"The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized

for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning

it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His

fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has

called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The

church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church

will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in heavenly

places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10. . . The church is

God's fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the

church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son.

From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has

had His watchmen, who have borne the faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. . . Truth is inspired and guarded by God; and it will triumph over all opposition." (Ellen White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 9-12).

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