| Secret Sayings | ||
| One should feel
more comfortable in this apocalypse of Peter than in the last. Like the
Acts of John and other such writings, the Savior ascends with his
disciple(s) to the mountain of prayer, then a theophany of some kind takes
place through which the disciples' thorny questions are answered.
My Lord Jesus Christ, our King, said to me, "Let's go into the holy mountain." And all the disciples went with him in an attitude of prayer. Behold, two men appeared. We could not look them in the face, for a light brighter than the sun emanated from them. Their clothing also was glistening and indescribable. Nothing in the world could compare in radiance! They were gentle, and mouths cannot describe their beauty. Their countenance was astonishing and wonderful! One was very great, and appeared as though he were crystal. His appearance was like the color and texture of roses. They wore crowns of nard and braided flowers; their hair was as a rainbow in water. This was the beauty of their countenance, and they were adorned with a variety of ornaments. We saw them most suddenly, and marveled. I approached the Lord and asked, "Who are these?" He told me that "These are your righteous brothers that you longed to see." I said, "Then where are all the righteous, and what is the nature of their world?" The the Lord showed me a wide expanse of space outside this world, all agleam with light and flooded with the sun's rays. The ground of that place was budding with flowers which never fade, and bear fruit of blessings. The fragrance of the flowers was so strong that we even smelled it through the vision! The inhabitants wore radiant clothing suited to their surroundings. Angels walked among them. Each inhabitant possessed equal glory and with one voice praised God as Lord, rejoicing there. The Lord explained, "This is the dwelling place of your high priests, righteous men." Having seen the vision, I was joyful and began to believe wholeheartedly and understand perfectly that which is to be found in the book of my Lord Jesus Christ. I said to him, "My Lord, do you want me to make three houses here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias?" But he was angry with me, saying, "Satan makes war against you, and has veiled your understanding. The good things of this world conquer you. Your eyes must be opened and your ears unstopped! Our dwelling place is a home which the hand of humankind has not made, but which my heavenly Father has made for me and for the elect." And we were full of joy as we beheld him. Then Behold! A voice came from heaven saying, "This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I have pleasure, who has revealed my commandments." There came a great white cloud overhead that bore away our Lord, Moses and Elias. I was shaking, and very scared! We looked up and the heavens opened. We saw men of flesh, and they greeted our Lord, Moses and Elias, then they all ascended into the second heaven. Scripture was thus fulfilled: This generation seeks him and has sought the face of the Elohim of Jacob. |