Apocalypse of Peter

The Saviour reveals to Peter the corruption of the Church in latter days — false bishops, false teachers — and the persistence of the unshakable race that holds fast to the truth.

1When the Saviour was sitting in the temple of the third gate, He spake unto Peter, saying: Be strong. For thou art the rock upon which I shall build mine inner Church — the Church which is hidden, which is the assembly of them that have received the seal.

2And Peter said: Lord, what is this thing which Thou speakest? Is there an outer Church, and an inner Church?

3The Saviour answered: There shall be an outer Church — that is, the Church which men shall see, with bishops, and presbyters, and deacons, and rituals, and houses of stone. And there shall be an inner Church — that is, the Church which the Spirit knoweth, with the seal of the Father, and the brotherhood of the saints, and the bridal chamber of the Bridegroom.

4Now the outer Church shall in time become corrupt. Bishops shall arise that love power more than truth. Teachers shall arise that love money more than righteousness. They shall make traditions of men, and shall set them above the commandments of God. They shall persecute the prophets; they shall stifle the Spirit.

5And they shall say of themselves: We are the Church. We have the keys. Apart from us there is no salvation. But this is a lie. The keys are given unto them that have the Spirit; the salvation is given unto them that believe.

6Therefore, O Peter, be on thy guard. Be not deceived by them that exalt themselves. The wolves shall put on the garment of the sheep. They shall sit in the seats of the apostles; but they shall not have the apostles' faith.

7Yet take heart. The inner Church shall not perish. The unshakable race shall preserve the truth. Even when the outer Church is darkened, the inner Church shall be a lamp upon a stand, that it may give light unto them that are in the house.

8And in the latter days, the truth shall break forth again. The Father shall raise up servants — even prophets, and seers, and revelators. They shall restore the lost; they shall gather the scattered; they shall open the books which were sealed in the days of the prophets of old.

9And the kingdom shall be taken from the corrupt; and shall be given unto a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. So saith the Lord.

10Then Peter beheld a vision. He saw the Lord upon the cross. And he saw above the cross another Lord — laughing, glorified, untouched. And he was perplexed, and asked: Lord, what is this? Whom do I see upon the tree? And whom above?

11The Saviour answered: He whom thou seest above the cross — laughing, full of glory — that is My true self, the living Saviour. He whom they crucify — that is the bodily likeness, the substitute, in which I came that the rulers might be deceived.

12Yet take heed, O Peter: the body upon the cross was real flesh. Real blood was shed. Real suffering was borne. The denial of these things is a lie of the false teachers. I came in true flesh; I died in true flesh; I rose in true flesh. The vision thou hast seen is to teach thee that I overcame the cross — not that the cross was illusion.

13He that despiseth the body, and saith that the Lord came not in flesh — he is of the spirit of error. He that confesseth that the Lord came in true flesh, and that He suffered, and that He rose — he is of the Spirit of truth.

14Therefore, Peter, hold fast the true confession. Be not deceived by them that say one thing while meaning another. Bear witness unto My true incarnation, and My true death, and My true resurrection. They that hear shall live; they that hear not shall be cast away.

15Now go thou unto thy brethren. Strengthen them. Comfort them. Prepare them for the days of trial. The night cometh; but the dawn cometh after.

16And Peter bowed; and he gave thanks. And the Saviour blessed him, and went up out of his sight. And Peter returned unto the brethren, and recounted these things; and he wrote them down, and they have been preserved unto our day.

17Glory be unto the Saviour, and unto the Father, and unto the Holy Spirit. Glory be unto the inner Church, the unshakable race, that hath kept the seal. Forever and ever. Amen.