When Christ shall cease His work as mediator in man's behalf, then this time of trouble will begin. Then the case of every soul will have been decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin. When Jesus leaves His position as man's intercessor before God, the solemn announcement is made, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Revelation 22:11. Then the restraining Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth. As Jacob was threatened with death by his angry brother, so the people of God will be in peril from the wicked who are seeking to destroy them. And as the patriarch wrestled all night for deliverance from the hand of Esau, so the righteous will cry to God day and night for deliverance from the enemies that surround them.

Når Kristus ophører med sin midlergerning for menneskene, da begynder denne trængselstid. Da er enhver sjæls sag afgjort, og der er ikke noget sonende blod til at rense fra synd. Når Jesus forlader sin stilling som menneskenes forbeder hos Gud, lyder den højtidelige erklæring: "Lad den, som gør uret, blive ved at gøre uret, og lad den urene blive ved at leve i urenhed, og lad den retfærdige blive ved at øve retfærdighed, og lad den hellige blive ved at leve helligt." Åb. 22, 11. Da bliver Guds dæmpende Ånd trukket tilbage fra jorden. Ligesom Jakob truedes med døden af sin vrede broder, således vil Guds folk blive udsat for fare fra de ugudelige, der søger at dræbe dem. Og ligesom patriarken kæmpede hele natten for at blive befriet fra Esaus hånd, således vil de retfærdige råbe til Gud dag og nat om befrielse fra fjenderne, der omgiver dem.