Sealed-
Revelation Chapter 7
Verse 1 And after these things I saw four angels
standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth,
that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
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.
Logic tells us that because we didn't immediately go
into the opening of the seventh seal that this interjection is something
else. When you end something, is it
never spoken of again? What I mean is, often we finish describing something, we
even state we are finished and that what we were talking about is over. And
then in the next breath we say, however let me expound on this point already
mentioned. We do it, there is no escaping
this truth. We have talks that are
finished, conversations that are supposedly over and even if it is days, weeks,
months, or years later we can still expound upon things in that finished
discussion. Here in the book of
Revelation which is revealing prophecies pertinent all the way to the end of
the world, we've come again to a prophecy that leads us right up to the end. In
Revelation 6 it ended with this--
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it
is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their
places.
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great
men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every
bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the
mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on
us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the
wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and
who shall be able to stand?
The great day of his wrath had arrived. Once that day
arrives what is left? We still have a seventh seal to be opened and yet we
don't go right into that seventh seal. Instead of moving on, we move to the
EXPOUNDING upon, the interjections, the expansion, a more vivid, detailed
picture for a more comprehensive understanding. We can't call this ludicrous
and truly not comprehend why this would be necessary. We need details! We need
understanding! We need all we can get and if we can't realize that John is
being given this prophetic vision NOT step by step, but crouched in symbolism,
surrounded by one aspect then another, further detailed -much like a very
necessary point of understanding could be, then we might as well close the book
and stop reading. You ARE NOT going to get a page by page, blow by blow, point
by point, reading here, it doesn't exist and for a good reason! Our God will
OPEN our understanding as we need it opened! Our God will have us SEARCH His
word because in the Word we find salvation.
Joh_5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think
ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Rich with all we need throughout our lives for
spiritual nourishment, is there any wonder that people DIE to get a chance to
read this very special Word of God? We sit back and watch dust collect on our
Bibles while some are hungering and thirsting after a mere verse from that huge collection of
verses. We ignore our Spiritual Food and then have the audacity to wonder why
the spirit is lacking within our lives! We STARVE ourselves spiritually and all
the while pretend we want to be spiritual.
We feed our flesh counting that more important than anything else, not
realizing we are the living dead! God's
word has riches we've barely tapped. The Holy Spirit's ability to enlighten us
is REAL and as we study He will guide us!
We cannot look at this book of Revelation and refuse
to delve deep into the intricacies of its writings.
We are brought to the seventh chapter and instead of
going to the seventh seal and its particulars, we are told John is shown
something else- NOT something next in a succession of things, but something
else.
To figure out where this next vision fits in we only
have to realize that before Christ returns for His living and dead, before
those who are not His cry out for rocks to fall on them, there will be those
alive who ARE Christ's and in need of protection. So when we read this--
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the
trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Our Savior is explaining here that there will be a
time of SEALING before the angels holding back the winds of extreme strife let
go and hold it back no more. Our God wants us to understand what that sealing
is! It's important, so incredibly important that this vision is introduced and
we MUST take the time to study it in depth!
Let's REREAD what we first studied yesterday, pausing
where we need to so we can- by the grace of God- find understanding,
enlightenment through the Holy Spirit. May the eyesalve cover our eyes so we
are no longer spiritually blind!
*******
Excerpts from-
Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith
Page 453
Revelation Chapter VII
The Seal of the Living God
The time of the work here introduced is established
beyond mistake. The sixth chapter closed with the events of the sixth seal, and
the seventh seal is not mentioned until we reach the beginning of Revelation 8.
The whole of Revelation 7 is therefore thrown in here
parenthetically.
Why is it thus introduced at this point? Evidently it
is given for the purpose of stating additional particulars concerning the sixth
seal.
The expression, "after these things," does
not mean after the fulfillment of all the events previously described, but
after the prophets had been carried in vision to the close of the sixth seal,
that the consecutive order of events as given in Revelation 6 might not be
broken, his mind is called to what is mentioned in Revelation 7, as further
particulars in regard to the seal.
We inquire, Between what events in that seal is this
work done?
It must be accomplished before the departing of the
heavens as a scroll, for after that event there is no place for such a work as
this. It must take place after the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, for these
signs have already been fulfilled, and such a sealing work has not yet been
accomplished.
It comes in therefore between the 13th and 14th verses
of Revelation 6. There, as already shown, is just where we now stand. Hence the
first part of Revelation 7 relates to a work the accomplishment of which may be
looked for now.
Four Angels.--
Angels are ever-present agents in the affairs of the
earth. Why may not these be four of those heavenly
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beings into whose hands God has committed the work of
holding the winds while it is God's purpose that they should not blow, and
loosing them when the time comes for the hurting of the earth?
Four Corners of the Earth.--
This expression denotes the four quarters, or the four
points of the compass, and signifies that these angels in their particular
sphere have charge of the whole earth.
Four Winds.--
Winds in the Bible symbolize political commotion,
strife, and war. (Daniel 7: 2, Jeremiah 25: 32.) The four winds, held by four
angels standing in the four quarters of the earth, must denote all the elements
of strife and commotion that exist in the world. When they are all loosed and
all blow together, it will constitute the great whirlwind just referred to in
the prophecy of Jeremiah.
Angel Ascending From the East.--
Another literal angel, having charge of another
specific work, is here introduced. Instead of the words "ascending from
the east," some translations read, "ascending from the
sunrising," which is a more literal translation. The expression evidently
refers to manner rather than locality, for as the sun rises with rays at first
oblique and comparatively powerless, then increases in strength until it shine
in all its meridian power and splendor, so the work of this angel begins in
moderation, moves onward with ever-accumulating influence, and closes in
strength and power.
Seal of the Living God.--
It is the distinguishing characteristic of the
ascending angel that he bears with him the seal of the living God.
From this fact and the chronology of his work we are
to determine if possible what movement is symbolized by his mission.
The nature of his work is evidently suggested by his
having the seal of the living God.
To ascertain what his work is, we must determine what
the seal of the living God is.
A seal is defined to be an instrument of sealing, that
which "is used by individuals, corporate bodies, and states, for making
impressions on wax, upon instruments of writing, as an evidence of their
authenticity." The original word in this text
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is defined, "A seal, i.e., a signet ring; a mark,
stamp, badge; a token, a pledge."
The verb signifies: "To secure to any one, to
make sure; to set a seal or mark upon anything in token of its being genuine or
approved; to attest, to confirm, to establish, to distinguish by a mark."
With these definitions as a basis, we compare Genesis 17: 11 with Romans 4: 11,
and Revelation 7: 3 with Ezekiel 9: 4, and find that the words
"token," "sign," "seal," and "mark" are
used in the Bible as synonymous terms. The seal of God brought to view in our
text is to applied to the servants of God. In this case it is not some literal
mark to be made in the flesh, but some institution or observance having special
reference to God, which will serve as a "mark of distinction" between
the worshipers of God and those who are not His servants, though they may
profess to follow Him.
A seal is used to render valid or authentic any
enactments or laws that a person or power may promulgate. Frequent instances of
its use occur in the Scriptures. In 1 Kings 21: 8, we read that Jezebel
"wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal." These
letters then had all the authority of King Ahab. Again, in Esther 3: 12:
"In the name of King Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's
ring." So also in Esther 8: 8: "The writing which is written in the
king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse."
A seal is used in connection with some law or
enactment that demands obedience, or upon documents that are to be made legal,
or subject to the provisions of law. The idea of law is inseparable from a
seal.
We are not to suppose that to the enactments and laws
of God binding upon men, there must be attached a literal seal, made with
literal instruments. From the definition of the term, and the purpose for which
a seal is used, as shown before, we must understand a seal to be strictly that
which gives validity and authenticity to enactments and laws. This is found in
the name of signature of the lawmaking power, ex-
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pressed in such terms as to show what power is, and
its right to make laws and demand obedience. Even with a literal seal, the name
must always be used as indicated in the references given above. An instance of
the use of the name alone seems to occur in Daniel 6: 8: "Now, O king,
establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according
to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not." In other words,
affix the signature of royalty, which shows who it is that demands obedience,
and what his right is to demand it.
In the prophecy of Isaiah 8, we read: "Bind up
the testimony, seal the law among My disciples." This must refer to a work
of reviving in the minds of the disciples some of the claims of the law which
have been overlooked, or perverted from their true meaning. In the prophecy
this is called sealing the law, or restoring to it its seal, which had been
taken from it.
The 144,000 who in the chapter before us are said to
be sealed with the seal of God in their foreheads, are again brought to view in
Revelation 14: 1, where they are said to have the Father's name written in
their foreheads.
(((We must remember this -- Heb_8:10 For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the
Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people ))))
What Is the Seal of God?--
From the foregoing reasoning, facts, and declarations
of Scripture, two conclusions inevitably follow:
1. The seal of God is found in the law.
2. The seal of God is that part of His law which
contains His name, or descriptive title, showing who He is, the extent of His
dominion, and His right to rule.
The law of God is admitted by all the leading
evangelical denominations to be summarily contained in the decalogue, or ten
commandments. We have, then, but to examine these commandments to see which one
it is that constitutes the seal of the law, or in other words, makes known the
true God, the lawmaking power.
The first three commandments mention the word
"God," but we cannot tell from these who is meant, for there are
multitudes of objects to which this name is applied. There
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are "gods many and lords many," as the
apostle says. (1 Corinthians 8: 5.) We pass over the fourth commandment for the
time being. The fifth contains the words "Lord" and "God,"
but does not define them, and the remaining five precepts do not contain the
name of God at all. With that part of the law which we have examined, it would
be impossible to convict the grossest idolater of sin. The worshiper of images
could say, This idol before me is my god, and I worship him according to this
law. Thus without the fourth commandment the decalogue is null and void, as far
as it pertains to the definition of the worship of the true God.
But let us now add the fourth commandment, restore to
the law this precept, which many are ready to contend has been expunged, and
see how the case will then stand.
As we examine this commandment, which contains the
declaration, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and
all that in them is," we see at once that we are reading the requirements
of Him who created all things.
The sun then is
not the God of the decalogue. The true God is He who made the sun. No object in
heaven or earth is the being who here demands obedience, for the god of this
law is the one who made all created things. Now we have a weapon against
idolatry. Now this law can no longer be applied to false gods, who "have
not made the heavens and the earth." Jeremiah 10: 11.
The Author of this law has declared who He is, the
extent of His dominion, and His right to rule; for every created intelligence
must at once assent that He who is the Creator of all has a right to demand
obedience from all His creatures. Thus the fourth commandment in its place,
this wonderful document, the decalogue, the only document among men which God
ever wrote with His own finger, has a signature, it has that which renders it
intelligible and authentic, it has a seal. But without the fourth commandment,
the law is incomplete and unauthoritative.
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From the foregoing logic it is evident that the fourth
commandment constitutes the seal of the law of God, or the seal of God. The
Scriptures give direct testimony on this conclusion.
We have seen already that in Scripture usage,
"sign," "seal," "token," and "mark" are
synonymous terms. The Lord expressly says that the Sabbath is a sign between
Him and His people. 'Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between
Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord
that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31: 13. The same fact is again stated in
Ezekiel 20: 12, 20. Here the Lord told His people that the very object of their
keeping the Sabbath was that they might know that He is the true God. This is
the same as if the Lord had said, "The Sabbath is a seal. On My part it is
the seal of My authority, the sign that I have the right to command obedience;
on you part it is a token that you accept Me to be your God."
Should it be said that this principle can have no
application to Christians at the present time, as the Sabbath was a sign
between God and the Jews only, it would be sufficient to reply that the terms
"Jews" and "Israel" in a true Scriptural sense are not
confined to the literal seed of Abraham. This patriarch was chosen at first
because he was the friend of God while his fathers were idolaters. His
posterity were chosen to be God's people, the guardians of His law and the
depositaries of His truth, because all others had apostatized from Him. These
words respecting the Sabbath were spoken to them while they enjoyed the honor
of being thus set apart from all others. But when the middle wall of partition
was broken down, and the Gentiles were called in to be partakers of the
blessings of Abraham, all God's people, both Jews and Gentiles, were brought
into a new and more intimate relation to God through His Son, and are now
described by such expressions as "a Jew which is one inwardly," and
"an Israelite indeed." Romans 2: 29; John 1: 47. These declarations
apply to all such, for they have as much occasion to know the Lord as had His
people of old.
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Thus the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is taken by
the Lord as a sign between Him and His people, or the seal of His law for all
time. By keeping that commandment people signify that they are the worshipers
of the true God. In the same commandment God make Himself known as their
rightful ruler, inasmuch as He is their Creator.
In harmony with this idea, the significant fact is to
be noticed that whenever the sacred writers wish to point out the true God in
distinction from false gods of every description, an appeal is made to the
great facts of creation, upon which the fourth commandment is based. (See 2
Kings 19: 15; 2 Chronicles 2: 12; Nehemiah 9: 6; Psalm 96: 5; 115: 4-7, 15;
121: 2; 124: 8; 134: 3; 146: 6; Isaiah 37: 16; 42: 5; 44: 24; 45: 12; 51: 13;
Job 9: 8; Jeremiah 10: 10-12; 32: 17; 51: 15; Acts 4: 24; 14: 15; 17: 23, 24.)
2Ki 19:15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and
said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the
God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven
and earth.
2Ch 2:12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God
of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise
son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the
LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
Neh 9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast
made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all
things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest
them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols:
but the LORD made the heavens.
Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of
men's hands.
Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes
have they, but they see not:
Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have
they, but they smell not:
Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet
have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
Psa 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made
heaven and earth.
Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made
heaven and earth.
Psa 134:3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless
thee out of Zion.
Psa 146:6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and
all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever
Isa 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest
between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms
of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the
heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which
cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to
them that walk therein
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he
that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that
stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself
Isa 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon
it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I
commanded.
Isa 51:13 And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath
stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast
feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he
were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
Job 9:8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and
treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the
living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and
the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Jer 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that
have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth,
and from under these heavens.
Jer 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath
established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his
discretion.
Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the
heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is
nothing too hard for thee
Jer 51:15 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath
established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his
understanding.
Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up
their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast
made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is
Act 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We
also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn
from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein
Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your
devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom
therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things
therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples
made with hands
*******
Notice again that the same company who in Revelation 7
have the seal of the living God in their foreheads, are brought to view again
in Revelation 14: 1, having the Father's name in their foreheads. This is good
proof that the "seal of the living God" and the "Father's
name" are used synonymously. The chain of evidence on this point is made
complete when it is ascertained that the fourth commandment, which has been
shown to be the seal of the law, is spoken of by the Lord as that which
contains His name. The proof of this will be seen in Deuteronomy 16: 6:
"But at the place which the Lord thy God shall chose to place His name in,
there shalt thou sacrifice the Passover." What was in the place where they
sacrificed the Passover? There was the sanctuary, having in its holiest
apartment the ark with the ten commandments, the fourth of which identified the
true God, and contained His name. Wherever this fourth commandment was, there
God's name was placed, and this was the only thing to which the language could
be applied. (See Deuteronomy 12: 5, 11, 21; 14: 23, 24.)
Deu 12:5 But unto the place which the LORD your God
shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his
habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come
Deu 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD
your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring
all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes,
and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto
the LORD
Deu 12:21 If the place which the LORD thy God hath
chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy
herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded
thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after
Deu 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God,
in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy
corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy
flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
Deu 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that
thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the
LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath
blessed thee
*******
The Sealing Work.--Since we have now ascertained that
the seal of God is His holy Sabbath, with which His name is identified, we are
prepared to proceed with the application.
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By the scenes introduced in the verses before us--the
four winds apparently about to blow, bringing war and trouble upon the land,
and this work restrained until the servants of God should be sealed--we are
reminded of the houses of the Israelites marked with the blood of the paschal
lamb, and spared as the destroying angel passed over to slay the firstborn of
the Egyptians. (Exodus 12.) We are also reminded of the mark made by the man
with a writer's inkhorn on all those who were to be spared by the men with the
slaughtering weapons who followed after. (Ezekiel 9.) We conclude that the seal
of God placed upon His servants is some distinguishing mark, or religious
characteristic, through which they will be exempted from the judgments of God
that fall on the wicked around them.
As we have found the seal of God in the fourth
commandment, the inquiry follows, Does the observance of that commandment
involve any peculiarity in religious practice?--Yes, a very marked and striking
one. It is one of the most singular facts to be met with in religious history
that, in an age of such boasted gospel light as the present, when the influence
of Christianity is so powerful and widespread, one of the most striking
peculiarities in practice which a person can adopt, and one of the greatest crosses
he can take up, is the simple observance of the fourth commandment of God's
law. This precept requires the observance of the seventh day of each week as
the Sabbath of the Lord; while almost all Christendom, through the combined
influences of paganism and the papacy, has been beguiled into the keeping of
the first day. A person has only to begin the observance of the day enjoined in
the commandment, when a mark of peculiarity is upon him at once. He is distinct
from both the professedly religious and the secular world.
We conclude that the angel ascending from the east,
having the seal of the living God, is a divine messenger in charge of a work of
reform to be carried on among men involving the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment. The agents of this work
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on the earth are of course ministers of Christ, for to
men is given the commission of instructing their fellow men in Bible truth. But
as there is order in the execution of all the divine counsels, it seems not
improbable that a literal angel may have the charge and oversight of this
reform.
We have already noticed that the chronology of this
work locates it in our own time. This is further evident from the fact that in
the next scene after the sealing of these servants of God, they appear before
the throne with palms of victory in their hands. The sealing is therefore the
last work to be accomplished for them prior to their deliverance from the
destruction brought upon the world in connection with the second advent.
Identity of the Sealing Angel.--
In Revelation 14 we find the same work again brought
to view under the symbol of an angel flying in the midst of heaven with the
most terrible warning that ever fell upon the ears of men. While we shall speak
of this more fully when we reach that chapter, we refer to it now because it is
the last work to be accomplished for the world before the coming of Christ,
which is the next event in order in that prophecy, and hence must synchronize
with the work here brought to view in Revelation 7: 1-3. The angel with the
seal of the living God is therefore the same as the third angel of Revelation
14.
This view strengthens the foregoing exposition of the
seal. As the result of the sealing work in Revelation 7, a certain company are
sealed with the seal of the living God, while as the result of the third
angel's message of Revelation 14 a company of people obey all the
"commandments of God." Revelation 14: 12. It is the fourth
commandment of the decalogue and that alone which the Christian world is openly
violating and teaching men to violate. That this is the vital question in this
message is evident from the fact that the keeping of the commandments,
including the Lord's Sabbath, is what distinguishes the servants of God from
those who worship the beast and receive his mark. As will be hereafter shown,
this mark is the observance of a counterfeit sabbath.
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After thus briefly noticing the main points of the
subject, we now come to the most striking feature of all. In accordance with
the foregoing chronological argument, we find this work already in process of
fulfillment before our eyes. The third angel's message is going forth. The
angel ascending from the east is on his mission. The reform on the Sabbath
question has begun; and it is surely, though yet in comparative silence,
working its way through the land. It is destined to agitate every country that receives
the light of the gospel, and it will result in bringing out a people prepared
for the soon coming of the Saviour, and sealed for His everlasting kingdom. The
sealing of the servants of God by the angel mentioned in verse 3, is therefore
in recognition of their faithfulness in keeping the law of God, who is
identified in the fourth commandment as the Creator of heaven and earth, and
who established the seventh-day Sabbath in commemoration of that great work.
*******
Truth.
Few will be saved.
Though many claim salvation.
Many say they know Jesus.
Jesus will say He knows them not.
Truth.
The moral law, ten are given.
There is LOVE in the law.
Love God, love each other.
Obey out of love.
Truth.
An authority.
A ruler.
A realm.
A seal.
Truth.
God.
Creator.
Heaven and earth.
In the beginning.
Truth.
Sealed.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, now and forever!
Amen.
