41
"No, sir, she cannot," I answered. And he continued, "In the world of the dead, the place where God has stored the souls is like a womb.
42
It is as eager to return the souls entrusted to it from the beginning of the world as a woman is to end her labor pains.
43
When that happens, you will have the answer to all your questions."
44
"Please, sir," I asked, "if you think I am able to understand it, can you
45
tell me one more thing? Is the time that is still to come longer than the past that has already gone by?
46
I know how long the past has been, but I don't know the future."
47
"Come here and stand at my right," he commanded, "and I will show you a vision and explain its meaning."
48
So I stood by him and looked, and I saw a blazing fire pass by in front of me, and when it was gone, I saw that smoke was still there.
49
Then a rain cloud passed by in front of me, bringing a heavy downpour of rain; and when the downpour was over, there was still a light rain.
50
"Think about this," said Uriel. "Just as the downpour was greater than the light rain that followed it and the fire was greater than the smoke left behind, in the same way the time that has passed is much longer than the time to come. The time that is left is like the light rain and the smoke."
51
"Please tell me," I asked, "do you think I will live until that time? If not, who will be alive when it happens?"
1