Perhaps Alma understands that his words will stand as a condemnation for his entire nation, or perhaps he is too focused on the current situation to see in his words the ultimate destruction of the Nephites at the end of the Book of Mormon. For the current picture, Alma uses the concept of reciprocity with God (much given/much required) to reverse the effect of that chosen status. When the “much given/much required” is removed because of sin, it reverses (in this case) to “nothing accepted/nothing permitted.” By rejecting the covenant with the Lord, the Lord will reject them, and consign them to destruction both physical and spiritual.