1
Uri'el then spoke concerning the signs of the approaching end.
2
“Days shall come when amazement seizes those dwelling upon the earth, the Way of Truth is hidden, and faith becomes scarce.”
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“Lawlessness shall increase beyond what you now see.”
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“The land that presently rules shall itself become desolate.”
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“After the appointed kingdoms, the order of things shall be shaken.”
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“The sun shall shine unexpectedly in the night and the moon appear in the day.”
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“Blood shall seem to fall from wood, stones shall give a voice, peoples shall be disturbed, and ordinary courses shall be overturned.”
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“A ruler whom the inhabitants do not expect shall arise.”
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“Birds shall flee together; the sea associated with Sedom shall cast up fish and make a sound heard by many.”
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“Confusion shall spread through many places; fire shall break out often; wild animals shall change their places.”
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“Pregnancies shall produce terrifying signs; fresh water shall be corrupted by salt.”
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“Friends shall turn upon friends. Wisdom shall withdraw and understanding become difficult to find.”
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“People shall hope and fail to obtain; they shall labor and their ways shall not prosper.”
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Uri'el told me to pray, weep, and fast seven more days if I desired to hear deeper things.
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I awoke trembling.
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Paltiel, a leader among the people, came to me and asked why my face was troubled and why I had withdrawn from Yisra'el during captivity.
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I told him to leave me for seven days and return afterward.
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I fasted, mourning and weeping.
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After seven days understanding returned to me and I prayed again.
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“Yahuah, from all forests You chose one vine; from all lands one inheritance; from all flowers one lily.”
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“From all rivers You chose one; from all cities You set apart Tziyon; among birds one dove; among flocks one sheep.”
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“Among all peoples You chose one people and gave them Torah.”
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“Why then have You delivered the one to the many and allowed those who reject Your promises to trample those who trust Your Covenant?”
24
Uri'el returned and said, “Do you love Yisra'el more than the One who made them?”
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I said, “No, but grief torments me while I seek to understand Your Judgment.”
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He commanded me again to do impossibilities: number those not yet born, gather scattered drops, revive withered flowers, open closed chambers, bring out imprisoned winds, show the form of a voice.
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I confessed that I could do none of these.
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He answered, “So also you cannot fully discover the Judgment of El Elyon or the end of His love toward His people.”
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I asked concerning those who had died before us and those who would come afterward.
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He likened Judgment to a ring, whose first and last points do not race ahead of one another.
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I asked why all generations were not created at once.
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He answered with the womb: ten children are not born at one time merely because all are intended.
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“The earth is likewise a womb. Each generation comes forth in its appointed season.”
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“Creation itself is aging; those born late are like children born from an aged mother.”
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I asked by whom El Elyon would visit His creation.