The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 57
Satan, the Reprobates, and the Reward of the Elect
'Then that miserable one shall come, and with greatest contumely shall be accused of every creature. Wherefore God shall call the angel Michael, who shall strike him one hundred thousand times with the sword of God. He shall strike Satan, and every stroke is heavy as ten hells, and he shall be the first to be cast into the abyss. The angel shall call his followers, and they shall in like manner be abused and accused. Wherefore the angel Michael, by commission from God, shall strike some a hundred times, some fifty, some twenty, some ten, some five. And then shall they descend into the abyss, because God shall say to them: "Hell is your dwelling-place, O cursed ones."'
'After that shall be called to judgment all the unbelievers and reprobates, against whom shall first arise all creatures inferior to man, testifying before God how they have served these men, and how the same have outraged God and his creatures. And the prophets every one shall arise, testifying against them; wherefore they shall be condemned by God to infernal flames. Verily I say unto you, that no idle word or thought shall pass unpunished in that tremendous day. Verily I say unto you, that the hair-shirt shall shine like the sun, and every louse a man shall have borne for love of God shall be turned into pearl. O, thrice and four times blessed are the poor, who in true poverty shall have served God from the heart, for in this world are they destitute of worldly cares, and shall therefore be freed from many sins, and in that day they shall not have to render an account of how they have spent the riches of the world, but they shall be rewarded for their patience and their poverty. Verily I say unto you, that if the world knew this it would choose the hair-shirt sooner than purple, lice sooner than gold, fasts sooner than feasts.'
'When all have been examined, God shall say unto his messenger: "Behold, O my friend, their wickedness, how great it has been, for I their creator did employ all created things in their service, and in all things have they dishonoured me. It is most just, therefore, that I have no mercy on them." The messenger of God shall answer: "It is true, Lord, our glorious God, not one of thy friends and servants could ask thee to have mercy on them; nay, I thy servant before all ask justice against them."'
'And he having said these words, all the angels and prophets, with all the elect of God—nay, why say I the elect?—verily I say unto you, that spiders and flies, stones and sand shall cry out against the impious, and shall demand justice.'
'Then shall God cause to return to earth every living soul inferior to man, and he shall send the impious to hell. Who, in going, shall see again that earth, to which dogs and horses and other vile animals shall be reduced. Wherefore shall they say: "O Lord God, cause us also to return to that earth." But that which they ask shall not be granted to them.'
'Then that wretched one will come and be accused with the greatest disgrace by every creature. God will therefore call the angel Michael, who will strike him one hundred thousand times with the sword of God. Each blow will be as heavy as ten hells, and Satan will be the first to be cast into the abyss. The angel will call his followers, who will likewise be reviled and accused. By God’s command, the angel Michael will strike some one hundred times, others fifty, twenty, ten, or five times. Then they will descend into the abyss, for God will say to them: "Hell is your dwelling place, O accursed ones."'
'Afterward all the unbelievers and the condemned will be called to judgment. First, every creature lower than man will rise against them and testify before God how it served these people and how they dishonored God and his creatures. Each of the prophets will also rise and testify against them; they will therefore be condemned by God to the flames of hell. Truly, I tell you that not one idle word or thought will pass unpunished on that terrible day. Truly, I tell you that the hair shirt will shine like the sun, and every louse a person has endured for the love of God will be turned into a pearl. O how blessed, three and four times over, are the poor who, in true poverty, have served God from the heart. In this world they are free from worldly cares and therefore from many sins; and on that day they will not have to account for how they spent the riches of the world, but will be rewarded for their patience and poverty. Truly, I tell you that if the world knew this, it would choose the hair shirt rather than purple robes, lice rather than gold, and fasting rather than feasting.'
'When all have been examined, God will say to his Messenger: "See, O my friend, how great their wickedness has been. I, their Creator, employed all created things in their service, yet in all things they dishonored me. It is therefore entirely just that I show them no mercy." The Messenger of God will answer: "It is true, Lord, our glorious God. None of your friends and servants could ask you to have mercy on them; rather, I, your servant, am the first to demand justice against them."'
'When he has spoken these words, all the angels and prophets, together with all God’s elect—indeed, why speak only of the elect?—truly, I tell you that spiders and flies, stones and sand will cry out against the impious and demand justice.'
'Then God will return every living soul lower than man to the earth, and he will send the impious to hell. As they go, they will see again the earth to which dogs, horses, and other lowly animals have been reduced. They will therefore say: "O Lord God, cause us also to return to that earth." But their request will not be granted.'
'Then that miserable one shall come, and with greatest contumely shall be accused of every creature. Wherefore God shall call the angel Michael, who shall strike him one hundred thousand times with the sword of God. He shall strike Satan, and every stroke is heavy as ten hells, and he shall be the first to be cast into the abyss. The angel shall call his followers, and they shall in like manner be abused and accused. Wherefore the angel Michael, by commission from God, shall strike some a hundred times, some fifty, some twenty, some ten, some five. And then shall they descend into the abyss, because God shall say to them: "Hell is your dwelling-place, O cursed ones."'
'After that shall be called to judgment all the unbelievers and reprobates, against whom shall first arise all creatures inferior to man, testifying before God how they have served these men, and how the same have outraged God and his creatures. And the prophets every one shall arise, testifying against them; wherefore they shall be condemned by God to infernal flames. Verily I say unto you, that no idle word or thought shall pass unpunished in that tremendous day. Verily I say unto you, that the hair-shirt shall shine like the sun, and every louse a man shall have borne for love of God shall be turned into pearl. O, thrice and four times blessed are the poor, who in true poverty shall have served God from the heart, for in this world are they destitute of worldly cares, and shall therefore be freed from many sins, and in that day they shall not have to render an account of how they have spent the riches of the world, but they shall be rewarded for their patience and their poverty. Verily I say unto you, that if the world knew this it would choose the hair-shirt sooner than purple, lice sooner than gold, fasts sooner than feasts.'
'When all have been examined, God shall say unto his messenger: "Behold, O my friend, their wickedness, how great it has been, for I their creator did employ all created things in their service, and in all things have they dishonoured me. It is most just, therefore, that I have no mercy on them." The messenger of God shall answer: "It is true, Lord, our glorious God, not one of thy friends and servants could ask thee to have mercy on them; nay, I thy servant before all ask justice against them."'
'And he having said these words, all the angels and prophets, with all the elect of God—nay, why say I the elect?—verily I say unto you, that spiders and flies, stones and sand shall cry out against the impious, and shall demand justice.'
'Then shall God cause to return to earth every living soul inferior to man, and he shall send the impious to hell. Who, in going, shall see again that earth, to which dogs and horses and other vile animals shall be reduced. Wherefore shall they say: "O Lord God, cause us also to return to that earth." But that which they ask shall not be granted to them.'