Jesus is about to leave the mercy seat of the heavenly sanctuary to put on garments of vengeance and pour out His wrath in judgments upon those who have not responded to the light God has given them. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Instead of being softened by the patience and long forbearance that the Lord has exercised toward them, those who fear not God and love not the truth strengthen their hearts in their evil course. But there are limits even to the forbearance of God, and many are exceeding these boundaries. They have overrun the limits of grace, and therefore God must interfere and vindicate His own honor. {5T 207.4}

Jesus er i begreb med at skulle forlade nådestolen i den himmelske (208) helligdom for at iføre sig hævnens klædebon og udgyde sin harme i straffedomme over dem, der ikke har fulgt det lys, Gud har givet dem. »Fordi den onde gerning ikke i hast rammes af dommen, får menneskenes hjerte mod til at gøre det onde.« I stedet for at den tålmodighed og langvarige overbærenhed, Herren har vist mod dem, skulle blødgøre dem, der ikke frygter Gud og ikke elsker sandheden, bestyrkes deres hjerter i deres onde færd. Men der er grænser også for Guds overbærenhed og mange overskrider disse grænser. De har overskredet nådens grænselinjer og derfor må Gud gribe ind og forsvare sin egen ære.