From the east, from the north to the south appear threatening clouds, clashing against one another, pouring out a heavy tempest of blood. On the earth shall be fear, great trembling horror. After that, heavy storm clouds will be stirred up from the south, the north, and west. But, the winds from the east shall prevail.
Great and mighty clouds, full of wrath and tempest, shall rise and destroy all the earth and its inhabitants, cities and walls, mountains and hills, trees in the forests, grass of the meadows, then blot out Babylon. And those who survive shall serve those who have destroyed it.
Commentary in the New Interpreter's Study Bible explains that Chapters 15-16 of 2 Esdras were written in 3rd century CE and are intended to console and confirm the people of God in the midst of persecution by Rome. The Bible was written to address issues and problems of the time in which they were written, and, in some cases, then edited to fit the problems of a later day. We aren't writing any more Scripture, but we still may interpret it to fit our times.
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