Apocalypse of Peter

On the Mount of Olives the disciples ask the Lord concerning the signs of His coming and the end of the age; the Lord teaches concerning the false christs of the latter days, the gathering of all flesh unto judgment, and the certainty of the resurrection.

1And when He was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, His disciples came unto Him; and we besought and entreated Him severally, and prayed Him, saying: Declare unto us what are the signs of Thy coming, and of the end of the world; that we may perceive and mark the time of Thy coming, and may instruct them that come after us — unto whom we preach the word of Thy gospel, and whom we set within Thy Church — that they, when they hear it, may take heed unto themselves, that they mark the time of Thy coming.

2Our Lord answered us, saying: Take heed that no man deceive you; and that ye be not doubters, and serve other gods. Many shall come in My name, saying: I am the Christ. Believe them not, neither approach them. The coming of the Son of God shall not be plain; but as the lightning that shineth from the east unto the west, so shall I come upon the clouds of heaven with a great host in My majesty — with My cross going before My face shall I come in My majesty, shining seven times more than the sun shall I come in My majesty, with all My holy ones, mine angels.

3Then shall My Father set a crown upon My head, that I may judge the living and the dead, and recompense every man according unto his works. Behold, I have shewed thee, Peter, and declared unto thee all things.

4Go forth, therefore, and journey unto the city of the west, and drink the cup which I have promised thee, at the hand of the son of him that is in Hades — that the beginning of his hidden state may be made manifest. As for thee, thou art in the cup of His promise. Behold, I have made manifest unto thee, O Peter, all things.

5Hearken now unto a parable. Look upon the fig tree. As soon as it shooteth forth its branches, and groweth its tender leaves, the end of the world shall come. The fig tree is the house of Israel. Take ye heed, my son Peter — when its boughs have sprouted at the end of the days, then shall feigned christs come, and shall awake expectation, saying: I am the Christ that am now come into the world.

6When they shall behold the wickedness of his deeds, they shall turn away after him, and shall deny Him to whom our fathers gave praise — even the first Christ whom they crucified, and sinned an exceeding great sin. The deceiver is not Christ. When they shall reject him, he shall slay with the sword; and there shall be many martyrs. Then shall the boughs of the fig tree, that is, the house of Israel, blossom; and many shall become martyrs by his hand. They shall be killed and become martyrs. Enoch and Elias shall be sent to teach them that this is the deceiver which must come into the world, and shall do signs and wonders that he may deceive. Therefore they that die by his hand shall be martyrs; and they shall be reckoned among the good and righteous martyrs which have pleased God in their life.

7Then shall come the resurrection of the dead. The earth shall give back all that hath been entrusted to it; and the sea also shall give back all that hath been entrusted to it; and Hades shall give back what is required of it. Then shall the Father judge them which arise from the dead. The day appointed of God shall come; the trumpet shall sound; and the dead shall be raised every man with his own body, soul, and spirit; and the judgment shall be set.

8Then shall the books be opened. He that is righteous shall enter into the joy of his Lord; and he that hath wrought wickedness shall be cast away from before His face. Now therefore, Peter, hearken; and watch ye and pray. Be ye ready in every season; for ye know not the hour in which the Son of Man cometh.