The question was then asked: “Why have you not washed your robes of character and made them white in the blood of the Lamb? God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that through Him it might be saved. My love for you has been more self-denying than a mother’s love. It was that I might blot out your dark record of iniquity, and put the cup of salvation to your lips, that I suffered the death of the cross, bearing the weight and curse of your guilt. The pangs of death, and the horrors of the darkness of the tomb, I endured, that I might conquer him who had the power of death, unbar the prison house, and open for you the gates of life. I submitted to shame and agony because I loved you with an infinite love, and would bring back my wayward, wandering sheep to the paradise of God, to the tree of life. That life of bliss which I purchased for you at such a cost, you have disregarded. Shame, reproach, and ignominy, such as your Master bore for you, you have shunned. The privileges He died to bring within your reach have not been appreciated. You would not be partaker of His sufferings, and you cannot now be partaker with Him of His glory.” Then were uttered these solemn words: “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.” The book then closed, and the mantle fell from the Person on the throne, revealing the terrible glory of the Son of God. {4T 387.1}

Spørgsmålet blev derpå stillet: "Hvorfor har I ikke tvættet jeres karakters kjortler og gjort dem hvide i Lammets blod? Gud sendte sin Søn til verden, ikke for at dømme verden, men for at verden skulle frelses ved ham. Min kærlighed til jer har været mere selvfornægtende end en moders kærlighed, Det var for at udslette jeres mørke synderegister og holde frelsens kalk til jeres læber, at jeg led korsdøden og har jeres brødes vægt og forbandelse. Dødens kvaler og rædslerne ved gravens mørke udholdt jeg for at kunne overvinde ham, som havde dødens vælde, lukke fængselet op og åbne livets porte for jer. Jeg underkastede mig beskæmmelse og sjælekamp, fordi jeg elskede jer med en evig kærlighed og ønskede at bringe mine genstridige, vildfarende får tilbage til Guds Paradis, til livets træ Det liv i lyksalighed, jeg købte til jer for en sådan pris, har I ikke taget hensyn til. Beskæmmelse, forsmædelse og vanære, sådan som jeres Mester bar for jer, har I søgt at undgå. De privilegier, han døde for at gøre tilgængelige for jer, er ikke blevet påskønnet. I ville ikke have del i hans lidelser og nu kan I ikke have del med ham i hans herlighed,"