GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS
(Here are some interesting facts from the Gospel of Nicodemus of what occurred in Palestine at the time of the Crucifixion of the Christ.)
At the 6th hour, darkness came upon the face of the earth and lasted until the 9th hour. The Temple was rent from top to bottom, and the graves were opened and many bodies of Saints arose and came into the city. At the 9th hour, the Christ said, ‘Father, into thy hands, I command my spirit.’ And HE gave up the Ghost.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus put the body of Jesus in the new tomb of Joseph’s.
CHAPTER IX:--
The Jews took Joseph of Arimathea and threw him in a chamber where there were no windows. They fastened the door and put a seal upon the lock. Then they planned to meet after the Sabbath and see what kind of death they could plan for Joseph, the uncle of the Christ.
CHAPTER X:--
When they went later to get Joseph, they were astonished to find the guard there, the lock and seal not disturbed, but no Joseph. Then came the word that the guards at the Sepulcher--after the earthquake--saw an Angel of God roll the stone away from the entrance and sit upon it. And they had heard the Angel tell the women that Jesus was risen.
Then the soldiers replied, ‘we hear that you had Joseph, but he is now in his own city of Arimathea and Jesus is also in Galilee.’
Then the Jews were afraid, and said, ‘If these things become public knowledge, then everyone will believe in Jesus.’ So they gathered a large amount of money and gave it to the soldiers and told them to tell the story that the Disciples of Jesus came and took the body away. And the soldiers spread this story.
CHAPTER XI:--
Joseph of Arimathea is invited to Jerusalem and he comes and tells them that Jesus came and removed him from that locked and guarded room, then took him to see the empty tomb, then took him to his own home in Arimathea.
CHAPTER XII:--
When that astonished the, Joseph also told them that the old law said, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established---and that the two sons of Simeon are missing form their tomb. And they are in the City of Arimathea. So they all go to Charinus and Lenthius and they question them on what is going on. These two men made the sign of the Cross with their fingers on their tongues, and their eyes looking into heaven---and then they spoke and said, ‘Give us pen and paper which then we will write down all these things we have seen and heard.’
CHAPTER XIII:---
After praying for leave to declare the mysteries of God, that they saw after death, and pertaining to the Cross, and the secret things which happened by Divine power in Hell (Netherworld), they then wrote of all that they had seen.
THE STORY---
When we were placed with our fathers in the depth of the Netherworld, suddenly there appeared the color of the sun like gold and a purple colored light enlightened the place. At this light, Adam and the Patriarchs and Prophets rejoiced and said, ‘That light is the Everlasting Light who has promised to--translate--us to Everlasting Light.
Then Simeon came among them and said, ‘Glorify the Lord Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whom I held in my arms as an infant---and moved by the Holy Spirit, I said to HIM, ‘Now mine eyes have seen salvation--which thou hast prepared before the face of all people---a light to the Gentiles, and to the Glory of thy people, Israel.’
CHAPTER XV:---
‘The quarrel between Satan and Beelzebub the prince of the Netherworld.’
Lucifer says to Beelzebub, ‘Prepare to receive Jesus of Nazareth. HE did many injuries to me and to many others; for those whom I made blind and lame and those also whom I tormented with devils--HE cured them with HIS word; and those I brought dead to you, HE by force took away.’
Then Beelzebub says, ‘If HE is so powerful in HIS human nature, then HE is mighty in HIS Divine Nature. And no man can resist HIM power.’
But Satan says, ‘Why are you afraid to receive this Jesus of Nazareth? As for me, I tempted HIM and I stirred up my ole people the Jews, with zeal and anger, and I prepared the Cross for HIM, and the nails for HIS hands and feet, and now that death is near---I’ll bring HIM here, subject to both you and me.’
Beelzebub replied, ‘Well, now HE has taken away the dead from me by force, those who have been kept here until they should live again upon the earth. God took them from me. Perhaps this Jesus of Nazareth is the same that also took Lazarus from me. Bring not this person here. For HE will set at liberty all those whom I hold in prison under unbelief, and bound with the fetters of their sins or HE will conduct them to Everlasting Life.’
CHAPTER XVI:---
While Satan and Beelzebub are talking, Christ arrives at the gate and they hear a voice as of thunder and the rushing of wind and the voice says, ‘LIFT UP YOUR GATES, SO THE KING OF GLORY CAN COME IN.’
Beelzebub says to Satan, ‘If you are so powerful, go fight with this Prince of Glory and keep HIM out of here, for if HE comes in, HE will spoil everything.’
CHAPTER XVII:---
The prince of the Netherworld and his followers were seized with a great fear as the Light came in and THE CHRIST appears. And they say, ‘Art thou Jesus?’
Then the King of Glory trampled upon death--deprived the prince of Hell of all his power and took the Adamites with HIM.
CHAPTER XVIII:---
Beelzebub berates Satan for bringing the Christ to the Netherworld and then Christ tells Beelzebub that Satan shall have the room from then on where Adam and his sons had been kept.
CHAPTER XIX:---
THE CHRIST took Adam by the hand and the rest of the Saints joined hands and they went to Paradise.
CHAPTER XX:---
At Paradise, the Christ delivered the Adamites to Michael and they met Enoch and Elijah, and also the thief who died on the cross on the right side of the Christ.
Now Enoch and Elijah say they have been waiting to return at the coming of the anti-Christ, and will be slain at Jerusalem and then to be taken in to the clouds after 3 1/2 days.?????(any thoughts from anyone on this?)
CHAPTER XXI:---
Now this was a little of the story that Charinus and Lenthius told of what had happened between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. And they also said they only had three days to celebrate the Passover with their parents and bear witness for THE CHRIST. Then they would be seen no more.
CHAPTER XXII:---
Now Pilate read all these two had written, then he went to the Temple and demanded the old records, and they were studies. And in them it was found that Jesus of Nazareth who was Crucified, is JESUS--THE CHRIST--THE SON OF YAHWEH--and the TRUE AND YAHWEH ELOHIM--THE ALMIGHTY.