55
whether it produces more gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, or clay.
56
There is more silver than gold, more copper than silver, more iron than copper, more lead than iron, and more clay than lead.
57
So judge for yourself which are more desirable and valuable, common things or rare things."
58
I answered, "Lord and master, the common things are cheap; it is the rare things that are valuable."
59
"All right," he replied, "so draw the logical conclusion: the person who has what is scarce has more reason to be pleased than the person who has what is plentiful.
60
It's the same with the judgment that I have promised: I will be pleased with the few who will be saved, because they are the ones who now praise and honor me and make my name known.
61
I will not be sad about the large number of people who will be lost, because even now they last no longer than a vapor; they disappear like fire and smoke; they catch fire, blaze up, and quickly go out."
62
Then I said to the earth, "Look at what you have done! When you gave birth to the rest of creation you gave birth to reason.
63
It would have been better if you had never been created. Then we humans would never have had the power of reasoning!
64
But as it is now, our reason grows up with us and then torments us, because we realize that we are going to die!
65
Compared to us who must bear this sorrow, the dumb animals must be happy.
66
They are much better off than we are. They do not have to look forward to the judgment; they are not aware of any torment or salvation that is promised to them after death.
67
What good is it to us that we are going to be given life in the future if it is to be a life of terrible torment?
68
Everyone who is born is caught in the web of sin, is full of wickedness and burdened with guilt.
69
I think it would be better if after death we did not have to face judgment."
70
The angel replied, "When God Most High was creating the world, as well as Adam and his descendants, the first thing he did was to get everything ready for the judgment.
71
So you ought to learn from your own words. You said that your reason grows up with you,
72
and that's the point. The people of this world used their reason and sinned; they received God's commands but did not keep them; they accepted the Law and then disobeyed it. And that's why they will suffer torment.
73
What excuse can they offer at the judgment? How can they answer at the last day?
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God Most High has been very patient with the people of this world for a long time, but it has not been for their sake. He has done it for the sake of the age to come."
75
Then I said, "Sir, may I ask you, please, to explain to me what happens when we die, when each of us must give back our soul? Will we be kept at rest until the time when you begin to make your new creation, or will our torment begin immediately?"