A sealed
servant.
Rev
7:1 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.
Rev
7:2 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,
Rev
7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we
have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Seal of
God.
NOTE-
Taken from
Testimonies for the Church Volume 5 E.G.
White (PLEASE look up every scripture given- we have to study to show ourselves
approved unto )God, not have others simply study for us.)
'Chapter
23—The Seal of God
“He cried
also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over
the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”
(Ezekiel 9:1)
“…And he
called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his
side; and the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the
midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and
that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the
others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite:
let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both
maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is
the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which
were before the house.” (Ezekiel 9:3-6)
Jesus is
about to leave the mercy seat of the heavenly sanctuary to put on garments of
vengeance and pour out His wrath in judgments upon those who have not responded
to the light God has given them. “Because sentence against an evil work is not
executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them
to do evil.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11) Instead of being softened by the patience and
long forbearance that the Lord has exercised toward them, those who fear not
God and love not the truth strengthen their hearts in their evil course. But
there are limits even to the forbearance of God, and many are exceeding these
boundaries. They have overrun the limits of grace, and therefore God must
interfere and vindicate His own honor.
Of the
Amorites the Lord said: “In the fourth generation they shall come hither again:
for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” (Genesis 15:16) Although
this nation was conspicuous because of its idolatry and corruption, it had not
yet filled up the cup of its iniquity, and God would not give command for its
utter destruction. The people were to see the divine power manifested in a
marked manner, that they might be left without excuse. The compassionate
Creator was willing to bear with their iniquity until the fourth generation.
Then, if no change was seen for the better, His judgments were to fall upon
them.
With
unerring accuracy the Infinite One still keeps an account with all nations.
While His mercy is tendered with calls to repentance, this account will remain
open; but when the figures reach a certain amount which God has fixed, the
ministry of His wrath commences. The account is closed. Divine patience ceases.
There is no more pleading of mercy in their behalf.
The
prophet, looking down the ages, had this time presented before his vision. The
nations of this age have been the recipients of unprecedented mercies. The
choicest of heaven's blessings have been given them, but increased pride,
covetousness, idolatry, contempt of God, and base ingratitude are written
against them. They are fast closing up their account with God.
But that
which causes me to tremble is the fact that those who have had the greatest
light and privileges have become contaminated by the prevailing iniquity.
Influenced by the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the
truth, have grown cold and are borne down by the strong current of evil. The universal scorn thrown upon true piety
and holiness leads those who do not connect closely with God to lose their
reverence for His law. If they were following the light and obeying the
truth from the heart, this holy law would seem even more precious to them when
thus despised and set aside. As the disrespect for God's law becomes more
manifest, the line of demarcation between its observers and the world becomes
more distinct. Love for the divine precepts increases with one class according
as contempt for them increases with another class.
The crisis
is fast approaching. The rapidly swelling figures show that the time for God's
visitation has about come. Although loath to punish, nevertheless He will
punish, and that speedily. Those who walk in the light will see signs of the
approaching peril; but they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned expectancy of
the ruin, comforting themselves with the belief that God will shelter His
people in the day of visitation. Far from it.
They should realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others,
looking with strong faith to God for help. “…The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
The leaven
of godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the time when the danger and
depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in
the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the
land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church
because its members are doing after the manner of the world.
The
earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When the Lord comes
forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of all those who have
preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves unspotted from the world.
It is at this time that God has promised to avenge His own elect which cry day
and night unto Him, though He bear long with them.
The
command is: “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem,
and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” These sighing, crying ones had
been holding forth the words of life; they had reproved, counseled, and
entreated. Some who had been dishonoring God repented and humbled their hearts
before Him. But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many
still continued the forms of religion, His power and presence were lacking.
In the
time when His wrath shall go forth in judgments, these humble, devoted
followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their
soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and
warnings. While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse
the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God's
honor and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any.
Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and
conversation of the unrighteous. They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent
of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. They mourn before
God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great
light. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness,
and deception of almost every kind are in the church. The Spirit of God, which
prompts to reproof, is trampled underfoot, while the servants of Satan triumph.
God is dishonored, the truth made of none effect.
The class
who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the
sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His
messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him
through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay
utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not
near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began
at the ancient men which were before the house.”
Here we
see that the church—the Lord's sanctuary—was the first to feel the stroke of
the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and
who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had
betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for
miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times
have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord
will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His
people in judgment. Thus “Peace and safety” (1 Thess. 5:3) is the cry from men
who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people
their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that
would not bark (Isa. 56:1) are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an
offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together.
The
abominations for which the faithful ones were sighing and crying were all that
could be discerned by finite eyes, but by far the worst sins, those which
provoked the jealousy of the pure and holy God, were unrevealed. The great
Searcher of hearts knoweth every sin committed in secret by the workers of
iniquity. These persons come to feel secure in their deceptions and, because of
His long-suffering, say that the Lord seeth not (Ezek. 9:9), and then act as
though He had forsaken the earth. But He will detect their hypocrisy and will
open before others those sins which they were so careful to hide.
No
superiority of rank, dignity, or worldly wisdom, no position in sacred office,
will preserve men from sacrificing principle when left to their own deceitful
hearts. Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous prove to be
ring-leaders in apostasy and examples in indifference and in the abuse of God's
mercies. Their wicked course He will tolerate no longer, and in His wrath He
deals with them without mercy.
It is with
reluctance that the Lord withdraws His presence from those who have been
blessed with great light and who have felt the power of the word in ministering
to others. They were once His faithful servants, favored with His presence and
guidance; but they departed from Him and led others into error, and therefore
are brought under the divine displeasure.
The day of
God's vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the
foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land.
Those who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the
drunken and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity. “The eyes of
the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but
the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (1 Pet. 3:12)
Our own
course of action will determine whether we shall receive the seal of the living
God or be cut down by the destroying weapons. Already a few drops of God's
wrath have fallen upon the earth; but when the seven last plagues shall be
poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation, then it will be
forever too late to repent and find shelter. No atoning blood will then wash
away the stains of sin.
“And at
that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was
since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people
shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.”
(Dan.12:1)
When this
time of trouble comes, every case is decided; there is no longer probation, no
longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal of the living God is upon His people.
This small remnant, unable to defend themselves in the deadly conflict with the
powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host, make God their defense.
The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall
worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. May
God help His people now, for what can they then do in such a fearful conflict
without His assistance!
Courage,
fortitude, faith, and implicit trust in God's power to save do not come in a
moment. These heavenly graces are acquired by the experience of years. By a
life of holy endeavor and firm adherence to the right the children of God were
sealing their destiny. Beset with temptations without number, they knew they
must resist firmly or be conquered. They felt that they had a great work to do,
and at any hour they might be called to lay off their armor; and should they
come to the close of life with their work undone, it would be an eternal loss.
They eagerly accepted the light from heaven, as did the first disciples from
the lips of Jesus. When those early Christians were exiled to mountains and
deserts, when left in dungeons to die with hunger, cold, and torture, when
martyrdom seemed the only way out of their distress, they rejoiced that they
were counted worthy to suffer for Christ, who was crucified for them. Their
worthy example will be a comfort and encouragement to the people of God who
will be brought into the time of trouble such as never was.
Not all
who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those
who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their
foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master's will, they
understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works.
These who were so familiar with prophecy and the treasures of divine wisdom
should have acted their faith. They should have commanded their households
after them, that by a well-ordered family they might present to the world the
influence of the truth upon the human heart.
By their
lack of devotion and piety, and their failure to reach a high religious
standard, they make other souls contented with their position. Men of finite
judgment cannot see that in patterning after these men who have so often opened
to them the treasures of God's word, they will surely endanger their souls.
Jesus is the only true pattern. Everyone must now search the Bible for himself
upon his knees before God, with the humble, teachable heart of a child, if he
would know what the Lord requires of him. However high any minister may have
stood in the favor of God, if he neglects to follow out the light given him of
God, if he refuses to be taught as a little child, he will go into darkness and
satanic delusions and will lead others in the same path.
Not one of
us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or
stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to
cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall
upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.
We are too
easily satisfied with our attainments. We feel rich and increased with goods
and know not that we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked.” Now is the time to heed the admonition of the True Witness: “I counsel
thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do
not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Rev.
3:18)
In this
life we must meet fiery trials and make costly sacrifices, but the peace of
Christ is the reward. There has been so little self-denial, so little suffering
for Christ's sake, that the cross is almost entirely forgotten. We must be
partakers with Christ of His sufferings if we would sit down in triumph with
Him on His throne. So long as we choose the easy path of self-indulgence and
are frightened at self-denial, our faith will never become firm, and we cannot
know the peace of Jesus nor the joy that comes through conscious victory. The
most exalted of the redeemed host that stand before the throne of God and the
Lamb, clad in white, know the conflict of overcoming, for they have come up
through great tribulation. Those who have yielded to circumstances rather than
engage in this conflict will not know how to stand in that day when anguish
will be upon every soul, when, though Noah, Job, and Daniel were in the land,
they could save neither son nor daughter, for everyone must deliver his soul by
his own righteousness.
No one
need say that his case is hopeless, that he cannot live the life of a
Christian. Ample provision is made by the death of Christ for every soul. Jesus
is our ever-present help in time of need. Only call upon Him in faith, and He
has promised to hear and answer your petitions.
Oh, for a
living, active faith! We need it; we must have it, or we shall faint and fail
in the day of trial. The darkness that will then rest upon our path must not
discourage us or drive us to despair. It is the veil with which God covers His
glory when He comes to impart rich blessings. We should know this by our past
experience. In that day when God has a controversy with His people this
experience will be a source of comfort and hope.
It is now
that we must keep ourselves and our children unspotted from the world. It is
now that we must wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood
of the Lamb. It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual
slothfulness. It is now that we must awake and make determined effort for
symmetry of character. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your
hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15) We are in a most trying position, waiting, watching for
our Lord's appearing. The world is in darkness. “But ye, brethren,” says Paul,
“are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”(1 Thess
5:4) It is ever God's purpose to bring light out of darkness, joy out of
sorrow, and rest out of weariness for the waiting, longing soul.
What are
you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting
with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the
beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before
God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth—these are receiving the
heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the
decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure
and spotless for eternity.
Now is the
time to prepare. 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. Go forward, my brethren
and sisters. I can only write briefly upon these points at this time, merely
calling your attention to the necessity of preparation. Search the Scriptures
for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present
hour. '
*******
More on this
tomorrow by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and
forever!!!!!!!
