13:10Ezekiel 13:10

To say peace when there is no peace is to seduce God's people with false assurance while they are not at peace with God and He has not spoken peace.TBC1882b 6.2–7.1+2 To build a wall and daub it with untempered mortar is to cover faulty teaching, sin, defects of character and wrongdoing with a weak, flimsy smoothing that makes what is unsound appear sound and safe.8MR 226.2–227.2+2 That false work cloaks sin and makes it appear less serious, justifying the wrongdoer instead of warning him, calling evil good and lightly regarding heinous sin so that sins separating from God remain.GW92 87.1–2+2 It opposes plain testimony by speaking smooth reassuring words that blunt reproof and charm sinners into fatal ease with promise of prosperity rather than calling to repentance and submission.1T 247.2–3+2 Declaring false peace and covering error with such a weak wall brings divine judgment, for God condemns the work and holds those who do it accountable, and He gives His messengers no liberty to gloss over sin but requires them to cry aloud, spare not, and show the people their transgression.8MR 226.2–227.2+4

Saying peace when there is no peace is seducing God's people with false assurance of peace while they are not at peace with God and God has not spoken peace.TBC1882b 6.2–7.1+4 False leaders reassure the people with promises of peace and thereby influence them into wrongdoing, then excuse and conceal their wrongs instead of calling them to repent and make matters right.TBC1882b 6.2–7.1+2 Defiled ministers with corrupt hearts and unclean hands explain the Scriptures while crying peace, so workers of iniquity are not alarmed and not reproved, sins that separate from God remain, and the church is left corrupt by members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls.TBC1882 61.2+2 Those who oppose pointed reproof speak smooth, deceitful, flattering things that weaken the effect of God's testimony, lull sinners into fatal ease to whom sin does not appear specially repulsive, and leave the people unawakened to their sins.1T 247.2–3+2 They complain that the reproofs and warnings of God's messengers unnecessarily disturb the peace, and their prediction of prosperity charms more than the true prophet's counsel to repentance and submission.TBC1882 59.2–60.1+2 This was the work of the corrupt priests of ancient Israel and is the work of many false prophets in these days.TBC1882 59.2–60.1+1

When the faithful, firm, true preachers who offer the gospel of peace are gone from unthankful churches, destroyers already training under Satan's hand take the places of the departed standard-bearers and speak this false peace.TBC1882 59.2–60.1 God permits this as giving the people up to the deceptions they love, as a scourge for defeating the object of His patience, as with Hazael set over idolatrous Israel.TBC1882 59.2–60.1 Building a wall and daubing it with untempered mortar pictures covering faulty teaching, sin, defects of character, and wrongdoing with a weak, flimsy, inadequate, unreliable smoothing that makes what is unsound appear sound and safe.8MR 226.2–227.2+4 It is refusing to soften or conceal a cutting message that exposes harmful error, but instead plastering over a breach instead of facing the wrong that caused it.8MR 226.2–227.2+2 Those who oppose reproof weaken its effect by speaking reassuring words and covering over the warning, intervening between the reprover and the people and making the reproof ineffective.STMW11 9.1+2

The walls daubed with untempered mortar are also weak human restrictions and obstructions raised at Satan's instigation to keep reproof and rebuke from coming among God's people and to block the truth.STMW11 9.1+1 Those who go out from among the ark-bearing people cannot make such walls stand, for the truth goes onward and upward to the end.STMW11 9.1+1 They only appear to obstruct, for God puts His Spirit upon men who go straight through these flimsy walls, proclaim the word of the Lord, lift up the voice like a trumpet, and show the people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins, without diminishing the truth or losing its power in their hands.STMW11 9.1+1 The breach that is plastered over is wrong action taken on human responsibility against God's counsel instead of humbling the soul before God, conversion, and seeking the Lord's guidance.STB 305.2+2 This was seen in rebuilding the large sanitarium at Battle Creek where it was not designed to be built again and keeping it large instead of dividing it into several parts in different places, going forward in blindness against God's counsel.STB 305.2+1

Daubing in that case meant associates who had no part in the wrong move joining to cover and excuse the transgressions and mistakes of those who took the responsibility on their own shoulders, with false smoothing and excuse instead of calling all to humble the soul, be converted, seek the Lord's guidance, and receive pardon.STB 305.2+1 Those who daub the breach stand in the way of God working upon hearts, and they must get out of the way and step aside to let God work.STB 305.2+1 When those responsible are converted and humble their hearts before Him, God in mercy for the sake of His cause and His name's glory will pardon transgressions and mistakes, with each striving to bring the light of heaven upon his own soul.STB 305.2+1

The false work cloaks sin and makes it appear less serious, justifying the wrongdoer instead of warning him.GW92 87.1–2+2 It is the work of false prophets to gloss over the sins of the people and announce peace when there is no peace for the wicked, and no liberty is given to do this.GW92 87.1–2 God has no sympathy with the evildoer and will never fit His ways to the wishes of corrupt men, and retributive wrath follows such a course.GW92 87.1–2+1 This was illustrated when a false prophet condemned Jeremiah for severe denunciations and promised prosperity to spare the people continual reminders of sin and threats of punishment, which strengthened them to resist true counsel and deepened their enmity toward him, and stirring up rebellion against the servants sent to deliver God's messages is rebellion against the word of the Lord.GW92 87.1–2 Unsanctified sympathy daubs with untempered mortar by crying peace, peace when there is no peace, blinding the sinner's eyes to his own case and justifying him instead of warning him, even when he is a dying man going down into the grave with sins unconfessed, and this false assurance proves the ruin of thousands.TBC1872 72.1–73.1+1

Defiled ministers with corrupt hearts and unclean hands seduce the people by crying peace when there is no peace, so workers of iniquity are not alarmed and not reproved, while sins remain that separate from God and the church is left corrupt by members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls.TBC1882 61.2 Daubing with untempered mortar is whitewashing heinous sexual sin and lightly regarding it instead of showing disgust and horror at it, calling darkness light and light darkness and making evil appear good, even seeking to bring guilty, unrepentant sinners into the church.Ms 12, 1862, par. 15–19 God's anger is kindled against those who do this, and they are unfit for any leading responsible position until they entirely reform and view sin and sinners from a different standpoint.Ms 12, 1862, par. 15–19 It is holding up and approbating those who are wrong in God's sight and covering the sins of others instead of laying the ax at the root of the tree.Ms 1, 1854, par. 5–6 Transgression of the commandment, dishonoring parents, guile, taking God's name in vain, and desecrating worship by giving way to passions of an unsubdued heart are excused, indulgence of the passions of the carnal heart, impatience, fretfulness and faultfinding are called a small thing, and wicked feelings God abhors are fostered until the sinner is exalted in his own eyes, rich and increased in goods, unwilling to bear reproof, ready to justify self, left to his own ways to be filled with his own doings while God's Spirit is withdrawn from him and he knows it not.Ms 1, 1854, par. 5–6

The same work opposes plain testimony by speaking smooth, reassuring words that blunt reproof and make a weak, misleading teaching appear sound, leaving the people unawakened to their sins.1T 247.2–3+2 False prophets seduce by saying peace when there is no peace, lulling sinners into fatal ease with smooth and deceitful flattering teachings to whom sin does not appear specially repulsive.4T 185.1 They complain that the reproofs and warnings of God's messengers unnecessarily disturb the peace of the people, and their prediction of prosperity charms more than the true prophet's counsel to repentance and submission.4T 185.1 This describes the corrupt priests of ancient Israel and applies to many false prophets in these days.4T 185.1 Those who intervene between the reprover and the people cover over the warning like daubing an unsafe wall with untempered mortar, weakening its effect and making the plain testimony against sin ineffective among God's people.1T 247.2–3+2

It also quiets the fears of people roused to inquire the way of salvation by falsely interpreting God's word, stepping between them and the truth and crying peace when God had not spoken peace.GC 372.1 Like the Pharisees, such unfaithful teachers and watchmen unite in the work of the great deceiver, refusing to enter the kingdom of heaven themselves while hindering those who were entering in, with the blood of these souls required at their hand.GC 372.1 It covers a corrupt condition with a false appearance of reform without decisive break, as at the Retreat where efforts were being made to bring reform but the workers lacked faith that works through love and purifies the soul.Lt 154, 1901, par. 10 Covering souls while evil is left unconfessed and unrepented comes from failing to discern and confront evil plainly, even between brothers and supposed friends, and those who have done this are called to weep, pray, and confess their lack of discernment.Lt 354, 1905, par. 13 Daubing with untempered mortar is instruction that misleads rather than faithfully warns and guides, and those entrusted with helping and guarding others must be awakened, purified by the Holy Spirit, and watchful over words, actions, thoughts, and character, otherwise they cannot give a clear warning or safely care for souls.Ms 121, 1908, par. 3+1 It affirms that everything is right when correction is needed, covering faults with false approval, as in telling Dr. Sanderson that all he had done was right, which would hide mistakes and leave harmful impressions on the institution, whereas openness to the Holy Spirit's correction is required.Ms 178, 1901, par. 35–42 Bible truth must therefore be handled wisely and its importance made clear rather than obscured or poorly presented, so prejudice is broken down and souls are led to conversion.Ms 121, 1908, par. 3

Declaring peace where there is no peace and covering false teaching with a weak, unreliable wall brings divine judgment that exposes what was hidden.8MR 226.2–227.2+3 Daubing with untempered mortar is concealing serious faults and wrongdoing with an inadequate message that hides rather than corrects, instead of a clear testimony that convicts so that there can be repentance and conversion.12MR 332.2+1 It is dealing with wrongs in a compromising, underhanded, two-sided way instead of frank, open, plain, straightforward reproof, withholding the message given, failing duty in a responsible position of trust, and neglecting to come close to the erring one to pray with and for him and perseveringly set the wrong before him as pointed out.Lt 19a, 1897, par. 29–30 God has a controversy with those who do this work and holds them accountable for their neglect, because a soul that might have been saved from the tempter's power is left unsaved, and He condemns this miserable way of dealing as hurting souls and marring His work.Lt 19a, 1897, par. 29–30 He requires that things be set in order by men of decided fidelity who will lay the hand upon a wrong work and say this is not according to His will, refusing to soften or conceal a cutting message that exposes harmful error.8MR 226.2–227.2+1

God gives no one liberty to gloss over sin and announce peace when He has declared there will be no peace for the wicked.GW92 87.1–2 He has no sympathy with the evildoer and will never fit His ways to the wishes of corrupt men, and retributive wrath follows cloaking sin and making it appear less serious.GW92 87.1–2 This was illustrated when a false prophet condemned Jeremiah for severe denunciations and promised prosperity to spare the people continual reminders of sin and threats of punishment, which strengthened the people to resist true counsel and deepened their enmity toward him.GW92 87.1–2 Stirring up rebellion against the servants sent to deliver His messages is rebellion against His word.GW92 87.1–2 Daubing with untempered mortar is also whitewashing over heinous sexual sin and lightly regarding it instead of showing disgust and horror at it, calling darkness light and light darkness and making evil appear good, even seeking to bring guilty, unrepentant sinners into the church.Ms 12, 1862, par. 15–19 His anger is kindled against those who do this, and they are unfit for any leading responsible position in the church until they entirely reform and view sin and sinners from a different standpoint.Ms 12, 1862, par. 15–19

Those who clip the truth and hold peace instead of faithfully declaring what has been shown are left guilty for the blood of souls with no excuse when met in the judgment and under His curse, so faithfulness requires clearing one's garments by lifting up the voice and declaring the warning fully even if all hearers turn to enemies within a week.Lt 3, 1853, par. 13–15 Unfaithful religious teachers and watchmen unite in the work of the great deceiver by falsely interpreting the word to quiet the fears of people roused to inquire the way of salvation, stepping between them and the truth and crying peace when peace has not been spoken, and like the Pharisees refusing to enter the kingdom of heaven themselves while hindering those who were entering in, with the blood of these souls required at their hand.GC 372.1 Giving a soft, unclear testimony that covers over sin is faulty plaster on a weak wall, and testimony must instead be clear-cut and expose sins of a grave character cherished among professed Sabbath keepers instead of excusing them.Lt 16f, 1892, par. 12 Its work is an awakening that convicts and converts, or they will die in their sins.Lt 16f, 1892, par. 12 Those who have had great light and precious opportunities yet remain earthly-minded, corrupt in thoughts and practices, and have not purified their souls by obeying the truth will receive punishment heavier than Sodom and Gomorrah.Lt 16f, 1892, par. 12 False prophets promise peace when there is no peace, and instead of warning about coming wrath they reassure while destruction approaches, so prophecies that contradict the plain declarations of Scripture must be rejected while true prophets boldly reprove sin and warn of judgment.EW 111.1–2

When the faithful, firm, true preachers who offer the gospel of peace are gone from unthankful churches, destroyers already training under the hand of Satan will take the places of departed standard-bearers and speak false peace.TBC1882 59.2–60.1+1 God permits this as giving people up to the deceptions they love, as a scourge for defeating the object of His patience, as with Hazael set over idolatrous Israel.TBC1882 59.2–60.1 False prophets in this way deceive His people by promising peace when peace has not been spoken, reassuring unthankful churches while leading them into deception.5T 77.1

Those who falsely uphold another and call evil good are like builders daubing a wall with untempered mortar, for their support hides rather than repairs what is wrong, and judgment will expose their work.Ms 127, 1905, par. 21 Those who sustain a person in delusion despite warnings are accountable for their actions.Ms 127, 1905, par. 21 Daubing the walls of Zion is when those in responsible positions cover up wrongdoing with flimsy excuses instead of speaking plainly as faithful stewards, turning away from counsel and trying to cover the impression that would be made upon guilty men, failing to tell them they are not fit for the place they occupy, have worked counter to the Holy Spirit, and must do thorough work for repentance.Ms 21, 1896, par. 9–12 Those who do this are unfaithful stewards under censure, and give His work a wrong mold.Ms 21, 1896, par. 9–12 Daubing is also covering betrayal of holy trust with smooth, flattering remarks and sympathy instead of stating the facts plainly and calling things by their right name, mincing the matter about those who leave the truth and deceive others and giving them a fair appearance that deceives many to their ruin and leaves unsettled souls tossed to and fro.Lt 15, 1892, par. 32–34 Those who daub in this way put themselves on the enemy's side.Lt 15, 1892, par. 32–34 What is required instead is straightforward, living testimony without self and without a harsh, denunciatory spirit, speaking plain truth just as it is in Jesus, standing stiffly for the truth, ceasing from man, and placing the feet upon the eternal Rock.Lt 15, 1892, par. 32–34

God gives no one liberty to gloss over sin and announce peace when He has declared there will be no peace for the wicked, for He has no sympathy with the evildoer and will never fit His ways to the wishes of corrupt men, and retributive wrath follows such a course.GW92 87.1–2+2 Saying peace where there is no peace is the easy and agreeable course, but flattery that hides defects, indifference, double dealing, and selfish one-sided treatment of the erring, and failure to lift a hand to bless and save souls for whom Christ gave His own blood, and such unjust dealing toward others cannot be justified in the judgment that will soon pass upon the living.Lt 70, 1895, par. 10–12+1 The messenger must refuse that course and instead cry aloud, spare not, show the people their transgression, and bear heaven's warnings whether they receive or reject them.GW92 87.1–2+1 This was illustrated when a false prophet condemned Jeremiah for severe denunciations and promised prosperity to spare the people continual reminders of sin and threats of punishment, which strengthened them to resist true counsel and deepened their enmity toward him, for stirring up rebellion against the servants sent to deliver God's messages is rebellion against the word of the Lord.GW92 87.1–2

There must be no healing the hurt slightly, no covering over of sin and no superficial settlement, no half-and-half tame testimony, and no clipping the truth and holding peace instead of faithfully declaring what God has shown.Lt 3, 1853, par. 3–6+2 The work must be thorough, searching deep, digging up and purging away pestilent matter, dying to self, and becoming in malice children but in understanding men, so that those in an awful state who do not understand themselves are shown they have no peace and God can smile again in love and compassion.Lt 3, 1853, par. 3–6 Testimony must be clear-cut and must not be softened or concealed when it exposes harmful error and sins of a grave character cherished among professed Sabbath keepers, but must convict so that people repent and are converted, for its work is an awakening or they will die in their sins.8MR 226.2–227.2+2 Those who have had great light and precious opportunities yet remain earthly-minded, corrupt in thoughts and practices, and have not purified their souls by obeying the truth will receive punishment heavier than Sodom and Gomorrah.Lt 16f, 1892, par. 12 Unfaithfulness that conceals serious faults with an inadequate message leaves the speaker guilty for the blood of souls with no excuse when met in the judgment and under the curse of God, so faithfulness requires clearing one's garments by lifting up the voice and declaring God's warning fully even if all hearers turn to enemies within a week.12MR 332.2+1

In an age of apostasy there is to be no compromising work now, but like faithful co-workers with God in the past, followers of Christ must bear decided testimony, labor to secure reformation in the religious churches, uplift the standard of Christianity that has trailed in the dust, and witness for the downtrodden law in every town and city, for only wholehearted reform testimony will have saving influence, and all who join Christ in this work of reform will share His spirit and His special care for the suffering and oppressed.Lt 102a, 1897, par. 11–13 Wrongdoing must be met in a frank, open, plain, straightforward way, not in a compromising, underhanded, two-sided way, and things must be set in order by men of decided fidelity who will lay the hand upon a wrong work and say this is not according to the will of God.Lt 19a, 1897, par. 29–30 Withholding the message God gave is failure of duty in a responsible position of trust, and God has a controversy with those who do this work and holds them accountable for their neglect, because a soul that might have been saved from the tempter's power is left unsaved, and He condemns this miserable way of dealing with wrongs because it hurts souls and mars His work.Lt 19a, 1897, par. 29–30 Neglect must give way to coming close to the erring one to pray with and for him and perseveringly setting the wrong before him as God pointed out, saying Thou art the man, pointing out guilt and danger of backsliding, following general appeals with personal effort close to hearts, arousing the people to take up stumbling-blocks and clear out rubbish so the Spirit of God may come in.Lt 19a, 1897, par. 29–30+1

The time is past for soothing careless and world-loving professors with preaching that avoids close application of truth, and ministers must be alive with the earnestness of the Spirit, labor through Christ, make direct appeals, sound the alarm even when ears tingle and hearers are displeased, and deal plainly and faithfully.GW92 225.2 In presenting Bible truth to unbelievers there must likewise be no daubing with untempered mortar, no building with unsound flimsy plaster, and no careless or inadequate presentation that obscures or weakens the truth.CH 367.3+4 Every talent is to be used to meet unbelievers with wise counsel and instruction, handling wisely the subjects of Bible truth and presenting its importance on every possible occasion, showing a determined and decided influence for righteousness and truth.CH 367.3+4 Christian physicians are to carry this influence beyond the institution where they labor, making themselves known and giving light to all they can reach, and this faithful work breaks down prejudice, overcomes it, reaches souls, and helps lead them to conversion.CH 367.3+4

Daubing a wall with untempered mortar is plastering up a breach made by wrong action taken on human responsibility against God's counsel, covering over transgression and mistakes with false smoothing and excuse instead of humbling the soul before God, conversion, and seeking the Lord's guidance, while false assurances of peace conceal the real danger.STB 305.2+1 Those who daub the breach stand in the way of God working upon hearts, and they must get out of the way and step aside and let God work.STB 305.2+1 When those responsible are converted and humble their hearts before Him, God in mercy for the sake of His cause and His name's glory will pardon transgressions and mistakes.STB 305.2

To cry peace when there is no peace is to flatter the unconsecrated with special attention, strong attachments and undue sympathy toward special friends, and that false peace greatly injures those who receive it.TCBMP 177.3+1 Daubing with untempered mortar is pacifying and pleasing independent, willful, set, unyielding and jealous professed believers with special and uncalled-for attention and flattery in order to remove all occasion for jealousy.TBC1872 68.2 Such work only does injury and taxes time and strength, while what they need is faithful dealing mingled with kindness and plain truth appropriate to their condition.TBC1872 68.2 Giving the Hales undue attention to pacify them and spare them from trials was that weak covering, when plain truth suited to their condition, spoken kindly, was what they needed.TCBMP 172.2–174.1 Flattering attention builds false self-importance, leads them to expect the same consideration from others, excites jealousy when they are not flattered, makes them think others do not appreciate them and that they are very essential to the church, makes them think their judgment should be respected above the judgment of the church, and places them in a position of temptation where they would not otherwise be.TBC1872 68.2

Daubing with untempered mortar is unsanctified sympathy that blinds the eyes of a sinner to his own case by crying peace when there is no peace.TBC1872 72.1–73.1+1 It justifies the wrongdoer instead of warning him, even when he is a dying man going down into the grave with his sins unconfessed.TBC1872 72.1–73.1+1 This false assurance proves the ruin of thousands.TBC1872 72.1–73.1

Not daubing with untempered mortar means writing very plainly about faults instead of flattering or excusing them.Lt 226, 1899, par. 7–11 It is refusing to hold up and approve those who are wrong in the sight of God and refusing to cover the sins of others instead of laying the ax at the root of the tree.Ms 1, 1854, par. 5–6 That covering is done when transgression of God's commandment, dishonoring parents, guile, taking God's name in vain, and desecrating worship by giving way to passions of an unsubdued heart are excused.Ms 1, 1854, par. 5–6 It is done when indulgence of the passions of the carnal heart, impatience, fretfulness and faultfinding are called a small thing, and when wicked feelings God abhors are fostered until the sinner is exalted in his own eyes, rich and increased in goods, unwilling to bear reproof, ready to justify self, left to his own ways to be filled with his own doings while God's Spirit is withdrawn from him and he knows it not.Ms 1, 1854, par. 5–6 A man should not be put in trust as a shepherd of the flock until he has opportunity to be enlightened in the Scriptures.Lt 226, 1899, par. 7–11

Daubing with untempered mortar is covering sin and false teaching with soft, pleasing words instead of faithful reproof.Lt 8, 1851, par. 23–27 It includes excusing corrupting views such as spiritual union, against which God requires a cutting, unsparing message, with withdrawal of fellowship until the error is given up, so that the church is cleansed and made healthy.Lt 8, 1851, par. 23–27 It also means soothing careless and world-loving professors with preaching that avoids close application of truth, and the time for that work is past.GW92 225.2 Ministers are instead to be alive with the earnestness of the Spirit, to labor through Christ, to make direct appeals, to sound the alarm even when ears tingle and hearers are displeased, to say Thou art the man, to deal plainly and faithfully, to point out the guilt and danger of backsliding, and to arouse the people to take up stumbling-blocks and clear out rubbish so the Spirit of God may come in, following general appeals with personal effort close to hearts.GW92 225.2

Refusing to flatter souls with the cry of peace when their course leaves them with no peace before God means refusing to hide defects, indifference, double dealing, and selfish, one-sided treatment of the erring.Lt 70, 1895, par. 10–12 It means lifting a hand to bless and save souls for whom Christ gave His own blood, and bearing plain testimony instead.Lt 70, 1895, par. 10–12 Unjust dealing toward others cannot be justified in the judgment, for the investigative judgment will soon pass upon the living.Lt 70, 1895, par. 10–12