BibleFacts

Apocalypse of Peter
taken from the Ethiopic

Translations

And when Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to him earnestly asking "Make known to us the signs of your second coming and of the end of the world, that we may perceive and mark the time of your parousia and instruct those who come after us, to whom we preach the word of your gospel and whom we install into the church, in order that when they know and mark the time of your coming." And our Lord replied to us, "Be careful that men don’t deceive you so that you become doubters and serve other gods. Many will come in my name saying ‘I am Christ.’ Do not believe them or draw near to them. For the coming of the Son of God will not be manifest, but like the lightening which shines form the east to the west, so shall I come on the clouds of heaven with a great host in my glory; with my cross going before my face will I come in my glory, shining seven times as bright as the sun will I come in my glory, with my saints, my angels, when my Father will place a crown upon my head, that I may judge the living and the dead and recompense every man according to his work.

Receive the parable of the fig tree: as soon as its shoots have come forth and its boughs have sprouted, the end of the world will come. And I, Peter, asked "Explain to me concerning the fig tree and how we should perceive it. Fig tress sprout every year. We don’t understand the parable." And the Master answered, "Don’t you understand that the fig tree is the house of Israel? Just as a man planted a fig tree in his garden and it brought forth no fruit for many years. He said to the gardener ‘Uproot the tree that our land may not be unfruitful for us.’ And the gardener said to God, ‘We your servants wish to clear it of weeds, dig around it and water it. And then if it does not bear fruit we will immediately remove its roots from the garden and plant another in its place." Have you not grasped that the fig tree is the house of Israel? Truly I say to you when its boughs have sprouted at the end, then shall the deceiving Christs come, and awaken hope saying ‘I am the Christ, who am now come into the world.’ And when they see the wickedness of their deeds they shall turn away after them and deny him to whom our fathers gave praise, the first Christ whom they crucified and thereby sinned exceedingly. But this deceiver is not the Christ. And when they reject him, he will kill with the sword (dagger) and there shall be many martyrs. Then shall the boughs of the fig tree, house of Israel, sprout, and there shall be many martyrs by his hand. Enoch and Elias will be sent to instruct them that this is the deceiver who must come into the world and do signs and wonders in order to deceive. And therefore shall they that are slain by his hand be martyrs and shall be reckoned among the good and righteous martyrs who have pleased God in their life." …

And all will see how I will come upon an eternal shining cloud, and the angels of God who will sit with me on the throne of my glory at the right hand of my heavenly Father. He will set a crown upon my head. As soon as the nations see it, they will weep, each nation for itself. And He shall command them to go into the river of fire, while the deeds of each individual one of them stand before them. Recompense shall be given to each according to his work. As for the elect who have done good, they will come to me and will not see death by devouring fire. But the evil creatures, the sinners and the hypocrites will stand in the depths of darkness that passes not away, and their punishment is the fire. …

And I said to Him, "My Lord, do you wish me to make three tabernacles here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias?" And He said to me in anger, "Satan is making war with you, and has veiled your understanding, and the good things of this world conquer you. Your eyes must be opened and your ears unstopped that… a tabernacle, which my Father has made for me and for the elect." And we saw it full of joy. And suddenly there came a voice form heaven saying, "This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I have pleasure, and my commandments are fulfilled in Him. And there came a great and exceeding white cloud over our heads and bore away our Lord And Moses and Elias. And trembling with fear, we looked up and the heavens opened and we saw men in the flesh, and they came and greeted our Lord and Moses and Elias, and went into the second heaven. And the word of scripture was fulfilled: this generation seeks Him and seeks the face of the God of Jacob.1 And great fear and amazement took place in heaven; the angles flocked together that the scripture might be fulfilled that says: Open the Gates, you princes!2 After that the heaven was shut, that had been opened. And we prayed and went down from the mountain, and we praised God who has written the names of the righteous in heaven in the book of life.

It is this authors opinion that the rest of the narrative was added in the later centuries. Therefore, it is not translated.

1 Ps. 24:6 2 Ps. 24:7-9