And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying:
“Look!”
And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms. And the angel said unto me:
“What beholdest thou?”
And I said:
“I behold many nations and kingdoms.”
And he said unto me:
“These are the nations
and kingdoms of the Gentiles.”
And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church. And the angel said unto me:
“Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.”
And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.
And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine–twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots. And the angel spake unto me, saying:
“Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine–twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church. And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.”