But that is unwelcome news to the world. It has always been poison. It is the one teaching that has made the restored gospel unacceptable to the wisdom of men. He shall be greeted with stone and catcalls even by pious people. Criticism of the world is always implicit in a prophet's message of repentance, but he is not sent for the purpose of criticizing the world.
Men know the world is wicked, and the wickedest ones know it best.
It was not for being a reformer or rebuking a naughty world. In his day, the most popular preacher was the one who could denounce the manners of the times most fiercely and paint the most lurid pictures of wrath to come. As soon as he said this to the world, all hell broke loose. That changed everything. And so he testified throughout his life.