Chapter 158
1 Since, then, these things were to be so, he added, saying: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall rise, these to eternal life and those to reproach and eternal shame; and those who have understanding shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and from among the many righteous like the stars forever and ever.”
2 Who, then, are those who sleep in the dust of the earth but the bodies of men, which, receiving back their own souls, shall rise—some to a resurrection of life, receiving them pure and translucent and shining like the brightness of the firmament, and others to a resurrection of judgment, receiving them fit for eternal punishment? As Paul also says: “he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.”
3 For the Lord too in the Gospel has said the like: “Then the righteous shall shine as the sun shines in his glory.”
4 And Isaiah says: “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon you.”
5 And the Lord again: “Amen I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and shall rise—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have done evil things to a resurrection of judgment.”
6 “These,” he says, “shall rise to life”—those who have believed in the true life and are inscribed in the book of life; “and these to reproach and eternal shame”—those who side with the Antichrist and are cast with him into eternal punishment.
7 Concerning whom Isaiah prophesies, saying: “As a garment stained with blood will not be clean, so neither shall you be clean, because you laid waste my land and slew my people; you shall not abide for eternal time, evil seed. Prepare your children for slaughter for the sins of your father, that they may not arise and inherit my land.”