The Apocalypse of Abraham

I’ve enjoyed reading about the Apocalypse of Abraham which is an ascension text. Of course, after reading I thought I’d never want to have a similar experience — when Abraham sees the formation of stars, he says to his angel guide,

“Why have you brought me here? I’ve become weak, I can’t see a thing, and I think I’m out of my mind.”

Yea, I wouldn’t like to go out of my mind. But still, I’d like to see how the earth was formed. In Abraham’s experience, he is happy to get back in his physical body, so it seems the whole ascension leaves you exhausted. And out of your mind. But, still, it would be something to see.

The Ascension of Abraham

A passage in the Apocalypse of Abraham reads like a modern description of the seething, ever-changing elements within a star. Abraham was shown the stars. An angel comes and takes him on a journey, during which Abraham goes into a trance. His spirit leaves his body, for when he comes back, it enters his body again and he has to be raised onto his feet. His spirit leaves his body, and the angel takes him to watch a star in the process of transformation.

What an effect it has on him! He says he sees an indescribably mighty light, and within the light a vast fire in which there is a host of tremendous forms, which are always changing and exchanging with each other, constantly changing their“ shape as they move and consume each other and alter themselves. First, the hydrogen goes into a helium cycle, then to the next cycle, the main phase within a star. According to Abraham, it’s quite a thing to see the stars always altering themselves.

He frankly does not know what is going on. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” he says. But of course he’s not supposed to have, so he asks the angel, “Why have you brought me here? I’ve become weak, I can’t see a thing, and I think I’m out of my mind.”

The angel tells him to stick close to him and not be afraid. But later they are both wrapped in something like flame, and the noise is as the voice of many rushing waters. (This was long before the time of Christ and the day of Pentecost — and we hear much of it in the Kirtland Temple.)

Then even the angel takes precautions. Abraham wants to fall on his face, but he cannot, “because there was no earth or ground anywhere to fall on.” Abraham is awfully glad to get back into his body again and feel solid earth under his feet. What a terrifying experience — to see this transmutation of elements within the fire within the body of a star, constantly changing from one element to the next. Very impressive!”

— Apocryphal Writings and Teachings of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Hugh Nibley, Apocalypse of Abraham 17:2-3, in OTP 1:696.

The Ascension of Abraham

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