water

I saw in the desert in which John dwelt ...

a spiritual church ...

rising up out of the waters that flowed in streams from on high, from Paradise, that floated in clouds, and welled up in fountains. The church was immeasurably solid. It seemed to be symbolical of Baptism, and it grew with the baptized. It was perfectly transparent like crystal. 

An octagonal tower arose from the interior, and reached up far out of sight. Under it was a great fountain like the baptism fountain of John which he had formed in the desert after a model shown him in vision. 

In the tower a genealogical tree grew upon which appeared John and his ancestors. There was also an altar, and a wonderful representation of John's conception, birth, circumcision, and life in the desert, of the baptism of Jesus, and John's beheading. 

Far up in the tower, as if on a ladder reaching to Heaven, were seen in admirable order the whole host of Saints, the entire history of the Promise and the Redemption, and the abodes of the Blessed, endless in number. 

High above all the rest hovered the Blessed Virgin in a mantle so wide as to cover all. All these representations were white and transparent. And now came immense crowds from all sides, kings and peoples in all kinds of costumes, they looked like nations that were migrating. 

Many passed by the baptism church and went into the desert, where there is no water of life. Many others entered the church and pinches down by the baptism fountain, by the side of which stood John under the appearance that he presented as a child in the desert. 

He struck the water with his little staff, and sprinkled it over them. And, no matter how tall they were on entering the church, all that were thus sprinkled became small. 

But many only passed in and out of the church. They who had become little ones, like unto those that enter the Heavenly Kingdom, ascended the high, wonderful tower on the ladder that reached to Heaven. 

There were at the baptism holy godparents. The whole church, which appeared to be a building and still was formed of water, floated on high as if supported by a cord let down from Heaven.

~bron~