The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 136 The Messenger of God before hell, and the devils' cry: “Fly, for here cometh Mohammed our enemy!” The site takes into account the possibility that the name, at least in some of its occurrences, is a later translator's rendering of a title rather than the earliest wording; it sets the biblical passages read as pointing to that messenger beside it, and compares John's Paraclete sayings.
The Faithful, the Unbelievers, and the Messenger of God
'In this accursed spot shall abide the infidels for evermore: insomuch that if the world were filled with grains of millet, and a single bird once in a hundred years should take away a single grain to empty the world—if when it should be empty the infidels were to go into paradise, they would rest delighted. But there is not this hope, because their torment cannot have an end, seeing that they were not willing for the love of God to put an end to their sin.'
'But the faithful shall have comfort, because their torment shall have an end.'
The disciples were affrighted, hearing this, and said: 'So then the faithful must go into hell?'
Jesus answered: 'Everyone, be he who he may, must go into hell. It is true, however, that the holy ones and prophets of God shall go there to behold, not suffering any punishment; and the righteous, only suffering fear. And what shall I say? I tell you that thither shall come [even] the messenger of God, to behold the justice of God. Thereupon hell shall tremble at his presence. And because he hath human flesh, all those that have human flesh and shall be under punishment, so long as the messenger of God shall abide to behold hell, so long shall they abide without punishment. But he shall abide there [only] so long as it taketh to shut and open the eyes.'
'And this shall God do in order that every creature may know that he hath received benefit from the messenger of God.'
'When he shall go there all the devils shall shriek, and seek to hide themselves beneath the burning embers, saying one to another: "Fly, fly, for here cometh Mohammed our enemy!" Hearing which, Satan shall smite himself upon the face with both his hands, and screaming shall say: "Thou art more noble than I, in my despite, and this is unjustly done!"'
'As for the faithful, who are in seventy-two grades, those of the two last grades, who shall have had the faith without good works—the one being sad at good works, and the other delighting in evil—they shall abide in hell seventy thousand years.'
'After those years shall the angel Gabriel come into hell, and shall hear them say: "O Mohammed, where are thy promises made to us, saying that those who have thy faith shall not abide in hell for evermore?"'
'Then the angel of God shall return to paradise, and having approached with reverence the messenger of God shall narrate to him what he hath heard.'
'Then shall his messenger speak to God and say: "Lord, my God, remember the promise made to me thy servant, concerning them that have received my faith, that they shall not abide for evermore in hell."'
'God shall answer: "Ask what thou wilt, O my friend, for I will give thee all that thou askest."'
'In this accursed place the unbelievers will remain forever. Suppose the world were filled with grains of millet and a single bird removed one grain every hundred years until the world was empty: if the unbelievers could then enter paradise, they would be comforted. But they have no such hope, for their torment can have no end, since out of love for God they were unwilling to put an end to their sin.'
'But the faithful will have comfort, because their torment will have an end.'
The disciples were frightened on hearing this and asked: 'Does this mean, then, that the faithful must go into hell?'
Jesus answered: 'Everyone, whoever he may be, must enter hell. It is true, however, that God's holy ones and prophets will go there only to behold it and will suffer no punishment, while the righteous will suffer only fear. What more shall I say? I tell you that even the Messenger of God will come there to behold God's justice, and hell will tremble at his presence. Because he has human flesh, everyone with human flesh who is under punishment will remain free from punishment for as long as the Messenger of God remains there beholding hell. But he will remain only for the time it takes to close and open one's eyes.'
'And this God will do so that every creature may know that he has received benefit from the Messenger of God.'
'When he enters, all the demons will shriek and try to hide beneath the burning embers, saying to one another, "Flee, flee, for Mohammed our enemy is coming!" Hearing this, Satan will strike his face with both hands and cry out, "You are nobler than I despite me, and this has been done unjustly!"'
'As for the faithful, who are divided into seventy-two degrees, those in the lowest two degrees—those who possessed faith without good works, one being grieved by good works and the other delighting in evil—will remain in hell for seventy thousand years.'
'After those years, the angel Gabriel will enter hell and hear them say, "O Mohammed, where are the promises you made to us when you said that those who possess your faith will not remain in hell forever?"'
'Then the angel of God will return to paradise, approach the Messenger of God with reverence, and tell him what he has heard.'
'Then the Messenger will speak to God and say, "Lord, my God, remember the promise you made to me, your servant, concerning those who received my faith: that they would not remain in hell forever."'
'God will answer: "Ask what you will, O my friend, for I will give you all that you ask."'
'In this accursed spot shall abide the infidels for evermore: insomuch that if the world were filled with grains of millet, and a single bird once in a hundred years should take away a single grain to empty the world—if when it should be empty the infidels were to go into paradise, they would rest delighted. But there is not this hope, because their torment cannot have an end, seeing that they were not willing for the love of God to put an end to their sin.'
'But the faithful shall have comfort, because their torment shall have an end.'
The disciples were affrighted, hearing this, and said: 'So then the faithful must go into hell?'
Jesus answered: 'Everyone, be he who he may, must go into hell. It is true, however, that the holy ones and prophets of God shall go there to behold, not suffering any punishment; and the righteous, only suffering fear. And what shall I say? I tell you that thither shall come [even] the messenger of God, to behold the justice of God. Thereupon hell shall tremble at his presence. And because he hath human flesh, all those that have human flesh and shall be under punishment, so long as the messenger of God shall abide to behold hell, so long shall they abide without punishment. But he shall abide there [only] so long as it taketh to shut and open the eyes.'
'And this shall God do in order that every creature may know that he hath received benefit from the messenger of God.'
'When he shall go there all the devils shall shriek, and seek to hide themselves beneath the burning embers, saying one to another: "Fly, fly, for here cometh Mohammed our enemy!" Hearing which, Satan shall smite himself upon the face with both his hands, and screaming shall say: "Thou art more noble than I, in my despite, and this is unjustly done!"'
'As for the faithful, who are in seventy-two grades, those of the two last grades, who shall have had the faith without good works—the one being sad at good works, and the other delighting in evil—they shall abide in hell seventy thousand years.'
'After those years shall the angel Gabriel come into hell, and shall hear them say: "O Mohammed, where are thy promises made to us, saying that those who have thy faith shall not abide in hell for evermore?"'
'Then the angel of God shall return to paradise, and having approached with reverence the messenger of God shall narrate to him what he hath heard.'
'Then shall his messenger speak to God and say: "Lord, my God, remember the promise made to me thy servant, concerning them that have received my faith, that they shall not abide for evermore in hell."'
'God shall answer: "Ask what thou wilt, O my friend, for I will give thee all that thou askest."'