Responsibility of MinistersA solemn responsibility rests upon the watchmen. How careful should they be rightly to understand and explain the word of God. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.” Says the prophet Ezekiel: “The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” {5T 15.2}

Prædikanternes ansvar
Et højtideligt ansvar påhviler vagtfolkene. Hvor omhyggelige bude de ikke være for at forstå og forklare Guds ord rigtigt. »Salig er den, som oplæser og de, som hører profetiens ord og holder fast ved det, der er skrevet i den.« Profeten Ezekiel siger: »Herrens ord kom til mig således: Menneskesøn, tal til dine landsmænd og sig: Når jeg fører sværdet over et land og folket i landet tager en af sin midte og gør ham til deres vægter og han ser sværdet komme over landet og støder i hornet og advarer folket, men den, der hører hornets klang, ikke lader sig advare og sværdet kommer og river ham bort, da kommer hans blod over hans hoved. Han hørte hornets klang uden at lade sig advare, hans blod kommer over hans hoved; men den, som har advaret, har reddet sin sjæl. Men når vægteren ser sværdet komme og ikke støder i hornet, så at folket ikke advares og sværdet kommer og river en af dem bort, så rives han vel bort for sin misgerning, men hans blod vil jeg kræve af vægterens (16) hånd. Men dig, menneskesøn, har jeg sat til vægter for Israels hus; hører du et ord af min mund, skal du advare dem fra mig. Når jeg siger til den gudløse: »Du skal visselig dø!« og du ikke taler for at advare ham mod hans vej, så skal den gudløse vel dø for sin misgerning, men hans blod vil jeg kræve af din hånd. Advarer du derimod den gudløse mod hans vej, for at han skal omvende sig fra den og han ikke omvender sig, så skal han dø for sin misgerning, men du har reddet din sjæl.«