2 Esdras 7:75-77

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

State of the Dead before Judgement

⁷⁵ I answered and said, ‘If I have found favour in your sight, O Lord, show this also to your servant: whether after death, as soon as everyone of us yields up the soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when you will renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once?’

⁷⁶ He answered me and said, ‘I will show you that also, but do not include yourself with those who have shown scorn, or number yourself among those who are tormented. ⁷⁷ For you have a treasure of works stored up with the Most High, but it will not be shown to you until the last times.