SEVEN POWERS OF WRATH - AN EXCERPT

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARY MAGDALENE

Mary Magdalene [Chapters 15 & 16]

"...and Desire said, 'I did not see you descend; but now I see you rising. Why do you speak falsely, when you belong to me?' The soul answered and said, 'I saw you, but you did not see me or recognize me; I served you as a garment and you did not recognize me.' After it had said this, it went joyfully and gladly away. Again it came to the third power, Ignorance. This power questioned the soul: 'Whither are you going? You were bound in wickedness, you were bound indeed. Judge not' [cf. Matt. 7:1]. And the soul said, 'Why do you judge me, when I judged not? I was bound, though I did not bind. I was not recognized, but I recognized that all will go free, things both earthly and heavenly.' After the soul had left the third power behind, it rose upward, and saw the fourth power, which had seven forms.

The first form is darkness, the second desire, the third ignorance, the fourth the arousing of death, the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh, the sixth is the wisdom of the folly of the flesh, the seventh is wrathful wisdom. These are the seven participants in wrath. They ask the soul, 'Whence do you come, killer of men, or where are you going, conqueror of space?' The soul answered and said, 'What seizes me is killed; what turns me about is overcome; my desire has come to an end and ignorance is dead. In a world I was saved from a world, and in a "type," from a higher "type" and from the fetter of the impotence of knowledge, the existence of which is temporal. From this time I will reach rest in the time of the moment of the Aeon in silence.'"

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INTERPRETATION

The description regarding what would be the second and third powers of wrath indicate the flesh and the soul were conversing. In both instances the soul was not recognized: being neglected then held in bondage.

Moving on is the fourth power of wrath and its seven forms. The detail explaining the first power of wrath is missing as is the fifth, sixth and seventh powers due to the original manuscript being partial. The seven forms of the fourth power seemingly correspond to the powers of wrath themselves. Giving a glympse at seven without the detail.

The question asked by these 'participants in wrath' and the answer of the soul, detail a pattern of cause and effect including a remedy to the circumstance and if interpretation would permit: continuing forward, not turning around, not being hindered, making haste, liberation / salvation, ascension from partiality / attaining peace and continuing wisdom / joy / silence. The scripture uses a more expanded and comprehensive verse, offering other meaning as well.

Note: Picture shows seven bowls of wrath as in the Book of Revelation - no cross reference applicable