2. before the voicesof the thunders sounded,before the flashes of lightning shone,before paradise’s foundationswere made firm,
3. before beautiful flowers were seen,before the powers of movementwere established,before the innumerable heavenly armies of angels were assembled,
4. before the heights of the airwere lifted up,before the measuresof the firmament were named,before Zion’s footstool was established,
5. before the present yearswere reckoned,before the imaginations of thosewho now sin were alienated,before those who stored up faithas a treasure were sealed—
6. then I planned these things. As they were done by me and not by another, so also the end will come by me and not through another."
7. I answered, "What separates the times? When is the end of the first and the beginning of that which follows?"
8. He said to me: "From Abraham to Abraham, because Jacob and Esau were born from him, but Jacob’s hand held Esau’s heel from the outset.
9. Esau represents the end of this age, and Jacob represents the beginning of the following.
10. The beginning of the one man is his hand, and the end of the other man is his heel. Don’t look for anything else between heel and hand, Ezra."
11. I answered: "Supreme Lord, if only you looked so favorably upon me
12. that you would show your servant your final signs, which you showed me in part on a previous night."