Chapter 121

¹ For I will relate also the thing that happened not long ago in Syria.

² For a certain man who presided over the church there, and who did not diligently study the divine Scriptures nor follow the voice of the Lord, was himself led astray and led others astray as well.

³ For when the Lord had said, “Many false christs and false prophets shall arise and shall give signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘there,’ do not believe it; ‘Behold, he is in the desert,’ do not go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ do not enter”—that man, having not understood these things, persuaded many of the brethren, with wives and children, to go out into the desert to meet Christ; and they wandered astray in the mountains and on the roads, drifting about aimlessly. So that they were very nearly all arrested as robbers by the governor and put to death, had it not happened that this man’s wife was a believer, and being entreated by her he settled the matter, lest on their account a persecution should fall upon everyone.

⁴ How great their folly and lack of instruction, that they should journey into the desert seeking Christ, in the same manner as, in the days of Elisha the prophet, the sons of the prophets sought for Elijah in the mountains for three days after he had been taken up.

⁵ For when the Lord had said, “As the lightning comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man”—signifying by this that he himself would clearly and manifestly come from the heavens with power and the Father’s glory—these men sought him in the mountains and in the desert.

⁶ For his second coming will not be such as his first one was. For then he appeared only as a lowly man, but now he comes as judge of the whole world. And then indeed he came to save man, but now he comes to punish all sinners and those who have acted impiously against him.

⁷ Now we say these things for the strengthening of the faithful brethren, that they may not anticipate the counsel of God, each one knowing that on whatever day he departs from this world he has already been judged; for the consummation has overtaken him.