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Table of Contents
Introduction
The Apocalypse of Elijah (also known as 1 Elijah or the Coptic Apocalypse of Elijah) belongs to the broader corpus of apocryphal and pseudepigraphal writings of Late Antiquity, which expand and develop the eschatological themes found in biblical literature. The text has survived primarily in Coptic, though scholars generally agree that it was translated from a now-lost Greek original, probably composed between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE within the context of Egyptian Christianity.
The document stands within the long tradition of apocalyptic literature, which originated in the Judaism of the Second Temple period and continued to evolve in early Christianity. Within this literary genre, ancient prophetic figures are frequently portrayed as recipients of revelations concerning the final destiny of the world, the fate of the righteous, and the ultimate defeat of evil.
In the Apocalypse of Elijah these revelations are attributed to the prophet Elijah, a figure of great significance in biblical tradition and eschatological theology. According to several Jewish and early Christian traditions, Elijah did not experience death but was taken into heaven and was expected to return before the Day of the Lord, an idea echoed both in the Gospels and in the Book of Revelation.
The work combines moral exhortation, apocalyptic vision, and prophetic proclamation, offering valuable insight into the spiritual concerns of Christian communities in Late Antique Egypt. Themes such as perseverance among the righteous, persecution of believers, the appearance of the Antichrist, and the final victory of GOD are central to the narrative.
Historical Context
The composition of the Apocalypse of Elijah is generally dated between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, a period during which Christianity was spreading rapidly throughout Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean. Christian communities in Egypt developed a vibrant literary culture in the Coptic language, often translating and adapting earlier Greek texts.
Apocalyptic literature was particularly widespread during this era, especially in contexts marked by political instability, persecution, or religious tension. Through the symbolic and prophetic language of apocalyptic writings, Christian communities expressed their hope in the ultimate justice of GOD and in the restoration of divine order.
The Apocalypse of Elijah reflects this spiritual and cultural atmosphere. The text portrays a world increasingly characterized by corruption and injustice, a condition that will ultimately culminate in divine intervention. The appearance of a deceptive figure—identified with the Antichrist—represents the climax of this crisis, but also the moment that precedes the final revelation of truth.
From a literary perspective, the work shows influences both from Jewish apocalyptic traditions (such as those found in the books of Enoch and Ezra) and from Christian eschatological theology, particularly the ideas that developed in the earliest centuries of the Church. The role of the two eschatological witnesses—identified as Elijah and Enoch—is one of the elements that connects this text with traditions found in the New Testament Book of Revelation.
Structure
Although the surviving manuscripts present some variations, the Apocalypse of Elijah can generally be divided into the following thematic sections:
1. Moral and Spiritual Exhortation
The text begins with a series of admonitions directed to believers. Virtues such as fasting, justice, purity, and perseverance in faith are strongly emphasized.
2. Corruption of the World and Signs of the End
The narrative describes a period of moral and spiritual decline in which injustice spreads and humanity increasingly departs from the will of GOD.
3. Appearance of the False Messiah
A deceptive figure emerges in the world claiming to be the savior. This individual—identified as the Antichrist or the son of lawlessness—deceives many and persecutes the righteous.
4. Persecution of the Faithful
Believers are tested through persecution and martyrdom. Loyalty to GOD becomes the defining mark that distinguishes the righteous from those who are deceived.
5. Mission of Elijah and Enoch
According to apocalyptic tradition, Elijah and Enoch return to the world as witnesses of truth. They denounce the deception of the Antichrist and call humanity to repentance.
6. Defeat of the Antichrist
The power and deception of the false messiah ultimately come to an end through divine intervention. The forces of evil are destroyed.
7. Final Judgment and Restoration
The text concludes with the final judgment, in which GOD restores justice. The righteous receive their reward, while evil is permanently defeated.
Full Text
Chapter 1
The Word of GOD on Salvation, Divine Sonship, and Fasting
The word of YHWH came to me, saying: “Son of man, speak to this people: Why do you add sin to sin and provoke the Lord GOD who created you?
Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world, for the pride of the world and its destruction belong to the devil.
Remember that the Lord of glory, who created all things, had mercy upon you, that He might deliver us from the captivity of this age.
For many times the devil desired that the sun should not rise upon the earth, and that the earth should not yield its fruit; for he desires to consume humankind like fire raging through dry straw, and to swallow them like water.
Therefore the GOD of glory had mercy upon us and sent His Son into the world, that He might save us from this captivity.
He did not reveal His coming to angel, archangel, or principality; rather, when He came to us, He took the likeness of a man, that He might save us from the flesh.
Therefore become His children, for He is a Father to you.
Remember also that He has prepared thrones and crowns for you in heaven, saying: “Everyone who obeys Me shall receive thrones and crowns among those who are Mine.”
And the Lord said: “I will write My name upon their foreheads, and I will seal their right hands.
They shall neither hunger nor thirst. The lawless one shall not prevail against them, nor shall the powers hinder them; rather, they shall walk with the angels into My city.”
But sinners shall be put to shame. They shall not pass beyond the powers; instead, the powers of death shall seize them and rule over them, because the angels will not heed them.
For they have made themselves strangers to His dwelling places.
Hear, O wise ones of the earth, concerning the deceivers who will multiply in the last times. They will establish teachings that are not of GOD, setting aside the Law of GOD. Their belly is their god, and they say: “Fasting has no value, nor was it instituted by GOD.”
By doing so, they estrange themselves from the covenant of GOD and deprive themselves of the glorious promises. They are never firmly established in true faith. Therefore do not let such people lead you astray.
Remember that from the time He created the heavens, the Lord also established fasting for the benefit of humankind, because of the passions and desires that war against you, so that evil might not inflame you.
For the Lord said: “It is a holy fast that I have instituted.”
The one who fasts rightly will not fall into sin, even if envy and strife are found within him.
Let the holy person fast. But if one fasts without holiness, he provokes the Lord and His angels.
He also harms his own soul, storing up wrath for himself against the day of wrath.
For the pure fast is that which I created with a pure heart and pure hands.
It releases from sin, heals diseases, and casts out demons.
It rises even to the throne of GOD like an ointment and a sweet offering, bringing remission of sins through pure prayer.
For who among you, if honored in his craft, goes out into the field without a tool in his hand?
Or who goes into battle without a breastplate upon him?
If he is found unprepared, will he not be struck down for having despised the service of the king?
So also no one can enter the holy place while being double-minded. The one who doubts in prayer becomes darkness to himself, and even the angels do not trust him.
Therefore be single-minded in the Lord at all times, so that you may discern every season and understand all things.
Chapter 2
The Kings of Assyria and Egypt, War, Deception, and the Distress of the Land
Concerning the kings of Assyria and the coming destruction of heaven and earth and of the things beneath the earth, the Lord spoke:
“Those who belong to Me shall not be overcome, nor shall they fear in battle,” says the Lord.
When they see a king arise from the north, he will be called the king of Assyria and the king of unrighteousness.
He will increase wars and disturbances against Egypt, and the land will groan together, for your children will be taken captive.
In those days many will long for death, yet death will flee from them.
Then a king will arise in the west who will be called the king of peace.
He will move across the sea like a roaring lion.
He will kill the king of unrighteousness and will bring vengeance upon Egypt through war and great bloodshed.
In those days he will proclaim peace throughout Egypt, yet together with a vain gift.
He will declare peace to the holy ones, saying, “The name of GOD is one.”
He will give honor to the saints and exalt the holy places.
Yet he will also present empty gifts to the house of GOD.
He will wander through the cities of Egypt with deception, and the people will not perceive it.
He will examine the holy places, weigh the idols of the nations, count their wealth, and appoint priests for them.
He will command that the wise and the great among the people be seized and brought to the metropolis by the sea, saying, “There is but one language.”
But when you hear it said, “Peace and joy have come,” know that the trial is near.
Now I will tell you his signs so that you may recognize him.
He will have two sons, one at his right hand and one at his left.
The one at his right will assume a demonic appearance and will fight against the name of GOD.
From that king four kings will arise.
In the thirtieth year of his reign he will come to Memphis and will build a temple there.
But on that same day his own son will rise against him and kill him.
Then the whole land will be thrown into turmoil.
On that day he will issue a decree throughout the land that the priests and all the saints be seized, saying, “Every gift and every benefit that my father gave you shall be repaid double.”
He will close the holy places, seize their houses, and take their sons into captivity.
He will command sacrifices, abominations, and bitter evils to be carried out in the land.
He will appear beneath the sun and beneath the moon.
On that day the priests of the land will tear their garments.
Woe to you, rulers of Egypt, in those days, for your time has passed.
The violence committed against the poor will turn against you, and your children will be taken as plunder.
In those days the cities of Egypt will groan, and the voices of buyers and sellers will no longer be heard.
The marketplaces of the cities of Egypt will become covered with dust.
Those who dwell in Egypt will weep together and will long for death, yet death will flee from them.
They will climb upon the rocks and throw themselves down, saying, “Fall upon us,” yet they will not die.
A double affliction will spread throughout the whole land.
In those days the king will command that all nursing women be seized and brought to him in chains.
They will be forced to suckle serpents, and blood will be drawn from their breasts and turned into poison for arrows.
Because of the distress of the cities he will again command that all young boys twelve years old and younger be seized and trained to shoot arrows.
The midwives of the land will mourn.
The woman who has given birth will lift her eyes to heaven and say, “Why did I sit upon the birth stool to bring a child into the world?”
But the barren woman and the virgin will rejoice and say, “Now is the time for us to rejoice, for we have no children upon the earth, but our children are in heaven.”
In those days three kings will arise among the Persians.
They will take captive the Jews who are in Egypt and bring them to Jerusalem.
They will settle there and dwell in that city.
When you hear that there is security in Jerusalem, tear your garments, O priests of the land, for the son of perdition will soon appear.
In those days the lawless one will appear in the holy places.
The kings of Persia will hasten to war and will stand to fight against the kings of Assyria.
Four kings will fight against three.
They will remain in that place for three years until they carry away the wealth of the temple that stands there.
In those days blood will flow from Kos to Memphis.
The river of Egypt will turn to blood, and no one will be able to drink from it for three days.
Woe to Egypt and to all who dwell within it.
In those days a king will arise in the city called the City of the Sun.
The whole land will tremble, and he will flee to Memphis with the Persians.
In the sixth year the Persian kings will lay an ambush in Memphis and kill the Assyrian king.
The Persians will take vengeance upon the land.
They will command that all the heathen and the lawless be killed.
They will order that the holy places of the saints be rebuilt.
They will give double gifts to the house of GOD and proclaim, “The name of GOD is one.”
The whole land will praise the Persians.
Those who survived the afflictions will say, “The Lord has sent us a righteous king so that the land will not become a desert.”
He will decree that no royal matter be presented for three years and six months.
During that time the land will be filled with prosperity and abundance.
The living will go to the dead and say, “Rise and remain with us in this peace.”
TEST
Chapter 3
The Appearance of the Son of Lawlessness
In the fourth year of that king, the son of lawlessness will appear, saying, “I am the Christ,” though he is not. Do not believe him.
For when the Christ truly comes, He will come like a flight of doves, with a crown of doves surrounding Him.
He will walk upon the vaults of heaven, and the sign of the cross will go before Him.
The whole world will behold Him like the sun shining from the east to the west.
This is how the Christ will come, with all His angels surrounding Him.
But the son of lawlessness will stand in the holy places.
He will say to the sun, “Fall,” and it will fall.
He will say, “Be dark,” and it will become dark.
He will say, “Shine,” and it will shine.He will say to the moon, “Become blood,” and it will become blood.
He will move through the sky and walk upon the sea and the rivers as though they were dry land.
He will make the lame walk.
He will make the deaf hear.
He will make the mute speak.
He will make the blind see.He will cleanse lepers, heal the sick, and cast out demons.
He will multiply signs and wonders before all people.
He will perform works like those done by the Christ—except that he cannot raise the dead.
By this you will recognize that he is the son of lawlessness, for he has no power to give life.
Now I will tell you his signs so that you may recognize him.
He will be a small and thin-legged man, with a tuft of gray hair upon the front of his bald head.
His eyebrows will stretch toward his ears, and there will be a leprous mark upon the front of his hands.
He will change his appearance before those who see him.
At one moment he will appear as an old man; at another he will appear as a young child.
He will transform himself in many ways and through many signs.
Yet the form of his head he will not be able to change.
By this you will know that he is the son of lawlessness.
Chapter 4
The Virgin, Elijah, and Enoch Oppose the Son of Lawlessness
A virgin named Tabitha will hear that the shameless one has revealed himself in the holy places.
She will clothe herself in fine linen and go after him toward Judea, rebuking him even to Jerusalem.
She will say to him:
“O shameless one,
O son of lawlessness,
enemy of all the saints!”The shameless one will become angry with the virgin and pursue her toward the regions of the sunset.
In the evening he will suck her blood and cast her upon the temple.
Yet she will become healing and salvation for the people.
At dawn she will rise again alive and rebuke him, saying:
“O shameless one, you have no power over my soul or over my body, because I live always in the Lord.
Even the blood that you poured upon the temple has become healing for the people.”
When Elijah and Enoch hear that the shameless one has appeared in the holy places, they will descend and wage war against him.
They will say to him:
“Are you not ashamed, you who are always estranged?
You have become the enemy of those in heaven, and now you fight against those upon the earth.
You have opposed the thrones and fought against the angels.
You fell from heaven like the morning star, and your nature has been darkened.
Yet you are not ashamed, though you rise against GOD.
You are the devil.”
When the shameless one hears this, he will become enraged and fight against them in the marketplace of the great city.
For seven days he will wage war against them.
He will kill them, and they will lie dead in the marketplace for three and a half days while all the people watch.
But on the fourth day they will rise again and rebuke him, saying:
“O shameless one, son of lawlessness, are you not ashamed to deceive the people of GOD, though you have not suffered for them?
Do you not know that we live in the Lord?”
They will say to him:
“We will lay aside the flesh for the spirit and destroy you, for you cannot speak against us.
We are strong in the Lord, but you are forever the enemy of GOD.”
The shameless one will again grow angry and wage war against them.
The whole city will gather around them.
On that day they will cry out toward heaven and shine with light while all the world sees them.
The son of lawlessness will not prevail against them.
He will grow angry with the land and pursue the saints.
The saints and the priests of the land will be seized and brought bound before him.
He will command that they be tortured.
Their eyes will be burned with iron rods.
Their nails will be torn away one by one.
Vinegar and lime will be poured into their nostrils.
Those who cannot endure the tortures will take gold and flee toward the deserts.
The Lord will receive their souls to Himself.
Their bodies will remain untouched until the day of the great judgment.
They will rise and find rest, though not in the same glory as those who endured to the end.
But those who endured will sit at the right hand of the Lord.
They will receive thrones and crowns of glory.
Sixty righteous ones prepared for that hour will hear the call.
They will put on the armor of the Lord and run to Jerusalem.
They will confront the son of lawlessness and say:
“You have performed many works like the prophets of old.
Yet you could not raise the dead.
By this we know that you are the son of lawlessness.”
When he hears this, he will become enraged and command that the righteous be bound.
They will be placed upon altars and burned.
Chapter 5
Christ Confronts the Son of Lawlessness and GOD Brings the Final Judgment
On that day the hearts of many will be hardened, and they will turn away from him, saying:
“This is not the Christ.
The Christ does not kill the righteous.
He does not persecute people in order to destroy them, but persuades them through truth.”On that day the Christ will have compassion upon those who belong to Him.
He will send from heaven sixty-four thousand angels, each having six wings.
Their voices will shake heaven and earth as they praise and glorify GOD.
Those upon whose foreheads the name of Christ is written, and upon whose right hand the seal is set—both small and great—will be taken upon their wings and lifted away from the coming wrath.
Then Gabriel and Uriel will become a pillar of light and will lead them into the holy land.
They will be permitted to eat from the Tree of Life.
They will be clothed in white garments, and the angels will watch over them.
They will neither hunger nor thirst, and the son of lawlessness will have no power over them.
On that day the earth will be shaken.
The sun will grow dark, and peace will be removed from the earth.
The birds of the air will fall dead upon the ground.
The earth will become dry, and the waters of the sea will disappear.
The sinners will cry out upon the earth saying:
“What have you done to us, O son of lawlessness?
You said, ‘I am the Christ,’ yet you are the devil.
You cannot save even yourself—how then could you save us?
You performed signs before us and led us away from the Christ who created us.
Woe to us, for we listened to you!
Now we will perish in famine.
Where is now a righteous one whom we may follow?
Where is the teacher who will guide us?”Then they will say:
“We are destroyed in wrath because we disobeyed YHWH.
We searched the depths of the sea and found no water.
We dug in the riverbeds and among the reeds, yet we found no water.”
Then the shameless one himself will cry out saying:
“Woe to me! My time has passed away.
I said that my time would never pass, but my years have become months.
My days have passed away like dust carried by the wind.
Now I will perish together with you.”
Then he will say to the people:
“Go into the desert and seize the robbers.
Bring the saints to me, for because of them the earth gives its fruit.
Because of them the sun shines upon the earth.
Because of them the dew falls upon the ground.”
The sinners will answer him saying:
“You have made us enemies of YHWH.
If you have power, rise and pursue them.”
Then he will spread his fiery wings and pursue the saints.
He will fight against them once again.
The angels will hear and descend from heaven.
They will wage war against him with many swords.
On that day the Lord will command heaven and earth in great wrath.
Fire will be sent forth upon the earth.
The fire will rise seventy-two cubits high and will consume sinners and demons like straw.
Then a righteous judgment will take place.
On that day the mountains and the earth will give voice.
The roads will speak to one another, saying:
“Did you hear today the sound of a man going to the judgment of the Son of GOD?”
The sins of each person will stand against them in the place where they were committed—whether by day or by night.
The righteous will see the sinners and those who persecuted them receiving their punishment.
The sinners will also see the dwelling place of the righteous.
In those days grace will be granted to the righteous, and whatever they ask will be given to them.
On that day YHWH will judge heaven and earth.
He will judge those who sinned in heaven and those who sinned upon the earth.
He will judge the shepherds of the people and ask them concerning the flock entrusted to them.
After these things Elijah and Enoch will descend.
They will lay aside the flesh of the world and take upon themselves spiritual bodies.
They will pursue the son of lawlessness and destroy him, and he will be unable to speak.
He will melt before them like ice before fire.
He will perish like a serpent that has no breath.
They will say to him:
“Your time has passed.
Now you and those who believed in you shall perish.”
They will be cast into the depths of the abyss, and it will be sealed over them.
On that day the Christ, the King, will come from heaven with all His saints.
He will purify the earth with fire.
He will reign upon it for a thousand years.
Because the sinners once ruled over it, He will create a new heaven and a new earth.
No devil and no death will exist there.
The Christ will reign with His saints.
They will ascend and descend with the angels.
And they will be with the Christ for a thousand years.