He showed me many trees that had no leaves, but seemed to me to be as if withered, for they were all alike. And he said to me: "Do you see these trees?" "I see them, Lord," I say, "alike and withered." He answered and said to me: "These trees that you see are those who dwell in this present age."
"Why then, Lord," I say, "are they as if withered and alike?" "Because," he says, "neither the righteous nor the sinners are manifest in this age, but they are alike; for this age is winter to the righteous, and they are not manifest while dwelling among the sinners.
For just as in winter the trees that have shed their leaves are alike, and it is not apparent which are withered and which are alive, so in this age neither the righteous nor the sinners are apparent, but all are alike."