The Testament of Abraham

And the archangel Michael descended and took Abraham on a cherubic chariot and lifted him up into the ether of heaven and led him upon the cloud and sixty angels, and Abraham was going up on a vehicle over all the inhabited world.

And Abraham observed the world as it was that day: some plowing, others driving wagons, in another place tending flocks, elsewhere camping outdoors, and dancing and playing and playing the lyre, in another place wrestling and litigating, elsewhere weeping, and then dead people being carried to a tomb.

And he also saw newly married couples being entertained at a banquet. And simply put, he saw everything that was happening in the world, both good and evil.

So as Abraham was passing through, he saw men bearing swords, holding sharpened swords in their hands, and Abraham asked the archistrategos, “Who are these?”

And the archistrategos said, “These are thieves, who intend to commit murder and to steal and to sacrifice and to destroy.”

And Abraham said, “Lord, Lord, hear my voice and command that beasts come out of the thicket and devour them.”

And immediately at his word, beasts came out of the thicket and devoured them.

And he saw in another place a man and a woman committing fornication with each other.

And he said, “Lord, Lord, command that the earth open up and swallow them.” And immediately the earth split open and swallowed them.

And he saw in another place people digging through a house and plundering others’ possessions.

And he said, “Lord, Lord, command fire to come down from heaven and consume them.” And at his word, fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

And immediately a voice came from heaven to the chief commander, saying this, “Command, O Michael, chief commander, to stop the chariot, and turn Abraham back, so that he may not see the entire inhabited world.

For if he sees all those living in sin, he will destroy every created being. For behold, Abraham has not sinned, and he has no pity on sinners.”

“But I created the world, and I do not wish to destroy any of them. Rather, I await the death of the sinner, until he repents and lives.

So lead Abraham up to the first gate of heaven, so that he may see there the judgments and retributions, and repent concerning the souls of the sinners whom he destroyed.”