For a moment, Heaven had been opened before him by the words of Paul, and its peace and purity had appeared desirable. That moment the invitation of mercy was extended even to the guilty and hardened Nero. But only for a moment. The command was issued for Paul to be taken back to his dungeon; and as the door closed upon the messenger of God, so the door of repentance was forever closed against the emperor of Rome. Not another ray of light was ever to penetrate the dense darkness that enveloped him. There needed only this crowning act of rejection of divine mercy to call down upon him the retributive justice of God.{LP 316.1}

For et øjeblik var Himmelen åbnet for den forbryderiske og forhærdede Nero og dens fred og renhed forekom ham tillokkende. I dette øjeblik nåede barmhjertighedens budskab selv til ham. Men kun for et øjeblik var tanken om tilgivelse ham velkommen. Så lød der befaling om, at Paulus skulle føres tilbage til sit fangehul og da døren lukkedes efter Guds udsending, lukkedes omvendelsens dør for stedse for Roms kejser. Aldrig mere skulle et lys fra Himmelen trænge ind i det mørke, der omgav ham. Snart skulle han komme til at lide under Guds gengældelses dom.