2010 Apocalypse of Abraham

Adapted from J. M.
Bradshaw, Moses Temple Themes

For more information, see http://www.imageandlikeness.net
T HE A POCALPYSE OF A BRAHAM: A N A NCIENT W ITNESS FOR THE BOOK OF M OSES
The eminent Yale professor and Jewish literary scholar Harold Bloom once
called the book of Moses and the book of Abraham two of the “more
surprising” and “neglected” works of LDS scripture.1 With the great spate of
publications over the decades since fragments of Egyptian papyri were
rediscovered in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,2 we have begun to see a
remedy for the previous neglect of the book of Abraham.3 Now, gratefully,
because of wider availability of the original manuscripts and new detailed
studies of their contents, the book of Moses is also beginning to receive its
due.4
2
The placement of the book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price obscures the
fact that it was actually produced as part of the “Joseph Smith Translation” of
the Bible (JST). This is the first page of the manuscript of Moses 1—dated
June 1830, a time of great exuberance in the Church, but also a period of
intense persecution for Joseph Smith. Like many of the Prophet’s revelations,
the manuscript appears to have been flowingly dictated in a single setting.
That the Prophet could find the time, strength, and inspiration necessary to
receive and record this beautiful and complex account of the visions of Moses
during such a busy and difficult period is a great wonder.
What did Professor Bloom find so “surprising” in the book of Moses? He said
he was intrigued by the fact that many of its themes are “strikingly akin to
ancient suggestions.” While expressing “no judgment, one way or the other,
upon the authenticity” of LDS scripture, he found “enormous validity” in the
way these writings “recapture… crucial elements in the archaic Jewish
religion.… that had ceased to be available either to normative Judaism or to
Christianity, and that survived only in esoteric traditions unlikely to have
touched [Joseph] Smith directly.”5 In other words, Professor Bloom found it
extraordinary that Joseph Smith could have come up with, on his own, a
modern book that resembles so closely ancient Jewish and Christian
teachings.
3
Though several of the individual episodes in the chapter are very well
known—Moses’ confrontation with Satan, his comprehensive vision of the
earth and all its inhabitants, and God’s declaration about his “work and
glory”—how all these pieces join beautifully into a coherent whole has been
generally underappreciated by scripture readers. It is now quite evident,
however, that the outline of events in Moses 1 fits squarely in the tradition of
ancient “heavenly ascent” literature and its relationship to temple theology,
rites, and ordinances.6 It is significant that this account was revealed to Joseph
Smith more than a decade before the full temple endowment was administered
to others in Nauvoo.
Although stories of heavenly ascent bear important similarities to temple
practices, they make the claim of being something more. While ancient temple
rituals dramatically depict a figurative journey into the presence of God, the
ascent literature tells the stories of prophets who experience actual encounters
with Deity within the heavenly temple—the “completion or fulfillment” of the
“types and images” in earthly priesthood ordinances.7 In such encounters, the
prophet may experience a vision of eternity, participation in worship with the
angels, and the conferral of certain blessings that are “made sure”8 by the
voice of God Himself.
4
Building on the earlier work of Jared Ludlow9 and Hugh Nibley,10 David
Larsen and I are exploring significant relationships between the first chapter
of the book of Moses and the Apocalypse of Abraham.11 The Apocalypse of
Abraham recounts the visionary journey of Abraham to the highest heaven,
where he learns the secrets of Creation and is given a grand vision that
includes a history of the world and a view of the spirits that existed with God
before the Creation.
This picture shows the first page of a rare facsimile edition of the Codex
Sylvester (Silvestrov svod), the oldest and the only independent manuscript
with the full text of the Apocalypse of Abraham. It is written in Old Slavonic
and dates to the 14th century. Most scholars date the composition of the
original Hebrew or Aramaic text to within a few decades of the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 CE, though it may contain traditions that are older. It is
noteworthy that the first publication of an English translation was in the
Church’s Improvement Era magazine in 1898.12
5
One of the unique features of the Codex Sylvester is its series of beautiful
color illustrations. Though one of the illustrations previously appeared in an
article by Hugh Nibley,13 so far as I have been able to learn, the full set of six
illustrations has not appeared in print for more than a century. The
illustrations are valuable because they shed light on how medieval Christians
in the East understood the text.
This illustration accompanies a story about how Abraham’s father Terah’s
house was destroyed by fire from heaven because he persisted in idol
worship.14 Abraham, a nimbus surrounding his head, stands at left wearing a
green robe on his left shoulder indicating his priestly status. Note the crescent
moon on the blue half-orb at the top representing God’s presence. We do not
yet understand why the moon appears here, though a colleague has suggested
an influence from the Bogomils, a Christian sect that had previously
flourished in the region where the manuscript was composed.15
6
Here, Abraham appears with a group of sacrificial animals.16 His robe now
covers both of his shoulders. Deity forms a two-handed gesture. This may be
related to the practice in ancient Israel, where the high priest transferred the
sins of the people to the scapegoat in a ritual action involving both hands.17
The figure at right is Yahoel, an Angel of the Presence, whose name connotes
the “Lord God,” the Divine Name, and whose body, face, and hair are also
reminiscent of God Himself.18 The turban, blue robe, and golden staff recall a
royal high-priestly figure.19
7
The Apocalypse of Abraham describes Yahoel as both man and bird.20 In this
and related texts, other angelic beings, including Satan, are also described as
birds.21 This is shown to be an intriguing detail in light of the depiction of “the
Angel of the Lord” on the far right of Facsimile 1 of the Book of Abraham as
a bird.22 In the book of Abraham, the young prophet is saved by “the angel of
his presence,” who declares himself to be Jehovah.23
8
One of the most significant things I have gained through studying the
Apocalypse of Abraham and other similar texts is a better understanding of the
structure of the first chapter of Moses. From the recurring pattern here, in the
LDS book of Abraham, and similar ancient documents it becomes clear that
Moses’ experience was not simply a series of randomly-arranged visions, but
rather a sequence reflecting the plan of salvation in miniature from the
personal perspective, starting with the spirit world and ending in the presence
of the Lord. I will organize my discussion of parallels between Moses 1 and
the Apocalypse of Abraham around the many elements of structure that they
share.24
9
Though Moses 1 serves as a superb introduction to succeeding chapters that

describe the Creation and the Fall, its separate prologue25 and epilogue26
signal its status as a revelation that can stand apart on its own. Verses 1-2
provide what Turner calls an “announcement of plot”27—a brief summary of
the chapter describing the central event of the Moses’ vision, when he will see
God “face to face.”28
10
In this and subsequent slides, we will see the many parallels between the first
chapter of the book of Moses and the Apocalypse of Abraham. In both books,
the setting for the revelation is a “high mountain.”29
11
In the Apocalypse of Abraham, the mountain is a place of sacrifice. The

prophet once again wears his robe in priestly fashion as he performs the
sacrifice.30 In contrast to the blast of flames that destroyed the house of Terah,
the divine fire that consumes the sacrifice in this illustration denotes God’s
approval and acceptance. Note the gesture of blessing shown by the hand of
God, which reaches through the veil of the heavens. In this instance, the veil is
decorated with a single star or sun.
Consistent with the Apocalypse, the LDS book of Abraham states that the
“key of power… pertaining to other planets” was “revealed from God to
Abraham, as he offered sacrifice upon an altar, which he had built unto the
Lord.”31 Though not explicitly detailed in scripture, it is easy to imagine that
Moses might have also offered sacrifice on the mountain prior to receiving his
vision.32
12
Following the prologue, Moses is given a vision of the spirit world.
13
In both the book of Moses and the Apocalypse, the prophet is given a
description of God’s majesty, called an aretology. Because the two prophets
have found God’s favor, they receive a special title and commission,33 and
will be allowed to see a vision of eternity.
14
The book of Moses says that he is next shown the “world upon which he was
created”—referring to the preexistent spirit realm—and “all the children of
men which are, and which were created.” Likewise, in the Apocalypse,
Abraham will be shown “a great crowd of men, and women, and children”
before they “came into being.”34
In the book of Abraham, the Lord points out the many “noble and great ones”
that were chosen before they were born.35 Likewise, in the Apocalypse of
Abraham, a premortal group of spirits is “set apart… to be born of
[Abraham]” and to be called “[God’s] people.”36
15
Having left the presence of God and no longer being clothed with His glory,
Moses falls to the earth—meaning, first, that he collapsed in weakness, and,
second, that he descended again to the relative darkness of the telestial world,
thus recapitulating the journey of Adam and Eve and “landing,” as Nibley
puts it, “as a natural man.”37 Moses is then left to himself to be tested in a
dramatic encounter with Satan.38
16
Remarkably, both texts speak of how each prophet “fell” and lost his
strength.39
17
While you or I might have quickly skimmed over this scene, thinking it of
little interest, it was clearly a significant event to the illustrator, who found it
important enough to merit a separate visual depiction.40 The scene shows
Abraham being raised up out of sleep—or perhaps death41—by the hand of
Yahoel, who, using the right hand, lifts him firmly by the wrist.42 The rays
emanating from hand of God43 impart the spirit of life, recalling the creation
of Adam, when God breathed… the breath of life” into the first man, and he
became “a living soul.”44
18
Reinforcing the interpretation of this scene from the visions of Moses and
Abraham are the many parallel depictions of the resurrected Christ raising up
the dead by the same gesture.
19
After his fall, Moses is left to himself to be tested in a dramatic encounter with
Satan.45
20
Prefiguring his later encounter with Christ in the wilderness,46 Satan tempts
the prophet—in his physically weakened state—to worship him. Satan’s
attempt to disguise his identity is made apparent. Lacking both divine glory
and heavenly inheritance, the Devil is easily and humiliatingly exposed.47
21
In almost identical words, the book of Moses and the Apocalypse of Abraham
relate that Satan is told to depart and cease his deception. Satan is reminded
that the glory he once possessed now belongs to Moses and Abraham. Moses’
words constitute a second “humiliating exposure of Satan”—an announcement
that Moses “actually is what his adversary falsely claims to be.”48 In both
texts, Satan is forcefully told a second time to depart.
22
The continued resistance of Moses and Abraham calls for a dramatic change
in tactics. In the words of Nibley: “Satan… casts aside his celebrated but now
useless subtlety and launches a frontal attack of satanic fury, a tremendous
tantrum.”49 Blaming his intended victim for all his troubles, a parallel story in
the Armenian version of the Life of Adam and Eve records that Satan “wept
loudly” as he railed forth in self-pity, and the Latin version has him
“groaning.” The Georgian account highlights the manipulative intent of the
Devil’s theatrics, stating that he “began to cry with forced tears.”50
Nibley fills in a missing parallel to Moses’ final dismissal of Satan with a
passage from the ancient book of 1 Enoch.51 In related traditions, Satan and
Cain are both known as “earth shakers”52 who make the ground tremble
beneath them—however, in the end of all these stories, these mirrors of
wickedness are themselves the ones who are left shaken and trembling in
defeat.
23
As Moses begins to move upward again, a context of priesthood ordinances is

implied. For example, having banished Satan through the power of the Only
Begotten (a motif linked in ancient sources to baptism53), the book of Moses
tells us that he was “filled with the Holy Ghost.”54 Continuing to press
forward, Moses “calls upon the name of God” in prayer.
24
Moses and Abraham are now fully prepared for their heavenly ascent. The
statement that Moses was “caught up,”55 phrased in what is called the “divine
passive,”56 reveals that his ascent was accomplished by God’s power and not
his own.57 Such wording may sometimes imply a context of priesthood
ordinances. For example, we are told elsewhere that Adam was “caught away
by the Spirit of the Lord” into the water and baptized.58 Note that the Apostle
Paul, like Moses and Abraham, was also “caught up” to the third heaven.59
Following his prayer, Moses is answered by a voice from behind the heavenly
veil promising that he will be made “stronger than many waters… as if [he
were] God.”60 Similarly, at this point the Apocalypse tells us that Abraham
hears a “sound [or voice]… like a sound of many waters.”61
25
Here we see Abraham and Yahoel ascending to heaven on the wings of two of
the birds provided by God at the time of the sacrifice.62 The imagery of ascent
on the wings of birds is a convention that goes back at least two thousand
years.63 Once again, Yahoel holds Abraham firmly by the wrist, using the
right hand.64 Note also the hand of divine blessing from heaven, and the veil
marked with a star or sun, along with other markings we have not yet been
able to decipher.
A parallel that ties Moses’ experience to that of Abraham in the Apocalypse is

found in 1 Nephi 11:1 where Nephi was “caught away in the Spirit of the
Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which [he] never had before
seen.”65 Nephi later said that “upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been
carried away upon exceedingly high mountains,”66 just as the Sylvester Codex
shows Abraham being raised up to heaven on the wings of a bird.
26
Since the moment he “fell to the earth,” Moses could no longer speak face to
face with the Lord, having been “shut out from his presence.”67 Following his
prayer, however, Moses is answered by a voice from behind the heavenly veil
enumerating specific blessings.68 In his discussion of early Christian and
Jewish temple rituals, Tvedtnes notes that “prayer opens the veil to allow one
to enjoy the presence of God.”69
At the heavenly veil, Moses sees the earth and all its inhabitants—not the
spirit world he had seen previously, but rather a vision of the history of the
mortal earth from beginning to end, like Adam, Enoch, the Brother of Jared,
John the Beloved, and others.70
27
In Moses 1:27, we are told: “And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking,
Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth.” Remarkably, the book of Moses phrase “as
the voice was still speaking” parallels a nearly identical phrase—“And while he [the
angel] was still speaking”— in the Apocalypse of Abraham.71 In both cases, the
phrase seems to be a code expression having to do with an exchange of words as one
is preparing to pass from one side of the heavenly veil to the other.72 In the case of
the Apocalypse, the phrase immediately precedes Abraham’s recitation of certain
words taught to him by the angel in preparation for his ascent to receive a vision of
the work of God. In such accounts, once a person has been thoroughly tested, the
“last phrase” of welcome is extended to him: “Let him come up!”73 Significantly,
following Abraham’s ascent, when he passes back through the heavenly veil in the
opposite direction on his return to the earth, the expression “And while he was still
speaking” recurs.74
The change in perspective as Moses passes upward through the heavenly veil is
related in subtle beauty in the book of Moses. Previously, as he stood on the earth,
Moses had “lifted up his eyes unto heaven.”75 Now, after ascending to heaven, he
“cast his eyes” down to see the earth and all of its inhabitants.76 Similarly, Abraham
is told: “Look now beneath your feet at the expanse and contemplate the creation and
those who inhabit it.”77
Moses’ vision is perfectly in line with ancient accounts that speak of a “blueprint” of
eternity that is worked out in advance and shown on the inside of the heavenly veil.78
Writes Barker: “Those who passed beyond the veil found themselves outside time.
When Rabbi Ishmael ascended and looked back he saw the curtain on which was
28
depicted past, present and future. ‘All generations to the end of time were printed on
the curtain of the Omnipresent One. I saw them all with my own eyes’…79
[Similarly,] Enoch was taken up by three angels and set up on a high place whence he
saw all history, past, present and future.”80
Moroni taught that those with perfect faith cannot be “kept from within the veil” (i.e.,
cannot be kept from passing through the veil81)—meaning the heavenly veil behind
which God dwells, whose earthly counterpart is the temple veil that divides the holy
place from the holy of holies.82 Seeing all this, Moses asks “Tell me, I pray thee, why
these things are so… ?”83 Likewise, Abraham asks, “Eternal, Mighty One! Why did
you ordain it to be so?”84
29
At this point, we observe a significant difference between the book of Moses

and the Apocalypse of Abraham. On the one hand, Moses will receive a partial
answer to his question about “by what” God made these things through a
vision of the Creation.85 He will also be told something about “why these
things are so.”86 On the other hand, in the Apocalypse, the dialogue between
Abraham and the Lord centers, not on the creation and purpose of the
universe, but rather on recent events of local concern, including the
destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, and the future of Israel.87 This seems
just the kind of material that a first- or second-century redactor might have
inserted into the text. By way of contrast, questions found in the Islamic
Mother of Books provide a closer parallel to those found in the book of Moses:
“My Lord, …From where did he make the spirits? What was the origin of his
creation?”88
30
The culminating sequence of the vision begins in verse 31 when Moses,

having continued to inquire of the Lord,89 comes to stand in His presence.
God speaks with Moses face to face, describing His purposes for this earth
and its inhabitants.90
31
The granting of the privilege to Moses of seeing God is paralleled both in Old
Testament accounts such as Isaiah and Ezekiel, and in pseudepigraphal
writings such as 1 Enoch. In a second major difference with the book of
Moses, however, the Apocalypse of Abraham explicitly rejects any
visualization of God, and insists on the “revelation of the divine Voice”
alone.91 The redactor of the Apocalypse seems to be arguing a theological
point that is important to him when he has Yahoel tell Abraham: “the Eternal
One… himself you will not see.”92
Just as Moses is then shown the events of the Creation and the Fall,93 the
Apocalypse of Abraham describes how the great patriarch looked down to see
the affairs of what is called in modern revelation the “kingdoms of a lower
order.”94 The Lord’s voice commanded Abraham to “look,” and a series of
heavenly veils were opened beneath his feet.95 Like Moses, Abraham is shown
the heavenly plan for creation—“the creation that was depicted of old96 on this
expanse” (21:197), its realization on the earth (21:3-5), the Garden of Eden
(21:6), and the spirits of all men with certain ones “prepared to be born of
[Abraham] and to be called [God’s] people (21:7-22:5)”98 When Abraham is
told again to “Look… at the picture,” he sees Satan inciting the Fall of Adam
and Eve (23:1-14),99 just as Moses saw these events following his own
heavenly ascent.
32
Of great interest for our study is that fact that, in explicit contradiction to the
text of the Apocalypse of Abraham, the fourteenth-century Christian illustrator
of the Codex Sylvester had no qualms about representing God visually. Barker
observes: “To see the glory of the Lord’s presence—to see beyond the veil—
was the greatest blessing. The high priest used to bless Israel with the words:
‘The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and
give you peace’100… Seeing the glory, however, became controversial.
Nobody knows why. There is one strand in the Old Testament that is
absolutely opposed to any idea of seeing the divine… [On the other hand,]
Jesus said: ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’;101 and John
saw ‘one seated on the throne.’102 There can be no doubt where the early
Christians stood on this matter.”103
In the illustration,104 the figure seated on the throne seems to be Christ. His
identity is indicated by the cruciform markings on His halo. Behind Him sits
another figure, perhaps alluding to the statement that “Michael is with me
[God] in order to bless you forever.”105 Beneath the throne are fiery seraphim
and many-eyed “wheels” praising God.
33
The throne is surrounded by a series of heavenly veils, representing different

levels of the firmament separating God from the material world—the latter
being signified by the outermost dark blue veil. The fact that the veils are
depicted as fabric rather than simply a “rainbow effect” is easily revealed by
close inspection.
34
Knowing he could not quench his thirst from the “broken cisterns,” of human
wisdom, Moses, like Job, sought “the fountain of living waters,”106 placing
“emphasis on seeing God after so much mere hearsay.”107 William Blake’s
depiction of the story’s culminating theophany captures the prime purpose of
such strivings. It shows God surrounded by a concourse of angels. The
prophet looks up to converse with Him face to face, while his friends lie
prostrate in terror.108 In other versions of Blake’s drawing, the visionary is
actually caught up with God in the circle, with identical faces that mirror one
other in serene mutual regard. According to Fisch, the key to understanding
the illustration is that “Man is about to take on the nature of God… For
according to Blake’s radical reading of the Gospel, …Man himself—not
merely Jesus, but every man and woman—is potentially endowed with divine
glory and even divine power!”109 Blake expressed this thought in the couplet:
“God becomes as we are, that we may be as he is.”110 Both William Blake and
Joseph Smith, according to Harold Bloom, “sought to end the distinction
between the human and the divine.”111
35
Parallels between ancient texts and the first chapter of the book of Moses are
reflected even in the epilogue.
36
For example, though the theme of scripture that is to be lost and restored is not
found in the Apocalypse of Abraham, another work preserved in Slavonic, 2
Enoch, records that a last “generation will arise… And I shall raise up for that
generation someone who will reveal to [truthful men] the books in your
handwriting.”112
37
A close examination of the details of the account of Moses’ heavenly ascent in

the context of its overall structure throws important light on the significance
of temple ordinances performed in our day. Parallels with other ancient texts,
such as the Apocalypse of Abraham, confirm the basic temple pattern, and
constitute an impressive witness of the antiquity of the text restored by Joseph
Smith’s revelations. Hugh Nibley concluded as a result of his study: “These
parallel accounts, separated by centuries, cannot be coincidence. Nor can all
the others.”113
For Joseph Smith, as Bushman insightfully observes, knowledge was not only
a source of power and salvation114 but also of comfort.115 Said the Prophet on
one occasion, “I am glad I have the privilege of communicating to you some
things which if grasped closely will be a help to you when the clouds are
gathering and the storms are ready to burst upon you like peals of thunder.
Lay hold of these things and let not your knees tremble, nor hearts faint.”116
May we all “grasp closely” the supernal knowledge available to us through
latter-day revelation so that as “the clouds are gathering and the storms are
ready to burst upon [us] like peals of thunder” in our day, our knees will not
tremble, nor will our hearts faint.
38
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Endnotes
1 H. Bloom, Names Divine, p. 25. Hugh Nibley concurs with this assessment, noting that the Pearl
of Great Price “has received less attention than the other writings and has been studied only
superficially” (H. W. Nibley et al., One Eternal Round, p. 18).
2 H. W. Nibley, New Look; H. D. Peterson, Story.
3 See especially e.g., E. D. Clark, Blessings; J. Gee et al., Astronomy; H. W. Nibley, Drama; H. W.
Nibley, Message 2005; H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000; H. W. Nibley, Teachings of the PGP; M. D.
Rhodes, Hor; J. A. Tvedtnes et al., Traditions.
4 Forty years ago Richard P. Howard (R. P. Howard, Restoration 1969) and Robert J. Matthews
(R. J. Matthews, Plainer) began publishing their pioneering studies of the Joseph Smith
Translation or JST, of which the book of Moses is an extract. The wide availability of Matthews’
exhaustive study, in particular, was very effective in abating the qualms of Latter-day Saints (T. E.
Sherry, Changing), who had not yet had an opportunity to compare the RLDS (now Community
of Christ) publication of Joseph Smith’s “Inspired Version” of the Bible (J. Smith, Jr., Holy
Scriptures) with the original manuscripts. Such qualms proved by and large to be unfounded.
Matthews clearly established that recent editions of the “Inspired Version,” notwithstanding their
shortcomings, constituted a faithful rendering of the work of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his
scribes—insofar as the manuscripts were then understood (R. J. Matthews, Plainer, pp. 200-201;
see also K. P. Jackson, Book of Moses, pp. 20-33). Four years later, in 1979, the status of the JST
was further enhanced by the inclusion of selections from the translation in the footnotes and
endnotes of a new LDS edition of the King James Bible. Elder Boyd K. Packer heralded this
publication event as “the most important thing that [the Church has] done in recent generations”
(B. K. Packer, Scriptures, p. 53; cf. B. R. McConkie, Sermons, p. 236). Twenty-five years later, in
2004, with painstaking effort by editors Scott Faulring, Kent Jackson, and Robert Matthews and
the generous cooperation of the Community of Christ, a facsimile transcription of all the original
manuscripts of the JST was at last published (S. H. Faulring et al., Original Manuscripts). In 2005,
as an important addition to his ongoing series of historical and doctrinal studies, Kent Jackson
provided a detailed examination of the text of the portions of the JST relating to the book of Moses
(K. P. Jackson, Book of Moses). Richard Draper, Kent Brown, and Michael Rhodes’ verse-by-
verse commentary on the Pearl of Great Price, also published in 2005, was another important
milestone (R. D. Draper et al., Commentary). Others have also made significant contributions.
Taken together, all these studies allow us to see the process and results of the Prophet’s work of
Bible translation with greater clarity than ever before. See Royal Skousen for a review of these
45
recent studies of the original JST manuscripts (R. Skousen, Earliest). I have published a detailed
commentary on Moses 1-6:12 (J. M. Bradshaw, God's Image) and a brief guide to symbolism in
the stories of the Creation and of the lives of Adam and Eve (J. M. Bradshaw, Brief Guide).
5 H. Bloom, American Religion, pp. 98, 99, 101.

6 Ginzberg reports traditions of “several ascensions of Moses”: a first “at the beginning of his
career,” a second “at the revelation of the Torah,” and the third “shortly before his death” (L.
Ginzberg, Legends, 5:417). For a brief overview of accounts that interpreted Moses’ ascent to Sinai
as an ascent to the holy of holies, see M. Barker, Great High Priest, pp. 218-219. For useful general
summaries of ascent literature, see M. Barker, Risen; M. Barker, Temple Theology; W. J. Hamblin,
Temple Motifs; J. F. McConkie, Premortal. For an interpretation of the Islamic hajj pilgrimage as
a form of ascent, see S. A. Ashraf, Inner, p. 125, and for the Islamic story of Habib, who “entered
[Paradise] alive,” see M. Ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar, Making, pp. 227-228. For a discussion of Moses’
vision on Sinai as an ascent and rebirth, see P. Borgen, John and Philo, pp. 60-65. For a more
extensive commentary on Moses 1, see J. M. Bradshaw, God's Image, pp. 32-81. See also J. M.
Bradshaw, Ezekiel Mural; H. W. Nibley, Teachings of the PGP, 17, p. 205.
7 H. W. Nibley, Apocryphal, p. 312; cf. pp. 310-311. See W. W. Isenberg, Philip, 85:14-16, p.
159.
8 2 Peter 1:10.
9 J. W. Ludlow, Visions.
10 H. W. Nibley, To Open; H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, pp. 1-73.
11 D. J. Larsen et al., Vision of Moses.
12 See E. H. Anderson et al., Abraham. Nibley comments: “In 1898, just a year after the Apocalypse
of Abraham was published to the world by Bonwetsch, two Latter-day Saint students made the
first English translation of the writing, which appeared in the first volume of the Improvement
Era.… It is significant that it was the Latter-day Saints who first made the Apocalypse of Abraham
available to the world in English, as it was they who first recognized the book of Enoch, in Parley
P. Pratt’s review of 1840, not as a worthless piece of apocrypha, but as a work of primary
importance… Brothers E. H. Anderson and R. T. Haag, who made an excellent translation of
Bonwetsch’s German—remarkably close, in fact, to Box’s ‘official’ English version of 1919—
detected in the text ‘many things of a character both as to incidents and doctrines that ran parallel
with what is recorded in the Book of Abraham, given to the world by Joseph Smith’ (E. H.
Anderson et al., Abraham, p. 705). They wisely contented themselves, however, with printing the
text without other commentary than three or four passages in italics, trusting the Latter-day Saint
reader to think for himself” (H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, pp. 11-13).
13 See H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, p. 18.
14 See specific parallels between the book of Abraham and this story in Ibid., pp. 11-15.
Translation of Caption: “A voice from heaven to Abraham saying, the Lord God your creator
(you are) searching (for) in the mind of (your) heart. I am he. Go out from your father’s house, so
(you will) not be killed and in the sins of your father’s house. (I) went out and right away burned
fire his whole house.” I am indebted to Professor David K. Hart of BYU for providing a literal
46
translation of the captions (D. K. Hart, January 29 2009). Kulik’s translation for the corresponding
text in the manuscript is: “In the wisdom of your heart you are searching for the God of gods and
the Creator. I am he! Leave Terah your father, and leave the house, so that you too are not slain for
the sins of your father's house!” (A. Kulik, Retroverting, 8:3-6, p. 16). The difference “Lord God”
vs. “God of gods” is noteworthy.
15 N. Isar, February 8 2009. See also E. A. S. Butterworth, Tree, pp. 121-123.
16 Translation of Caption: Go make a sacrifice. And (he) put me on my feet and led me to the
glorious mountain of God Oriv. And I said to the angel, Oh, singer of the eternal, I have no
sacrifice with me. How can I make a sacrifice? And (he) said, turn around and I turned around
and lo, coming after us (+1 word??) were the sacrifices: calf, goat, sheep, turtledove and pigeon.
Cf. A. Kulik, Retroverting, 12:3-6, p. 19. The first part of the caption comes from 9:5, which Kulik
translates as: “Go… and set out for me a pure sacrifice” (A. Kulik, Retroverting, 9:5, p. 17). The
phrase “And (he) put me on my feet” has no equivalent here but probably relates to 10:4. The next
part of the caption comes form 12:3-6, which Kulik renders as: “And we came to the glorious
God’s mountains—Horeb. And I said to the angel, ‘Singer of the Eternal One, behold, I have no
sacrifice with me, nor do I know a place for an altar on the mountain, so how shall I make the
sacrifice?’ And he said, ‘Look behind you.’ And I looked behind me. And behold, all the
prescribed sacrifices were following us: the calf, the she-goat, the ram, the turtledove, and the
pigeon” (A. Kulik, Retroverting, 12:3-6, p. 19).
17 The two-handed impositio manus goes back to the Day of Atonement imagery when both
hands were placed on the scapegoat by the high priest before it was sent out into the wilderness
(A. Edersheim, Temple, pp. 249, 253). This seems to have been was carried over into the
reconciliatoria manus impositio as part of the sacrament of penance, and is documented as far
back as the Council of Orange in 441 (A. Villien, Sacraments, pp. 153-154). Ordination of the
bishop seems to have been done more often than not with two hands, as opposed to lower orders
of the priesthood (J. Cooper et al., Testament, 1:21, p. 65 and note p. 161). The practice in the
benediction of catechumens, at exorcism before baptism, and at confirmation is contradictory (J.
Cooper et al., Testament, note p. 161). Barker also suggested that only the bishop could perform a
two-handed gesture (M. Barker, September 22 2008).
18 Note that the name is apparently an expression of yhwh’l. A. Kulik, Retroverting, 11:2, p. 19; see
J. J. Collins, Imagination, p. 228; A. A. Orlov, Praxis, p. 62; R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of
Abraham, p. 693 note 10b. See also discussion in G. Scholem, Trends, pp. 69-70.
19 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 11:3, p. 19.
20 A. A. Orlov, Angelology. See also A. Kulik, Retroverting, p. 83; B. Lourié, Review.
21 Cf. Ezekiel 1:10; P. Alexander, 3 Enoch, 2:1, p. 257, 24:9, p. 278, 26:3, p. 280, 44:5, p. 295, 47:4, p.
300.
22 Specifically regarding the dove, Joseph Smith explained: “The sign of the dove was instituted
before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the
sign of a dove” (J. Smith, Jr., Teachings, 29 January 1843, p. 276; cf. B. R. McConkie, Mortal
Messiah, 1:404; J. Smith, Jr., Words, 21 March 1841, p. 66). Nibley comments: “[T]he dove that
takes one to heaven is the Holy Ghost, who also instructs and teaches ‘through the heavens,’
‘revealing… the grand Key-words… as, also, the sign’ (Book of Abraham, Facsimile 2,
47
explanation of Figure 7) by which alone supernal knowledge can be conveyed” (H. W. Nibley,
Abraham 2000, pp. 56-57, see also pp. 18, 43 figure 3). Whether representing the ascent to heaven
of the souls of the living (e. g., Nephi, Moses) or dead (e.g., E. S. Drower, Adam, pp. 8, 32; H. W.
Nibley, New Look, July 1969, p. 109; M. D. Rhodes, Hor, p. 20), or else the descent of heavenly
messengers to earth (H. W. Nibley, New Look, July 1969, pp. 108-110, August 1969, pp. 75-77; J.
Smith, Jr., Words, before 8 August 1839, p. 10; J. Smith, Jr., Teachings, December 1835, p. 98), the
common idea behind the symbol of a bird is that of sacred communication and communion
between the spheres, “the certain tie between heaven and earth” (H. W. Nibley, New Look, July
1969, p. 109).
23 Abraham 1:15-16.
24 English translation of A. Kulik, Retroverting, 9-23, pp. 16-29.

25 Moses 1:1-2.
26 Moses 1:42.
27 L. Turner, Announcements, pp. 13-14.
28 Though God speaks to Moses near the beginning of the chapter, the parallel wording regarding
Moses’ “face to face” experience does not appear until verse 31, making it clear that this is the event
to which the prologue is pointing us.
29 Note the similar wording that is associated with the mountain where God showed himself to
the Brother of Jared: it was called Shelem “because of its exceeding height” (Ether 3:1). As Thomas
observes, the essential thing is to suggest “a place that is suitably high for temple activity” (M. C.
Thomas, Brother of Jared, p. 391). Thomas describes the spectrum of meanings associated with
the three Hebrew consonants slm: “peace, tranquility, contentment, safety, completeness, being
sound, finished, full, or perfect. Shelem (and Hebrew shalom) signify peace with God, especially
in the covenant relationship. It also connotes submission to God, which we see in the Arabic
words muslim and islam. In particular, shelem has reference to the peace offering of the law of
sacrifice, which corresponds to the seeking of fellowship with God, and thereby has a relationship
to the meanings of the at-one-ment; that is, shelem, fellowship, sealing, and at-one-ment have an
obvious relationship” (M. C. Thomas, Brother of Jared, p. 391). Nibley further explains: “The
original word of Shelem, shalom, means ‘peace,’ but it originally meant ‘safe’ (safety, security)
because it was a high place. The Shelem was a high place. It’s still the word for ladder: silma,
selma, a sullam in Arabic.” This connotation is significant because the ladder is a symbol often
used to represent the process of exaltation” (H. W. Nibley, Teachings of the PGP, 16, p. 196).
30 Translation of Caption: “And the angel said to me, all these many (+2 words??) but the bird do
not divide and give to men which I will show standing by you since these are the altar on the
mountain to bring a sacrifice to the eternal. And I gave to the angels which came (that?) which
had been divided. And an unclean bird flew down to me. And spoke to me, the unclean bird, and
said, Why, Abraham, are you on the holy heights? In them neither eat nor drink, and no food of
men but all are scorched by fire. Leave the man who is with you. Run away. As they will destroy
you. And it was [when?] I saw the bird speaking, and said to the angel, what is this, oh lord? And
he said this is from Azazel and the angel said: Go away. You cannot deceive this man.” Kulik gives
the text corresponding to the first part of this caption as: “And he said to me, ‘Slaughter and cut all
this, putting together the two halves, one against the other. But do not cut the birds. And give them
[halves] to the two men whom I shall show you standing beside you, since they are the altar on the
48
mountain, to offer sacrifice to the Eternal One’… And I gave to the angels who had come to us the
divided parts of the animals” (A. Kulik, Retroverting, 12:8-9, 13:1, pp. 19, 20).
Note that Satan appears as a bird, which is apparently how Yahoel appeared. So perhaps Satan is
here imitating the form of an angel. Kulik renders the text corresponding to the second part of the
caption as: “And an impure bird flew down on the carcasses, and I drove it away. And the impure
bird spoke to me and said, ‘What are you doing, Abraham, on the holy heights, where no one eats
or drinks, nor is there upon them food of men. But these will all be consumed by fire and they will
burn you up. Leave the man who is with you and flee! Since if you ascend to the height, they will
destroy you.’ And it came to pass when I saw the bird speaking I said to the angel, ‘What is this, my
lord?’ And he said, ‘This is iniquity, this is Azazel!’ And he said to him, ‘Reproach on you,
Azazel!… Depart from this man! You cannot deceive him” (A. Kulik, Retroverting, 13:3-7, 12-13,
p. 20).
31 Abraham, Facsimile 2, figure 2.
32 See footnote regarding “Shelem” on the previous page. A context of calling upon God is also
implied in both accounts, as in similar experiences with Lehi Joseph Smith, and Abraham (i.e., in
the book of Abraham).
33 Regarding the title given to Moses, see Barker for a discussion of Psalm 110 and the idea that
priests after the order of Melchizedek became sons of God (M. Barker, Who was Melchizedek).
In Arabic, Abraham is simply referred to as al-Khalil, “the Friend” (cf. Hebrew “Hebron” from
haver = “friend”).
34 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 21:7, 22:2, p. 26.
35 Abraham 3:22-23.
36 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 21:7, 22:5, pp. 26-27.
37 H. W. Nibley, Assembly, p. 128.
38 Moses 1:9-23.
39 Moses 1:9-11; A. Kulik, Retroverting, 10:1-3, p. 17. Likewise, following one of his visions,
Daniel reported that he “fainted, and was sick certain days,” and of a second occasion he wrote: “I
was left alone… and there remained no strength in me… and when I heard the voice of his words,
then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground” (Daniel 8:26; 10:8-9). Saul
“fell to the earth” during his vision and remained blind until healed by Ananias (Acts 9:4, 17-18).
Lehi “cast himself on his bed, being overcome with the Spirit” (1 Nephi 1:7). Similarly, Alma “fell
to the earth; and it was for the space of three days and three nights that [he] could not open [his]
mouth, neither had [he] the use of [his] limbs” (Alma 36:10; cf. Mosiah 27:12, 18-19). Of his
weakness following the First Vision, Joseph Smith wrote: “When I came to myself again, I found
myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no
strength…” (JS-H 1:20). Concerning his experience of watching Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon
as they received the vision of the three degrees of glory (D&C 76), Philo Dibble wrote: “Joseph sat
firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale,
apparently as limber as a rag, observing which Joseph remarked, smilingly, ‘Sidney is not used to
it as I am’” (Cited in L. R. Flake, Three Degrees, p. 6). Note that when Jesus Christ was “led by the
49
Spirit into the wilderness” (JST Luke 4:1), it was at a point of physical weakness following a forty-
day fast when Satan appeared to tempt Him.
40 Translation of Caption: “I heard a voice saying, Here Oilu, sanctify this man and strengthen
(him) from his trembling and the angel took me by the right hand and stood me on my feet and
said to me, stand up oh friend of God who has loved you.” Kulik’s translation of the
corresponding text in the Apocalypse reads: “And when I was still face down on the earth, I heard
the voice of the Holy One, saying, ‘Go, Yahoel, the namesake of the mediation of my ineffable
name, sanctify this man and strengthen him from his trembling!’ And the angel whom he sent to
me in the likeness of a man came, and he took me by my right hand and stood me on my feet. And
he said to me, ‘Stand up, <Abraham,> the friend of God who has loved you, let human trembling
not enfold you. For behold I am sent to you to strengthen you and to bless you in the name of
God.” (A. Kulik, Retroverting, 10:3-6, pp. 17-18).
41 In the Ezekiel mural at Dura Europos, the “hand from heaven” is specifically associated with
the “revivication of the dead” (J. M. Bradshaw, Ezekiel Mural; H. Riesenfeld, Resurrection, p. 34).
In a formula repeated throughout the rabbinical literature, the “Key of the Revival of the Dead” is
mentioned as one that “the Holy one… has retained in His own hands” (H. Riesenfeld,
Resurrection, p. 12).
42 The scene recalls Rashi’s exegesis of the account of how the children of Israel fell back at the
power of the voice of God at Sinai, after which “the angels came and helped them forward again”
(A. G. Zornberg, Genesis, pp. 32-33. See Rashi, Exodus Commentary, pp. 240-241). Compare
John 18:4-6, where the arresting guards fell back when Christ declared His divinity.
43 In classic iconography, the gesture being given by God represented the spoken word. This is
consistent with the mention of the heavenly voice in the caption. In medieval Christianity, the
meaning later changed to that of blessing (H. P. L'Orange, Cosmic Kingship, pp. 171-183).
44 Moses 3:7. Nibley also cites a parallel with Abraham 1:18 (“Behold I will lead thee by my
hand”), and sees a corresponding theme in the book of Abraham when Abraham is delivered
from the altar: “The expressions ‘loose the bands of Hades’ and ‘him who stareth at the dead’
signify the nature of the deliverance and are both typically Egyptian, the latter of which Box finds
quite bizarre. Facsimile 1 is a very proper illustration to the story” (H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000,
p. 16, see also p. 42).
45 Moses 1:9-23.
46 Matthew 4:8-9.
47 See J. M. Bradshaw et al., Mormonism's Satan for more about the theology of Satan in
Mormonism.
48 H. W. Nibley, To Open, p. 5.
49 Ibid., p. 5.
50 G. A. Anderson et al., Synopsis, 12:1, p. 15E.
51 See R. H. Charles, Enoch, 13:1, 3, p. 288. English translation in H. W. Nibley, To Open, pp. 10-
11; cf. R. H. Charles, Apocrypha, 2:196 n. 13:1. Nibley’s reading is perfectly coherent. However,
50
Nickelsburg does not see the logic of the Gizeh variant, calling it “nonsense” (G. W. E.
Nickelsburg et al., 1 Enoch, n. 13:1a, p. 234).
52 Regarding Satan, see H. W. Nibley, Teachings of the PGP, 17, pp. 212-213. On Cain, see Rashi,
Genesis Commentary, 4:16, p. 47; cf. Midrash Tanhuma, Bereshit 9 in H. N. Bialik et al., Legends,
101, p. 24.
53 G. A. Anderson, Perfection, pp. 131, 183-184; H. W. Nibley, Teachings of the PGP, 10, p. 118,
18, p. 219; see also H. W. Nibley, Return, p. 75. Note in this verse and the next the first explicit
mention of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost in close proximity, recalling the words of the
baptismal prayer (D&C 20:73), in conjunction with the subsequent statements that Moses “lifted
his eyes unto heaven” (cf. Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22) and was “made stronger than many
waters.”
54 Moses 1:24.
55 Moses 1:2.
56 K. L. Barney, June 21 2006.
57 Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Moses 7:27.
58 Moses 6:64.
59 2 Corinthians 12:2.
60 Moses 1:25. The title “Almighty” in this verse recalls the demonstration of God’s power over the
waters of chaos as the first act of creation (Moses 2:1-2). Moses will in like manner “be made
stronger than many waters” (Moses 1:25, R. D. Draper et al., Commentary, p. 21). Rabbi Nathan
says that on Sinai, Moses “was sanctified and became like the ministering angels” (J. Goldin,
Fathers, 1, p. 3). Going further, “Philo is so carried away by the exalted Moses that he frequently
speaks of him as having been deified, or being God. ‘For when he had left all mortal categories
behind he was changed into the divine, so that he might be made akin to God and truly divine’ (Q
Exodus, 2:29). Philo vacillates on this point, but the fact that he could make such a statement is
highly significant (see E. R. Goodenough, Light, pp. 223-229)” (E. R. Goodenough, Introduction
to Philo, pp. 148-149; cf. R. S. Eccles, Pilgrimage, pp. 60-61).
61 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 17:1, p. 22. “The same terms are used in the ‘Greater Hekhaloth’ in
describing the sound of the hymn of praise sung by the ‘throne of Glory’ to its King—‘like the voice
of the waters in the rushing streams, like the waves of the ocean when the south wind sets them in
uproar’” (G. Scholem, Trends, p. 61).
62 They had been told not to divide these birds, evidently so that the birds could provide the
means of their ascent (A. Kulik, Retroverting, 12:8, p. 19, cf. 15:2, p. 22). Translation of Caption:
“And the angel took two birds and the angel took me by the right hand and set me on the wing of a
pigeon, on the right, and himself set on the wing of a turtledove. And we ascended into the
regions of fiery flame and went up into the heights.” Cf. A. Kulik, Retroverting, 15:2-3, p. 22. Note
that Abraham is shown on the left wing, though the Apocalypse said that he was set on the right
wing. Kulik has “edge” for “regions.”
51
63 Lourié notes “a medieval legend of the ascension of Alexander the Great, which goes back to
the Hellenistic era. In the legend Alexander reaches the heaven (or even heavenly Jerusalem)
transported by four griffins. This motif suggests that the griffins as the psychopomps transporting
visionaries to heaven were not an invention of the authors of the hekhalot literature but were a
part of the early Jewish environment....” (B. Lourié, Review, p. 233).
64 R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of Abraham, 12:10, p. 695. Cf. H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, p.

18; Genesis 15:9ff.
65 Cf. Exodus 19:3, Ezekiel 40:2; JST Matthew 4:8; Revelations 21:10; Moses 7:2.
66 2 Nephi 4:25.
67 Moses 1:9.
68 Moses 1:25-26.
69 J. A. Tvedtnes, Rituals.
70 D&C 107:56, Moses 7:4-67, Ether 3:25, 1 Nephi 14:25, 1 Nephi 14:26; cf. Luke 4:5. See also M. C. Thomas,
Brother of Jared.
71 R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of Abraham, 17:1, p. 696.
72 Compare H. W. Nibley, Message 2005, pp. 449-457.
73 M. E. Stone, Fall of Satan, p. 47; cf. Revelation 4:1: “Come up hither”; Matthew 25:21: “Enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
74 R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of Abraham, 30:1, p. 704.
75 Moses 1:24.
76 Moses 1:27-28.
78 H. W. Nibley, Teachings of the PGP, 10, p. 117; cf. J. Smith, Jr., Documentary History, 27
November 1832, 1:299. Scholem writes that “this cosmic curtain, as it is described in the Book of
Enoch, contains the images of all things which since the day of creation have their pre-existing
reality, as it were, in the heavenly sphere. All generations and all their lives and actions are
woven into this curtain… [All this] shall become universal knowledge in the Messianic age” (G.
Scholem, Trends, p. 72).
79 P. Alexander, 3 Enoch, 45:6, p. 299.
80 M. Barker, Temple Theology, p. 28; see also M. Barker, Boundary, pp. 215-217. Nibley
discusses parallels between the picture presented to Abraham, the “great round” of the
hypocephalus, and imagery from Homer (H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, pp. 42ff.).
81 Ether 3:20; cf. Moses 3:26.
82 P. Alexander, 3 Enoch, 45:1, p. 296 n. a.
52
83 Moses 1:30.
85 See Moses 2.
86 See Moses 1:39.
87 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 27:1-31:12, pp. 30-35. Nibley nonetheless sees parallels between these
passages in the Apocalypse and the books of Moses and Abraham (H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000,
pp. 25-26).
88 W. Barnstone et al., Mother, p. 685.

89 Moses 1:30.
90 Moses 1:35-40.
91 A. A. Orlov, Gods of My Father, p. 53; see also A. A. Orlov, Praxis.
92 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 16:3, p. 22, italics mine.
93 Moses chapters 2-4. Other ancient writings affirm what the book of Moses says about how the
stories of the Creation and the Fall were revealed in vision. For example, the book of Jubilees
prefaces a recital of the Creation and other events of Genesis with the Lord’s instructions to
Moses to record what he would see in vision (O. S. Wintermute, Jubilees, 2:52, p. 54).
94 D&C 130:9.
95 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 19:1, 4-5, 9, pp. 24-25; cf. Abraham 3:1-18.
96 I.e., formerly shadowed, sketched, outlined, prefigured (R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of

Abraham, p. 699 n. 21a).
97 Cf. Abraham 5:3-5.
98 Cf. Abraham 3:22-23.
99 A. Kulik, Retroverting, pp. 26-28.
100 Numbers 6:24-26.
101 Matthew 5:8.
102 Revelation 4:2.
103 M. Barker, Christmas, pp. 14-15.
104 Translation of Caption: “Abraham bowing with an angel before the throne of God in the
heavens.” Cf. A. Kulik, Retroverting, 18:3, p. 24. Note that the text says nothing about “bowing”
before the throne of God.
105 Ibid., 10:17, p. 18. The figure may also represent Metatron, whose name, according to one
interpretation, is short for the Greek Metathronios, i.e., “he who stands beside the (God’s) throne,’
53
or ‘who occupies the throne next to the divine throne” (G. Scholem, Trends, p. 69), or perhaps
Metaturannos, “the one next to the ruler” (P. Alexander, 3 Enoch, p. 243). “Metatron was merged
with two other heavenly figures, (1) the archangel Yaho’el (P. Alexander, 3 Enoch, 1:4, p. 257,
48D:1(1), p. 313), and (2) translated Enoch… From other texts, however, we know of an angel
Yaho’el quite independent of Metatron (e.g., A. Kulik, Retroverting, 10, pp. 17-18)” (P.
Alexander, 3 Enoch, p. 244).
106 Jeremiah 2:13.
107 R. Murphy, Wisdom, p. 16; cf. J. L. Crenshaw, Love, pp. 62-63; Job 19:26-27, 42:5.
108 Job 38:1.
109 H. Fisch, Presence, pp. 310-312.
110 W. Blake, Natural Religion, p. 41; cf. G. B. Hinckley, Don't Drop, p. 46; P. B. Munoa, Four
Powers, p. 102; L. Snow, Teachings 1984, p. 1.
111 H. Bloom, Genius, p. 699.
112 F. I. Andersen, 2 Enoch, 35:1-2, p. 158.
113 H. W. Nibley, To Open, p. 15. Nibley also cites extensive parallels between Moses 1 and S. C.
Malan, Adam and Eve.
114 D&C 130:18-19; 131:5-6; J. Smith, Jr., Teachings, 8 April 1843, pp. 287-288, 14 May 1843,
p. 297.
115 R. L. Bushman, Rough Stone, pp. 487-488.
116 J. Smith, Jr., Words, 16 April 1843, p. 196.
54

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Adapted from J. M.

Bradshaw, Moses Temple Themes

Though Moses 1 serves as a superb introduction to succeeding chapters that

In the Apocalypse of Abraham, the mountain is a place of sacrifice. The

Following the prologue, Moses is given a vision of the spirit world.

As Moses begins to move upward again, a context of priesthood ordinances is

A parallel that ties Moses’ experience to that of Abraham in the Apocalypse is

At this point, we observe a significant difference between the book of Moses

The culminating sequence of the vision begins in verse 31 when Moses,

The throne is surrounded by a series of heavenly veils, representing different

A close examination of the details of the account of Moses’ heavenly ascent in

Ludlow, Jared W. "Abraham's visions of the heavens." In Astronomy, Papyrus, and

Herczeg. ArtScroll Series, Sapirstein Edition. Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah

Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young

2 H. W. Nibley, New Look; H. D. Peterson, Story.

5 H. Bloom, American Religion, pp. 98, 99, 101.

10 H. W. Nibley, To Open; H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, pp. 1-73.

11 D. J. Larsen et al., Vision of Moses.

13 See H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, p. 18.

15 N. Isar, February 8 2009. See also E. A. S. Butterworth, Tree, pp. 121-123.

19 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 11:3, p. 19.

20 A. A. Orlov, Angelology. See also A. Kulik, Retroverting, p. 83; B. Lourié, Review.

24 English translation of A. Kulik, Retroverting, 9-23, pp. 16-29.

27 L. Turner, Announcements, pp. 13-14.

31 Abraham, Facsimile 2, figure 2.

34 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 21:7, 22:2, p. 26.

36 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 21:7, 22:5, pp. 26-27.

37 H. W. Nibley, Assembly, p. 128.

50 G. A. Anderson et al., Synopsis, 12:1, p. 15E.

56 K. L. Barney, June 21 2006.

57 Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Moses 7:27.

64 R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of Abraham, 12:10, p. 695. Cf. H. W. Nibley, Abraham 2000, p.

71 R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of Abraham, 17:1, p. 696.

72 Compare H. W. Nibley, Message 2005, pp. 449-457.

74 R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of Abraham, 30:1, p. 704.

77 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 21:1, p. 26.

79 P. Alexander, 3 Enoch, 45:6, p. 299.

81 Ether 3:20; cf. Moses 3:26.

82 P. Alexander, 3 Enoch, 45:1, p. 296 n. a.

84 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 26:1, p. 30.

86 See Moses 1:39.

88 W. Barnstone et al., Mother, p. 685.

91 A. A. Orlov, Gods of My Father, p. 53; see also A. A. Orlov, Praxis.

92 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 16:3, p. 22, italics mine.

95 A. Kulik, Retroverting, 19:1, 4-5, 9, pp. 24-25; cf. Abraham 3:1-18.

96 I.e., formerly shadowed, sketched, outlined, prefigured (R. Rubinkiewicz, Apocalypse of

97 Cf. Abraham 5:3-5.

98 Cf. Abraham 3:22-23.

99 A. Kulik, Retroverting, pp. 26-28.

100 Numbers 6:24-26.

101 Matthew 5:8.

102 Revelation 4:2.

103 M. Barker, Christmas, pp. 14-15.

106 Jeremiah 2:13.

108 Job 38:1.

109 H. Fisch, Presence, pp. 310-312.

111 H. Bloom, Genius, p. 699.

112 F. I. Andersen, 2 Enoch, 35:1-2, p. 158.

115 R. L. Bushman, Rough Stone, pp. 487-488.

116 J. Smith, Jr., Words, 16 April 1843, p. 196.