From Russia with Laodicea

Epistle to the Laodiceans Chapter 8

[Translated out of the Russian by: Moses Mikheyev]

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mm: I got a old copy of an old manuscript that was found among a group of old Russians in an isolated village deep in the wilderness of Siberia. These people did not even know about world war 1 or 2, they knew absolutely nothing, except the plow, gardening, and things of old. No technology. Anyways they had tradition and they had a bible, whether it was in codex form or print I don't know, anyways they had some end time revelation that was called the Epistle to the Laodicean church, and here it is...oh, i translated it out of Russian, i am currently working on it still, i only have half of it done, i will revise a week or so from today. -mm

Jackson: Doesn't seem like Paul - more like one of the synoptics to me.  Are you sure this isn't a hoax?

mm: Not a hoax, totally ruled out. In Russia around the 1980's or early 90's, this family was on the news and in newspapers everywhere (ie Likovih). Everyone knew about their Christian "tribe" that was absolutely isolated from any contact of any other civilization. As for the other chapters, I don't know. Maybe in the years to come i may run into a person that has them. But i will send you the  rest shortly. It does seem like truth because in the gospel of mark, when Jesus mentions the famous "nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom" at the end he says that this is just the beginning. it is possible that he said more towards end of ministry. Also since we don't have the 7 chapters before, or after, we don't know whether there was a good explanation for this revelation. But i have a thing to ask of you. When i revise it as accurately as i can and have the chapter done with an explanation. Could you paste it on line. You could say that there isn't much about this letter in history, and maybe mention that chances of it being considered authentic pretty much a "no no" but still it appears genuine. Hey, we might see some of it fulfilled in our time!

Latest translation from Russian by Moses Mikheyev, May 7, 2008

St. Paul’s Epistle to the Church in Laodicea
Taken from the “Likovih” family, which resides in Siberia, from their Bible. Chapters 1-7 we decided not to translate, but Chapter 8 we did, because it is concerning our time, that is, the End Times. Chapter 9 Valentina has.

[[NOTE ON TRANSLATION AND BRIEF INTRODUCTION: I translated this epistle out of a copy of a Russian text that came into my hands a while back, some 7 years ago, and before that this “copy machine” copy was in my grandparents hands and they had it for quiet some time, be it 1 year or 10. The epistle contained only chapter eight, as the short “introduction” says, it was handwritten, and it seems that it was “translated” out of Old Russian into a more modern Russian. Because, as the short introduction says, the people or person writes, “chapters 1-7 we decided not to translate…” So it appears that this was translated from the Likovih “bible” before, and I am assuming, since this family lived in Russia (Siberia), that they had this epistle in Russian. And for whatever reasons, the person translating this epistle either translated it, or should I say, if I am correct, only revised and “updated” it.

Also I would like to point out that the short introduction beginning with, “Taken from the Likovih…” and ending with, “Valentina has.” These words were handwritten and are part of the text I was translating, so I decided to include what the person before me wrote. For the sake of brevity, I will stop at that and explain a little about the “Likovih” family. The Likovih family was just an ordinary family living in Russia, and as I am told, in Siberia. They were absolutely isolated from civilization and from modern technology. This epistle was a part of the ‘Likovih” family’s biblical “canon” and they accepted it as Paul’s own. I do not have the first seven chapters or the next chapter(s). I can not righteously judge if it authentic or not, because I do not have the complete manuscript, maybe Paul wrote an explanation as to how he got this information, in the preceding chapters.

Now about the translation, all I can say is that I translated this incomplete “epistle” with great accuracy, if you may call it that. The translation was “word-for-word” generally, but I did have to rearrange the sentence structure in a few verses (maybe 10 in all), in order for the text to make sense and only when clarity was at stake. For example, maybe I could have said for verse 52: unlawful revealed when eighth kingdom comes. By no means did I alter the point given in any verse(s). The point each verse(s) tries to bring I have kept faithfully.

Thus, this translation, being only one chapter, is accurate and very literal. I believe there are no mistakes in the text I present in English, since I revised it more than once and consulted the “original” Russian text many times over. If something is unclear it is either due to my sentence structure or my translation (since a translation can only reveal so much, which is nowhere near the original). Also the text may be obscure because even in the Russian we have to imply some things, in some cases. Nevertheless when I was reading, side by side, my English translation and the Russian, I was surprised at how accurately I had rendered al the verses. I had to praise myself for my accuracy (if one may call it that!).


Chapter 8

“What are the signs of Your coming, and the sign of the age to come?” asked the Apostles.

He answering them said, “Truly, I tell you, many will want to see what you see and hear that which you hear, but they will not see with their eyes, and will not hear with their ears.”

“Their eyes they closed and their ears hardly hear anything, and their heart is made of unbelief.”

And the Holy Spirit testifying all truth and teaching all truth, went away from them, being trampled by men.

A night of unbelief will cover the land and it will live in each city and in each house, and in each heart it [unbelief] will make a nest. Satan will send the spirit of unbelief from Hell and crown him [unbelief] Ruler of the Earth. And all will worship him and every spirit and every moving thing [“flesh” instead of “thing” in the original].

And Enoch’s prophecy, the seventh from Adam, will be fulfilled… “And the once lowered ruler, who comes from the insignificant and worthless family [or “generation”]. Him who was constantly being trampled on and hated by his own brothers, now is hailed as king by unlawful men, king that is great, who is now worshipped by all.

(the implication of this verse is rather negative, saying that this “ruler” is evil).

And he will rise with power, until the unlawful one will be revealed.
And then the heart will thirst for truth, and the soul will faint from unbelief. And someone sighing will say, “Everything is not so.” And the heart of the ones listening will overflow with tears, but the mouth will not utter anything to those who have ears [original says “the mouth is silent” instead of “the mouth will not utter”].

Then will a state tell another state, and a city another city, and a house will ask another house, “Did truth pass by you?” And the others will answer back, “No!” (reminiscent of 2 Esdras 5:11).

And salesmen will multiply on streets and open spaces coming from Babylon, and like locusts will fill the earth. They will be like a heavy rain; everywhere. And they [salesmen] will raise their voices and shout one above another saying, “We have truth, we have truth, please do buy it!” And on store shelves and on items being sold, is the name of the Son of Man and His Father, and the ruler without a family [or generation] praises them [the salesmen].  And just as the night covers the sky, they begin to celebrate together, the ruler and the fat salesmen. But during the day they war on the chosen ones, in order to deceive them.

And someone who is tired will weep saying, “Truth, where are you truth. Where are your prophets, because I hunger and thirst and am choked.”

And a person with hearing will hear how the heavens will sigh and reply, saying, “There is no truth for they drove her out, they beat her and spit on her and killed her prophets in Jerusalem, because the dragon waged war with them and killed them [killed either the prophets, or both, truth and prophets].

Then will kingdom rise up against kingdom, and people against people, and brother against brother, and son will battle against father. War will cover the face of the earth and people will rise up against people, killing each other. And there will be no rest. And then will a stranger ask another stranger, “We have walked the earth, did you see peace anywhere?” And the other will answer, “Not in my homeland, not in a far-off place, not on land, not on mountains, not on sea, nowhere did I find rest.” And the one asking the question will sigh, lean on his staff and say, “Evaporating vapor is peace, escaping from the land to the sky.” And someone saw and someone heard this, and testified before all the earth. But they wouldn’t hear, would not believe, and did not accept his words.

War, disease, earthquakes, will come from nowhere to the earth. And then will the king of the south be divided and rage war against the north. In the beginning the rebel will prevail. But the king of the south will become stronger and will join with the king of the north and battle against the rebel. [the “rebel” is the one who was “divided” or separated from the kings of the south. Refer to verse 27]. And they (south and north kings) will destroy and plunder the rebel. But the unlawful one who praises the rebel…will restore him [the rebel].

In that time, in the northern kingdom, will come to power a ruler unique from all other rulers, being proud and a God-blasphemer. He will kill the northern king and take his throne. He will leave behind and reject the gods of his ancestors, and will spit upon them, and will not respect them [the “gods” or idols] and will turn to a deity of mighty power who has power until the appearing of the unlawful one.

And the kings of the south will join together with other kings, against this new and unique one: king of the north (refer to verse 22). Because he did not respect their gods nor their history, they will (the south and the others) be angry at him (the king of the north). But the “deity” of the king of the north, who also is the ruler of the soon-to-come unlawful one. A ruler who is mighty and a ruling power, he will come and will stand up for him [the king of the north] just when the kings of the earth will be celebrating his [the king of the north's] “defeat.” (Obviously the “other” kings thought they had defeated the king of the north, but the “deity” of the king of the north comes and helps him “win.”)  He will save him, and his kingdom he will leave to him.

The rebel will be strengthened and again will separate himself from the king of the south. He will war against the kings of the earth and he will prevail. He will rise up and become mighty [“rise up” implies that he will be proud] and will want to conquer the king of the south and the north in order to conquer the world and swallow up their [south and northern] kingdoms. When he will rise up against the king of the north, he will, in the beginning, prevail. But the kings will join together and punish him and his kingdom and divide it among themselves for a time [or until a time]. And the king of the north will be strengthened and the king of the south will be strengthened and will divide the land among themselves, and the rest of the eight kings, kings of the seventh kingdom, will be in awe and fear before them [the kings of the north and of the south]. These kings are very strong, but their ruling is fragile [weak] like clay, because they are divided. The kings, they stretch out a hand to each other and they say words of peace to each other, but in their hearts they hold hate towards one another.

Truly, I tell you, that the testifying generation will not pass, until these signs begin with the murder of prophets, by the unlawful one. As, for the third time, people will rise up against people and the sea of Gentiles will be in an uproar. [this verse could also be translated thus: Truly, I tell you, that the generation that I am testifying about will not pass until these signs begin with the murder of prophets by the unlawful one. As, in the third time, people will….] And there will be a war, such a war, that there never was from the beginning of time, and every third person will be destroyed from amongst the human race [i.e. 1/3 of the human population destroyed] throughout the whole face of the earth.

Like the prophet said, “And where there were cities, now is a desert without water; where people lived, now live wild animals; amongst thick brush, there are snakes, and snakes live in destroyed houses.” Truly, I tell you, where there where cities now there are deserts, where there are deserts, they will become cities. And humans will fear each other, and they will kill each other. War, disease, earthquakes will come upon the earth, such that there weren’t from the beginning of the human race.

And a son will part with his father, and a mother will part with her own daughter-they will wander around and hide with those they hate. They will eat the green grass and will eat each other. Rats will be their delicacy, and they, still alive, will be food for the rats.  The flesh of many will begin to rot, something like that of leprosy. And the wounds of the flesh will be as food for their children. Children will be eaten by strangers, and the weak humans, will be eaten by the strong, because the wheat will not give, and the trees will not bring forth fruit, because a worm will eat the fruit and the wheat before the human.

The nights will become cold and the days will be unbearably hot.  And animals will hunt humans, and humans will hunt animals.  Woman will give birth to monsters and some of them will eat their own mothers, and they will grow to become giants. Fear and horror will fill the earth; some will sigh from the awaiting dangers.

There will be no law and people will forget good and righteousness.

Evil insects and rats will reproduce to a great extent, and will be very large. Snakes and cobras will fill the earth. Woe unto the humans, from all of these [insects/snakes/rats].

And under a pillow one will find horror.

Monsters will wander the earth bringing horror.

Look! Do not be afraid, but know that this is the beginning of the disease of huge weeping. When the eighth kingdom will come, then will the unlawful one be revealed. Truly, this day will not come, until all these horrors of which I speak of, will be fulfilled. [the “day” is probably Jesus’ return to earth, or the Day of Judgment].

You who have ears…listen, Let him hear!

[The end of chapter eight]

Russian Version - now on pdf

Earlier translation:

Chapter 8

1. “What are the signs of Your coming, and the sign of the age to come?” asked the Apostles.
2. Jesus answering them said, “Truly, Truly I tell you, many will want to see what you see and hear that which you hear, but they will not see with their eyes, and will not hear with their ears.”
3. “Their eyes they closed and their ears hardly hear anything, and their heart is made of unbelief.”
4. And the Holy Spirit testifying all truth and teaching all truth, went away from them. Being trampled by men.
5. A night of unbelief will cover the land and it will live in each city and in each house, and in each heart it [unbelief] will make a nest.
6. Satan will send the spirit of unbelief from Hell and crown him [unbelief] Ruler of the Earth. And all will worship him and every spirit and every moving thing [“flesh” instead of “thing” in the original].
7. And Enoch, the seventh from Adam prophesized saying, “And the once lowered ruler, who comes from the insignificant and worthless family [or “generation”]. Him who was constantly being trampled on and hated by his own brothers, now is hailed as king by unlawful men. Who is now worshipped by all. (the implication of this verse is rather negative, saying that this “ruler” is evil).
8. And he will rise with power, until the unlawful one will be revealed.
9. And the heart will thirst for truth, and the soul will faint from unbelief. And someone sighing will say, “Everything is not so.” And the heart of the ones listening will overflow with tears, but the mouth will not utter anything to those who have ears [original says “the mouth is silent” instead of “the mouth will not utter”].
10. Then will a state tell another state, and a city another city, and a house will ask another house, “Did truth pass by you?” And the others will answer back, “No!” (reminiscent of 2 Esdras 5:11).
11. And salesmen will multiply on streets and open spaces coming from Babylon, and like locusts will fill the earth. They will be like a heavy rain; everywhere.
12. And they [salesmen] will raise their voices and shout one above another saying, “We have truth, we have truth, please do buy it!”
13. And on store shelves and on items being sold, is the name of the Son of Man and His Father, and the ruler without a family [or generation] praises them [the salesmen].
14. And just as the night covers the sky, they begin to celebrate together, the ruler and the fat salesmen.
15. But during the day they war on the chosen ones, in order to deceive them.
16. And someone who is tired will weep saying, “Truth, where are you truth. Where are your prophets, because I hunger and thirst and am choked.
17. And a person with hearing will hear how the heavens will sigh and reply, saying, “There is no truth for they drove her out, they beat her and spit on her and killed her prophets in Jerusalem,
18. Because the dragon raged war with them and killed them [killed either the prophets, or both, truth and prophets].
19. Then will kingdom rise up against another kingdom, and people against people, and brother against brother, and son will battle against father. War will cover the face of the earth and people will rise up against people, killing each other. And there will be no rest. And then will a stranger ask another stranger, “You have walked the earth, did you see peace anywhere”. And the other will answer, “Not in my homeland, not in a far-off place, not on land, not on mountains, not on sea, nowhere did I find rest.” And the one asking the question will sigh, lean on his staff and say, “Evaporating vapor is peace, escaping from the land to the sky.” And someone saw and someone heard this, and testified before all the earth. But they wouldn’t hear, would not believe, and did not accept his words.
20. War, disease, earthquakes, will come from nowhere to the earth. And then will the kings of the south be divided and war against the north. In the beginning the rebel will prevail. But the king of the south will become stronger and will join with the kings of north and battle against the rebel. [the “rebel” is the one who was “divided” or separated from the kings of the south. Refer to verse 27].
21. And they (south and north kings) will destroy and plunder the rebel. But the unlawful one who praises the rebel…will restore him [the rebel].
22. In that time, in the northern kingdom, will come to power a ruler unique from all other kings, being proud and a God-blasphemer. He will kill the northern king and take the thrown of the northern kingdom.
23. He will leave behind and reject the gods of his fathers, and will spit upon them, and will not respect them [ the “gods” or idols] and will turn to a deity of mighty power who has power until the appearing of the unlawful one.
24. And the kings of the south will join together with other kings, against this new and unique one: king of the north (refer to verse 22). Because he did not respect their gods nor their history, they will (the south and the others) be angry at him (the king of the north).
25. But the “deity” of the king of the north, who also is the ruler of the soon-to-come unlawful one. A ruler who is mighty and a ruling power will come and will stand up for him [the king of the north] just when the kings of the earth will be celebrating his [the king of the north] “defeat”. (obviously the “other” kings thought they had defeated the king of the north, but the “deity” of the king of the north comes and helps him “win”).
26. He will save him, and his kingdom he will leave to him.
27. The rebel will be strengthened and again will separate himself from the king of the south. He will war against the kings of the earth and he will prevail.
28. He will rise up and become mighty [“rise up” implies that he will be proud] and will want to conquer the king of the south and the north in order to conquer the world and swallow up their [south and northern] kingdoms.
29. When he will rise up against the king of the north, he will. In the beginning, prevail.