[3"-5' gives as a further reason for Isaiah's martyrdom the anjrer of Berial (or IJeliar) at the visions which he had seen of the coming of the Beloved, etc. This forms an apocalyptic section in which there are many points of contact with the later jiart of the book, and esp. with IP'**. After the return of the Beloved to the seventh heaven the twelve apostles will preacli tlirou^,'hout the world ; but among their converts evil will multiply: and at length Berial will desceiul in the form of an impious king, the murderer of his mother, and will work miracles, and cause himself to be worshipped as the only God. The Lord will return and destroy him : the resurrection and judgment will follow].
While Isaiah is being martyred (ch. 5) Berial offers to release him, if he will confess that he has prophesied falsely. The prophet defies him, and IS sawn asunder with a wooden saw, conversing the while with the Holy Spirit.
B. This begins with a new title : ' The vision which Isaiah the son of Ainoz saw in the '2uth year of the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah.' Isaiah comes from Gilgal (ch. 6), and is met by many proi)hets. In the presence of these, and of the king and his princes, he sits on the king's couch and prophesies. While he is speaking he falls into a trance with his eyes open. Afterw.ards he relates his vision to Hezekiah and the prophets, but not to the people. It is as follows : —
He is taken (ch. 7) by an angel, whose name he may not know, because he is to return to his mortal body, first up into the tirmament, where he finds perpetual warfare between Satanic powers. Next tie ascends into the lirst heaven, where he ■ees a throne with angels on either side ; they chant a h vnin of praise, which he learns is addressed to the (Jlory of the seventh heaven and to His Beloved. In the second heaven he finds also a throne with angels, but more glorious ; ho would fain fall down and worship, but is not permitted. In the third heaven he liiids the like ; there is there no mention of the deeds of the vain world from which he has come, but he is oiisured that nothing e.scapes ob.servation. In the fourth heaven he again sees angels on either side of a throne, the glory of those on the right being, aa
before, greater than of those on the left ; and all are more glorious than those below. The same in yet greater degree is true of the fifth heaven. But in the sixth heaven (ch. 8) there is no throne, and no left hand, but all are aiike in splendour : it is in close connexion with the seventh heaven, and its glory makes the glory of the live heavens below seem but darkness. At length he comes (ch. 9) to the seventh heaven, where his entry is ehallenjied, but permitted. Here he sees the just clothed in their heavenly robes, but not yet having received their thrones and crowns. These they c-innot have until the descent and return of the Beloved has been accomplished. He is shown also the books which contain the transactions of the world below, and learns that all is known in the seventh heaven. Ho beholds the Lord of Glory, and is bidden to worship Him. He then beholds a second most glorious one, like unto Him, and again is bidden to worship ; and then again a third, who is the angel of the Holy Spirit, the insjiirer of the pro- phets. These two latter worship the inetlable Glory ; and the chant of praise (ch. 10) .sounds up from the sixth heaven. Then the voice of the Most High is heard speaking to the Lord the Son, bidding Him descend through the heavens to the lirmament, and to the world, and even to the angel of the infernal re^ons ; He is to assimilate Him- self to those who dwell in each region in turn, so that He may not be reco'Tiized as He passes down. He will ascend at length with glory and worship from all. The prophet now beholds the descent of the Beloved. In the sixth heaven there is no change of His appearance, and the angels glorify Him. But in the lifth He is cliangod, and not recognized, and so in each of the lower heavens, down to the lirmament, where He pa-sses throu'di the strife that rages there, still unrecognized. At this point the angel calls the prophet's special attention to what follows (ch. 11).
[Here follows a description of the Birth from a Virfjin, and a notice of the life, death, and resur- rection of the Lord, and the sending forth of the Twelve (II---).]
Then the prophet beholds the ascent through the firnutment and the six heavens : the Lord is recog- nized and glorified as He ascends : at length He reaches the seventh heaven, and takes His seat on the right hand of the great Glory ; and the angel of the Holy Spirit sits on the left hand. The prophet is then sent back to his mortal clothing. On liis return he warns Hezekiah that these things will come to pass, but that they may not be com- municated to the people of Israel.