The Testament of Abraham

Then Michael turned the chariot and brought Abraham to the East, to the first gate of heaven.

And Abraham saw two roads: one road narrow and constricted, and the other broad and spacious.

{And he saw there two gates: one gate was broad,} corresponding to the broad road, and one gate was narrow, corresponding to the narrow road.

And outside of those two gates there, I saw a man sitting on a golden throne. And the appearance of that man was fearsome, similar to the Lord.

And I saw many souls being driven by angels and being led in through the broad gate, and I saw other, few souls, and they were carried by angels through the narrow gate.

And when the wonderful one sitting on the golden throne observed few entering through the narrow gate, but many entering through the broad gate, immediately that wonderful man tore the hairs of his head and the sides of his beard and threw himself to the ground from the throne, weeping and lamenting.

But when he observed many souls entering through the narrow gate, then he rose from the ground and sat on his throne with great joy, rejoicing and exulting.

Then Abraham asked the chief commander, “My Lord, chief commander, who is this man, the all-wonderful one, who is adorned with such glory, and at one time weeps and laments, and at another time rejoices and exults?”

And the bodiless one said, “This is Adam, the first-formed one, who is in such glory, and he beholds the world, inasmuch as all came from him.

And when he sees many souls entering through the narrow gate, then he rises and sits on his throne, rejoicing and exulting in joy, because this narrow gate is for the righteous, leading to life, and those who enter through it come to paradise. And because of this, Adam the first-formed rejoices, because he sees souls being saved.

And when he sees many souls entering through the broad gate, then he tears the hairs of his head and throws himself to the ground, weeping and lamenting bitterly. Because the broad gate is for sinners, leading to destruction and to eternal punishment. And because of this, Adam the first-formed falls from his throne, weeping and lamenting over the destruction of sinners, because many are those who are perishing, but few are those who are being saved.

For among seven thousand, scarcely one soul is found that is righteous and undefiled.