Jesus referred not only to the destruction of Jerusalem, but to the end of the world. Said he, “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” The innocent were represented by the green tree. If God suffered his wrath because of the sins of the world to fall upon the Redeemer, in that he was permitted to suffer death by crucifixion, what might be expected to come upon the impenitent and unbelieving, who had slighted the mercies of God, purchased for them by the death of his Son? The mind of Jesus wandered from the destruction of Jerusalem to a wider judgment, when all the impenitent would suffer condemnation for their sins; when the Son of man should come, attended not by a murderous mob, but by the mighty hosts of God. {3SP 151.3}

Jesus henviste ikke blot til Jerusalems ødelæggelse, men til verdens ende: "Da skal man give sig til at sige til bjergene: "Fald over os!" og til højene: "skjul os!" Thi gør man således ved det grønne træ, hvordan vil det (152) da gå med det visne?" (Luk 23,30.31) Den uskyldige blev fremstillet ved det grønne træ. Dersom Gud tillod, at hans vrede over verdens synder faldt på Forløseren, idet han lod ham lide korsets død, hvad kunne man da vente, at der ville komme over de uærlige og vantro, som havde foragtet Guds nåde, hvilken han havde bragt til veje for dem ved sin Søns død? Jesu tanker vandrer fra Jerusalems ødelæggelse til den større dom, da alle de ugudelige skal lide straffen for sine synder, da menneskernes Søn skal komme ledsaget, ikke af en morderskare, men af mægtige engle hære.