The patriarchs from Adam to Noah, with but few exceptions, lived nearly a thousand years. Since the days of Noah the length of life has been tapering. Those suffering with disease were brought to Christ from every city, town, and village for Him to heal; for they were afflicted with all manner of diseases. And disease has been steadily on the increase through successive generations since that period. Because of the continued violation of the laws of life, mortality has increased to a fearful extent. The years of man have been shortened, so that the present generation pass to the grave, even before the age at which the generations that lived the first few thousand years after the creation came upon the stage of action. {3T 139.3}

Patriarkerne fra Adam til Noa levede, med få undtagelser, i næsten et tusinde år. Siden Noas dage er livslængden aftaget. Dem som led (140) af sygdomme blev bragt til Kristus fra alle steder, byer og landsbyer for at han skulle helbrede; for de blev angrebet med al slags sygdom. Og siden den gang, er sygdomme blevet stadig mere udbredt gennem generationerne. Fordi livets love stadig overtrædes, er dødeligheden forøget i et frygteligt omfang. Menneskers år er blevet afkortet, så at den nuværende slægt går i graven, næsten før den alder som slægterne i de første tusinde år efter skabelsen kom i gang med at arbejde.