Publishing
According to Scripture, Moses was the first one to write down God’s words (Exod. 17:14, 34:27, Deut. 31:24). Today, the Bible is the most published and most read book in history.
Where were the Israelites to write the words of the law? Why do you think that command was given? Deut. 6:1-9, 11:18-20.
To inscribe important sayings or statements in conspicuous places on their dwellings was a custom widely prevalent in the ancient Near East. It is evident in Muslim countries and even among Western nations. In the British Isles as well as in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland inscriptions can be seen on houses.
In Israel the purpose of writing God’s Word on the door frames of their dwellings was to keep God’s instructions constantly in view and in mind, thereby reminding them continuously to keep God’s commandments.
What role did publishing play in the early history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
The publishing work in our church did not originate from human wisdom. In 1848, Ellen G. White had a vision in the home of Otis Nichols in Dorchester, Massachusetts. When she came out of it, she said to James, “ ‘I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.’ ”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 125.
“ ‘Streams of light that went clear round the world’ ”! How could that be? Jesus was coming soon. The number of Adventists were so few. There were no wealthy persons or great scholars among them. The world was unbelieving. And yet here was a young woman who predicted that a work of publishing, to be started by her penniless husband, would grow until it would encompass the globe? More than six months went by before James White could make even the smallest beginning, arranging for the printing of a thousand copies of an eight-page paper on a charge account. Today the Seventh-day Adventist Church owns more than fifty publishing houses, and the message is being printed and proclaimed in more than two hundred twenty languages.
| What has been the impact of the printed page in your own spiritual experience? |
1 comment:
Hi, I'm visiting your site to let you know about TABS: Traditional Adventist Bloggers Society.
Please check it out at traditionaladventistbloggerssociety.blogspot.com
It's a way to network and connect all the traditional Adventists out there with blogs and websites.
Thanks, Todd
oursword.blogspot.com
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