We have seen from the preceding passages that the Lord is merciful to the innocent whether by age or through ignorance. Those who exhibit willful rebellion are on the shallow end of the mercy pool. These feel the weight of the ruthless demands of divine justice more fully than any other group. This is because they would not receive of the power of Christ's atonement for sins. In other words, they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received (DC 88:32). "Willful rebellion" more aptly describes the attitude of Satan than any other phrase. It is the defining characteristic of those who become the Sons of Perdition. The Lord says they are those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and yet deny the truth and defy my power (DC 76:31).