As we explore more of the writings lost to the Christian world because they have been omitted from their 66-book Bible, we turn now to one of the most powerful – and beautiful – books of scripture ever penned. We speak of the Cepher 2 Esdras (printed within the bindings of the Eth Cepher as Ezra Reviy`iy or 4 Ezra). In this text, we see significant prophecy that is not found elsewhere in Scripture, yet is reiterated by second witnesses throughout the ancient writings in both what is called the Old Testament and what is called the New Testament.
In this discussion, we will be looking at only one of the prophecies set forth in this cepher, and that is the work laid out in chapter 7 therein. Bear in mind that this work was likely written in that period immediately after the opening of the second temple (23 Adar, 417 B.C.) and the death of Ezra thereafter. So, the writing is circa 400 B.C.
We begin with the following:
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 7:12-14
Therefore all things whatever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the Torah and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because narrow is the gate, and troublesome is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.
Is there a previous first witness to this instruction? Well, let’s see what Ezra said:
4 Ezra 7:1-10
AND when I had made an end of speaking these words, there was sent to me the angel which had been sent to me the nights afore: 2 And he said to me, Up, Ezra, and hear the words that I am come to tell you. 3 And I said, Speak on, my ELOHIYM. Then said he to me: The sea is set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great. 4 But put the case the entrance were narrow, and like a river; 5 Who then could go into the sea to look upon it, and to rule it? If he went not through the narrow, how could he come into the broad? 6 There is also another thing; A city is built, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things: 7 The entrance thereof is narrow, and is set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water: 8 And there is but one path between them, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once. 9 If this city now were given to a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance? 10 And I said: It is so, ADONAI. Then said he to me: Even so also is Yisra’el's portion.
Without belaboring the concept, the angel (malach) who is speaking to Ezra, is referred to by Ezra as my ELOHIYM. This discussion is consistent with the concept that MASHIACH prior to his tabernacling among us in the flesh, was seen throughout the older writings as the chief angel of the presence. This next passage assumes the truth of that which is written in the Besorah Yahuchanon:
Yahuchanon (John) 1:3
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.
As you might imagine, this next passage makes a lot of the messiah-deniers nervous, and is likely the foremost reason the book was expunged from the Jewish world.
4 Ezra 7:11-14
Because for their sakes I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was decreed that now is done. 12 Then were the entrances of this world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: they are but few and evil, full of perils and very painful. 13 For the entrances of the elder world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit. 14 If then they that live labour not to enter these strait and vain things, they can never receive those that are laid up for them.
And so the path is declared to be narrow, and few find it. And even after it is found, there is fire on the left hand and deep water on the right. See to it that you do not fall off this narrow path! When we consider this, however, you might ask yourself the same questions that Ezra presents below:
4 Ezra 7:15-18
Now therefore why disquiet yourself, seeing you are but a corruptible man? And why are you moved, whereas you are but mortal? 16 Why have you not considered in your mind this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present? 17 Then answered I and said, O YAHUAH ADONAI, you have ordained in your Torah, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the wicked should perish. 18 Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer strait things, and hope for wide: for they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait things, and yet shall not see the wide.
Why do the wicked prosper? Why do the wicked prosper? Why do the righteous suffer the strait things together with the wicked? Do we not ask ourselves the same questions as Ezra and David? Fortunately, we get an answer here.
4 Ezra 7:19-25
And he said to me. There is no judge above ELOHIYM, and none that has understanding above EL ELYON. 20 For there be many that perish in this life, because they despise the Torah of ELOHIYM that is set before them. 21 For ELOHIYM has given strait commandment to such as came, what they should do to live, even as they came, and what they should observe to avoid punishment. 22 Nevertheless they were not obedient to him; but spoke against him, and imagined vain things; 23 And deceived themselves by their wicked deeds; and said of EL ELYON, that he is not; and knew not his ways: 24 But his Torah have they despised, and denied his covenants; in his statutes have they not been faithful, and have not performed his works. 25 And therefore, Ezra, for the empty are empty things, and for the full are the full things.
Now here is the heart of the matter within the four walls of Christianity today. The church tells its congregants “you are not under the law” and “the law has been nailed to the cross.” These are imagined vain things. They strike as vanity, and enhance vanity within the church, and the churches where these things are taught become vain sepulchers of self-promotion, grandiose design and expanse, vain expressions of the shepherds who guard the flock that is being fleeced under the immutable law of the tithe (which somehow escaped being nailed to the cross).
ELOHIYM gave a strait command, did he not? Let’s see how Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) put it:
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 7:21-23
Thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OTH, the ELOHIYM of Yisra’el; Put your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat flesh. 22 For I spoke not את eth-unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Mitsrayim, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: 23 But את eth-this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your ELOHIYM, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well to you.
From here, we proceed to that passage which makes 4 Ezra unique among Scriptures, for it gives us the edict to follow the Torah of ELOHIYM, and then sets forth the testimony of HAMASHIACH, telling us what is that testimony: namely, that he will come to judge the living and the dead.
4 Ezra 7:26-35
26 Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told you shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth. 27 And whoever is delivered from the foresaid evils shall see my wonders. 28 For my Son YAHUSHA shall be revealed with those that be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within four hundred years. 29 After these years shall my Son MASHIACH die, and all men that have life. 30 And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain. 31 And after seven days the world, that yet awakens not, shall be raised up, and that shall die that is corrupt. 32 And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those souls that were committed to them. 33 And EL ELYON shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pass away, and the longsuffering shall have an end: 34 But judgment only shall remain, truth shall stand, and faith shall wax strong: 35 And the work shall follow, and the reward shall be showed, and the good deeds shall be of force, and wicked deeds shall bear no rule.
Here is the prophecy that within 400 years of this writing (circa 400 B.C.) YAHUSHA the MASHIACH would be revealed. We bear in mind that in fact he was revealed on the eighth day following his birth when he was presented at the temple.
Luqas (Luke) 2:21-38
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called YAHUSHA, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the Torah of Mosheh were accomplished, they brought him to Yerushalayim, to present him to YAHUAH; 23 (As it is written in the Torah of YAHUAH, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to YAHUAH;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the Torah of YAHUAH, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And, behold, there was a man in Yerushalayim, whose name was Shim`on; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Yisra’el: and the RUACH HAQADASH was upon him. 26 And it was revealed to him by the RUACH HAQADASH, that he should not see death, before he had seen YAHUAH’S את eth-MASHIACH. 27 And he came by the RUACH into the Temple: and when the parents brought in the child YAHUSHA, to do for him after the custom of the Torah, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed YAH, and said, 29 YAHUAH, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word: 30 For my eyes have seen your yeshu`ah, 31 Which you have prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the other people, and the glory of your people Yisra’el. 33 And Yoceph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Shim`on blessed them, and said to Miryam his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Yisra’el; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Channah, a prophetess, the daughter of Penu’el, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a man seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the Temple, but served את eth-YAHUAH with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise to YAHUAH, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Yerushalayim.
By the testimony of these two witnesses, on the 23rd day of Eythaniym (Tishrei), in the biblical year 4,000 (Gregorian year 4 B.C.), MASHIACH was revealed, in fulfillment of this prophecy. After that, MASHIACH would die that all men might have life. However, that is not the end of the prophecy.
And the world shall be turned into the old silence seven days, like as in the former judgments: so that no man shall remain. What does this mean, these seven days? This is not an easy question to answer here, but I will give the summary nonetheless. Chanoch (Enoch) tells us that in the last generation the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation would be revealed to the righteous. This requires wisdom to understand the Scriptures accurately.
In Hebrew writing, the meanings of phrases are best understood as an intellectual onion – one where more and more truth is revealed by pealing back the layers. There is often a micro understanding – in this case, exactly 7 24-hour periods of time, and there is a macro understanding, where a day is equal to a year (therefore 7 years), or a day is equal to a year which is equal to a jubilee year (which would be 350 years), or a day to YAH is like a thousand years (therefore 7,000 years). In this case, the reference is most likely the latter, meaning that the world shall be turned into the old silence for seven thousand years until no man remains. The implications are consistent with other teachings: that man’s reign on this earth (and the dominion of HaSatan) would continue for 6,000 years (120 jubilee years), and then the millennial reign would occur for another 1,000 years, which would then bring mankind to the white throne of judgment.
Chizayon (Revelation) 20:11-15
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before YAHUAH; and the cepheriym were opened: and another cepher was opened, which is the cepher of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the cepheriym, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and She’ol delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and She’ol were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the cepher of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Again, a second witness to the testimony of Ezra. There will be more coming on the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation and understanding the onion in Scripture. Blessings.