And when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent unto me the angel which had been sent unto me the nights afore: And he said unto me, Up, Esdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell you. And I said, Speak on, my Lord. Then he said unto me, There is a sea set in a wide place, that it might be broad and vast. But the entrance thereof shall be set in a narrow place so as to be like a river; Whoso then should desire to go into the sea to look upon it, or to rule it, if he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad? Another thing also: There is a city builded and set in a plain country, and full of all good things; But the entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, having a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water: And there is one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once. If this city now be given unto a man for an inheritance, if the heir pass not the danger before him, how shall he receive his inheritance? And I said, It is so, Lord. Then said he unto me, Even so also is Israel's portion. Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done. Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, and sorrowful and toilsome: they are but few and evil, full of perils, and charged with great toils. For the entrances of the greater world are wide and sure, and bring forth fruit of immortality. If then they that live enter not these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them. Now therefore why do you disquiet yourself, seeing you are but a corruptible man? and why are you moved, whereas you are but mortal? And why have you not considered in your mind that which is to come, rather than that which is present? Then answered I and said, O Lord that bears rule, lo, you have ordained in your law, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the ungodly should perish. The righteous therefore shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: but they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide. And he said unto me, You are not a judge above Elohim, neither have you understanding above the Most High. Yea, rather let many that now be perish, than that the law of Elohim which is set before them be despised. For Elohim straitly commanded such as came, even as they came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid punishment. Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him; but spoke against him, and imagined for themselves vain things; And framed cunning devices of wickedness; and said moreover of the Most High, that he is not; and knew not his ways: But they despised his law, and denied his covenants; they have not been faithful to his statutes, and have not performed his works. Therefore, Esdras, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things. For behold, the time shall come, and it shall be, when these tokens, of which I told you before, shall come to pass, that the bride shall appear, even the city coming forth, and she shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth. And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils, the same shall see my wonders. For my son Yahushua shall be revealed with those that be with him, and shall rejoice them that remain four hundred years.
