The Second Apocalypse of James

The Second Apocalypse of James (Full Untampered Text, Opening Chapters)

The second apocalypse of James.

This is the discourse that James the Just spoke in Jerusalem, and which Mareim, one of the priests, wrote down. He had told it to Theuda, the father of the Just One. He said:

“Now the multitude were seated. He spoke to them: ’You must know me, all of you, my brothers. When I went out after the crucified one, I was filled with the Holy Spirit.

And I spoke with him for hours, face to face. I was not ashamed before him because I had come to know who he truly is, and what he is, and why he appeared in the world.

I said to him, “I know who you are, and I know what you are.”

He said to me, “Brother, listen to me and I will tell you what has come over you. For many will fight against you—yet these are the ones who will be enthroned.

Many will honor you, thinking they are glorifying the Father. But they are blind; they have taken up the flesh instead of spirit, and the form instead of truth.”’

And James continued, saying:

“Woe to those who follow a dead image. Woe to the ones who bow to that which is perishable.

For truly I tell you, the body of the son of man is a garment, and he cast it off like a robe.

The one who came to me was not flesh, but light. He entered me and I entered him. He gave me understanding beyond words.”

Then he said to me, “James, behold! I will reveal to you all that has been hidden.”

And he showed me a vision of the heavenly places, and the aeons, and the archons who rule them.

I saw their thrones and their false crowns, and I saw the light beyond all dominions, and the voice that spoke without sound.

He said: “This is the Father of the All. He is not a man. He is not many. He is beyond being. From Him came silence and flame and fullness.”

Then he said to me: “Do not be afraid. Many will hate you because of this truth. But I am in you, and I will never leave you.

For not all who are descended from Israel are of Israel, but only those who are born from the light.

Write this down and give it to the wise. Hide it from the blind. For the world will not understand.”

And when he said these things, he departed from me in the light.

And after he left me, I rejoiced greatly in my heart, for I had seen the Lord face to face. I understood his word, and I knew the truth.

Then I went to the multitude and spoke to them the things he had told me. And many were amazed. But others mocked and said, “Is this not the carpenter’s brother?”

Yet I did not cease, for the Spirit burned in me, and I was compelled to reveal what I had received.

Then I stood in the temple and cried out, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Why do you worship that which is not?

The Father of Truth is not in temples made by hands. He dwells in light, and he is known by those born of the spirit.”

And they were enraged. They seized me, and they dragged me before the elders. They questioned me, saying, “Why do you blaspheme?”

I answered them, “I speak only what was given to me. I do not speak from man, but from him who sent me.”

Then they gnashed their teeth, and one of them struck me, saying, “You are not worthy to speak of the Holy One.”

But I stood firm and said, “You do not know him. If you knew him, you would not strike me.”

And I turned my face to the heavens and said, “Father, forgive them, for they are blind. Open their eyes that they may see you.”

Then the voice of the Lord came to me again, saying, “James, my beloved, fear nothing. What you suffer will become a crown for you.

For I too suffered at their hands, though they did not touch my true self. So it will be with you.”

And I was filled with great peace. And the Spirit lifted me above their wrath.

And they led me out from the temple, and the crowd followed, shouting,

“Stone him! For he has spoken against the law and the prophets!”

But I was not afraid, for the Lord was with me. His presence was within me like fire.

Then one of them, a scribe, said, “Tell us, James, if you are so wise—where is your master now?”

And I answered him, “He is not where you seek. He is in the light, beyond the rulers of this world.

He has ascended, and he has taken his seat beside the One who is hidden from all.”

And they said, “You speak madness. You are possessed.”

But I lifted my eyes and saw the heavens open.

And I said to them, “Behold, the veil is torn. The gate is open. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

The children of darkness will flee, and the children of light shall shine.”

At that they seized me again. They struck me with rods and cast me into a pit.

And in the night, the Lord came to me once more, and he said:

“Endure, my brother. For these things must take place. The pattern must be fulfilled.

As they did to me, they will do to you. But rejoice, for your reward is great.

You are not alone. The angels are with you. I have gone to prepare a place for you.”

And I saw in the spirit a great city, not made with hands, filled with light.

And the voice said, “This is your home, James. This is the place of the true ones.”

And I wept—not for pain, but for joy.

And the voice said, “Write what you have seen. Give it to the few who can receive it.

For many will read and not understand. But those of the spirit will rejoice.”

And when the morning came, they brought me again before the council.

They asked, “Will you now deny what you have spoken? Will you confess that you were deceived?”

But I answered, “I have not spoken from myself, but from the Living One.

You are the ones who have been deceived, following shadows and laws of men.

The truth is not in the scrolls you read with blind eyes, but in the voice that speaks within.”

Then a Pharisee rose and said, “You call the law a shadow? You reject Moses?”

And I said, “I do not reject the righteous one. But I say this: what Moses saw was a reflection of what is,

and he trembled before the voice in the fire. But now the fullness has come.”

And the high priest said, “You blaspheme! This man is worse than the Nazarene!”

And I said, “You call him Nazarene, but I call him Light of Light, Flame of Truth,

the One who revealed the All. He was not made by hands. He was not born of man.”

They tore their robes and cast dust upon their heads.

And they said, “This man is cursed!”

And I lifted my hands and said, “You are the cursed, for you have rejected the Cornerstone.

He came to you and you did not receive him.

But the poor, the broken, the orphan, the widow — they knew him. And they are blessed.”

Then they bound me with cords, and they took me to the high wall of the temple.

And the voice came to me, saying, “Fear not, James. Your time has come. You will join me soon.”

And I looked and saw the form of the Lord above the veil of the temple.

His eyes were like fire, and his voice like rushing water.

He said, “I am with you until the end.”

And they brought me to the pinnacle of the temple, where many had gathered.

And one of them cried out, “Let him speak, so all may hear his madness!”

And I lifted my voice and said:

“You have built your house upon sand.

The wind will come, and the rain, and it will not stand.

But the true house is built in the spirit — it cannot be shaken.

The kingdom is within you. But you do not see.”

Then they mocked me and spat upon me.

And one struck me, and I stumbled, and they cast me from the height.

But before I fell, the heavens opened,

and the Lord caught me in his arms of light.

And he said, “Welcome, my beloved. You have finished your race. You have spoken my name without fear.

You did not hide the truth. And now the crown awaits you.”

And I beheld a great flame, brighter than the sun, and in it the assembly of the righteous.

And they sang:

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Blessed is the one who saw and was not afraid.

Blessed is the brother of the Lord,

who did not deny the Spirit.”

And my soul rejoiced, for I had become light.

I had cast off the world like an old garment.

I was clothed in glory, and I rested in the silence of the All.

This is the end of the second apocalypse of James.

Written by Mareim the priest, from the mouth of Theuda,

father of the Just One,

so that the sons of light may know their inheritance.

Amen.