The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.” {5T 211.1}

De, der ikke føler bedrøvelse over deres eget åndelige forfald, ej heller sørger over andres synder, vil ikke få Guds segl. Herren befaler sine sendebud, mændene med mordvåben i deres hænder: »Gå efter ham ud gennem byen og hug ned! Vis ingen medynk eller skånsel! Oldinge og ynglinge, jomfruer, børn og kvinder skal I hugge ned og udrydde, men ingen af dem, der bærer mærket, må I røre! Begynd ved min helligdom!« Så begyndte de med de ældste, som stod foran templet.«