1. He showed me a great willow, overshadowing plains and mountains. Under the shadow of the willow all had come who are called by the name of the Lord. By the willow there stood an angel of the Lord, glorious and very tall, having a great sickle. He was lopping branches from the willow, and giving them to the people who sheltered beneath the willow. He gave them little rods about a cubit long. After all had taken the rods, the angel laid aside the sickle, and the tree was still sound, just as I had first seen it.

I marvelled within myself, saying, "How is the tree sound after so many branches have been lopped off?"

The shepherd said to me, "Don't marvel that the tree remained sound, after so many branches were lopped off; but wait until you see all things, and it shall be shown to you what it is."

The angel who gave the rods to the people demanded them back from them again. According as they had received them, so also they were summoned to him, and each of them returned their rod. The angel of the Lord took them, and examined them.

From some he received the rods withered and eaten as it were by grubs: the angel ordered those who gave up the rods like these to stand apart.

Others gave them up withered, but not grub-eaten; and these again he ordered to stand apart.

Others gave them up half-withered; these also stood apart.

Others gave up their rods half withered and with cracks; these also stood apart.

Others gave up their rods green and with cracks; these also stood apart.

Others gave up their rods one half withered and one half green; these also stood apart.

Others brought their rods two parts of the rod green, and the third part withered; these also stood apart.

Others gave them up two parts withered, and the third part green; these also stood apart.

Others gave up their rods nearly all green, but a very small portion of their rods were withered, just the end; but they had cracks in them; these also stood apart.

In those of others there was a very small portion green, but the rest of the rods were withered; these also stood apart.

Others came bringing their rods green, as they received them from the angel; and the most part of the multitude gave up their rods in this state; and the angel rejoiced exceedingly at these; these also stood apart.

Others gave up their rods green and with shoots; these also stood apart; and at these again the angel rejoiced exceedingly.

Others gave up their rods green and with shoots; and their shoots had, as it were, a kind of fruit. Those were exceeding glad some, whose rods were found in this state. Over them the angel exulted, and the shepherd was very glad some over them.

2. The angel of the Lord commanded crowns to be brought. The crowns were brought, made as it were of palm-branches; and he crowned the men who had given up the rods which had the shoots and some fruit, and sent them away into the tower.

The others also he sent into the tower; those who had given up the rods green and with shoots, but the shoots were without fruit; and he set a seal on them. All those who went into the tower had the same raiment, white as snow. Those who had given up their rods green as they received them, he sent away, giving them a white robe, and seals.

After the angel had finished these things, he said to the shepherd; "I am going away; but these you must send away to [their places within] the walls, according as each deserves to dwell. Examine their rods carefully, and so send them away. But be careful in examining them. Take heed lest any escape you," he said. "Still if any escape you, I will test them at the alter." When he had thus spoken to the shepherd, he departed.

After the angel had departed, the shepherd said to me; "Let us take the rods of all and plant them, to see whether any of them shall be able to live."

I said to him, "Sir, these withered things, how can they live?"

He answered and said to me; "This tree is a willow, and this class of tree clings to life. If the rods shall be planted and get a little moisture, many of them will live. Afterwards let us try to pour some water over them. If any of them shall be able to live, I will rejoice with it; but if it doesn't live, I at least shall not be found neglectful."

So the shepherd bade me call them, just as each one of them was stationed. They came row after row, and they delivered up the rods to the shepherd. The shepherd took the rods, and planted them in rows, and after he had planted them, he poured much water over them, so that the rods could not be seen for the water.

After he had watered the rods, he said to me; "Let us go now, and after a few days let us return and inspect all the rods; for He who created this tree wills that all those who have received rods from this tree would live. I myself hope that the greater part of these little rods, after they have received moisture and been watered, will live."

3. I said to him; "Sir, inform me what this tree is. I am perplexed, because, though so many branches were cut off, the tree is sound, and nothing appears to have been cut from it; I am therefore perplexed at this."

"Listen," he said; "this great tree which overshadows plains and mountains and all the earth is the law of God which was given to the whole world; and this law is the Son of God preached to the ends of the earth. The people that are under the shadow are those who have heard the preaching, and believed on Him; but the great and glorious angel is Michael, who has the power over this people and is their captain. This is the one who puts the law into the hearts of the believers; therefore he himself inspects them to whom he gave it, to see whether they have observed it. But you see the rods of every one; for the rods are the law. You see these many rods rendered useless, and you will notice all those who have not observed the law, and will see the abode of each one."

I said to him; "Sir, why did he send away some into the tower, and leave others for you?"

"As many," he said, "as transgressed the law which they received from him, these he left under my authority for repentance; but as many as already satisfied the law and have observed it, these he has under his own authority."

"Who then, Sir," I said, "are those who have been crowned and go into the tower?"

"As many," he said, "as wrestled with the devil and overcame him in their wrestling, are crowned. These are those who suffered for the law. But the others, who likewise gave up their rods green and with shoots, though not with fruit, are those who were persecuted for the law, but did not suffer nor yet deny their law. But those who gave them up green just as they received them, are sober and righteous men, who walked altogether in a pure heart and have kept the commandments of the Lord. But all else you will know, when I have examined these rods that have been planted and watered"

4. After a few days we came to the place, and the shepherd sat down in the place of the angel, while I stood by him. He said to me; "Gird yourself with a garment of raw flax, and minister to me."

So I girded myself with a clean garment of raw flax made of coarse material.

When he saw me girded and ready to minister to him, "Call," said he, "the men whose rods have been planted, according to the rank as each presented their rods."

I went away to the plain, and called them all; and they stood all of them according to their ranks.

He said to them; "Let each man pluck out his own rod, and bring it to me."

The first ones to give up their rods, were those who had the withered and chipped rods, and they were found accordingly withered and chipped. He ordered them to stand apart.

Then those, who had the withered but not chipped, gave theirs up; and some of them gave up the rods green, and others withered and chipped as by grubs. Those then who gave them up green he ordered to stand apart; but those who gave them up withered and chipped he ordered to stand with the first.

Then those who had the half-withered and with cracks, gave theirs up; and many of them gave them up green and without cracks; and some gave them up green and with shoots, and fruits on the shoots, such as those had who went to the tower crowned; and some gave them up withered and eaten, and some withered and uneaten, and some such as they were, half-withered and with cracks. He ordered them to stand each one apart, some in their proper ranks, and others apart.

5. Then those who had their rods green, but with cracks gave theirs up. These all gave them up green, and stood in their own company. The shepherd rejoiced over these, because they all were changed and had put away their cracks.

Those likewise who had one half green and the other half withered gave theirs up. The rods of some were found entirely green, of some half-withered, of some withered and eaten, and of some green and with shoots. These were all sent away each to his company.

Then those who had two parts green and the third withered gave theirs up; many of them gave them up green, and many half-withered, and others withered and eaten. These all stood in their own company.

Then those who had two parts withered and the third part green gave theirs up. Many of them gave them up half-withered, but some withered and eaten, others half-withered and with cracks, and a few green. These all stood in their own company.

Then those who had had their rods green, but a very small part withered and with cracks gave theirs up. Of these some gave them up green, and others green and with shoots. These also went away to their own company.

Then those who had a very small part green and the other parts withered gave theirs up. The rods of these were found for the most part green and with shoots and fruit on the shoots, and others altogether green. At these rods the shepherd rejoiced very greatly, because there were found so. These went away each to his own company.

6. After the shepherd had examined the rods of all, he said to me, "I told you that this tree clings to life. See," he said, "how many repented and were saved?"

"I see, Sir," I said.

"It is," he said, "so that you may see the abundant compassion of the Lord, how great and glorious it is, and He has given [His] Spirit to those who are worthy of repentance."

"Why then, Sir," I said, "didn't they all repent?"

"To those, whose heart He saw about to become pure and to serve Him with all their heart, to them He gave repentance; but those whose craftiness and wickedness He saw, who intend to repent in hypocrisy, to them He didn't give repentance, lest haply they should again profane His name."

I said to him, "Sir, now then show me concerning those who have given up their rods, what type of man each of them is, and their situation, so that when they hear this, those who believed and have received the seal and have broken it and did not keep it sound may fully understand what they are doing, and repent, receiving from you a seal, and may glorify the Lord, because He had compassion on them and sent you to renew their spirits."

"Listen," he said; "those whose rods were found WITHERED AND GRUB-EATEN, these are the renegades and traitors to the Church, who blasphemed the Lord in their sins, and still further were ashamed of the Name of the Lord, which was invoked on them. These then perished altogether to God. You see how not one of them repented, although they heard the words which you spoke to them, which I commanded you. From men of this kind, life departed.

"Those [who had the WITHERED BUT NOT GRUB-EATEN rods] who gave them up green and undecayed, these also are near them; for they were hypocrites, and brought in strange doctrines, and perverted the servants of God, especially those who had sinned, not permitting them to repent, but persuading them with their foolish doctrines. These then have hope of repenting. But you see that many of them have indeed repented from the time when you spoke to them my commandments. Yes, and others still will repent. As many as shall not repent, have lost their life; but as many of them as repented, became good; and their dwelling was placed within the first walls, and some of them even ascended into the tower. You see then," he said, "that repentance from sins brings life, but not to repent brings death.

7. "As many as gave up [the rods] HALF-WITHERED, AND WITH CRACKS in them, hear also concerning these. Those whose rods were half-withered throughout are the double-minded; for they neither live nor are dead. But those who have them half-withered and cracks in them, these are both double-minded and slanderers, and are never at peace among themselves but always causing dissensions. Yet even to these, repentance is given. You see, that some of them have repented; and there is still," he said, "hope of repentance among them. As many of them as have repented, have their abode within the tower; but as many of them as have repented tardily shall abide within the walls; and as many as don't repent, but continue in their doings, shall die the death.

"Those who have given up their rods GREEN AND WITH CRACKS, these were found faithful and good at all times, but they have a certain emulation one with another about the first places and about glory of some kind or another. All these are foolish in having[emulation] one with another about first places. Yet these also, when they heard my commandments, being good, purified themselves and repented quickly. Therefore they have their habitation within the tower. But if any one shall again turn to dissension, he shall be cast out from the tower and shall lose his life. Life is for all those who keep the commandments of the Lord. But in the commandments there is nothing about first places, or about glory of any kind, but about long-suffering and humility in man. In such men, therefore, is the life of the Lord, but in factious and lawless men is death.

8. "Those who gave up their rods HALF GREEN AND HALF WITHERED, these are those who are mixed up in business and don't cleave to the saints. Therefore only one half of each one lives, but the other half is dead. Many then when they heard my commandments repented. As many as repented, have their abode within the tower. But some of them altogether stood aloof. These then have no repentance; for by reason of their business affairs they blasphemed the Lord and denied Him. So they lost their life for the wickedness that they committed. But many of them were doubtful-minded. These still have place for repentance, if they repent quickly, and their dwelling shall be within the tower; and if they repent tardily, they shall dwell within the walls; but if they don't repent, they too have lost their life.

"Those who have given up TWO PARTS GREEN AND THE THIRD PART WITHERED, these are those who have denied with manifold denials. Many of them therefore repented, and departed to dwell inside the tower; but many utterly rebelled from God; these lost their life finally. Some of them were double-minded and caused dissensions. For these then there is repentance, if they repent speedily and don't continue in their pleasures; but if they continue in their doings, they likewise procure for themselves death.

9. "Those who have given up their rods TWO THIRDS WITHERED AND ONE THIRD GREEN, these are men who have been believers, but grew rich and became renowned among the Gentiles. They clothed themselves with great pride and became high-minded, and abandoned the truth and did not cleave to the righteous, but lived together after the manner of the Gentiles, and this path appeared the more pleasant to them Yet they didn't depart from God, but continued in the faith, though they didn't do the works of the faith.

"Many of them therefore repented, and they had their habitation within the tower. But others at the last, living with the Gentiles, and being corrupted by the vain opinions of the Gentiles, departed from God, and worked the works of the Gentiles. These therefore were numbered with the Gentiles.

"But others of them were doubtful-minded, not hoping to be saved because of the deeds which they had done; and others were double-minded and made divisions among themselves. For these then who were double-minded by reason of their doings there is still repentance; but their repentance ought to be speedy, so that their dwelling may be within the tower; but for those who don't repent, but continue in their pleasures, death is nigh.

10. "Those who gave up their rods GREEN, YET WITH THE EXTREME ENDS WITHERED AND WITH CRACKS; these were found at all times good and faithful and glorious in the sight of God, but they sinned to a very slight degree by reason of the little desires and because they had somewhat against one another. But, when they heard my words, the greater part quickly repented, and their dwelling was assigned within the tower. But some of them were double-minded, and some being double-minded made a greater dissension. In these then there is still a hope of repentance, because they were found always good; and hardly shall one of them die.

"Those who gave up their RODS WITHERED, YET WITH A VERY SMALL PART GREEN, these are those who believed, but practised the works of lawlessness. Still they never separated from God, but bore the Name gladly, and gladly received into their houses the servants of God. So hearing of this repentance they repented without wavering, and they practised all excellence and righteousness. Some of them even suffer persecution willingly, knowing the deeds that they did. All these then shall have their dwelling within the tower."

11. After he had completed the interpretations of all the rods, he said to me; "Go, and tell all men to repent, and they shall live to God; for the Lord in His compassion sent me to give repentance to all, though some of them do not deserve it for their deeds; but being long-suffering the Lord wills those who were called through His Son to be saved."

I said to him; "Sir, I hope that all when they hear these words will repent; for I am persuaded that each one, when he fully knows his own deeds and fears God, will repent."

He answered and said to me; "As many, as shall repent from their whole heart and cleanse themselves from all the afore-mentioned evil deeds, and add nothing further to their sins, shall receive healing from the Lord for their former sins, unless they are double-minded concerning these commandments, and they shall live to God. But as many," he said, "as shall add to their sins and walk in the lusts of this world, shall condemn themselves to death. But do walk in my commandments, and live to God; yes, and as many as shall walk in them and shall do rightly, shall live to God."

Having shown me all these things he said to me, "Now the rest will I declare [to you] after a few days."
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