Money was power among the foolish of earth, and money was their god; but their very prosperity has destroyed them. They became fools in the eyes of God and His heavenly angels, while men of worldly ambition thought them wise. Now their supposed wisdom is all foolishness, and their prosperity their destruction. Again ring forth shrieks of fearful, heart-rending anguish: “Rocks and mountains, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” To the caves of the earth they flee as a covert, but these fail to be such then. {2T 42.1}

Penge var magt blandt jordens tåber og penge var deres gud; men netop deres velstand har ødelagt dem. De blev tåber i Guds og hans hellige engles øjne, skønt mennesker af verdslig ærgerrighed anså dem for at være kloge. Nu er al deres formodede klogskab dårskab og deres velstand er deres ødelæggelse. Igen kommer frygtsomhedens og hjerteafsmeltningspinens hyl frem: "Bjerge og klipper: Fald over os og skjul os for hans åsyn, som sidder på tronen og for Lammets vrede! Thi deres vredes store dag er kommet; hvem kan da bestå?" Til jordens huler flyer de som et tilflugtssted, men det er det slet ikke.