What is the seal of God? To understand the third angel's message it is necessary to know what the seal of God is. This is critical since we are now being sealed and this time is rapidly coming to a conclusion.The seal of God necessarily has to be something that represents God. The apostle Paul mentions that we are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit.*1 What does this really mean? First, I emphasize the doctrine that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are one (we will study this later). Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit because it continues to do His work here on earth. This is of great importance because in order to replace God here on earth it has to be one with God that is it has to be God himself. Later we will go into a little more detail about the Holy Ghost but I ask can God’s seal (His label) be God himself? That is, if the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one how can the Holy Spirit be the seal? Paul mentions that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is in charge of transforming us and preparing us for heaven. That is the Holy Spirit changes us and brings us closer to Jesus every day. Might the seal of God have another emphasis in the framework of prophecy?
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” *2
We note the first aspect of the seal here. It would be strange to say that the angel was holding the Holy Ghost (was holding God himself).
Furthermore the seal of God is completely opposite to the mark of the beast described in Revelation 14. In Revelation 13 there is a distinction made between the mark of the beast and the number that identifies the beast which is 666. 666 is a number of a man which can be calculated to determine who that man is. Furthermore, the mark of the beast has to be something which will allow persecution for “no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark.”*3
Necessarily the seal of God is the Sabbath and the Mark of the Beast, Sunday, a false day of worship. The seal is placed only on the forehead and the mark of the beast is placed in the hand or forehead. The forehead represents our mind, our thoughts and the hand represents our labor for we work with our hands.
If we return to the days of Israel the angel killed the firstborn in every house where no blood had been placed on the lintel of the door.*4 Note that if one of God’s people did not put this sign on their door they would receive the same consequences as the Egyptians. Furthermore, although this signal was visible to all it was placed for specifically for the angel to see and pass over that home. None of us will literally was around with the seal of God or the mark of the beast on their brow. But our worship on Saturday while visible will be so that God may see our loyalty to him and therefore we do not suffer His wrath.
The apostle John again mentions the seal,
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. *5
Now combine these texts with the third angel's message to determine what the seal of God is and what the mark of the beast is.
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.*6
Those who receive the mark of the beast on their hand or forehead and those who worship the beast and his image will drink the wine of the wrath of God! Why will God unleash his wrath on those who are not sealed? That is, why will God unleashes his wrath upon those who receive the mark of the beast? If we go back to Scripture, the prophet Ezekiel writes,
But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’…“Therefore I made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’ Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them…because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols…I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’*7
Look at the similarities between what happened to the people of Israel and what is expressed in the third angel's message. The sign that God left his people is the Sabbath day "that they might know I am the Lord your God!" This is God’s Sabbath and God’s commandments no the Israelites for he mentions throughout the entire chapter “My statutes and My judgments”! We know that God is eternal, His word is eternal and His law is eternal. The law of God is to live forever as God promised that, "man shall live by them"! Now God's wrath is unleashed upon all those who rejected his commandments, went after idols and profaned the day that God left as a sign!
Why is Saturday the day he left as a sign? Why is it eternal? Why it a sign that He is Lord our God who sanctifies us? Why is it the seal of God? It's simple, the Sabbath was a sign established once God finished creating heavens and earth. It reminds us that God is our creator! If there is something that Satan hates is for us to worship God our sole creator of the universe. That is why we have so many theories on the existence of this universe; there purpose is to lead us away from our creator.
Notice what the Bible says:
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”*8
saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” *9
Of the number of reasons why God deserves our worship, among them his love and the eternal life manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus, the Bible emphasizes the creative power of God. God’s principle title is "God our creator". Of the Ten Commandments the fourth, Saturday, announces to the world that God is our creator. Finally, Revelation emphasizes that Satan seeks to destroy this title and persecutes anyone who keeps God’s Sabbath.
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.*10
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.*11
If we are no longer under God’s commandments why does Scripture say that the war is against the saints who keep the commandments of God? Friend, there is nothing worse, not even the worst that Satan can do, that would surpass the wrath of God. Do not refuse the call of Christ. He gives us the opportunity for salvation through his grace and love. It is time that we show our love for Him by keeping His holy commandments and having the faith of Jesus. That way we may ensure that our names are written in the book of life and that we are sealed for eternal salvation.
Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.*12
1* Ephesians 1:13, 4:30
2* Revelation 7:1-3
3* Revelation 13:17
4* Exodus 12:23
5* Revelation 14:1
6* Revelation 14:9-12
7* Ezekiel 20:8-20
8* Revelation 4:11
9* Revelation 14:7
10* Revelation 12:17
11* Revelation 14:12
12* Isaiah 8:16
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