It is natural for the wrongdoer to hold the messengers of God responsible for the calamities that come as the sure result of a departure from the way of righteousness. Those 140 who place themselves in Satan's power are unable to see things as God sees them. When the mirror of truth is held up before them, they become indignant at the thought of receiving reproof. Blinded by sin, they refuse to repent; they feel that God's servants have turned against them and are worthy of severest censure.

Synderen er tilbøjelig til at give Guds sendebud skylden for de ulykker, som er en direkte følge af, at retfærdighedens principper er blevet tilsidesat. De mennesker, der giver sig i Satans vold, kan ikke se tingene, som Gud ser dem. Når sandhedens spejl holdes op foran dem, bliver de vrede over at blive irettesat. De er blændede af synd og vil ikke angre; de føler, at Guds tjenere har vendt sig imod dem, og at det er dem, der fortjener en hård straf.