God’s Purpose in Our Publishing Houses
Witnesses for Truth
“Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord,” “to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of
our God.”
Our publishing work was established by the direction of God and
under His special supervision. It was designed to accomplish a spe-
cific purpose. Seventh-day Adventists have been chosen by God as a
peculiar people, separate from the world. By the great cleaver of truth
He has cut them out from the quarry of the world and brought them
into connection with Himself. He has made them His representatives
and has called them to be ambassadors for Him in the last work of
salvation. The greatest wealth of truth ever entrusted to mortals, the
most solemn and fearful warnings ever sent by God to man, have been
committed to them to be given to the world; and in the accomplish-
ment of this work our publishing houses are among the most effective
agencies.
These institutions are to stand as witnesses for God, teachers of
righteousness to the people. From them truth is to go forth as a lamp
that burneth. Like a great light in a lighthouse on a dangerous coast,
they are constantly to send forth beams of light into the darkness of the
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world, to warn men of the dangers that threaten them with destruction.
The publications sent forth from our printing houses are to prepare
a people to meet God. Throughout the world they are to do the same
work that was done by John the Baptist for the Jewish nation. By
startling messages of warning, God’s prophet awakened men from
worldly dreaming. Through him God called backsliding Israel to
repentance. By his presentation of truth he exposed popular delusions.
In contrast with the false theories of his time, truth in his teaching
stood forth as an eternal certainty. “Repent ye: for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand,” was John’s message.
Matthew 3:2
. This same
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