The Apocalypse of Ezra is the name of an apocryphal work claiming to have been written by the biblical Ezra, but generally regarded as having been written vastly later. Dating the work is mildly controversial and there is a very wide range of potential dates, ranging from the 2nd century AD at the earliest to the 9th century AD at the latest. The text has a strong dependence on 2 Esdras, an earlier apocryphal work also attributed to Ezra. Apocrypha (from the Greek word απόκρυφα meaning those having been hidden away[1]) are texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned. ... Site traditionally described as the tomb of Ezra at Al Uzayr near Basra. ... In the Septuagint and for Eastern Orthodox Christians, 2 Esdras refers to the combination of Ezra and Nehemiah. ...

Like much apocalyptic literature, the Apocalypse of Ezra portrays its author as being granted visions of heaven and of hell, where the punishments meted out to sinners are witnessed in detail. Ezra is first described as visiting heaven, where Ezra raises a question of theodicy - he asks God why humans were given the ability to sin. Unusually, although God argues that humans are to blame if they do sin, due to their having free will, the text has Ezra answer back that ultimately the fall of man must be down to God, particularly since God created both Eve and the Serpent and the forbidden tree. Ezra goes on to accuse God of having an appalling idea of justice, to which God doesn't respond, even when Ezra petitions on behalf of sinners. After his petitions and argument with God, Ezra is shown a vision of the tortures in hell, as well as the Antichrist. Apocalyptic literature was a new genre of prophetical writing that developed in post-Exilic Jewish culture and was popular among millennialist early Christians. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Hell (disambiguation). ... Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral rule, or the state of having committed such a violation. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Free-Will is a Japanese independent record label founded in 1986. ... Essentially, original sin is the doctrine, shared in one form or another by most Christian churches, that the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden changed or damaged human nature, such that all human beings since then are innately predisposed to sin, and are powerless to overcome... Michelangelos Creation of Adam, from the Sistine Chapel. ... // Christianity In Christian practice, intercessory prayer is the act of one person praying for or on behalf of another person or situation. ... In Christian eschatology the Antichrist or Anti-christ (literally: anti, opposite, for, or as; christ, messiah) has come to mean a person, image of a person, or other entity that is the embodiment of evil. ...

See also

• 2 Esdras
• Vision of Ezra

In the Septuagint and for Eastern Orthodox Christians, 2 Esdras refers to the combination of Ezra and Nehemiah. ... The Vision of Ezra is an ancient apocryphal text, claiming to have been written by the biblical Ezra. ...

External links

• World Wide Study Bible: 2 Esdras
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Esdras: THE BOOKS OF ESDRAS: IV Esdras
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Esdras, Books of: II Esdras