As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they had money to use in gratifying self and provoking the envy of their neighbors. Much of the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding down the poor. They forgot that in heaven an account of every business transaction is kept; every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is there recorded. The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah. {9T 12.3}

Medens disse høje bygninger blev opført, glædede ejerne sig i ærgerrig stolthed over, at de havde penge til at tilfredsstille selvet med og fremkalde misundelse hos deres naboer. Mange af de således investerede penge havde (13) de skaffet ved afpresning og udnyttelse af de fattige. De glemte, at der i himmelen bliver holdt regnskab med enhver forretningstransaktion. Her bliver enhver uretfærdig handel og enhver svigagtig handling optegnet. Der kommer en tid, hvor menneskenes bedrag og uforskammethed vil nå et punkt, som Herren ikke vil tillade dem at overskride og hvor de vil lære, at der er en grænse for Jehovas overbærenhed.