By Gary Stearman
One of the most familiar of all the Bible’s images is that in which 144,000 Jews are sealed — 12,000 from each of Israel’s Twelve Tribes.
“2 And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Rev. 7:2,3).
At this point, the elect representatives of Israel’s Twelve Tribes are “sealed.” It is generally agreed that they are sealed for the specific reason that they have work to do. During the dark days of the Tribulation, they are God’s chosen spiritual assembly. At this time, the believing Church has been removed from the Earth. Someone has to be sent forth among men to achieve God’s purposes. These are the chosen.
The 144,000 are seen again in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. There, they are seen as redeemed and justified before God. Furthermore, they are said to be virgins — a symbol of purity and dedication. In this vignette, they are later shown singing a victory song that is specific to their work. In other words, they are chosen — sealed — for a specific reason.
Many have speculated about the nature and purpose of their sealing. Some assert that they become God’s evangelists for a given period, and this can be easily demonstrated. But the full reason for their sealing is not clearly given. Among their many activities, they will no doubt act as a force against the Antichrist.
Why does Scripture go to the trouble to describe the sealing process, when its true significance seems so obscure? But in fact, as is always the case, the Bible has an answer to such questions. If we are simply wise enough to discern the meaning, it gives us the information we need.
Potters impressed seals into their wares before firing, to create a sort of trademark. An unbroken wax or clay seal upon an object like a scroll or jar indicated that it had not been violated. When the king’s servants threw Daniel into the lion’s den, it was sealed to ward off anyone who would attempt to save him. To assure that His disciples would not steal the Lord’s body, the Romans sealed the tomb of Jesus. To break that seal was to challenge the power of Caesar.
As a metaphor for the believer’s spiritual condition, the seal also indicates ownership and protection; it identifies the believer as belonging to the Lord. At the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus spoke of His own spiritual sealing:
“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:27).
Here, Jesus links the idea of His sealing with eternal provision. The saint is assured that the Lord will unfailingly provide him with heavenly nourishment.
Paul spoke of salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as sealing:
“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (II Cor. 1:22).
In this passage of Scripture, Paul links the sealing process with the giving of the Holy Spirit. As in Romans 6, where Paul describes the believer as being baptized into the death of Christ. This proceeding assures the believer that he will be raised from death into a new life. Thus, the giving of the Spirit is a kind of sealing.
Paul also described sealing as assurance given after one trusts in the Lord. This assurance is unconditional. Validated by the “earnest” payment of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have a virtual guarantee that His work will come to completion in the life of the believer.
“13 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, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:13,14).
This “earnest” constitutes a legal action … constituting a promise that God’s initial work will be fulfilled.
Read the full article at - http://www.prophecyinthenews.com/the-mark-of-god/
One of the most familiar of all the Bible’s images is that in which 144,000 Jews are sealed — 12,000 from each of Israel’s Twelve Tribes.
“2 And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Rev. 7:2,3).
At this point, the elect representatives of Israel’s Twelve Tribes are “sealed.” It is generally agreed that they are sealed for the specific reason that they have work to do. During the dark days of the Tribulation, they are God’s chosen spiritual assembly. At this time, the believing Church has been removed from the Earth. Someone has to be sent forth among men to achieve God’s purposes. These are the chosen.
The 144,000 are seen again in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. There, they are seen as redeemed and justified before God. Furthermore, they are said to be virgins — a symbol of purity and dedication. In this vignette, they are later shown singing a victory song that is specific to their work. In other words, they are chosen — sealed — for a specific reason.
Many have speculated about the nature and purpose of their sealing. Some assert that they become God’s evangelists for a given period, and this can be easily demonstrated. But the full reason for their sealing is not clearly given. Among their many activities, they will no doubt act as a force against the Antichrist.
Why does Scripture go to the trouble to describe the sealing process, when its true significance seems so obscure? But in fact, as is always the case, the Bible has an answer to such questions. If we are simply wise enough to discern the meaning, it gives us the information we need.
The Seal as Identification
In the ancient world, seals were used to indicate ownership, authenticity and protection. Cylinder seals and signet rings were used to impress a mark or depiction upon soft clay or wax. Using their seals, kings authenticated property and documents.Potters impressed seals into their wares before firing, to create a sort of trademark. An unbroken wax or clay seal upon an object like a scroll or jar indicated that it had not been violated. When the king’s servants threw Daniel into the lion’s den, it was sealed to ward off anyone who would attempt to save him. To assure that His disciples would not steal the Lord’s body, the Romans sealed the tomb of Jesus. To break that seal was to challenge the power of Caesar.
As a metaphor for the believer’s spiritual condition, the seal also indicates ownership and protection; it identifies the believer as belonging to the Lord. At the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus spoke of His own spiritual sealing:
“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:27).
Here, Jesus links the idea of His sealing with eternal provision. The saint is assured that the Lord will unfailingly provide him with heavenly nourishment.
Paul spoke of salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as sealing:
“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (II Cor. 1:22).
In this passage of Scripture, Paul links the sealing process with the giving of the Holy Spirit. As in Romans 6, where Paul describes the believer as being baptized into the death of Christ. This proceeding assures the believer that he will be raised from death into a new life. Thus, the giving of the Spirit is a kind of sealing.
Paul also described sealing as assurance given after one trusts in the Lord. This assurance is unconditional. Validated by the “earnest” payment of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have a virtual guarantee that His work will come to completion in the life of the believer.
“13 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, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:13,14).
This “earnest” constitutes a legal action … constituting a promise that God’s initial work will be fulfilled.
Read the full article at - http://www.prophecyinthenews.com/the-mark-of-god/
