Introduction to the Additional books
ABRAHAM
This
document has been called; "The Apocalypse of Abraham," I however named
it simply by his name . And while it is written ‘’as by Abraham,‘’ it
may, or may not be original from Abraham.
The writer recalls Abraham's common sense against the stupidity of
idolatry, and the vision of the sacrifice, which in fact is a revelation of the
ages, and is followed by an outline of these events.
Some seem to
think that the vision is an actual experience, as if Abraham was literally taken
up, but this may not be so, and if indeed Abraham had this vision as he slept on the
night of the sacrifice, or if the actual words spoken to Abraham by the angel of
the Lord are here to make it appear as a vision, I cannot certify either way.
The document to date remarks that an angel of God burned down the house of Terah, with Terah himself in it, and that Abraham was told to get away from the house in the neck of time. That writer however has it confused, since it was not Terah's house, but the temple, his temple of idols that was burned, and not an angel burned it.
But Abraham set fire to it, Abraham
burned the house of idols in his zeal for God, and for his disgust of the idols
which were the ruin of his father. And
not his father Terah died, but his brother Haran died with the fire as he
attempted to save the idols. For
Terah, the father of Abraham lived to an age of 205 years, which is biblical
record, meaning Abraham was 135 years of age when his father Terah died, with Isaac 35
years of age.
(Here one may note the evidence of how ignorant the scholars indeed are)
Abraham at the time of that fire was not living with his father in the same house, he had left it so he might not be stained with the idolatry of his kinfolk’s, and Lot was already born, and Abraham had married Sar'ai. All this took place in Ur of the Chaldees.
And since Terah was a priest, or like a priest serving the people with
idols, his calling had greatly suffered as Abraham his son had burned down what
for all practical purposes was his livelihood and honor as well.
And thus Terah packed up everything with Abraham and Lot and together
they went to Haran. And from Haran
the Lord called Abraham to come away from his kinfolk’s to the land that God
would show him.
The principle
revelation to Abraham in this vision corresponds to the account Moses gives in
the book of Genesis. Abraham asked
a question, and God gave him answer showing him how he was to become the father
of nations, and whom they would be. And
while Abraham prepared a literal offering of the animals, he of course had no
offering to provide, which only the Lord can provide for him, the animals being
symbolic for the race of men and the Messiah.
The
time and place of this revelation is recorded by Moses in the book of Genesis.
Personally I cannot certify that the words as stated in this documents
are exactly as Jacob had written them, or given to write them, but as with all
of these particular documents, there is something for learning.
That the document is original in Jacob is seen as he embodies Enoch whose
scriptures he followed closely, inclusive the years in their progression as
instituted by God.
This document may have been called; a testament of Moses, but it can hardly be described as such, but more a recollection of someone to the words Moses spoke to Joshua. Both the words and the style of the script convey that the author of this document did not copy an actual written testament of Moses, if ever such a document was written. I perceive it as a recollection to things spoken. Essentially it describes the events from that time till the end of the ages, all of which is a matter of record from the Scriptures.
If it were my mind to
save only infallible records, this, as other document would be omitted, but
since it is my mind to compose that as well which serves to teach the wise in
ways of righteousness, this writing contains a few of these points to which we
pay attention.
Jubilees
The
book of Jubilees is one of the books of the instructions given to Moses, or a
book relating these instructions. For
again, Moses wrote in the canons from more instruction than what is
given in the book of Jubilees. And
rather than repeating what is well versed in the canons, or to indulge in
genealogies, I took only exerts of this document, such as I thought fitting to
the purpose of this composition.
Isaiah.
The original of the words that Isaiah spoke concerning his vision may
well have been recorded by Asaph, and/or by Jehoi'akim, who were the king's
recorders and righteous men, or by Samna's the secretary.
They in turn were charged not to have it copied, but obviously down the
line it was copied and remains for us to this day.
Either now the first
copier or the last, or somewhere in between there were scribes who
should not have been scribes, since what has come to us is very badly written.
This not so much in the integrity of the word as in the arrangement which is out
of sentence, wherefore I not only had to re-arrange words but whole sentences in
order to bring forth what the original declared.
Nor were the latest scribes any help.
In a
footnote they remark of the robes stored in heaven for the righteous that quote:
“This was probably some special form of dress which the Christians at the time
had adopted.” The mind therefore that can think up to pronounce such ignorance
- serves only to demonstrate their lack of knowledge.
And frankly I don’t know why I even bother to defend my actions from
their accusations.
Elijah.
If you ask me if this prophecy is indeed written of Elijah, or of another
prophet, I cannot answer you that, but that they are revelations of the Lord -
that they are. The latest
manuscripts display some alterations and additions as well as many parts that
are lost. As usual therefore, the
lost or omitted parts are noted with six dots.
Prophets,
(the lives of).
The
author lists twenty three of the prophets, but he made an error concerning
Jeremiah, since we only know of Baruch, who witnessed the angels of God removing
the ark and the sacred things from the temple, and sealing them in the earth.
Jeremiah himself did not hide the ark, but since this act of the Lord was
known to but few some may have "presumed" that Jeremiah did so, since
he too was there at the time. The author of this document thus has been led in
error by this presumption. Since however I cannot allow myself to enter anything, which I know to be
of error, the same is omitted and/or corrected.
There are many vain minds in this generation who hope to find the ark, some are so foolish to believe that the captain of the devil at Rome has it hidden somewhere in his vaults. But they are fools to even entertain the very thought, for the ark is indeed hidden in the hand of God. Nor as it is recorded in the canons will the ark be sought for any more, and who would want to, since with us - that are His - we have the Spiritual ark with us at all times, namely; His Holy Spirit.
Testaments.
(of the sons of Jacob.)
The notion that this writing of the twelve sons of Jacob is wholly a
fabrication of a Pharisee, is a lie, and ignorant at the least.
It is as the author himself states; "A copy of their words."
The author does not purport to be quoting the words of their testaments, nor
that he is setting down their testaments as such, but that he is narrating to
their testaments.
The author takes to write as if to speak in their voice, and at times when he adds his narration, he unwittingly continues to speak as in their voice. This may not be seen by some as a correct procedure, but I for me am thankful for the document.
In
the introduction
It was the Lord Christ Jesus Himself who infused the sons of Jacob to speak as they did, how then is God to learn from men, or to be influenced by them? These serpents surely take God and His Word as were they no more than creatures like themselves. How vile therefore that Satan is, to teach his offspring in that way.
Victory.
(the book of).
The documents called by the name of Maccabees, are records of historic events. This however can be said for any such record that conveys the past. The story of Judith is an event of the past, yet called; "a story of." While then the first two books of the Maccabees relate the events of the sons of Maccabees, they are correctly named Maccabees.
The fourth book
however, the one named “Maccabees four,” is more a story of - than a
chronicle, and should be named after the author thereof.
Since however the name of the author is not known, I renamed it for its
topic; (The book of Victory.) "the victory of the aged Eleazar, and of the mother and her seven
sons,” to which the author plays philosophically proving that reason overcomes
the passion. For by the same token,
wisdom in the knowledge of God overcomes all things in the fear of God.
Calendar
of God. (Christian).
This document was added to the list in order to instruct and to caution the world of men as well as the children of faith to the instructions given by Enoch, by which they will also be judged. For not only by the law of Moses, and the record of the canons will the judgment of God, and of the Son of God be held, but (like the Son of God Himself said) by "all" the word that proceeds from the mouth of God.