Apocalypse of Peter: A Vision of What Hell Has In Store For Sinners?The apocalypse of Peter is an extremely interesting read for me because it is not included in the Bible but it is evidently written by the same author who has a few books in the Bible. It is written much in the same manner with regards to the language styles. It speaks of great glory and praise to God and Jesus, and it speaks of eternal damnation of those who transgress against them.
It seems that the apocalypse of Peter is not entirely contained in one text by drawn from various fragments found in various artifacts from the ages. It is referred to in several ancient texts and was recognized by some churches and ignored by others. Some early Roman churches read passages from it on special days of the year and still others completely omit acknowledgement of its existence. The "ethiopic" text of the apocalypse of Peter is the longest but easiest to follow for me. It begins describing how God was at the "Mount of Olives" and was asked to disclose the signs that would be seen that herald the second coming of Christ. In the ensuing discussions a brief description of heaven and a lengthy discussion of punishments in hell. The first warns to not allow any man to deceive us and to understand that several false prophets will arrive. That we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into their lies. The arrival of Christ will not be seen plainly but in a sudden and unanticipated manner. His arrival will come quickly like lightening and he will be accompanied, in all of his majesty, by his holy angels. Despite his insistence that no man can predict his arrival, a clue is given. The parable of the fig tree is here drawn out. As it goes, the fig tree is like the house of Israel, and when the fig tree sprouts, the end is near. From this it is explained that when the house of Israel sprouts the end is near. The apocalypse of Peter goes on to describe how the Lord has appointed the angel Uriel over the dead and how his duties include the bringing back to life all of those who had died before so that they can be before the Lord on the day of final judgment. To those who have lost faith the Lord promises: Floods of fire will be set loose. Darkness and obscurity will envelope the entire world. Waters will be changed into coals of fire. All that lives in the waters will be burned. The sea will become fire. Heaven will pour fourth with a fire that cannot be quenched, its purpose is to deliver God's wrath. Stars will fly apart in fragments of fire. Even heaven will pass away due to lack of water.
Here is where those who have lost faith will be driven into the fires...The lord will arrive and command them into the fires...but those who have done right by the Lord will be allowed to go to him and be spared. The apocalypse of Peter goes on to discuss the specific punishments that are planned for eternity. Angels prepare a place for this torment, adding a station for each type of sin. The torments follow: -Blasphemers are hung by their tongues over an unquenchable fire. -Women who made themselves beautiful for the purpose of fornication are hung by their hair and cast into the firey pit. The men who fell victim to their plans and laid with them in fornication are hung in the fire by their loins. -Murderers and those that allowed/aided it are cast into the fire with venomous beasts that sting them relentlessly for eternity. The angel Ezrael brings those slain to watch their torment who speak of the righteousness and justness of the judgment of God. -A great pit filling with foulness and torment from above awaits women who had children outside of marriage. -Above these women are couples who aborted their children. The milk of the mothers breasts congeal into a substance that delivers forth beasts that devour flesh that then go on to torment the couple. The children are there to witness the torment and are given to the angel Temlakos who cares for them. -Those that persecuted and betrayed the righteous have their bodies torn in half and thrown into darkness where worms eat their entrails.
The texts go on to describe punishments for many more types of sins. Those that slander God, those who lent money and demanded a usury fee, the rich who failed to take care of the less fortunate, worshippers of false idols, women who laid with women, those who forsake God and followed the teachings of devils, those who did not honor their mother and father, women who failed to keep their virginity until marriage, servants not obedient to their masters, those who claim righteousness but have not sought it, sorcerers and sorceresses, and others. The apocalypse of Peter goes on further to proclaim those who receive these punishments are ushered over by Ezrael out of the fire and into the judgment of God. Uriel takes them and sets them before God. I could not dream of such horrible things on my own. It is so horrific that I could only bring myself to paraphrase the concepts. It is clear that one is surely to expect pain and torment for eternity for transgressions against God. The apocalypse of Peter is a subject that clearly deserves further research and you can believe that I will be looking more into it!!! Be Good! Curt
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