The Book of the Resurrection of Christ by Bartholomew the Apostle 18

1[…] … because the gift of Jesus had reached the whole city on his account. And Siôphines (sic) answered his father and said, 'Blessed art thou, O my father, through the Lord, for thou hast believed on the Lord, the Son of God. At the moment when they came after me to separate my soul from my body, there came a great and mighty angel with a cloth of byssus, and multitudes of angels also, all of whom were girt with belts of gold about their loins, [bearing] incense; now they called that angel "Michael, the angel of mercy". All these [angels] stood round about me, and their faces, wreathed in smiles, were towards me. And Michael made a sign over my mouth in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Then straightway my soul sprang out from my body, and alighted on the hand of Michael, and he wrapped it up in the cloth of byssus, and they went with it into heaven, [the angels] singing hymns [before it]. Now when we arrived at the river of fire, Michael set me down from off his hand, and I entered the river, and it seemed to be like unto a river of water. After … the river of fire, so to say … the place which I saw was blazing with fire … coal … the river … [we] passed over …

2[…] and it was the light of Michael which lighted me on my way until we had passed over. After we had passed over it we went up into heaven. [And Michael] took me into the Lake Akherousia, and plunged me under its waters three times. Afterwards a voice proceeded forth from the height, [which said], "O ye angels who bear glad tidings, take ye this soul to the place of immortality, and [to] the Paradise of the life which is celestial, and let it see the places of the Apostles, and their crowns, and their thrones."

3'And straightway Michael took me to the place which they call the "tabernacle of the Father", and I saw your twelve thrones which are [made of] pearls of light, your twelve thrones which are set with real stones (i.e. stones of price), and topazes and emeralds, which light up brilliantly the whole city of Christ. And I saw also twelve white robes lying upon the thrones of the spirit (?); and there were also twelve trees which were laden with fruit at all times, and each one overshadowed one of the thrones; and there were twelve eagles, each with the face of a man, and their wings were outstretched, one pair of wings over each throne; and a name of the Twelve Apostles was inscribed upon each one of the thrones; and there were twelve veils, drawn over the thrones, to each throne a veil; and there was a canopy set with precious stones spread over the upper part of each throne; and a thousand angels sang hymns (?) [before] each throne. And I Siôphanes worshipped, and I said unto Michael the Archangel, "Unto whom do these thrones [belong?" And Michael the Archangel answered and said unto me, "These] twelve thrones [belong] to the Twelve Holy Disciples who followed after Jesus, the Son of God, in the world. For this reason God hath appointed these thousands of angels to sing hymns to them until they should finish their course, and should come and sit on the thrones, being kings with the Son of God in His kingdom." I answered and said unto Michael, "My lord, shew thou to me the throne of my father, for I am not able to read the writing which is written on the thrones." Then Michael took me into the midst of the thrones, and he shewed it to me. And when I drew nigh unto it, straightway, the light of the pearl, and of the thousand of angels, and their glory remaining fixed in their faces, I wished to seat myself upon it. But the angels prevented me, saying, "No one can sit upon this throne except thy father. It is not permitted unto any being of flesh and blood to sit down on these thrones, with the exception of His Apostles." And I went away, and [I left behind me] the thrones. And the thousand angels blessed me with a mighty blessing of heaven. In peace. Amen. [Then] Michael brought me to Paradise. [And the beings of] Paradise made supplication unto me saying, "Come … O, the first of the Apostles …" and I and Michael the Archangel [went there, and as we walked we heard] that thou wast praying to God, Jesus Christ. Then Michael took my soul, and he placed it in my body again, and I rose up, being alive, and I have just now talked with thee.'