Men in their blindness boast of wonderful progress and enlightenment; but to the eye of Omniscience are revealed the inward guilt and depravity. The heavenly watchers see the earth filled with violence and crime. Wealth is obtained by every species of robbery, not robbery of men only, but of God. Men are using His means to gratify their selfishness. Everything they can grasp is made to minister to their greed. Avarice and sensuality prevail. Men cherish the attributes of the first great deceiver. They have accepted him as God, and have become imbued with his spirit. {6T 14.4}

I deres blindhed praler menneskene af underfuld fremgang og oplysning; men for den Alvidende er (15) deres brøde og fordærvelse åbenbar. De himmelske vægtere ser jorden fyldt med vold og forbrydelse. Rigdom erhverves ved udplyndring af enhver art, ikke udplyndring over for mennesker alene, men over for Gud. Menneskene bruger hans midler til at tilfredsstille deres egoisme. Alt, hvad de kan tilrive sig, bruger de i griskhedens tjeneste. Magtsyge og sanselighed får overhånd. Menneskene nærer den første store oprørers egenskaber. De har antaget ham som Gud og er blevet gennemtrængt af hans ånd.