He showed me again many trees, some sprouting and some withered, and he said to me: "Do you see," he says, "these trees?" "I see them, Lord," I say, "some sprouting and some withered."
"These trees," he says, "that are sprouting are the righteous, who are to dwell in the age to come; for the age to come is summer to the righteous, but winter to the sinners. When, therefore, the mercy of the Lord shines forth, then those who serve God will be made manifest, and all will be made manifest.
For just as in summer the fruits of each tree are made manifest, and it is recognized what sort they are, so also the fruits of the righteous will be manifest, and all will be known to be flourishing in that age.
But the nations and the sinners, which you saw as the withered trees—such will they be found, withered and fruitless, in that age, and like dry wood they will be burned up, and they will be made manifest, because their conduct was wicked in their life. For the sinners will be burned because they sinned and did not repent; and the nations will be burned because they did not know him who created them.
Do you, then, bear fruit, so that in that summer your fruit may be known; but keep away from many activities and you will not sin in anything. For those who engage in many activities also sin much, being distracted about their affairs and in no way serving their own Lord.
"How then," he says, "can such a man ask anything of the Lord and receive it, if he does not serve the Lord? Those who serve him will receive their requests; but those who do not serve the Lord will receive nothing.
But if anyone engages in a single activity, he is able also to serve the Lord; for his mind will not be corrupted away from the Lord, but he will serve him, keeping his mind pure.