As the violence of the storm increased, trees, buildings, rocks, and earth were hurled in every direction. The terror of man and beast was beyond description. Above the roar of the tempest was heard the wailing of a people that had despised the authority of God. Satan himself, who was compelled to remain in the midst of the warring elements, feared for his own existence. He had delighted to control so powerful a race, and desired them to live to practice their abominations and continue their rebellion against the Ruler of heaven. He now uttered imprecations against God, 100 charging Him with injustice and cruelty. Many of the people, like Satan, blasphemed God, and had they been able, they would have torn Him from the throne of power. Others were frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark and pleading for admittance. But their entreaties were in vain. Conscience was at last aroused to know that there is a God who ruleth in the heavens. They called upon Him earnestly, but His ear was not open to their cry. In that terrible hour they saw that the transgression of God's law had caused their ruin. Yet while, through fear of punishment, they acknowledged their sin, they felt no true contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They would have returned to their defiance of Heaven, had the judgment been removed. So when God's judgments shall fall upon the earth before its deluge by fire, the impenitent will know just where and what their sin is--the despising of His holy law. Yet they will have no more true repentance than did the old-world sinners.

Efter som uvejret tiltog, blev træer, bygninger, klippestykker og jord slynget i alle retninger. Menneskers og dyrs rædsel overgik al beskrivelse. Over stormens hylen hørtes jammeren fra et folk, som havde foragtet Guds myndighed. Satan selv, som var tvunget til at forblive midt i elementernes rasen, frygtede for sit eget liv. Han havde frydet sig ved at herske over en så kraftig slægt og ønskede, at de skulle leve for at kunne øve deres afskyeligheder og fortsætte deres oprør mod Himmelens hersker. Nu udtalte han forbandelser over Gud og anklagede ham for uretfærdighed og grusomhed. Mange mennesker bespottede Gud ligesom Satan, og havde de kunnet, ville de have revet ham ned fra magtens trone. Andre var vanvittige af frygt og strakte hænderne ud mod arken med bøn om at komme ind. Men deres bønner var forgæves. Samvittigheden var til sidst vakt til erkendelse af, at der er en Gud, som hersker i Himmelen. De påkaldte ham alvorligt, men hans øre var ikke åbent for deres råb. I den frygtelige time så de, at overtrædelse af Guds lov var årsagen til deres død. Men skønt de af frygt for straf erkendte deres synd, følte de ingen virkelig anger og ingen afsky for det onde. De ville atter have vist Himmelen trods, hvis dommen var blevet kaldt tilbage. Når Guds straffedomme falder over jorden, inden den tilintetgøres af ild, vil de ubodfærdige ligeledes nøjagtig vide, hvori deres synd består - foragt for Guds lov. Og dog vil deres anger ikke være mere ægte end syndernes i verden før syndfloden.