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.

The transfiguration of the Lord upon the holy mountain; the appearing of Moses and Elias in glory; the vision of Paradise and the inheritance of the righteous; the closing commission unto Peter.

1Then said the Lord unto me: Let us go up unto the mountain; let us pray. There went with Him we, His twelve disciples; and we besought Him to shew unto us one of our righteous brethren which had departed out of the world, that we might see what manner of form they have, and might take courage, and might also encourage them which should hear us.

2While we were yet praying, suddenly there appeared two men standing before the Lord, upon whom we were not able to look; for there issued from their countenance a ray as of the sun. Their raiment was shining, such as eye of man hath not seen; the like is not come into the heart of man — neither can any tongue describe its glory. Their bodies were whiter than any snow, and ruddier than any rose. Their hair was curled and flowery upon their faces and shoulders — even as a wreath woven of nard and divers flowers, or as a rainbow in the sky. Such was their seemliness.

3Beholding their beauty, we were astonished at them; for they appeared suddenly. I drew near unto the Lord, and said: Who are these? He saith unto me: These are your righteous brethren, whose form ye desired to see. I said unto Him: And where are all the righteous? Of what sort is the world wherein they are, and possess this glory?

4And the Lord shewed me a very great region outside of this world, exceeding bright with light; and the air there lightened with the rays of the sun. The earth itself blossomed with unfading flowers, and was full of spices and plants — fair-flowering and incorruptible — and bearing blessed fruit. Such was the fragrance of the flowers, that it was borne thence even unto us.

5The dwellers in that place were clad with the raiment of shining angels; and their raiment was like unto their land. Angels ran round about them in that place. The glory of them that dwelt there was equal; and with one voice they sang praises unto the Lord God, rejoicing in that place. The Lord said unto us: This is the place of your high priests, the righteous men. There are also other places set apart over against this place, where they that have suffered persecution because of my righteousness shall dwell.

6I rejoiced; and I believed; and I understood that which is written in the book of my Lord Jesus Christ. I said unto Him: O Lord, wilt Thou that I make here three tabernacles — one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias? He said unto me in wrath: Satan maketh war against thee; and hath veiled thine understanding. The good things of this world prevail against thee. Thine eyes therefore must be opened, and thine ears unstopped, that thou mayest understand a tabernacle not made with men's hands, which My heavenly Father hath made for Me and for the elect.

7We beheld it; and were full of gladness. Behold, suddenly there came a voice from heaven, saying: This is My Son whom I love; and I am well pleased in Him. My commandments — keep ye them. Then came a great and exceeding white cloud over our heads, and bare away our Lord and Moses and Elias. I trembled, and was afraid. We looked up; and the heaven opened, and we beheld men in the flesh, and they came and greeted our Lord and Moses and Elias, and went into another heaven. The word of the scripture was fulfilled: This is the generation that seeketh Him, and that seeketh the face of the God of Jacob. There was great fear and great commotion in heaven; and the angels pressed unto one another that the word of scripture might be fulfilled which saith: Open the gates, ye princes.

8Thereafter the heaven was shut, that had been open. We prayed; and we went down from the mountain, glorifying God who hath written the names of the righteous in heaven in the book of life. The Lord said unto Peter: Go thou into the city of the west, and the things which I have spoken unto thee — declare them. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. He that hath eyes to see, let him see. The kingdom of God shall be given unto a faithful and humble people. Wo unto them that have rejected My word; and unto them that have sat in the seat of pride; and unto them that have despised the saints. They shall not enter into the rest.

9But unto them that have kept the commandments — that have walked in mercy and in love and in long-suffering — these shall enter into the joy of their Lord; and shall behold the face of the Father; and shall dwell with the Beloved Son in the heavenly Jerusalem; and shall sing the new song with the angels of the presence; and shall reign with Him for ever and ever. Amen.

10Glory be unto the Father, who hath prepared the kingdom; and unto the Son, who hath opened the way; and unto the Holy Ghost, who guideth us therein. Glory be unto Peter, the first witness of the vision; and unto all the saints that have written and preserved these words. Forever and ever. Amen.