The Testament of Abraham

And going up into his upper room, he reclined. And Death also came and stood before him.

But Abraham said to him, “Depart from me, for I wish to rest, for my spirit is in a state of disregard.”

And Death said, “I will not depart from you until I take your soul.”

And Abraham, with a stern face and an angry look, said to Death, “Who commanded you to say these things? You say these words on your own, boasting, and I will not follow you until the archistrategos Michael comes to me and I depart with him.

But I tell you this too: if you wish me to follow you, teach me all your transformations, the seven fiery heads of the dragons, and what the face of the precipice is, and what the sharp sword is, and what the great boiling river is, and what the muddied sea fiercely surging is.

Teach me also about the unbearable thunder and the terrifying lightning, and what the foul cup full of poisons is. Teach me about everything.”

And Death said, “Listen, righteous Abraham, for seven ages I ravage the world and lead all to Hades, kings and rulers, rich and poor, slaves and free, I send to the bottom of Hades; and for this reason I showed you the seven heads of the dragons.

I showed you the face of fire because many die by being burned by fire and see death through the face of fire.

I showed you the face of the precipice because many people, falling from the height of trees or terrifying precipices, and becoming nonexistent, die, and in the form of a terrifying precipice they see death.

I showed you the face of the sword because many are slain by the sword in wars, and they see death in the sword.

I showed you the face of the great boiling river because many are swept away by the immersion of many waters and, being carried off by very great rivers, they drown and die and see death untimely.

I showed you the face of the wild surging sea because many who have fallen into a great stormy sea and suffered shipwreck become submerged, seeing a watery death.

I showed you the unbearable thunder and the terrifying lightning because many people, when wrath comes in the hour, when unbearable thunder and terrifying lightning come, are snatched away and thus see death.

I also showed you venomous beasts, asps and basilisks and leopards and lions and lion cubs and bears and vipers, and to speak simply, I showed you the face of every beast, most righteous one, because many people are slain by beasts.

Others, however, fail and perish, blown away by venomous snakes, {by vipers, asps, horned snakes, and basilisks}, and by an adder.

I also showed you poisoned cups filled with drugs, because many people are given drugs to drink by other people and immediately die unexpectedly.