The Shepherd of Hermas

I asked her concerning the four colours which[*](The four colours on the Leviathan) the beast had on its head. She answered and said to me, Are you again curious about such matters? Yes, I said, Lady, let me know what they are.

Listen, she said, the black is this world, in which you are living;

the colour of fire and blood means that this world must be destroyed by blood and fire.

The golden part is you, who have fled from this world, for even as gold is tried in the fire, and becomes valuable, so also you who live among them,[*](The them means fire and blood ; but the construction of the sentence is awkward.) are being tried. Those then who remain and pass through the flames shall be purified by them. Even as the gold puts away its dross, so also you will put away all sorrow and tribulation, and will be made pure and become useful for the building of the tower.

But the white part is the world to come, in which the elect of God shall dwell, for those who have been chosen by God for eternal life will be without spot and pure.

Therefore do not cease to speak to the ears of the saints. You have also the type of the great persecution to come, but if you will it shall be nothing. Remember what was written before.

When she had said this she went away, and I did not see to what place she departed, for there was a cloud, and I turned backwards in fear, thinking that the beast was coming.