Section 36

1Again we said to him, “Lord, will the nations not then say, ‘Where is their God?’” He answered us, “By this the elect shall be known: though afflicted by such sufferings, they shall come forth.” We asked, “Will their departure from the world then be through a painful pestilence?” He answered us, “No. But if they suffer such affliction, it shall test whether they have faith, remember these words of mine, and fulfill my commandments. They shall arise, and their waiting shall be short, so that he who sent me may be glorified, and I with him. He sent me to you to tell you these things so that you may impart them to Israel and the Gentiles, and so that they may hear, be redeemed, believe in me, and escape the woe of destruction. But whoever escapes the destruction of death shall be seized and held fast in prison, suffering torments like those of a thief.” We said to him, “Lord, will believers be treated like unbelievers, and will you punish those who have escaped the pestilence?” He said to us, “If those who believe in my name behave like sinners, they have acted as though they had not believed.” We asked him again, “Lord, do those upon whom this lot has fallen have no life?” He answered us, “Whoever has fulfilled the praise of my Father shall remain in my Father’s resting place.”