The Mystical Vision of the Prophet Esdras the High Priest
Within the Book of the Two Pearls is a text attributed to Ezra. It is an apocalyptic writing that resembles other Ezra apocalyptic works such as 4 Ezra i.e. the Latin Vulgate Ezra Apocalypse) and the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra (i.e., the Word and Revelation of Ezra - dated 2nd to the 9th century AD). Other apocalyptic Ezra literature include: the Vision of the Blessed Ezra (11th century AD Latin MS), the Questions of Ezra (two Armenian versions dated around 1208 AD), the Revelation of Ezra (a kalandologion, describing the characteristics of a year according to the day upon which it begins composed prior to the 9th century AD), the Apocalypse of Sedrach ("Sedrach" is believed to be a corruption of "Esdras", the Greek form of "Ezra". The text is dated from the 2nd to the 5th centuries AD) and we must also include a Prognostication Forever, Made by Erra Pater because it contain similarities with the Ezra kalandologion. We have titled our current text as the Mystical Vision of the Prophet Ezra the High Priest because the MS of the Two Pearls uses this as its heading.
1 This is the word that was given unto Esdras the prophet and high priest in the confines of Babylon (i.e., symbol of Jerusalem).
2 Let the children weep and moan for the day of vengeance has come. The fire has been kindled in the midst of the seven circles of death. The circles speak each a prophecy that pertains to the end of all things and here is what they have said to me, Esdras your prophet.
3 The first circle said, No longer will the tainted sheets of prostitution be forthcoming. The lords of clandestined mirth have ended the perversion of intercourse.
4 The second said, Blood and entrails are soon to be thrown about in the land of mixture (In Hebrew, 'arav [Arab] is associated with 'erev which means "mixed people"). Mothers will see their seed dissolve into lifeless garbage (Paul, in the New Testament, used the Greek word skubala which literally means "shit" and here the word may have the same meaning in the original MS) which will draw the maggots of slaughter.
5 The third said, Hearts will pound heavily because the rotted corpse of destruction has arrived on the wings of retribution. No more celebration, gladness or dancing will be seen or heard in all the land for a space of seven times seven (i.e., 49 years or days). The jubilee will end this terror but even then a merry heart will be lacking.
6 The fourth said, Animals have given you life and now they bring death and calamity. A strange plague (tularemia?) has come from beasts called Arnabeth (Hebrew: "hare [rabbit]"). Why has this happened? It is because you have committed fornication with many strangers and have given birth to children by numerous men. Since you live by the law of Arnab, you will die by her law (compare Epistle of Barnabas 10:6 Lightfoot Translation).
7 The fifth said, You have been druggers (the Greek here appears to be pharmakos which is usually translated "sorcery" or "witchcraft" but the context here seems to be referring to some poison or drug) and now you live up to the name of your choice of stupor. It is called "dead" and now you are dead. Your flesh rots and your bones dissolve. You have become a man of one hundred in just a moment of time. You are detestable and a shame to the image of God. Tumors will afflict you and cause your spirit to dwindle.
8 The sixth said, Harvest the urine from the bowls of trial. Your food has turned to mildew along with your mind. No longer will the LORD sit idle and allow the dregs of men to congregate within His temple. You are poison and the Devil is your image (or, "devils are your images").
9 The seventh said, Rain, storm and tempest in the hour of flight will cause faith to cease. None believe in Joshua. Shall the LORD cause destruction unmeasurable? Watch yourselves with the eyes that none can see. Plead with God to restore the former paradise before the chance fades into oblivion.
10 As soon as the voices of the seven circles were finished, I saw a large flat surface appear (a mirror?). It was able to show visions of things never prophesied before. I also saw a man who was dressed in white and with eyes that were as fiery red rays of light and with them he burns a man's soul to the core.
11 He said unto me, Watch these visions and write what you see but do not explain. Write them in single words. We must hide the truth from those with ears that do not hear and from those with eyes that do not see (compare Revelation 19:11-13).
12 I looked and began to write. The first is "heat". The second is "ice". The third is "mist". The fourth is "pain". The fifth is "death". The sixth is "blood". The seventh is "rest". I did not know what this meant but I wrote it down nonetheless.
13 I took my stand upon the universal path of knowledge and I heard one voice say to me, This is not what is; for you have been blinded as all others to the fact of existence. Nothing is; but all exists. You will find Me over there or under here. I AM in all and all is the same. You must free yourself from the convoluted and enter the vastness of sense. You will never make sense out of nonsense so turn away from perverting sense.
14 My handiwork is a veil to be lifted only by those who are willing to see and hear. If you perceived My true form, you would cease to be in a twinkling of an eye. I will utilize this in the latter day of My wrath. Meditate upon Me and acquire the mind of the only true God. I AM the only One and my Seed testifies of this.
(Verses 13-14 are clearly Gnostic in tone)
15 I, Esdras, wrote this down in the [one hundred and] thirty-third year* after the destruction of Jerusalem.
1 This is the word that was given unto Esdras the prophet and high priest in the confines of Babylon (i.e., symbol of Jerusalem).
2 Let the children weep and moan for the day of vengeance has come. The fire has been kindled in the midst of the seven circles of death. The circles speak each a prophecy that pertains to the end of all things and here is what they have said to me, Esdras your prophet.
3 The first circle said, No longer will the tainted sheets of prostitution be forthcoming. The lords of clandestined mirth have ended the perversion of intercourse.
4 The second said, Blood and entrails are soon to be thrown about in the land of mixture (In Hebrew, 'arav [Arab] is associated with 'erev which means "mixed people"). Mothers will see their seed dissolve into lifeless garbage (Paul, in the New Testament, used the Greek word skubala which literally means "shit" and here the word may have the same meaning in the original MS) which will draw the maggots of slaughter.
5 The third said, Hearts will pound heavily because the rotted corpse of destruction has arrived on the wings of retribution. No more celebration, gladness or dancing will be seen or heard in all the land for a space of seven times seven (i.e., 49 years or days). The jubilee will end this terror but even then a merry heart will be lacking.
6 The fourth said, Animals have given you life and now they bring death and calamity. A strange plague (tularemia?) has come from beasts called Arnabeth (Hebrew: "hare [rabbit]"). Why has this happened? It is because you have committed fornication with many strangers and have given birth to children by numerous men. Since you live by the law of Arnab, you will die by her law (compare Epistle of Barnabas 10:6 Lightfoot Translation).
7 The fifth said, You have been druggers (the Greek here appears to be pharmakos which is usually translated "sorcery" or "witchcraft" but the context here seems to be referring to some poison or drug) and now you live up to the name of your choice of stupor. It is called "dead" and now you are dead. Your flesh rots and your bones dissolve. You have become a man of one hundred in just a moment of time. You are detestable and a shame to the image of God. Tumors will afflict you and cause your spirit to dwindle.
8 The sixth said, Harvest the urine from the bowls of trial. Your food has turned to mildew along with your mind. No longer will the LORD sit idle and allow the dregs of men to congregate within His temple. You are poison and the Devil is your image (or, "devils are your images").
9 The seventh said, Rain, storm and tempest in the hour of flight will cause faith to cease. None believe in Joshua. Shall the LORD cause destruction unmeasurable? Watch yourselves with the eyes that none can see. Plead with God to restore the former paradise before the chance fades into oblivion.
10 As soon as the voices of the seven circles were finished, I saw a large flat surface appear (a mirror?). It was able to show visions of things never prophesied before. I also saw a man who was dressed in white and with eyes that were as fiery red rays of light and with them he burns a man's soul to the core.
11 He said unto me, Watch these visions and write what you see but do not explain. Write them in single words. We must hide the truth from those with ears that do not hear and from those with eyes that do not see (compare Revelation 19:11-13).
12 I looked and began to write. The first is "heat". The second is "ice". The third is "mist". The fourth is "pain". The fifth is "death". The sixth is "blood". The seventh is "rest". I did not know what this meant but I wrote it down nonetheless.
13 I took my stand upon the universal path of knowledge and I heard one voice say to me, This is not what is; for you have been blinded as all others to the fact of existence. Nothing is; but all exists. You will find Me over there or under here. I AM in all and all is the same. You must free yourself from the convoluted and enter the vastness of sense. You will never make sense out of nonsense so turn away from perverting sense.
14 My handiwork is a veil to be lifted only by those who are willing to see and hear. If you perceived My true form, you would cease to be in a twinkling of an eye. I will utilize this in the latter day of My wrath. Meditate upon Me and acquire the mind of the only true God. I AM the only One and my Seed testifies of this.
(Verses 13-14 are clearly Gnostic in tone)
15 I, Esdras, wrote this down in the [one hundred and] thirty-third year* after the destruction of Jerusalem.
* Nebuchadnezzar laid seige to Jerusalem in 589 BC which caused the destruction of the city and its temple to occur in 587/586 BC. "Thirty-three years" cannot be correct because that would bring us to 554/553 BC and the years of Ezra were 480-440 BC. The copyist mistakenly left out a number apparently. Mistakes like this are common. One example is the Tyndale New Testament where earlier copies read in Revelation 12 that the "days" of the woman being in the wilderness were to be "M. and xxvi days" (1026 days). If we were to add "one hundred" to this text, it would bring us to the year(s) 454/453 BC, which would fit perfectly with the time span of 480-440 BC. Additionally, the first verse says "confines of Babylon". This appears to be symbolic of Jerusalem. The Bible also uses "Babylon" to refer to other nations such as Rome. Revelation 11 uses "Sodom and Egypt" symbolically also. Ezra clearly uses "Babylon" as an insult to the disobedient Judeans.
Also within the Book of the Two Pearls is an Ezra type prophecy which may have originally been part of our present text (for it has similarities with 4 Ezra). We present it here as an appendix.
Prophecy Concerning the End
1 Thus says the LORD. The spirit of evil is here. The daughters of Babylon the whore have embraced her when her feast day comes. The LORD says, I hate your moons and feasts. I will end them all (compare Isaiah 1:13-14 and Revelation 17).
2 Heylel (the Hebrew here means "mad" and could be rendered "the mad one") has boasted that he will bring down the congregation from its foundation in wrath. For three times (or, "years") and a half he will wage war. However, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Phanuel, Saraphael and Raguel are ready to blow the trumps of the LORD.
3 There will be hail-stones all ablaze mixed with the blood of the wicked. The blazing mountain will destroy the ports of the sea. Kernobl (it appears Ukrainian or Slavic elements have crept into the text because this word is the name for the plant called mugwort or wormwood) will fall and poison waters of life and many will die thereof. The great star of Tau will return which left a flood in the days of Noe.
4 Devils (or, "demons") from the abyss will torture wicked men for 150 days. Four will lead 200,000,000 shades for 391 days and an hour. Then the kingdoms of the earth will belong to the LORD and his son, Joshua. But this will not go well with the heathen for they will be angered. But the LORD will plague them with sores, blood, heat, darkness and drought. Then the war will come; the third and final war to end all wars; and the world will war but not for long.
(One can compare all of these prophecies to Revelation chapters 9-16)
5 There shall come the son from the east with thousands of his holy hosts of heaven to render judgment upon those who sit among the green trees eating pigs, mice and everything abominable. These shall be thrown into the fire and become ashes and, lo, worms will be in their flesh and they shall feel this thing forever. Yes, they shall die a horrible death (note: the Book of Enoch, Isaiah 66 and the Book of Judith have similar statements).
6 The LORD knows their thoughts. He knows of the masses they keep. He knows they have eaten the broth of unclean meats (compare Isaiah 65:4). He also knows the thoughts of lust in the hearts of men. He will not allow them to go unpunished. Belial (this word is also mentioned in II Corinthians 6:15. It literally means "wickedness") forever captivates the world but not for long. He (or, "It") will be brought down to the pit and be chained there for 1,000 days (i.e., "years" [Revelation 20:2-7]).
7 During the day of the son, all who have breath will rest and be given life eternal. After Belial [wickedness] escapes, he [it] will unleash his [its] mighty devil Gog, the master of Magog, for a final battle. He [Gog] will be defeated by fire. Belial [Wickedness] will be burned from within into nothing. Forever will he [it] anguish in the place of the dead, the sea of sulphur.
8 After this, a holy rest will come upon the messiah and his followers in order that they feel not the pain of the purifying fire of God. All things will be burned up and the earth will lie in silence for less than one half hour. The earth will itself be renewed to eternal life. Then all will awaken from their holy rest and the new city of God will appear, for this city must descend upon purified ground in order to be holy forever (compare 4 Ezra 7:28-38).
9 God will dry all tears and the holy ones will live in peace and love with Joshua forever and ever with no end to glorious everlasting life. Amen (compare Revelation 21:4).
1 Thus says the LORD. The spirit of evil is here. The daughters of Babylon the whore have embraced her when her feast day comes. The LORD says, I hate your moons and feasts. I will end them all (compare Isaiah 1:13-14 and Revelation 17).
2 Heylel (the Hebrew here means "mad" and could be rendered "the mad one") has boasted that he will bring down the congregation from its foundation in wrath. For three times (or, "years") and a half he will wage war. However, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Phanuel, Saraphael and Raguel are ready to blow the trumps of the LORD.
3 There will be hail-stones all ablaze mixed with the blood of the wicked. The blazing mountain will destroy the ports of the sea. Kernobl (it appears Ukrainian or Slavic elements have crept into the text because this word is the name for the plant called mugwort or wormwood) will fall and poison waters of life and many will die thereof. The great star of Tau will return which left a flood in the days of Noe.
4 Devils (or, "demons") from the abyss will torture wicked men for 150 days. Four will lead 200,000,000 shades for 391 days and an hour. Then the kingdoms of the earth will belong to the LORD and his son, Joshua. But this will not go well with the heathen for they will be angered. But the LORD will plague them with sores, blood, heat, darkness and drought. Then the war will come; the third and final war to end all wars; and the world will war but not for long.
(One can compare all of these prophecies to Revelation chapters 9-16)
5 There shall come the son from the east with thousands of his holy hosts of heaven to render judgment upon those who sit among the green trees eating pigs, mice and everything abominable. These shall be thrown into the fire and become ashes and, lo, worms will be in their flesh and they shall feel this thing forever. Yes, they shall die a horrible death (note: the Book of Enoch, Isaiah 66 and the Book of Judith have similar statements).
6 The LORD knows their thoughts. He knows of the masses they keep. He knows they have eaten the broth of unclean meats (compare Isaiah 65:4). He also knows the thoughts of lust in the hearts of men. He will not allow them to go unpunished. Belial (this word is also mentioned in II Corinthians 6:15. It literally means "wickedness") forever captivates the world but not for long. He (or, "It") will be brought down to the pit and be chained there for 1,000 days (i.e., "years" [Revelation 20:2-7]).
7 During the day of the son, all who have breath will rest and be given life eternal. After Belial [wickedness] escapes, he [it] will unleash his [its] mighty devil Gog, the master of Magog, for a final battle. He [Gog] will be defeated by fire. Belial [Wickedness] will be burned from within into nothing. Forever will he [it] anguish in the place of the dead, the sea of sulphur.
8 After this, a holy rest will come upon the messiah and his followers in order that they feel not the pain of the purifying fire of God. All things will be burned up and the earth will lie in silence for less than one half hour. The earth will itself be renewed to eternal life. Then all will awaken from their holy rest and the new city of God will appear, for this city must descend upon purified ground in order to be holy forever (compare 4 Ezra 7:28-38).
9 God will dry all tears and the holy ones will live in peace and love with Joshua forever and ever with no end to glorious everlasting life. Amen (compare Revelation 21:4).