Parallel
2 Esdras 13
World English Bible British Edition · Berean Standard Bible
I saw, and behold, [this wind caused to come up from the midst of the sea something like the appearance of a man. I saw, and behold,] that man flew with the clouds of heaven. When he turned his face to look, everything that he saw trembled.
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Whenever the voice went out of his mouth, all who heard his voice melted, like the wax melts when it feels the fire.
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After this I saw, and behold, an innumerable multitude of people was gathered together from the four winds of heaven to make war against the man who came out of the sea.
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After this I saw, and behold, all those who were gathered together to fight against him were very afraid, and yet they dared to fight.
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Behold, as he saw the assault of the multitude that came, he didn’t lift up his hand, or hold a spear or any weapon of war;
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but I saw only how he sent out of his mouth something like a flood of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he shot out a storm of sparks.
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These were all mixed together: the flood of fire, the flaming breath, and the great storm, and fell upon the assault of the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burnt up every one of them, so that all of a sudden an innumerable multitude was seen to be nothing but dust of ashes and smell of smoke. When I saw this, I was amazed.
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Afterward, I saw the same man come down from the mountain, and call to himself another multitude which was peaceful.
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Many people came to him. Some of them were glad. Some were sorry. Some of them were bound, and some others brought some of those as offerings. Then through great fear I woke up and prayed to the Most High, and said,
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“You have shown your servant these wonders from the beginning, and have counted me worthy that you should receive my prayer.
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For as I conceive in my understanding, woe to those who will be left in those days! Much more woe to those who are not left!
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But woe to them also who are left, because they will see great perils and much distress, like these dreams declare.
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Yet is it better for one to be in peril and to come into these things, than to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see the things that will happen in the last days.”
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“I will tell you the interpretation of the vision, and I will also open to you the things about which you mentioned.
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He that will endure the peril in that time will protect those who fall into danger, even those who have works and faith towards the Almighty.
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These are the interpretations of the vision: Whereas you saw a man coming up from the midst of the sea,
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this is he whom the Most High has been keeping for many ages, who by his own self will deliver his creation. He will direct those who are left behind.
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and whereas he held neither spear, nor any weapon of war, but destroyed the assault of that multitude which came to fight against him, this is the interpretation:
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One will plan to make war against another, city against city, place against place, people against people, and kingdom against kingdom.
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It will be, when these things come to pass, and the signs happen which I showed you before, then my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as a man ascending.
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It will be, when all the nations hear his voice, every man will leave his own land and the battle they have against one another.
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An innumerable multitude will be gathered together, as you saw, desiring to come and to fight against him.
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Zion will come, and will be shown to all men, being prepared and built, like you saw the mountain carved without hands.
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My Son will rebuke the nations which have come for their wickedness, with plagues that are like a storm,
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