in process of time thou broughtest the water flood, upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyed them. And like as the death was in Adam, so was the water flood also in these. Nevertheless one of them thou leftest: namely Noe with his household, of whom came all righteous men. And it happened that when they that dwell upon the earth, began to multiply, and had gotten many children, and were a great people, they began to be more ungodly than the first.
Now when they all lived so wickedly before thee, thou chose thee a man from among them, whose name was Abraham. Him thou lovest, and unto him only thou showest thy will, and made an everlasting covenant with him, promising him, that thou wouldest never forsake his seed. And unto him thou gavest Isaac, unto Isaac also thou gavest Jacob and Esau. As for Jacob thou didest choose him, and put back Esau. And so Jacob became a great multitude.
And it happened that when thou leadest his feet out of egypt, thou broughtest them up to the mount Sion, bowing down the heavens, setting fast the earth, moving the ground, making the depths to shake, and troubling the world: And thy glory went through four ports of fire, and earthquakes, and winds, and cold: that thou mayest give the law unto the seed of Jacob, and diligence unto the generation of Israel.
And yet tookest thou not away from them that wicked heart, that thy law might bring forth fruit in them. For the first Adam bear a wicked heart, transgressed, and was overcome, and so be all that were born of him. Thus remained weakness with the law in the heart of the people, with the wickedness of the root: so that the good departed away, and the evil abode still. So the times past and fled away, and the years were brought to an end. Then didest thou raise up a servant called David, whom thou commandest to build a city unto thy name, and to offer up incense and sacrifice unto thee therein. This was done now many years. Then the inhabitors of the city forsook thee, and in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a wicked heart.
And so thou gavest the city over into the hands of thine enemies. Are they of Babylon then better and more righteous then thy people, that they shall therefore have the dominion of Sion: For when I came there, and saw their ungodliness, and so great wickedness, that it could not be numbered: yee when my soul saw so many evil doers ( in the thirty year) my heart failed me, for I saw, how thou sufferest them in such ungodliness, and spareth the wicked doers: but thy own people thou hast routed out, and preserved thine enemies, and this thou hast not showed me.
I cannot perceive how this happeneth. Do they of Babylon then better, then they of Sion: Or is there any other people, that knoweth thee, saving the people of Israel? Or what generation hath so believed thy covenants, as Jacob? And yet their reward appeareth not, and their labor hath no fruit. For I have gone here and there through the Heathen, and I see that they be rich and wealthy, and think not upon thy commandments. Weigh thou therefore our wickedness in the balance, and theirs also that dwell in the world, and so shall your name be no where found but in Israel. Or where is there a people upon earth, that has not sinned before thee? Or what people hath so kept thy commandments? Thou shalt find, that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts, but not the other people and the HeathenTHE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 9
He answered me then and said: Measure thou the time diligently in it self, when thou seest that one part of the tokens come to pass, which I have told thee before: so shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world, which he made. And when there shall be seen earthquake and uproar of the people in the world, then shalt thou well understand, that the most Highest spoke of these things, from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.
For like as all that is made in the world, hath a beginning and end, and the end is manifest: Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in wonders and signs, and the end in working and in tokens. And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works and by faith, wherein ye have believed, shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my favor in my land and within my borders, for I have hallowed me from the world. Then shall they be in carefulness, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast them out despitefully, shall dwell in pains.
For such as in their life have received benefits and have not known me, and they that have abhorred my law, while they had yet freedom, and when they had yet open room of amendment and consideration, and understood not, but despised it: that same must know it after death is pain. And therefore be thou no more careful, how the ungodly shall be punished, and how the righteous shall be saved, and whose the world is, and for whom the world, and when it is. Then answered I and said: I have talked before and now I speak, and will speak also here after, that there be many more of them which perish, then shall be saved, like as the flood is greater then the drops.
And he answered me, saying: as the field is, so is also the seed: as the flowers be, so are the colors also: such as the workman is, such is also the work: and as the husband man is himself, so is his husbandry also, for it was the time of the world. And when I prepared for them that are now, or ever the world was made, wherein they should dwell, then was there no man that withstood me. Now when every one was , and the maker also in the world which is now prepared, and the month that ceased not, and the law which is unsearchable, their manners were corrupt. So I considered the world, and behold there was peril, because of the thoughts that were come into it. And I saw, and spared them greatly, and have kept me a wineberry of the grapes, and a plant from among many generations. Let the multitude perish then, which are grown up in vain, and let my grape and wineberry be kept: even my plant: for with great labor I have made it up.
Nevertheless if thou wilt take upon thee yet seven days more ( but thou shall not fast in them ) go thy way then into the field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only of the flowers of the field, taste not flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only. Pray unto the Highest continually, so will I come, and talk with thee.
So I went my way and came in to the field which is called *Ardath ( like as he commanded me ) and there I sat among the flowers, and ate of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me. After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me like afore: and I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Highest, and said: O' Lord, thou that showest thy self to us, thou hast declared and opened thy self unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a barren place, when they came out of egypt, and thou speakest saying: Hear me O Israel, and mark my words thou seed of Jacob. Behold, I saw my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and yee shall be honored in it forever. For our fathers which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances and statutes, and the fruit of thy law was not declared: for it might not, for why? it was thine. For they that received it, perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
It is a custom when the ground receiveth seed, or the sea a ship, or a vessel meat and drink, that when it perisheth or is broken wherein a thing is sown, or where any thing is put: the things also perish and are broken, which are sown or put therein. But unto us it hath not happened so: for we that have received the law, perish in sin, and sure heart which also received the law: not withstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his labor.
And when I considered these things in my heart after this manner, I looked about me with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, which mourned sore, made great lamentation, and wept with loud voice: her clothes were rent in pieces, and she had ashes on her head.
Then let I my thoughts go, that I was in, and turned me unto her, and said: wherefore weepiest thou? why art thou so sorry and discomforted? And she said unto me: Sir, let me bewail myself and take yet more sorrow: for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low. And I said unto her: what aileth thee? Or who hath done anything to thee? tell me. She said: I have been unfruitful and barren, and have had a husband thirty years. And these thirty years I do nothing else day and night and all hours, but make my prayer to the Highest. After thirty years God heard me thy handmaiden, looked upon my misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son, and I was glad of him, so was my husband also and all my neighbors, and we gave great honor unto the Mighty. And I nourished him with great travail. So when he grew up, and came to the time, that he should have a wife, I made a feast* Ard = "I shall subdue" & ah= ah!, alas!,
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 11
Then saw I a dream: and behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve wings and three heads: And I saw, and behold, *he spread his wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew in them, and so they were put together again. And I beheld, and out of his feathers there grew other little contrary feathers: the heads rested, the head in the midst was greater than the others, yet rested it with the residue.
Moreover I saw, that the eagle flew with his wings, and reigned upon the earth, and over all them that dwell upon the earth: and I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto him, and no man spoke against him, no not one creature upon the earth. I saw also that the eagle stood up on his claws, and give a sound with his feathers, and a voice saying things after this manner: watch not all together, sleep every man in his own place, and watch for a time, but let the heads be preserved at the last. Nevertheless I saw, that the voice went not out of his heads, but from the midst of his body. And I numbered his contrary feathers, and behold there were eight of them. And I looked, and behold upon the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth. And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more. So the next following stood up, and reigned, and had a great time: and it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.
Then came there a voice unto it, and said: Hear thou that hast kept in the earth so long, this I say unto thee, before thou beginest to appear no more: There shall none after thee attain unto thy time. Then arose the third, and reigned as the other afore, and appeared no more also. So went it with all the residue one after the other, so that every one reigned, and then appeared no more. Then I looked, and behold, in the process of time that the feathers that followed were set up upon the right side, that they might rule also: and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more: for some of them were set up, but ruled not. After this I looked, and behold the twelve feathers appeared no more, and that two wings: and there were no more upon the eagles body, but the two heads that rested, and six feathers. Then saw I also, that the six feathers were parted in two, and remained under the head, that was upon the right side, for the four continued in their place. So I looked, and behold, they that were under the wings, thought to set up themselves, and to have the rule. Then was there one set up, but shortly it appeared no more, and the second was sooner away than the first. And I beheld, and lo, the two thought also by themselves to reign: and when they so thought, behold there awaked one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst, for that was the greater of the two heads. And then I saw, that the two heads were filled with him and the head was turned with them that were by him, and eat up the two under wings , that would have reigned.
But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it, over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much labor, and he had the governance of the world, over all the fowls that have been. After this I looked , and behold, the head that was in the midst, suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings: then came the two heads, which ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein. And I beheld, and lo the head upon the right side, devoured it that was upon the left side. And I heard a voice, which said unto me: look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest. Then I saw, and behold, as it were a lion that roareth, running hastily out of the wood, and he sent out a mans voice unto the eagle, and said: Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee: Is it not thou that hast the victory of the four beasts, whom I made to reign upon the earth and in my world, and that the end of their times might come through them?
And the fourth came, and *overwane, subdue all the beasts that were past, and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with the most wicked labor, and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit, and the earth thou hast not judged with truth. For thou hast troubled the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable and quiet, thou hast loved lies, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm. Therefore is thy wrongeous dealing and blasphemy come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty. The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and behold, they are ended, and their abominations are fulfilled. And therefore appear no more thou eagle, and thy horrible wings, and thy wicked feathers, and thy ungracious heads, and thy sinful claws, and all thy vain body: that the earth may be refreshed, and come again to herself, when she is delivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgement and mercy of him that made herNote Eagle *he spread his wings "over all the earth". *overwane= lord over (sml l ) over / diminish, weaken.
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 12
And it happened when the Lion spake, these words unto the eagle, I saw, and behold, the head that afore had the upper hand, appeared no more: neither did the four wings appear any more, that came to him, and were set up to reign: and their kingdom was small and full of uproar. And I saw, and behold, they appeared no more, and the whole body of the eagle was burnt, and the earth was in great fear. Then awakened I out of the trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit: Lo, this hast thou given me, in that thou searchest out the ways of the Highest: lo, yet I am weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit, and little strength is there in me, for the great fear that I received this night. Therefore will I now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end: And I said, Lord, Lord, if I have before thy sight, and if I am justified with thee before many other, and if my prayer be come up before thy face, comfort me then, and show me thy servant the interpretation and plain difference of this horrible sight, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul: for thou hast judged me worthy, to show me the last of times.
And he said unto me: this is the interpretation of this sight. The eagle whom thou saw sawest come up from the sea, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel, but it was not expounded unto him, for now I declare it unto thee. Behold, the days come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon the earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it. In the same kingdom shall twelve kings reign, one after the other. For the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than the other, and this do the twelve wings signify, which thou sawest. As for the voice that spake, and that thou sawest go out from the heads but not from the body, it be tokeneth, that after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great strivings, and it shall stand in peril of falling: nevertheless it shall not yet fall, but shall be set in to his beginning. And the eight under wings which thou sawest hang unto the wings of him, betoken, that in him there shall arise eight kings, whose time shall be small, and their years swift, and two of them shall bear. But when the midst time cometh, there shall be four kept in that time, when his time begineth to come that it may be ended, but two shall be kept unto the end.
And where as thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation: In his last shall the Highest raise up three kingdoms, and call many again into them, and they shall have the dominion of the earth, and of those that dwell therein, with much labor above all those that were before them. Therefore are they called the heads of the eagle: for it is they that shall bring forth his wickedness again, and that shall perform and finish his last. And where as thou sawest, that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth, that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain, for the two that remain, shall be slain with the sword. For the sword of the one shall devour the other, but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself.
And where as thou sawest two underwings upon the head that is on the right side, it signifieth that it is they, whom the Highest hath kept unto their end: this is a small kingdom, full of trouble. The Lion whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking unto the eagle, and rebuking him for his unrighteousness, is the wind, which the Highest hath kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and rent them asunder before them. For he shall set them living before the judgement, and shall rebuke them: for the residue of my people shall he deliver with trouble, those that be preserved over mine ends: and he shall make them joyful until the coming day of Judgement, where of I have spoken unto thee from the beginning. This is the dream that thou sawest, and this is the interpretation. Thou only hast been mete to know the secret of the Highest.
Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them, and teach them the wise in the people, whos hearts thou knowest may comprehend and keep these secrets. But wait thou here thyself yet seven days more, that it may be showed the , whatsoever pleaseth the Highest to declare unto thee, and with that he went his way.
And when all the people perceived, that the seven days were past, And I come again into the city, they gathered them all together from the least to the most, and came unto me, and said: what have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsake us, and sitteth here in this place? For of all the people thou only are left us, as a grape of the vine, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven a ship preserved from the tempest. Have we not adversity enough, but thou must forsake us? Were it not better for us, that we had been burnt with Sion? For we are no better, then they that died there: and they wept with loud voice. Then answered I them and said: Be of good comfort O' Israel, be not heavy thou house of Jacob: for the Highest hath you in remembrance, and the Mighty hath not forgotten you in temptation. As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come into this place to pray, because of the misery of Israel, that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your Sanctuary. And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you. So the people went their way into the city, like as I commanded them: but I remained in the field seven days, as the Angel bade me: and I ate only of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of the herbs in those daysTHE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 14
Upon the third day I sat under an oak tree, then came there a voice unto me out of the bush, and said: Esdras, Esdras? And I said: here am I Lord, and stood up on my feet. Then spake he unto me: In the bush did I appear unto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in egypt, and I sent him, and led my people out of egypt, and brought him upon mount Sion, where I held him by me a long season, and told him my wondrous works, and showed him the secrets of the times and the end, and commanded him, saying: These words shalt thou declare, and not hide them. And now I say unto thee, that thou lay up in thy heart the dreams that thou hast seen, and the interpretations which I have showed thee: for thou shalt be received of all, thou shalt be turned and remain in my counsel, and with such as be like thee, until the times be ended. For the world hath lost his youth, and the time is divided into twelve parts, and ten parts of it are gone already, and half of the tenth part: yet remaineth there that, which is after the half of the tenth part.
Therefore prepare and order thy house, and reform thy people: comfort such of them as be in trouble: and tell now of the destruction: let go from thee all mortal thoughts: cast away the burthens of man: put off the weak nature: lay up in some places the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and hast thee to flight from these times: for such evil and wickedness as thou hast now seen happen, shall they do yet much worse. For the weaker that the world and the times is, the more shall sin and wickedness increase, in them that dwell upon the earth: For the truth is fled far away, and the leasing is hard at hand. For now hasteth the vision to come, that thou hast seen.
Then answered I and said: Behold Lord, I will go as thou hast commanded me, and reform the people which are present. But they that shall be born afterward, who will exhort or rebuke them? Thus the world is set in darkness, and they that dwell therein, are without light: for thy law is kindled, because no man knoweth the things that are done of thee, or that shall be done. If I have found grace before thee, send the holy ghost into me, and I shall write all that hath been done in the world since the beginning, which was written in thy law, that men may find the path, and that they which will live in the latter days, may live.
And he answered me, saying: Go thy way, gather thy people together, and say unto them, that they seek thee not for forty days, but look thou gather the many box trees, and take with thee Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Echanus and Asiall, these five, which are ready to write swiftly, and come hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in thine heart which shall not be put out, till the things be performed which thou shalt begin to write. Then shalt thou declare some things openly unto the perfect, and some things thou shalt show secretly to the wise. Tomorrow this hour thou shalt begin to write.
Then went I forth (as he commanded me) and gathered all the people together, and said: Hear these words O' Israel: Our fathers from the beginning were strangers in egypt, from whence they were delivered, and received the law of life, which they kept not, which thee have also transgressed after them. Then was this land and the land of Sion parted among you by lot to possess. But your fathers and yee yourselves also have done unrighteousness, and have not kept the ways which the Highest commanded you. And for so much as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that he had given you. And now are yee here and your brethren among you. Therefore if so be that yee will subdue your own understanding, and reform your heart, ye shall be kept alive, and after death ye shall obtain mercy. For after death shall the judgement come, when we shall live again: and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the names of the ungodly with their works shall be declared. Let no man therefore come now unto me, nor ask any question at me these forty days.
So I took the five men (as he commanded me) and we went into the field, and remained there. The next days a voice called me saying: Esdras, open thy mouth, and behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full a water, but the color of it was like fire. And I took it and drank. And when I had drunk it , my heart had understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast: for my spirit was kept in remembrance, and my mouth was opened and shut no more. The Highest gave understanding to the five men, that they wrote the high things of the night, which they understood not. But in the night they ate bread: as for me, I spake in the day, and held not my tongue by night. In forty days, they wrote two hundred and four books.
And it happened when the forty days were fulfilled, that the Highest spake, saying: The first that thou hast written, speak openly, that the worthy and the unworthy may read it. But keep the seventy last that thou mayest show it only to such as be wise among thy people. For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge. And I did soTHE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 15
Behold speak thou in the ears of my people the words of the prophecy, which I will put in thy mouth, sayeth the Lord: and cause this to be written in a letter, for it is the truth. Fear not the imaginations against thee, let not the unfaithfulness of them trouble thee, that speak against thee. For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness. Behold sayeth the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world, the sword hunger, death and destruction: for wickedness hath the upper hand in all the earth, and their shameful works are fulfilled.
Therefore sayeth the Lord: I will hold my tongue no more unto their wickedness, which they do so ungodly: neither will I suffer them in the things, that they deal with all so wickedly. Behold the innocent blood of the troubled crieth unto me, and the souls of the righteous complain continually: And therefore (sayeth the Lord) I will surely avenge and recause unto me all the innocent blood from among them.
Behold, my people, is led as a flock of sheep to be slain, I will not suffer them now to dwell in egypt, but will bring them out with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and smite it with plagues as before, and will destroy all the land of it. egypt will mourn, and the foundations of it shall be smitten with the plague and punishment, that God shall bring upon it.
They that till the ground, shall mourn: for their seeds shall be destroyed through the blasting and hail, and an horrible star Do warneth the world and them that dwell therin, for the sword and their destruction draweth nigh, and one people shall stand up to fight against another, and swords in their hands. For men shall be unsteadfast, and some shall do violence unto the other: they shall not regard their king and princes, the ways of their doings and the handlings in their power. A man shall desire to go into the city, and shall not be able. For because of their pride the cities shall be brought in fear, the houses shall shake, and men shall be afraid. A man shall have no pity upon his neighbor, but one shall provoke another unto battle to spoil their goods because of the hunger of bread, and because of the great trouble.
Behold, I gather together and call together all the kings of the earth which are from the uprising, from the South, from the East and Libanus to turn unto them, and restore the things they have given them. Like as they do yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also, and recompense them in their bosom. Thus sayeth the Lord God: My right hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them, that shed the innocent blood upon the earth. The fear has gone out from his wrath, and the sinners like the straw that is kindled. Do warneth them that sin, and keep not my commandments, sayeth the Lord. I will not spare them. Go your way ye children from violence, defile not my sanctuary: for the Lord knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore delivereth he them unto death and destruction: for now are the plagues come upon the world, and ye shall remain in them. For God shall not deliver you, because you have sinned against him.
Behold, an horrible vision cometh from the East, where generations of Dragons shall come out, and the people of the Arabes with many chariots, and the multitude of them shall be as the wind upon the earth, that all that hear them raging in their wrath, may fear and be afraid: and as the wild boars out of the wood, so shall they go out, and with great power shall they come, and stand fighting with them, and shall waste the portion of the land of the Assirians.
And then shall the Dragons have the upper hand, not remembering their birth, and shall turn about swearing together in great power, to persecute them. But these shall be afraid, and keep silence at their power, and shall flee: and one out of the land of the Assirians shall besiege them, and consume one of them, and in their host shall be fear and dread, and strife among their kings.
Behold clouds from the East, and from the North unto the South, and they are very horrible to look upon, full of wrath and storm. They shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite at the great star upon earth and their star, and the blood shall be from the sword unto the belly, and the smoke of man unto the camels litter: And there shall be great fearfulness and trembling upon the earth, and they that see wrath shall be afraid, and a trembling shall come upon them.
And then shall there come great rains from the South and from the North, and part from the West, and from the stormy wind from the East, and shall shut them up again, and the cloud which he raised up in wrath, and the star to cause fear toward the East and West wind, shall be destroyed: and the great clouds shall be lift up, and the mighty clouds full of wrath, and the star, that they may make all the earth afraid and them that dwell therin, and that they may pour out over all places an horrible star, fire and hail and flying swords, and many waters: that all fields may be full, and all rivers, and they shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and hills, all trees, wood, and the grass of the meadows, and all their fruit. And they shall go steadfast into Babylon, and make her afraid, they shall come to her and besiege her: the star and all wrath shall they pour out upon her.
Then shall the dust and smoke go up unto heaven, and all they that be about her, shall bewail her: and they that remain under her, shall do service unto them that have put her in fear: And thou Asia that comfort thyself also upon the hope of Babylon, and art a worshipper of her person: Woe be unto thee thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself like unto her, and hast decked thy daughters in whoredom, that they might triumph and please thy lovers, which have always desired to commit whoredom with thee: thou hast followed the abominable city in all her works and inventions.
Therefore sayeth God: I will send plagues upon thee, widowhood, poverty, hunger, wars, and pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death, and the glory of thy power shall be dried up as a flower, when the heat ariseth that is sent over thee. Thou shalt *bespeck as a poor wife that is plagued and beaten of women: so that the mighty and lover shall not be able to receive thee. Would I so hate thee sayeth the Lord? If thou haddest not always slain my chosen, exalting the stroke of thy hands, and said over their death, when thou wast drunken: set forth the beauty of thy countenance.
The reward of thy whoredom shall be recompensed thee in thy bosom, therefore shalt thou receive reward.
Like as thou hast done unto my chosen ( sayeth the Lord ) even so shall God do unto thee, and shall deliver thee into the plague. Thy children shall die of hunger, and thou shall fall through the sword. Thy cities shall be broken down, and all thine shall perish with the sword in the field. They that be in the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their own flesh, and drink their own blood for very hunger of bread and thirst of water. Thou unhappy shalt come through the sea, and receive plagues again.
In the passage they shall cast down the slain city, and shall root out one part of thy land, and consume the portion of thy glory. They shall tread thee down like stubble, and they shall be thy fire and shall consume thee: thy cities and thy land, thy wood and thy fruitful trees shall they burn up with the fire. Thy children shall they carry away captive, and look what thou hast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face*bespeck= speaking; to give grounds for believing
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 16
Woe be unto thee Babylon and Asia, woe be unto thee egypt and Syria: gird yourselves with clothes of sack and hear, and mourn for your children, be sorry, for your destruction is at hand. A sword is sent upon you, and who will turn it back? A fire is kindled among you, and who will quench it: Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that will drive them away? May any man drive away an hungry lion in the woods? Or may any man quench the fire in the stubble, when it hath gone to burn? May one turn again the arrow, that is shot of a strong archer? The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues, and what is he that will drive them away? The fire is kindled and gone forth in his wrath, and what is he that will quench it? He shall cast lightings, and who shall not fear? He shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid: The Lord shall threaten and who shall not utterly be beaten to powder at his presence? The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof: the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and the floods of it are unquiet and the fishes thereof also before the Lord, and before the glory of his power. For strong is his right hand that holdeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth, are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot to the ends of the world.
Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not turn again, till they come upon the earth. The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundations of the earth. Like as an arrow shot of a mighty archer, returneth not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon the earth, shall not turn again. Woe is me, woe is me, who will deliver me in those days? The beginning of sorrows and great mourning: the beginning of *darth and great death: the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear: the beginning of evils, and they shall tremble everyone. What shall I do in these things, when the plagues come? Behold, hunger, and plague, trouble and anguish are sent, as scourging for amendment. But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourging.
Behold, vitals shall be so good cheap upon the earth, that they shall think them selves to be in good case? And even then shall mischief grow up upon the earth, wars, darth and great disquietness. For many of them that dwell upon the earth shall perish of hunger, and the other that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy: And the dead shall be cast out as dung, and there should be no man to comfort them. For the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be cast down: there shall be no man left to till the earth and to sew it. The trees shall give fruit, and who shall pluck them of and gather them? The grapes shall be ripe, and who shall tread them: for all the places shall be desolate of men, so that one man shall desire to see another, or to hear his voice. For of one whole city there shall be ten left, and two in the field, which shall hide themselves in the thick bushes, and in the cliffs of stones: like as when there remain three or four olives upon the tree, or as when a vineyard is gathered there are left some grapes, of them that diligently sought through the vineyard.
Even so, in those days there shall be three or four left, for them that search their houses with the sword. And the earth shall be left waste, and the fields thereof shall wear old: and her ways and her paths shall grow full of thorns, because no man shall travel there through. The daughters shall mourn, having no bridegrooms: the women shall make lamentation, having no husbands, their daughters shall mourn, having no help of their bride groom. In the wars shall they be destroyed, and their husbands shall perish of hunger. O' ye servants of the Lord, hear these things, and mark them. Behold, the word of the Lord, O' receive it: behold the plagues draw near, and are not slack in tarrying. Like as a travailing woman, which after nine months bringeth forth a son, when the hour of the birth is come, an hour two or three afore that the pains come upon her body, and when the child cometh to the birth, they tarry not the twinkling of an lie: Even so shall not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth, and the world shall mourn, and sorrows shall come upon it on every side.
O' my people, hear my word, make you ready to the battle: and in all evil be as pilgrims upon the earth He that selleth, let him be as he that flyeth his way: and he that buyeth, as one that will lease. Who so occupieth merchandise, as he that winneth not: and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therin: he that soweth, as one that shall not reap: he that twisteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes: they that marry, as they that shall get no children: and they that marry not, as the widows: and therefore they that labor, labor in vain. For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive, for in captivity and hunger shall they get children. And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, how long deck they their cities, their houses, their possessions, their persons? the more will I punish them for their sins, sayeth the Lord. Like as an whore envieth an honest woman, so shall righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when he cometh that defendeth, which shall make inquisition for all sin upon the earth. And therefore be not ye like thereunto, near to the works thereof: for or ever it be long, iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign among you.
Let not the sinner say, that he hath not sinned: for coals of fire shall burn upon his head, which sayeth before the Lord God and his glory: I have not sinned. Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts and their hearts. For he spoke but the word: let the earth be made, and it was made: let the heaven be made, and it was made. In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them. He searcheth the ground of the deep, and the treasures thereof: he hath measured the sea, and what it containeth. He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters. He spreadeth out the heaven like a *vawte, upon the waters hath he founded it. In the desert a dry wilderness hath he made springs of water, and poles upon the tops of mountains, that the floods might pour down from the stony rocks to water the earth. He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life and understanding, yee and the spirit of the Almighty God, which made all things, and hath searched the ground of all the secrets of the earth.
He knoweth your imaginations and inventions, and what ye think when ye sin, and would hide your sins. Therefore hath the Lord searched and sought out all your works, and he shall *bewray you all. And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day. What will ye do? Or how will ye hide your sins before God and his Angels? Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him, leave off from your sins, and forget your unrighteousness, and meddle no more with them: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble. For behold, the heat of the great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed the idle with Idols: and they that consent unto them, shall be had in *derision, laughed to scorn, and trodden under foot.
For unto the places there shall be a place, and in the next cities a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord. They shall be like madmen, they shall spare no man: they shall spoil and waste such as fear the Lord, their goods shall they take from them, and shut them out of their houses. Then shalt it be known who are my chosen, and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire. Hear O' ye my beloved, sayeth the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same. Be not afraid, despair not, for God is your captain.
Who so keepeth my commandments and precepts ( sayeth the Lord God ) let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your unrighteousness be lift up. Woe be unto to those that are subdued unto their own sins, and tangled in their wickednesses: like as a field is hedged in with bushes, and the path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through: and so is he taken, and cast in the fire, and burnt*darth=famine, lack. *vawte, ( vault ; from Mid Eng vaute: meaning an arched overhead covering). *bewray (disclose, reveal, uncover). *derision; laughed to scorn, and trod under foot contempt.
THE GOSPELL OF ST. MATTHEW Chpt 24
And Jesus went out and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him, for to show him the building of the temple. Jesus said unto them: see ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you: there shall not be here left one stone upon another, that shall not be cast down.
And as he sat upon the mount Olivet, his disciples came unto him secretly saying. Tell us when these things shall be: and what sign shall be of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered, and said unto them: take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying: I am Christ: and shall deceive many. Ye shall hear of wars, and of the fame of wars: but see that ye be not troubled. For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm: and there shall be pestilence, hunger and earthquakes in all quarters. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then shall they put you to trouble, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one the other. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall have the upper hand, the love of many shall abate. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be safe. And this glad tidings of the kingdom: shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination that betokeneth desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the holy place: let him that readeth it, understand it. Then let them which be in *Jury, fly into the mountains. And let him which is on the house top, not come down to fetch anything out of his house. Neither let him which is in the field, return back to fetch his clothes. Woe shall be in those days to them that are with child, and to them that give suck. But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, nor shall be. Ye and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the chosens sake, those days shall be shortened.
Then if any man shall say unto you: lo, here is Christ, or there is Christ: believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall do great miracles and wonders. In so much that if it were possible, the very elect should be deceived. Take heed, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you: behold he is in the desert, go not forth: behold he is in the secret places, believe not. For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth unto the west: so shall the coming of the son of man be. For wheresoever a dead carcass is, even thither will the eagles resort. Immediately after the tribulations of those days, shall the sun be darkened: and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall move. And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven. And then shall all the kindreds of the earth mourn, and they shall see the son of man come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his Angels with the great voice of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen, from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
Learn a similitude of the fig tree: when his branches are yet tender and his leaves sprung, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye see all these things, be ye sure that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass till all these be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall perish, but my words shall abide. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my father only.
As the time of Noe was, so likewise shall the coming of the son of man be. For as in the days before the flood: they did eat and drink, marry, and were married, even unto the day that Noe entered in to the ship, and knew of nothing, till the flood came and took them all away: So shall also the coming of the son of man be. Then two shall be in the fields, the one shall be received, and the other shall be refused, two shall be grinding at the mill the one shall be received, and the other shall be refused. Wake therefore, because ye know not what hour your master will come. Of this be sure, that if the good man of the house knew what hour the thief would come: he would surely watch, and not suffer his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready, for in the hour ye think he would not: will the son of man come. If there be any faithful servant and wise, whom his master hath made ruler over his household to give them meat in season convenient, happy is that servant whom his master (when he cometh) shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my master will defer his coming, and begin to smite his fellows, ye and to eat and to drink with the drunken: that servants master will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not ware of, and will divide him, and give him his reward with hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth*Jury (Jewry) : exact spelling was Jury
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 17
Then said he to the disciples, it cannot be avoided but that offenses will come. Nevertheless woe be to him through whom they come. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea, then that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to your selves. If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him and if he repent, forgive him. And though he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying: it repenteth me, forgive him.
And the Apostles said unto the Lord: increase our faith. And the Lord said: if ye had faith like a grain of mustard seed, and should say unto this sycamine tree, pluck thyself up by the roots, and plant thyself in the sea: he should obey you.
Who is it of you if he had a servant ploughing or feeding cattle, that would say unto him when he were come from the field: Go quickly and sit down to meat: and would not rather say to him, dress wherewith I may sup, and gird up thyself and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken: and afterward, eat thou, and drink thou? Doth he thank that servant because he did that which was commanded unto him? I *trow not. So likewise ye, when ye have done all those things which are commanded you say, we are unprofitable servants. We have done that which was our duty to do.
And it chanced as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through Samaria and Galile. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers. Which stood afar off and put forth their voices and said: Jesu master, have mercy on us. When he saw them, he said unto them: Go and show yourselves unto the Priests. And it chanced as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, turned back again, and with a loud voice praised God, and fell down on his face at his feet, and gave him thanks. And the same was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered and said: are there not ten cleansed? But where are those nine? There are not found that returned again, to give God praise save only this stranger. And he said unto him: arise, and go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole.
When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come he answered them and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with waiting for. Neither shall men say: Lo here, lo there. For behold the kingdom of God is with in you.
And he said unto the disciples: The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one day of the son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you: See here, See there. Go not after them, nor follow them, for as the lightning that appeareth out of the one part of the heaven: and shineth unto the other part of heaven. So shall the son of man be in his days. But first must he suffer many things, and be refused of this nation.
As it happened in the time of Noe: So shall it be in the time of the son of man. They ate, they drank, they married wives and were married, even unto the same day that Noe went into the Ark: and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also, as it chanced in the days of Lot. They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built. And even the same day that Lot went out of *Zodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. After these examples, shall it be in the day when the son of man shall appear.
At that day he that is on the house top and his stuff in the house: let him not come down to take it out. And likewise let not him that is in the fields, turn back again to that he left behind. Remember Lots wife. Whosoever will go about to save his life, shall lose it: And whosoever shall lose his life, shall save it. I tell you in that night, there shall be two in one bed, that one shall be received and the other shall be forsaken. Two shall be also a grinding together: the one shall be received, and the other forsaken. And they answered, and said unto him: where Lord? And he said unto them: wheresoever the body shall be, thither will the eagles resort*trow (think) *Zodom (Sodom),
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 4
After this I looked, and behold a door was open in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, was as it were of a trumpet talking with me which said: come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be fulfilled here after. And immediately I was in the spirit: And behold a seat was put in heaven, and one sat on the seat. And he that sat, was to look upon, like unto a jasper stone and a sardine stone: And there was a rainbow about the seat, in sight like to an emerald. And about the seat were twenty four seats. And upon the seats twenty four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and had on their heads crowns of gold.
And out of the seat proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices, and there were seven lamps of fire, burning before the seat, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the seat there was a sea of glass like unto crystal, and in the midst of the seat, and round about the seat were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each one of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes with in. And they had no rest day neither night saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
And when those beasts gave glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the seat, which liveth for ever and ever: the twenty four elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying: thou art worthy Lord to receive glory and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy wills sake they are, and were created
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle
And when the dragon saw, that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 12
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she was with child and cried travailing in birth, and pained ready to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven, for behold a great red dragon having seven heads, and ten horns and crowns upon his heads: and his tail drew the third part of the stars, and cast them to the earth.
And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered: for to devour her child as soon as it were born. And she brought forth a man child, which should rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her son was taken up unto God, and to his seat. And the woman fled into wilderness, where she had a place, prepared of God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his Angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his Angels, and prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon, that old serpent called the devil and Satan was cast out. Which deceiveth all the world. And he was cast into the earth, and his angels were cast out also.
And I heard a loud voice saying: in heaven is now made salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For he is cast down which accused them before God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea: for the devil is come down unto you which hath great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.And when the dragon saw, that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the dragon cast out of his mouth water after the woman as it had been a river, because she should have been caught of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed, up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman: and went and made war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And I stood on the sea *stonde.
(the flood out of satans mouth is all the worldly lies and deceptions and deceit ...)
that flood is the wicked waters of any and all LIES ...of the LEFT especially evil spiritual lies ...even as the king james bible of Gog and Magog ...fills the land ...
even true evil ...evil masked in good ...evil masked in love ...
*stonde: two possible words come from the Middle English: stound: meaning "a short time" and stonen: meaning "stunned". stunned because of the vision.
ABORTION ...And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered: for to devour her child as soon as it were born.
The Lord hateth as well him that justifieth the ungodly, as him that condemeth the innocent.
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 20
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the people which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea: and they went up on the plain of the earth, and compassed the tents of the saints about, and the beloved city. And fire came down from God, out of heaven, and devoured them: and the devil that deceived them, was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet were and shall be tormented day and night for ever more.
For the wrath of God appeareth from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness: seeing, what may be known of God, that same is manifest among them. For God did show it unto them. So that his invisible things: that is to say, his eternal power and godhead, are understood and seen, by the works from the creation of the world. So that they are without excuse, in as much as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they became fools and turned the glory of the immortal God, unto the similitude of the image of mortal man, and of birds, and fourfooted beasts, and of serpents. Wherefore God like wise gave them up unto their hearts lusts, unto uncleanness, to defile their own bodies between themselves: which turned his truth unto a lie, and worshipped and served the creatures more then the maker, which is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto shameful lusts. For even their women did change the natural use unto the unnatural. And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burned in their lusts one on another. And man with man wrought filthiness, and received in themselves the reward of their error, as it was according.
And as it seemed not good unto them to be a known of God, even so God delivered them up unto a lewd mind, that they should do those things which were not comely, being full of all unrighteous doing, of fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, evil conditioned, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proud, boasters, bringers up of evil things, disobedient to father and mother, without understanding, covenant breakers, unloving, truce breakers and merciless. Which men though they knew the righteousness of God, how that they which commit such things, are worthy of death, yet not only do the same, but also have pleasure in them that do them.
The Lord hateth as well him that justifieth the ungodly, as him that condemeth the innocent.
Every man can *eschue a person moved to anger, for what he doth wisely? Even so shall the Lord of Hosts take away from Jerusalem and from Juda, all possessions and power, all meat and drink, the captain and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the wise and the aged man, the worshipful of fifty year old, and the honorable: the Senators, and the men of understanding: the masters of crafts and orators. And I shall give you children to be your princes,( sayeth the Lord ) and babes shall have the rule of you. One shall ever be doing violence and wrong to another. The boy will presume against the elder, and the vile person against the honorable. Ye when one shall take a friend of his own kindred by the bosom, and say: Thou hast clothing, thou shalt be our head, for thou mayest keep us from this fall and peril.
Then shall he swear and say: I can not help you. Moreover, there is neither meat nor clothing in my house, make me no ruler of the people. For Jerusalem and Juda must decay, because both their words and counsel are against the Lord, they provoke the presence of his Majesty unto anger. The changing of their countenance betrayeth them, yee they declare their own sins themselves, as the Sodomites, and hide them not. Woe be unto their souls, for they shall be heavily rewarded. Then shall they say: O happy are the godly, for they may enjoy the fruits of their studies. But woe be unto the ungodly and unrighteous for they shall be rewarded after their works. O my people, *ribaudes oppress thee, and women have rule of thee. O my people, thy leaders deceive thee, and tread out the way of thy footsteps. The Lord is here to commune of the matter, and standeth to give judgement with the people. The Lord shall come forth to reason with the Senators and princes of his people, and shall say thus unto them: It is ye that have burnt up my vineyard, the robbery of the poor is in your house. Wherefore do ye oppress my people, and marred the faces of the innocents? thus shall the Lord God of Hosts revile them.
Moreover thus sayeth the Lord: Seeing the daughters of Sion are become so proud, and come in with stretched out necks, and with vain wanton eyes: seeing they come in tripping so nicely with their feet: Therefore shall the Lord shave the heads of the daughters of Sion, and make their beauty bare in the day. In that day shall the Lord take away the gorgeousness of their apparel, and spangles, chains, *partlets, and collars, bracelets and hooves, that goodly flowered wide and boarded raiment, brushes and head bands, rings and garlands, holy day clothes and veils, kerchiefs and pins, glasses and smocks, bonnets and *taches
And instead of good smell there shall be stink among them. And for their girdles there shall be loose bands. And for well set hair there shall be baldness. Instead of a stomacher, a sackcloth, and for their beauty witherdness and *son burning. Their husbands and their mighty men shall perish with the sword in battle*eschue (avoid, escape) *ribaudes ( extortioners :MN). *partlets = ruffled covering for the neck. *taches = buckles, clasps, fasteners. *son burning exactly as recorded
Now will then, I will sing my beloved friend a song of his vineyard. My beloved friend hath a vineyard in a very fruitful plenteous ground. This he hedged, this he walled round about, and planted it with goodly grapes. In the midst of it builded he a tower, and made a wine press therin. And afterward when he looked that it should bring him grapes, it brought forth thorns. I show you now my cause ( O ye Citizens of Jerusalem and whole of Juda ) : Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for it, that I have not done? Wherefore hath it given thorns, where I looked to have grapes of it?
Well, I shall tell you how I will do with my vineyard: I will take the hedge from it, that it may perish, and break down the wall, that it may be trodden under foot. I will lay it waste, that it shall neither be twisted nor cut, but bear thorns and briers. I will also forbid the clouds, that they shall not rain upon it. As for the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts it is the house of Israel, and whole Juda his fair planting. Of these he looked for equity, but see there is wrong: for righteousness, lo, It is but misery.
Woe unto you that join one house to another, and bring one land so nigh unto another, till ye can get no more ground. Will ye dwell upon the earth alone? The Lord of Hosts roundeth me thus in mine ear: shall not many greater and more gorgeous houses be so waste, that no man shall dwell in them? And ten acres of vines shall give but a Quart, and thirty bushels of feed shall give but three.
Woe unto them that rise up early to use themselves in drunkenness, and yet at night are more superfluous with wine. In those companies are harps and lutes, tabrets and pipes, and wine. But they regard not the work of the Lord, and consider not the operation of his hands. Therefore cometh my folk also in captivity, because they have no understanding. Their glory shall be mixed with hunger, and their pride shall be marred for thirst. Therefore gapeth hell, and openeth her mouth marvelous wide: that pride boasting and wisdom, with such as rejoice therin, may descend into it.
Thus shall man have a fall, he shall be brought low, and the high looks of the proud layed down. But the Lord of Hosts, that holy God: shall be exalted and untouched, when he shall declare his equity and righteousness after this manner: Then shall the lambs eat their appointed fodder, and shall feed plentiously in the mountains. Woe be unto vain persons, that draw wickedness unto them, as it were with a cord: and sin, as it were with a cart rope. Which use to speak on this manner: Let him make hast now, and go forth with his work, that we may see it. Let that counsel of the holy one of Israel come, and draw nye, that we may know it.
Woe be unto them that call evil good, and good evil: which make darkness light, and light darkness, that make sour sweet, and sweet sour.Woe be unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding.
Woe be unto them that are conning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness. These give sentence with the ungodly for rewards, but condemn the just cause of the righteous.
Therefore like as the fire licketh up the straw, as the flame consumeth the stubble: Even so ( when their root is full ) their blossom shall vanish away as dust or smoke: for they despise the law of the Lord of Hosts, and blaspheme the word of the holy maker of Israel.
Therefore is the wrath of the Lord kindled also against his people, and he shaketh his hand at them: yee he shall smite so, that the hills shall tremble. And their carcasses shall lie in the open streets, like mire. After all this, the wrath of God shall not cease, but he shall stretch his hand wider. And he shall give a token unto a strange people, and call unto them in a far country: and behold, they shall come hastily with speed. There is not one faint or feeble among them, no not a sluggish or slippery person. There shall not one of them put off the girdle from his loins, *ner loose the latchet of their shoe. Their arrows are sharp, and their bows bent. Their horses hoofs are like flint, and their cart wheels like a stormy wind. Their cry is as it were of a lion, and the roaring of them like lions whelps. They shall roar, and haunch up the prey, and no man shall recover it or get it from them. In that day they shall be fierce upon them, as the sea. And if we look unto the land, behold, it shall be all darkness and sorrow. If we look to heaven: behold, it shall be dark with careful desperationThere shall not one of them put off the girdle from his loins, Ephes 6:14 RN) *ner loose the latchet of their shoe.
and others of a similitude ...
"public servants or public serpents..."
"The house the serpent and the end. "
"taken to look upon the LEFT of the country..."
"the daughter that did not see the snake...on the LEFT."
"wicked UNGodlie laws of the LEFT."
"High horses from the LEFT and the dark storm."
"about the serpent and vipers and snakes..."
"wicked worldly works like a serpent of utter darkness and waste..."
"public servants or public serpents..."
"the beast and serpent fight..."
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