2 Esdras 13:21-50
“I will tell you the interpretation of the vision, and I will also open to you the things about which you mentioned. You have spoken of those who are left behind. This is the interpretation: He that will endure the peril in that time will protect those who fall into danger, even those who have works and faith toward the Almighty. Know therefore that those who are left behind are more blessed than those who are dead. These are the interpretations of the vision: Whereas you saw a man coming up from the midst of the sea, 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. Whereas you saw that out of his mouth came wind, fire, and storm, 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: Behold, the days come when the Most High will begin to deliver those who are on the earth. Astonishment of mind will come upon those who dwell on the earth. One will plan to make war against another, city against city, place against place, people against people, and kingdom against kingdom. 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. 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. An innumerable multitude will be gathered together, as you saw, desiring to come and to fight against him. But he will stand on the top of Mount Zion. Zion will come, and will be shown to all men, being prepared and built, like you saw the mountain carved without hands. My Son will rebuke the nations which have come for their wickedness, with plagues that are like a storm, and will rebuke them to their face with their evil thoughts, and the torments with which they will be tormented, which are like a flame. He will destroy them without labor by the law, which is like fire. Whereas you saw that he gathered to himself another multitude that was peaceful, these are the ten tribes which were led away out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmananser the king of the Assyrians led away captive, and he carried them beyond the River, and they were taken into another land. But they made this plan among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go out into a more distant region, where mankind had never lived, that there they might keep their statutes which they had not kept in their own land. They entered by the narrow passages of the river Euphrates. For the Most High then did signs for them, and stopped the springs of the River until they had passed over. For through that country there was a long way to go, namely, of a year and a half. The same region is called Arzareth. Then they lived there until the latter time. Now when they begin to come again, the Most High stops the springs of the River again, that they may go through. Therefore you saw the multitude gathered together with peace. But those who are left behind of your people are those who are found within my holy border. It will be therefore when he will destroy the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he will defend the people who remain. Then he will show them very many wonders.”