FIRST QUARTER 2023
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #12
JUNE 10, 2023
“THE SEAL OF GOD AND MARK OF THE BEAST: PART 2”

 

(The Sealing: A Deep Dive)

 

The seal of God is not Saturday keeping. It is something much, much more. Likewise, the mark of the beast is more than Sunday keeping.  And while the final events will involve Sabbath versus Sunday worship in conflict, there is a deeper issue that begs our attention.

In Revelation chapter 7 heaven is pictured as doing something active and intentional to hold back a cataclysmic amount of trouble that is about to come upon the earth.  And please take note that heaven is not holding these “winds” until some divinely predetermined time. Rather it is holding them until a specific work is completed.

“‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads’” (Revelation 7:3, NKJV).

It is the sealing of God’s people that is brought to light here, a work in which heaven is actively engaged and intently pursuing to complete in all who will yield.  When it is completed God will release the winds, the final eschaton will commence, and the second coming of Jesus will soon follow. But if the sealing is not finished, no winds will be released and the second coming of Christ will be held. How critical this work must be that He would delay His coming until it is completed.

Not by Force or Coercion

According to our text the seal of God is received in the forehead because this is something that can only be received freely and willingly.  This work can not be forced upon a single soul. In contrast, the mark of the beast can be received either willingly, in the forehead, or by force or coercion, in the hand. (Revelation 14:9).

There is a very good reason that God’s seal can not be received by force. Consider this verse about the seal:

“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned” (Song of Solomon 8:6-8, KJV).

Here in this dialog between the Shulamite and her best beloved is this idea that the one is sealed upon the heart (mind/forehead) of the other.  The implication is, "I am yours and you are mine and this arraignment is fixed forever."  And notice that integral to this sealing is the vehement, unquenchable love that is stronger than death.  A love that was manifested in the death of Jesus and is yearning for an answering love, that could never be forced from the heart of His bride.  Love by its very nature can never be forced.

The Seal is Fixed Forever

That the seal is fixed forever is expressed in the following comment about the seal of God:

“…it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved.”--Ellen G. White, Manuscript 173, 1902.

God's people see and experience something in Him that is so compelling that their sentiments are forever fixed.

Sighing and Crying Because of Him

Ezekiel 9:1-7 describes a vision similar to John’s sealing vision of Revelation 7.  In Ezekiel’s vision winds of trouble and destruction are being held until the man in linen with the writer’s inkhorn has completed his work.  His instruction was to “put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done” (Ezekiel 9:4, NKJV) in the land.

Those that are sealed will be sighing and crying for the sin in the land.  I used to think of this in terms of sighing and crying for the sins of leaders and others in the church. But now I can see that the sins I should be sighing and crying about are my own.  When I catch a clearer view of the condition of my own heart, the sins of others appear as mere splinters compared to the logs of my devising.  The sighing and crying ones are mourning over their own sin. And even more importantly, they are mourning because what their sin is doing to God.

“Those who think of the result of hastening or hindering the gospel think of it in relation to themselves and to the world. Few think of its relation to God. Few give thought to the suffering that sin has caused our Creator. All heaven suffered in Christ's agony; but that suffering did not begin or end with His manifestation in humanity. The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Every departure from the right, every deed of cruelty, every failure of humanity to reach His ideal, brings grief to Him."--Ellen G. White, Education, p. 263.

In addition, this mark from the angel in linen, like the blood of the Passover lamb, would protect them in the time of destruction (Ezekiel 9:6). Those that receive this seal of God have seen something in the cross of Calvary such that they can say with Paul, “but God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14, NKJV).

I Will Make You a Signet (Seal)

Another important passage about the seal of God comes from the book of Haggai.

In this little prophetic book the Lord comes with four messages to Haggai at a time when His people had been called out of Babylon to return to Jerusalem and restore the sanctuary of God. The first message was a call to repentance; the second, a word of hope that despite things not appearing at they ought, God was still with them and the day was coming when things will be as they ought--when the Desire of All Nations, Jesus Himself, would arrive. 

The third was a reminder of the first message that all the works of their own hands yield little fruit.  And this was quickly followed by the fourth giving assurance and  the promise that God would do what they in fact could not.  These last two messages, coming in the same day, could really be thought of as one. Maybe it could be described like this:

“What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.”--Ellen G. White, Letter 73, 1896.

And it is in this fourth and final message through Haggai to Zerubbabel that the sealing is mentioned.

“And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:20-23, KJV, emphasis supplied).

Isn’t it interesting that the Lord’s promise to Zerubbabel is that He would make him as a signet.  Zerubbabel would be as the very seal itself that bore the name of the Creator.  Zerubabbel’s life would bear His name and character as a perfect impress.  Zerubabbel would have that same heaven born vehement love spoken of in Song of Solomon, and by virtue of that fact he would leave the very impress of the King Himself wherever he went and on whoever he encountered.  This is what would give Zerubabbel his authority and effectiveness.

What is compelling is this. This is one of the few place Ellen White refers to not just a message or just a precious message but how the Lord sent a most precious message.

“To Zerubbabel their leader—he who, through all the years since their return from Babylon, had been so sorely tried—was given a most precious message. The day was coming, the Lord declared, when all the enemies of His chosen people would be cast down. ’In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, ... and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee.’ Verse 23.”--Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 577, emphasis supplied.

The other place, of course, where Ellen White used this “most precious message” phrase is referring to the message that the Lord sent to his people in 1888.

“The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones.”--Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers, p. 91, idem.

And with the message that the Lord sent in 1888 He likewise sent a message that was not only a call to, but the method for, the sealing work that would finish the work of the everlasting gospel and the mystery of God (Revelation 10:7) to make His people His signet.  And central to this was a message to direct our eyes to the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

“This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure."--Ellen G. White, ibid.

Calling All Pillars

Like Zerubabbel, the firm foundation and platform for the temple has been set in the Advent Message.  It is a strong, immovable platform.  Now what is needed for the finishing of this temple are the pillars — and He is calling you and I to be these pillars.

"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name" (Revelation 3:12, NKJV).

And this call to be a pillar is not just to you and me but He desires all to be part of this temple.  And that is why He has given us a most precious message to give to the world.

“Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples” (Isaiah 8:16, KJV).

And He has given us His Spirit to apply these truths to our hearts and give them efficacy in our lives.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13, KJV)

It is the Holy Spirit that He has sent to finish this work in and through us. But if we resist His striving we delay the finishing.

“‘GRIEVE not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.’ When anything is sealed, it is made secure; and God by is Holy Spirit is now sealing hearts for eternity. Will you let the Holy Spirit do his work on your heart? Let him, let him!”--A. T. Jones, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald,  December 20, 1898.

Consider these descriptions of the incredible purpose God has for all and for the hope and faith He has in you.

“Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God.”--Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 445.

“The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a likeness to Christ in character.” --Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, May 21, 1895.

“The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God—candidates for heaven.”--Ellen G. White,  Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 216.

And while this may seem beyond our grasp, take courage because it is without question beyond anything you could ever remotely produce yourself.  So please stop relying on yourself for this.  And that is why He is not asking you to do this.  He has said that He will do this.  The question for you and for me is, do we believe He can? Do we believe that He loves us beyond anything we can imagine and therefore know that we can put ourselves completely into His keeping?  Are our affections completely fixed such that they can not be turned away from Him? Are we ready to relinquish every one of our own inconstant and impotent efforts which amount to absolutely nothing, and let Him who is the author of faith be the finisher of His faith in us?

Sabbath Keeping, not Saturday Keeping

The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty.

“When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God."--Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 605.

And the reason this is true is because there will not be a single man, woman, or child who will oppose the Lord’s true Sabbath when they have already allowed the Lord do His sanctifying work in them.

“A mark is placed upon every one of God's people, just as verily as a mark was placed over the doors of the Hebrew dwellings to preserve the people from the general ruin. God declares, 'I gave them My sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them' [Ezekiel 20:12].”—Ellen G. white, The S.D.A. Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 969.

The sealing is the finishing work of God in the lives of His people and the Sabbath is the sign of that work which God has completed.  This is a complete and total resting in the finished and finishing work of Christ for us and in us, of which the Seventh-Day Sabbath is a memorial--His finished work in creation and His finished work in salvation and deliverance of you and me.

Sadly, it is entirely possible for us to keep Saturday and bypass the rest that He has promised for us.  By continuing to operate in our own strength and our own efforts we are not entering into His rest, and therefore we will not be keeping the Sabbath even if we keep Saturday.  And if that is the case then we will have chosen the beast and his mark over God and His seal.

“There can be only two classes. Each party is distinctly stamped, either with the seal of the living God, or with the mark of the beast or his image.”-- Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, January 30, 1900.

So today in this tarrying time we are either being sealed by God or being marked by the beast.

“Therefore, now is the time when that everlasting gospel, the mystery of God, is to be preached in all its fullness, which means Christ in men in all his completeness. And as the Sabbath of the Lord, in the fullness of its meaning, is but the sign of what Christ in all his completeness is to those who believe in him; so when Christ in all his completeness is formed and found in us, there will stand the Sabbath as the witness, the sign, the seal of the blessed consummation.”--A. T. Jones, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald,  August 2, 1892, p. 483.

“Well, then, you see at every step of the way, every line of thought, brings us only face to face with that, that the Sabbath as it is in Jesus Christ, and as the believer in Jesus observes it, that alone is the seal of the living God. Saturday keeping is not the seal of God. Christ as He is reflected in the Sabbath of the Lord, through the Sabbath of the Lord, and in it, in the mind and heart of the believer, in the living image of God completed—that is the seal of the living God. Then there is written in the foreheads of that people the name of the Father.”-- A. T. Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p. 455.

Finished at Last

And when this sealing work is finally completed the Son of Man will stand and say,

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still" (Revelation 22:11, NKJV).

Then the winds will be released, and the final eschaton will unfold.  And in that time look up, because your redemption surely draws close, for He Himself said, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me” (Revelation 22:12, NKJV).

Oh what a blessed day!  And until that day may we be “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NKJV).

~Kelly Kinsley