Similitude 3

He showed me many trees with no leaves, and they seemed to me as though they were withered, for they were all alike. He said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see them, Sir,” I said, “all alike and withered.” He answered me, “These trees you see are the people who live in this age.” “Why, then, Sir,” I asked, “are they as though withered and all alike?” “Because,” he said, “in this age neither the righteous nor the sinners are distinguishable; they appear alike. For this age is winter for the righteous, and they are not distinguishable while living among sinners. Just as in winter trees that have shed their leaves look alike, and it is not apparent which are withered and which are living, so in this age neither the righteous nor the sinners are distinguishable, but all appear alike.”