He showed me a great willow overshadowing plains and mountains, and under the shade of the willow had gathered all who are called in the name of the Lord. Beside the willow stood an angel of the Lord, exceedingly glorious and very tall, holding a great sickle. He was cutting branches from the willow and handing them to the people sheltered beneath it. He gave them small rods about a cubit long. After everyone had received the rods, the angel laid down the sickle, and the tree was sound, just as I had seen it before. I marveled within myself, saying, “How is the tree sound after so many branches have been cut from it?” The shepherd said to me, “Do not be amazed that this tree remained sound after so many branches were cut. But when you have seen everything,” he said, “it will be explained to you what it means.” The angel who had given the rods to the people began asking for them back. Just as they had received them, so they were called to him, and each one returned his rod. The angel of the Lord received them and examined them. From some he received rods that were withered and eaten as if by worms, and the angel ordered those who returned such rods to stand apart. Others returned withered rods that had not been eaten by worms, and he ordered these also to stand apart. Others returned rods that were half-withered, and these too stood apart. Others returned their rods half-withered and cracked, and these too stood apart. Others returned their rods green but cracked, and these too stood apart. Others returned their rods half withered and half green, and these too stood apart. Others brought their rods with two parts green and the third withered, and these too stood apart. Others returned rods with two parts withered and the third green, and these too stood apart. Others returned their rods almost entirely green, with only the very tip withered, but with cracks in them, and these too stood apart. In the rods of others, only a very small part was green and the rest was withered, and these too stood apart. Others came bringing their rods green just as they had received them from the angel. Most of the crowd returned rods like these, and the angel rejoiced greatly over them; these too stood apart. Others returned their rods green and with shoots, and these too stood apart, and the angel rejoiced greatly over them. Others returned their rods green and with shoots, and their shoots had something like fruit on them. The people whose rods were found like this were very joyful. The angel rejoiced over them, and the shepherd also was exceedingly joyful over them.
Then the angel of the Lord ordered crowns to be brought. Crowns were brought, made as if from palm branches, and he crowned the men who had returned rods with shoots and some fruit, and he sent them into the tower. He also sent into the tower the others who had returned green rods with shoots, though the shoots had no fruit, giving them seals. All who went into the tower wore the same clothing, white as snow. He also dismissed those who had returned their rods green just as they had received them, giving them clothing and seals. After the angel had finished these things, he said to the shepherd, “I am going away. You will send these people to their places within the walls, according to where each is worthy to dwell. Examine their rods carefully, and then send them away. Examine them carefully. See that no one escapes your notice,” he said. “But if anyone escapes your notice, I will test them at the altar.” After saying these things to the shepherd, he departed. When the angel had gone, the shepherd said to me, “Let us take everyone’s rods and plant them, to see whether any of them can live.” I said to him, “Sir, how can these withered rods live?” He answered me, “This tree is a willow, and its kind is tenacious of life. So if the rods are planted and receive a little moisture, many of them will live. Then let us also try pouring water over them. If any of them can live, I will rejoice with them; but if they do not live, I at least will not be found negligent.” The shepherd told me to call the people according to the order in which each had been stationed. They came group by group and handed their rods to the shepherd. The shepherd took the rods and planted them according to their groups. After planting them, he poured so much water over them that the rods could not be seen because of the water. After he had watered the rods, he said to me, “Let us go, and after a few days let us return and inspect all the rods. For the One who created this tree wants all who received branches from this tree to live. And I too hope that after these little rods receive moisture and are watered, most of them will live.”
I said to him, “Sir, tell me what this tree is. I am perplexed about it because, although so many branches have been cut, the tree is sound and nothing appears to have been cut from it. This is what perplexes me.” “Listen,” he said. “This great tree that overshadows plains and mountains and the whole earth is the law of God given to the whole world. And this law is the Son of God, proclaimed to the ends of the earth. The peoples beneath its shade are those who heard the proclamation and believed in Him. The great and glorious angel is Michael, who has authority over this people and governs them. For he is the one who gives them the law in the hearts of those who believe. Therefore he examines those to whom he gave it, to see whether they have kept it. You see each person’s rods, for the rods are the law. You see, then, many rods that have been ruined. You will recognize all those who have not kept the law, and you will see the dwelling place of each one.” I said to him, “Sir, why did he send some into the tower but leave others with you?” “All who transgressed the law they received from him,” he said, “he left under my authority for repentance. But all who have already lived in a way pleasing to the law and have kept it, he keeps under his own authority.” “Then who, Sir,” I asked, “are those who were crowned and are going into the tower?” “Those who wrestled against the devil and overcame him,” he said, “are the ones who were crowned. These are those who suffered for the law. The others who also returned their rods green and with shoots, but whose shoots had no fruit, are those who were afflicted for the law but did not suffer and did not deny their law. Those who returned their rods green just as they had received them are reverent and righteous; they have walked with an exceptionally pure heart and have kept the commandments of the Lord. You will learn about the rest when I examine these rods that have been planted and watered.”
After a few days we came to the place. The shepherd sat in the angel’s place, and I stood beside him. He said to me, “Gird yourself with raw linen and serve me.” I girded myself with a clean garment of raw linen made from sackcloth. When he saw that I was girded and ready to serve him, he said, “Call the men whose rods were planted, according to the order in which each returned his rod.” I went into the field and called everyone, and they all stood group by group. He said to them, “Let each person pull up his own rod and bring it to me.” First came those who had held the withered and damaged rods. Since these were found withered and damaged, he ordered them to stand apart. Next came those who had held rods that were withered but not damaged. Some of them returned their rods green, while others returned them withered and damaged as if by worms. He ordered those who returned green rods to stand apart, but those who returned withered and damaged rods he ordered to stand with the first group. Next came those who had held rods that were half-withered and cracked. Many of them returned rods that were green and had no cracks. Some returned rods that were green and had shoots, with fruit on the shoots like those who had gone crowned into the tower. Some returned rods that were withered and eaten, some withered but not eaten, and some just as they had been—half-withered and cracked. He ordered each one to stand separately, some with their own groups and others apart.
Next came those who had rods that were green but cracked. All of these returned them green and stood in their own group. The shepherd rejoiced over them because they had all changed and had put away their cracks. Those who had rods half green and half withered also returned them. The rods of some were found entirely green, some half-withered, some withered and eaten, and some green with shoots. All these were sent away, each to his own group. Next came those whose rods had two parts green and the third withered. Many of them returned green rods, many returned half-withered rods, and others returned rods that were withered and eaten. All these stood in their own group. Next came those whose rods had two parts withered and the third green. Many of them returned half-withered rods, some returned rods that were withered and eaten, others returned half-withered rods with cracks, and a few returned green rods. All these stood in their own group. Then those who had held rods that were green except for a very small withered part, and which had cracks, returned them. Some of these returned green rods, while others returned green rods with shoots. These too went to their own group. Next came those whose rods had only a very small part green and the remaining parts withered. Their rods were found for the most part green, with shoots and fruit on the shoots, while others were entirely green. The shepherd rejoiced very greatly over these rods because they were found this way. These too went away, each to his own group.
After the shepherd had examined everyone’s rods, he said to me, “I told you that this tree is tenacious of life. Do you see,” he said, “how many repented and were saved?” “I see, Sir,” I said. “This is so that you may see,” he said, “the abundant compassion of the Lord, how great and glorious it is, and that He gave spirit to those who were worthy of repentance.” “Why then, Sir,” I asked, “did they not all repent?” “Those whose hearts He saw were going to become pure and serve Him with their whole heart,” he said, “He gave repentance. But those in whom He saw deceit and wickedness, who were going to repent hypocritically, He did not give repentance, lest they again profane His name.” I said to him, “Sir, now explain to me what kind of people those who returned the rods are, and what their dwelling place is, so that those who believed and received the seal, but broke it and did not keep it intact, may hear and recognize their own deeds and repent, receiving a seal from you. Then they 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 eaten by worms are the apostates and traitors to the Church. In their sins they blasphemed the Lord, and moreover they were ashamed of the name of the Lord that had been invoked upon them. These, then, were completely lost to God. You see that not one of them repented, although they heard the words you spoke to them, which I commanded you to speak. Life has departed from people like these. Those who returned rods that were withered but not decayed are also close to them. They were hypocrites who introduced strange teachings and turned the servants of God aside, especially those who had sinned, not allowing them to repent but persuading them by their foolish teachings. These, then, have hope of repenting. You see that many of them have indeed repented since I spoke my commandments to them, and others will still repent. But those who do not repent have lost their life. Those among them who repented became good, and their dwelling was within the first walls; some even went up into the tower. You see, then,” he said, “that repentance from sins has life, while failure to repent is death.”
“As for those who returned rods that were half-withered and had cracks in them, hear also about them. Those whose rods were half-withered are double-minded, for they are neither alive nor dead. But those whose rods were half-withered and also cracked are both double-minded and slanderers. They are never at peace among themselves but are always divided. Yet even for these,” he said, “repentance is available. You see,” he said, “that some of them have repented. And there is still,” he said, “hope of repentance among them. Those among them who have repented,” he said, “will have their dwelling in the tower. Those who repent later will dwell within the walls. But those who do not repent and persist in their deeds will die the death. Those who returned their rods green but cracked were always faithful and good, but they had a certain rivalry with one another over first places and some kind of glory. Yet all these are foolish for competing with one another over first places. But these also, being good, heard my commandments, purified themselves, and repented quickly. So their dwelling came to be in the tower. But if anyone turns again to division, he will be cast out of the tower and lose his life. Life belongs to all who keep the commandments of the Lord. In the commandments there is nothing about first places or any kind of glory, but about a person’s patience and humility. In such people, therefore, is the life of the Lord; but among those who cause division and act lawlessly is death.”
“Those who returned their rods half green and half withered are those who are entangled in business affairs and do not cling to the saints. Therefore one half of them lives, while the other half is dead. Many, then, repented when they heard my commandments. Those who repented have their dwelling in the tower. But some of them completely fell away. These have no repentance, because through their business affairs they blasphemed the Lord and denied Him. So they lost their life because of the wickedness they committed. Many of them became double-minded. These still have repentance if they repent quickly, and their dwelling will be in the tower. If they repent later, they will dwell within the walls. But if they do not repent, they too have lost their life. Those who returned rods with two parts green and the third withered are those who denied in many different ways. Many of them, then, repented and went away to dwell in the tower. But many completely fell away from God; these lost life altogether. Some of them became double-minded and caused divisions. These, then, have repentance if they repent quickly and do not persist in their pleasures. But if they persist in their deeds, they too bring death upon themselves.”
“Those who returned their rods two parts withered and one third green are those who became believers, but grew rich and became prominent among the Gentiles. They clothed themselves in great pride and became arrogant; they abandoned the truth and did not cling to the righteous, but lived with the Gentiles, and this way became more pleasant to them. Yet they did not fall away from God; they remained in the faith, but did not do the works of faith. Many of them repented, and their dwelling came to be in the tower. Others, however, lived completely with the Gentiles and were corrupted by the Gentiles’ empty pursuit of glory; they fell away from God and practiced the deeds of the Gentiles. These were counted with the Gentiles. Others among them became double-minded, no longer hoping to be saved because of the deeds they had done. Others became double-minded and caused divisions among themselves. Therefore those who became double-minded because of their deeds still have repentance. But their repentance must be swift, so that their dwelling may be in the tower. For those who do not repent but persist in their pleasures, death is near.”
“Those who returned rods that were green but whose very ends were withered and cracked were always good, faithful, and glorious before God. They sinned only very little, because of small desires and because they had minor grievances against one another. But when they heard my words, most of them quickly repented, and their dwelling came to be in the tower. Some of them became double-minded, and some, through their double-mindedness, caused a greater division. In these there is therefore hope of repentance, since they were always good. Hardly any of them will die. Those who returned their rods withered, with only a very small part green, are those who only believed but practiced works of lawlessness. Yet they never fell away from God; they gladly bore the Name and gladly welcomed the servants of God into their homes. So when they heard of this repentance, they repented without hesitation, and they now practice every virtue and righteousness. Some of them are also afraid, knowing the deeds they committed. The dwelling of all these, then, will be in the tower.”
After he had finished interpreting all the rods, he said to me, “Go and tell everyone to repent so that they may live to God. For the Lord, having compassion, sent me to give repentance to everyone, even though some are not worthy because of their deeds. But because the Lord is patient, He wants those who were called through His Son to be saved.” I said to him, “Sir, I hope that everyone who hears these things will repent. For I am convinced that each person, once he recognizes his own deeds and fears God, will repent.” He answered me, “All who repent with their whole heart and cleanse themselves from the evils already mentioned, and add nothing more to their sins, will receive healing from the Lord for their former sins, provided they do not become double-minded about these commandments, and they will live to God. But all who add to their sins,” he said, “and walk in the desires of this age will condemn themselves to death. As for you, walk in my commandments, and you will live to God. And all who walk in them and do what is right will live to God.” After showing and telling me all these things, he said to me, “I will show you the rest after a few days.”