II Esdras 13:1-58

An analysis of prophetic scriptures in the Apocrypha.

II Esdras 13

:1

After seven days I dreamed a dream in the night; and behold, a wind arose from

the sea and stirred up all its waves. And I looked, and behold, this wind made

something like the figure of a man come up out of the heart of the sea. And I

looked, and behold, the man flew with the clouds of heaven; and wherever he

turned his face to look, everything under his gaze trembled, and whenever his

voice issued from his mouth, all who heard his voice melted as wax melts when it

feels the fire.

:5

After this I looked, and behold, an innumerable multitude of men were gathered

together from the four winds of heaven to make war against the man who came

up out of the sea. And I looked, and behold, he carved out for himself a great

mountain, and flew up upon it. And I tried to see the region or place from which

the mountain was carved, but I could not.

:8

After this I looked, and behold, all who had gathered together against him, to

wage war with him, were much afraid, yet dared to fight. And behold when he

saw the onrush of the approaching multitude, he neither lifted his hand nor held a

spear or any weapon of war; but I saw only how he sent forth from his mouth as it

were a stream of fire, and from his lips a flaming breath, and from his tongue he

shot forth a storm of sparks. All these were mingled together, the stream of fire

and the flaming breath and the great storm, and fell on the onrushing multitude

which was prepared to fight, and burned them all up, so that suddenly nothing was

seen of the innumerable multitude but only the dust of ashes and the smell of

smoke. When I saw it, I was amazed.

:12

After this I saw the same man come down from the mountain and call to him

another multitude which was peaceable. Then many people came to him, some of

whom were joyful and some sorrowful; some of them were bound, and some

were bringing others as offerings.

Then in great fear I awoke; and I besought the Most High, and said, "From the

beginning thou hast shown thy servant these wonders, and hast deemed me

worthy to have my prayer heard by thee; now show me also the interpretation of

this dream. For as I consider it in my mind, alas for those who will be left in those

days! And still more, alas for those who are not left! For those who are not left will

be sad, because they understand what is reserved for the last days, but cannot

attain it. But alas for those also who are left, and for that very reason! For they

shall see great dangers and much distress, as these dreams show. Yet it is better to

come into these things, though incurring peril, than to pass from the world like a

cloud, and not to see what shall happen in the last days."

He answered me and said, "I will tell you the interpretation of the vision, and I

which you have mentioned. As for what you said about those who are left, this is

the interpretation: He who brings the peril at that time will himself protect those

who fall into peril, who have works and have faith in the Almighty. Understand

therefore that those who are left are more blessed than those who have died. This

is the interpretation of the vision: As for your seeing a man come up from the heart

of the sea, this is he whom the Most High has been keeping for many ages, who

will himself deliver his creation; and he will direct those who are left. And as for

your seeing wind and fire and a storm coming out of his mouth, and as for his not

holding a spear or weapon of war, yet destroying the onrushing multitude which

came to conquer him, this is the interpretation: Behold, the days are coming when

the Most High will deliver those who are on the earth. And bewilderment of mind

shall come over those who dwell on the earth. And they shall plan to make war

against one another, city against city, place against place, people against people,

and kingdom against kingdom. And when these things come to pass and the signs

occur which I showed you before, then my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as

a man coming up from the sea. And when all the nations hear his voice, every man

shall leave his own land and warfare that they have against one another; and an

innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as you saw, desiring to come

and conquer him. But he will stand on the top of Mount Zion. And Zion will come

and be made manifest to all people, prepared and built, as you saw the mountain

carved out without hands. And he, my Son, will reprove the assembled nations for

their ungodliness (this was symbolized by the storm), and will reproach them to

their face with their evil thoughts and the torments with which they are to be

tortured (which were symbolized by the flames), and will destroy them without

effort by the law (which was symbolized by the fire). And as for your seeing him

gather to himself another multitude that was peaceable, these are the ten tribes

which were led away from their own land into captivity in the days of King

Hoshea, whom Shalmaneser the king of the Assyrians led captive; he took them

across the river, and they were taken into another land. But they formed this plan

for themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the nations and go to a

more distant region, where mankind had never lived, that there at least they might

keep their statues which they had not kept in their own land. And they went in by

the narrow passages of the Euphrates river. For at that time the Most High

performed signs for them, and stopped the channels of the river until they had

passed over. Through that region there was a long way to go, a journey of a year

and a half; and that country is called Arzareth.

:46

"Then they dwelt there until the last times; and now, when they are about to

come again, the Most High will stop the channels of the river again, so that they

may be able to pass over. Therefore you saw the multitude gathered together in

peace. But those who are left of your people, who are found within my holy

borders; shall be saved. Therefore when he destroys the multitude of the nations

that are gathered together, he will defend the people who remain. And then he

will show them very many wonders."

:51

I said, "O sovereign Lord, explain this to me; Why did I see the man coming up

from the heart of the sea?"

:52

He said to me, "Just as no one can explore or know what is in the depths of the

sea, so no one on earth can see my Son or those who are with him, except in the

time of his day. This is the interpretation of the dream which you saw. And you

alone have been enlightened about this, because you have forsaken your own

ways and have applied yourself to mine, and have searched out my law; for you

have devoted your life to wisdom, and called understanding your mother.

Therefore I have shown you this, for there is a reward laid up with the Most High.

And after three more days I will tell you other things, and explain weighty and

wondrous matters to you."

:57

Then I arose and walked in the field, giving great glory and praise to the Most

High because of his wonders, which he did from time to time, and because he

governs the times and whatever things come to pass in their seasons. And I stayed

there three days.

II Esdras 13:1 - 4

:1

After seven days I dreamed a dream in the night; and behold, a wind arose from

the sea and stirred up all its waves. And I looked, and behold, this wind made

something like the figure of a man come up out of the heart of the sea. And I

looked, and behold, the man flew with the clouds of heaven; and wherever he

turned his face to look, everything under his gaze trembled, and whenever his

voice issued from his mouth, all who heard his voice melted as wax melts when it

feels the fire.

     Jesus will be shown to be this man. He flew in an aircraft as a cloud in the sky.

II Esdras 13:5

:5

After this I looked, and behold, an innumerable multitude of men were gathered

together from the four winds of heaven to make war against the man who came

up out of the sea.

     The Russian Alliance took shape to fight against Jesus.

II Esdras 13:6 - 7

:6

And I looked, and behold, he carved out for himself a great mountain, and flew up

upon it. And I tried to see the region or place from which the mountain was

carved, but I could not.

     Jesus created a great fortification on a mountain. Ezra did not recognize the location of the

mountain.

II Esdras 13:8

:8

After this I looked, and behold, all who had gathered together against him, to

wage war with him, were much afraid, yet dared to fight.

     In spite of their fear of his strength, the Russian Alliance challenged Jesus to war.

II Esdras 13:9 - 10

:9

And behold when he saw the onrush of the approaching multitude, he neither

lifted his hand nor held a spear or any weapon of war; but I saw only how he sent

forth from his mouth as it were a stream of fire, and from his lips a flaming breath,

and from his tongue he shot forth a storm of sparks.

     Jesus did not carry a weapon to fight with as a great warrior, but rather gave commands to his

own troops as a general naturally would.

II Esdras 13:11

:11

All these were mingled together, the stream of fire and the flaming breath and the

great storm, and fell on the onrushing multitude which was prepared to fight, and

burned them all up, so that suddenly nothing was seen of the innumerable

multitude but only the dust of ashes and the smell of smoke. When I saw it, I was

amazed.

     Ezra saw that with the commands of Jesus being fulfilled, the Russian Alliance was quickly

annihilated.

II Esdras 13:12 - 13a

:12

After this I saw the same man come down from the mountain and call to him

another multitude which was peaceable. Then many people came to him, some of

whom were joyful and some sorrowful; some of them were bound, and some

were bringing others as offerings.

     Jesus then brought back to Israel the 13 tribes of the nation of Israel. The emotions of these many

peoples varied widely, and some were as captives.

II Esdras 13:13b - 24

Then in great fear I awoke; and I besought the Most High, and said, "From the

beginning thou hast shown thy servant these wonders, and hast deemed me

worthy to have my prayer heard by thee; now show me also the interpretation of

this dream. For as I consider it in my mind, alas for those who will be left in those

days! And still more, alas for those who are not left! For those who are not left will

be sad, because they understand what is reserved for the last days, but cannot

attain it. But alas for those also who are left, and for that very reason! For they

shall see great dangers and much distress, as these dreams show. Yet it is better to

come into these things, though incurring peril, than to pass from the world like a

cloud, and not to see what shall happen in the last days."

He answered me and said, "I will tell you the interpretation of the vision, and I

which you have mentioned. As for what you said about those who are left, this is

the interpretation: He who brings the peril at that time will himself protect those

who fall into peril, who have works and have faith in the Almighty. Understand

therefore that those who are left are more blessed than those who have died.

     Ezra is told about the end times. It is better to live through this terrible time than to die. The

survivors will be more blessed than the dead.

II Esdras 13:25 - 26

:25

This is the interpretation of the vision: As for your seeing a man come up from the

heart of the sea, this is he whom the Most High has been keeping for many ages,

who will himself deliver his creation; and he will direct those who are left.

     The man coming up from the heart of the sea is a representation of Jesus who, having ascended to

heaven 2,000 years ago, will return to rescue and take control of the world.

II Esdras 13:27 - 28

:27

And as for your seeing wind and fire and a storm coming out of his mouth, and as

for his not holding a spear or weapon of war, yet destroying the onrushing

multitude which came to conquer him, this is the interpretation:

     When Jesus returns in the end days to fight for the liberation of Jerusalem, he will be in a

commanders position. He will not need to carry a rifle. As a general, his victory will be achieved by

giving orders to subordinates, not by personally sticking a sword into the bodies of his enemies. His

soldiers will do the fighting, not he.

II Esdras 13:29 - 31

:29

Behold, the days are coming when the Most High will deliver those who are on the

earth. And bewilderment of mind shall come over those who dwell on the earth.

And they shall plan to make war against one another, city against city, place against

place, people against people, and kingdom against kingdom.

     God will rescue the world at a time when a tremendous amount of warfare has erupted on earth.

II Esdras 13:32

:32

And when these things come to pass and the signs occur which I showed you

before, then my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as a man coming up from the

sea.

     When this war has commenced and spread like wildfire over the land, Jesus will be revealed.

Again we see that it does not say he will come out of the sky, but rather that his identity, hidden

from common sight, will be revealed. We will know that this young man is Jesus returned.

II Esdras 13:33 - 36

:33

And when all the nations hear his voice, every man shall leave his own land and

warfare that they have against one another; and an innumerable multitude shall be

gathered together, as you saw, desiring to come and conquer him. But he will

stand on the top of Mount Zion. And Zion will come and be made manifest to all

people, prepared and built, as you saw the mountain carved out without hands.

     When Jesus speaks in the world during this time of warfare, the enemy nations will turn from

their chaotic strife and unite to fight him. Look carefully at the sequencing. They will hear his voice

prior to the capture of Jerusalem mentioned in verse 35. He will speak publicly before this great

battle of liberation. The Russian Alliance then will turn to attack Jesus' forces. This will lead to the

assault on Jerusalem. According to the Bible, it is not until after Jerusalem is rescued that this young

man's identity as Jesus returned is revealed. The very fact that this union of nations takes place

when they hear his voice shows that the timing of Jesus' rise to power precedes the public revealing

of his identity at the time of the rescue of Jerusalem at the seventh trump.

II Esdras 13:37

:37

And he, my Son, will reprove the assembled nations for their ungodliness (this was

symbolized by the storm),

     Jesus will condemn the Russian Alliance for all their wicked deeds. That is no surprise at all.

II Esdras 13:38

:38

and will reproach them to their face with their evil thoughts and the torments with

which they are to be tortured (which were symbolized by the flames), and will

destroy them without effort by the law (which was symbolized by the fire).

     The enemy armies will be destroyed in battle, but they will also be condemned by the law. This

would be the standing international law rather than some spiritual law.

II Esdras 13:39 - 45

And as for your seeing him gather to himself another multitude that was

peaceable, these are the ten tribes which were led away from their own land into

captivity in the days of King Hoshea, whom Shalmaneser the king of the Assyrians

led captive; he took them across the river, and they were taken into another land.

But they formed this plan for themselves, that they would leave the multitude of

the nations and go to a more distant region, where mankind had never lived, that

there at least they might keep their statues which they had not kept in their own

land. And they went in by the narrow passages of the Euphrates river. For at that

time the Most High performed signs for them, and stopped the channels of the

river until they had passed over. Through that region there was a long way to go,

a journey of a year and a half; and that country is called Arzareth.

     Here we find the 10 tribes of the House of Israel being described in the ancient days when they

were carried away into captivity.

II Esdras 13:46 - 47

:46

"Then they dwelt there until the last times; and now, when they are about to

come again, the Most High will stop the channels of the river again, so that they

may be able to pass over. Therefore you saw the multitude gathered together in

peace

     A river will be stopped up. This would be the Euphrates River. Several passages in the Bible

refer to this river being dried up. The river will be dried up to allow for easy passage of the people to

return after centuries to their promised land.

II Esdras 13:48

:48

But those who are left of your people, who are found within my holy borders; shall

be saved.

     Of the original inhabitants of the State of Israel, those who will have survived the war will be

rescued.

II Esdras 13:49 - 50

:49

Therefore when he destroys the multitude of the nations that are gathered

together, he will defend the people who remain. And then he will show them very

many wonders."

     Jesus is shown here to be the destroyer of the armies of the Russian Alliance gathered to capture

Jerusalem. Those who were not carried away as POW's will be rescued and defended. Jesus will

show them many wonders. No doubt this will include much military equipment and spectacular

feats in combat.

II Esdras 13:51 - 52

:51

I said, "O sovereign Lord, explain this to me; Why did I see the man coming up

from the heart of the sea?"

:52

He said to me, "Just as no one can explore or know what is in the depths of the

sea, so no one on earth can see my Son or those who are with him, except in the

time of his day.

     Only in the time of this battle will the peoples of history see Jesus and his army for who they are.

Prior to his birth again on earth, he will live with God in heaven.

II Esdras 13:53 - 58