Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Untempered Mortar

What does another prophet say professed teachers among God’s people have done? BR-ASI9 318.6

“Her priests have violated My law, and have profaned Mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane; neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel 22:26. BR-ASI9 318.7

What have they done to maintain their theories? BR-ASI9 318.8

“And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken.” Ezekiel 22:28. BR-ASI9 318.9

Note.—Untempered mortar is that which is improperly worked, and will not therefore hold together or stand the test. Thus it is with the reasons advanced for keeping Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath, the seventh day. They are not only unsound and untenable in themselves, but are utterly inconsistent, contradictory, and destructive one of the other, among themselves. In nothing, perhaps, is a lack of agreement better illustrated than in the reasons assigned for Sundaykeeping. Note the following: BR-ASI9 318.10

One says the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week. BR-ASI9 319.1

Another says that the Sabbath commandment requires only one day of rest after six of labor, and hence there has been no change. BR-ASI9 319.2

Some reason that all ought to keep Sunday, because although, as they affirm, God did not appoint a particular day, yet agreement is necessary; and to have any or every day a sabbath would be equal to no sabbath at all. BR-ASI9 319.3

Others, to avoid the claims of God’s law, assert that the Sabbath precept is one of those ordinances which was against us, contrary to us, blotted out, and nailed to the cross. Still, they admit that a day of rest and convocation is necessary, and therefore the day of Christ’s resurrection, they say, has been chosen. BR-ASI9 319.4

Another class say they believe it is impossible to know which is the seventh day, although they have no difficulty in locating the first. BR-ASI9 319.5

Some are so bold as to declare that Sunday is the original seventh day. BR-ASI9 319.6

Others, with equal certainty, say that those who keep the seventh day are endeavoring to be justified by the law, and are fallen from grace. BR-ASI9 319.7

Another class, with more liberal views, say they believe that every one should be fully persuaded in his own mind, whether he keep this day, or that, or none at all. BR-ASI9 319.8

Still again, as if having found the great desideratum or missing link in the argument, men credited with even more than ordinary intelligence, will sometimes declare that it is impossible to keep the seventh day on a round and rolling earth; yet, strangely, they find no difficulty in keeping Sunday anywhere, and believe that this day should be observed the world over! BR-ASI9 319.9

Said Christ, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19. BR-ASI9 319.10

What does the Lord say will become of this wall thus daubed with untempered mortar? BR-ASI9 320.1

“Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.” Ezekiel 13:11. BR-ASI9 320.2

When are these hailstones to fall? BR-ASI9 320.3

“Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?” Job 38:22, 23. BR-ASI9 320.4

Under which of the seven last plagues will this hail fall? BR-ASI9 320.5

“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; . . . and the cities of the nations fell: . . . and every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent.” Revelation 16:17-21. BR-ASI9 320.6

During these closing scenes, what message is God sending to the world to turn men from false worship to the worship of the true and living God? BR-ASI9 320.7

“Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. . . . Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. . . . If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Revelation 14:7-10. BR-ASI9 320.8

Note.—This is the last gospel message to be sent to the world before the Lord comes. Under it will be developed two classes of people, one having the mark of the beast (the Papacy), and the other keeping the commandments of God, and having His seal, the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. BR-ASI9 320.9

How does God describe His people in this awful hour? BR-ASI9 320.10

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. BR-ASI9 320.11