"And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel; of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand." Rev. 7:2-6.
Among the True Israel
THIS is the true Israel and not the literal tribes, for Ephraim and Dan, who became leaders in idol worship, are omitted. But Joseph, according to the promise of God, gets this double portion by the insertion of his name with that of his son Manasseh. And the work of priesthood being finished, Levi comes in for his portion. Thus the book of Revelation gives us the enumeration of the tribes of Israel who will take possession of the whole earth made new, of which the earthly Canaan was simply a type. Out of this Israel there are to be sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand.
This work is to take place while the winds of strife are being held, just before they break in destruction over the world; just before the opening of the seventh or last seal, as shown by the first verse of chapter eight. The "silence in heaven" is the result of the absence of all the holy angels who have accompanied Christ as He comes to earth to receive His saints. And connected with it the wicked of earth will call for rocks and mountains to fall upon and hide them from His face. See last verses of chapter 6.
Thus we see that the hundred and forty-four thousand constitute the last or remnant of the true Israel of God, and are to have the seal of God in their foreheads, or minds. Against this remnant the dragon (Satan) will go to make war, because they keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Rev. 12:17.
Opposing Forces
This same company is described in Rev. 14:12 under the work of the Third Angel's Message, for we read, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." But while God is placing His seal upon His remnant, the wicked powers of earth, even by sentence of death, are seeking to compel all to receive the mark of the beast, and to worship and obey the beast or his image. But God's warning is, If any man worship the beast or his image, or receive his mark, the same shall drink of the unmixed wrath of God, or the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God (Rev. 15:1).
Thus all the inhabitants of this world are divided into just two classes,—the one keeping the commandments of God, and having His seal in their foreheads, and against whom a sentence of death is passed; the other class obeying the dictates of the beast, receiving his mark in their foreheads or hands, and destined to drink of the seven last plagues.
Reader, in which class will you be found? Will you have the seal of God or the mark of the beast? How important that we know what constitutes the seal and mark, that we may receive the one and avoid the other!
What Is the Seal of God?
A seal is a sign of power or authority, and must contain the name or descriptive title of the one who exercises the power or asserts the authority. The one hundred and forty-four thousand appear in Rev. 7:3, 4 and 14:1. By comparing these it will be found that while they have the seal of God they have also the Father's name in their foreheads. This proves that God's seal contains His name. The seal of any power is always found attached to its laws. In Isa. 8:16 we read, "Bind up the testimony, seal [or put the seal to] the law among My disciples." Thus we see that God's law has been robbed of its seal among His disciples, yet it is to be restored to its place.
Then a study of the law must reveal the seal, and it will contain the name; and those who sincerely keep the law will receive this seal and have the Father's name written in their foreheads, or minds. In whatever part of the law we shall find God's name clearly set forth, there we shall find the seal, since one is involved in the other. Then let us search the law for the descriptive title of Jehovah.
God's Distinguishing Characteristic
As we read the first, second, third, and fifth commandments we find that they mention the words Lord and God, but there is no descriptive title in them, nothing to distinguish the true from the false, nothing which could not be applied by the heathen to his god. The last five commandments make no mention of God. Turning then to the fourth we find in it these words, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Here we find the title of the true God, a descriptive title which can be applied to no other, which clearly distinguishes Him from all false gods. And it is a fact that all Bible writers in pointing out the true God used either the language of the fourth commandment, or its equivalent. See Jer. 10:10-12; Acts 17:23, 24; 14:14, 15, etc. He is the Creator, and the Sabbath is set forth as a sign of His creative power.
Those Who Are Sealed
Here then is the seal of the living God. But it is a fact that among the disciples to-day the law is robbed of its sign or seal, for God's Sabbath, the seventh day, has been set aside and another, the first day, has been substituted. But God calls upon those who are "looking for Him" to restore the seal to the law. See Isa. 8:16, 17. Only the servants (those who obey) of our God are to be sealed. Rev. 7:3.
But those who have the seal, have also the name of God. When God revealed His name to Moses He simply declared His character. Ex. 34:5-7. Hence those who have the name of God in their minds will have His character.
How This Character Is Received
God's character is revealed to man in the person of Jesus Christ. To have Christ in us is to be one with God, as Jesus said, "I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one." But any man who is in Christ Jesus is a new creature, or creation.
2 Cor. 5:17. In Him is manifest creative power. In this new creation is revealed the name or character of God, for His works declare His name; and the sign or memorial of this name ought to be seen upon this new creature. O, my dear reader, if God has made you a new creature in Christ Jesus you ought to carry to the world His Sabbath, which is the sign or seal of His creative power. And, O my brother, do not deny your Father's name by being ashamed of the sign and by failing to keep it. See Rev. 3:8-11.
When God finished the creation of the world in six days, he entered on the seventh day into His rest and was refreshed; not physical rest, for the Creator fainteth not, neither is weary. But He rested. He viewed His new creation, and saw that it was good; and He rejoiced and took delight in it. And this was His rest, while the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. So, my dear reader, if you have looked to Him, and find in Him for you a new creation, and are rejoicing in it, you have entered into God's rest, "for we which have believed do enter into rest." It is therefore your privilege to shout for joy and to join in the song of the angels who are rejoicing in the presence of God over one sinner who has repented. Such "call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable." Such do not do their own ways, nor find their own pleasure, nor speak their own words (Isa. 58:13); but they delight in the law of the Lord, and in His law do they meditate day and night (Ps. 1:2). Such will not worship the beast nor his image, for they keep the commandments of God, and in such is the righteousness of the law fulfilled. Such do not receive the mark of the beast, for they have the seal of God. Such shall escape the seven last plagues, and shall stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion.
A Sign of Redemption
The seventh day therefore was sanctified as a sign of God's creation, an outward sign of His rest. When that rest was broken by the entrance of sin, and the earth passed under its curse, God did not take away His sign, but left it as a memorial of the beautiful creation which He had made, and at the same time as a sign or pledge of the recreation of all, and the restoration of His rest; so that wherever creative power is manifest in recreation the Sabbath should be recognized as its sign.
In harmony with this thought, when God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, He used creative power; first, in the plagues, signs, and wonders by which He brought them out; and secondly, by making them new creatures in Christ, for they were all baptized and did all eat of that spiritual meat, and drank of that Rock which followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1 Cor. 10:1-4. And because of this, He gave them His law, in which He said, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work. . . . For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Also remember that thou wast a servant in Egypt, and that He brought you out so that you might serve Him. Wherefore He commanded you to keep the Sabbath. So He said to them, Hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you by which ye may know that I am the Lord your God, and that ye may know that I am the Lord which doth sanctify you. Eze. 20:12, 20.
So, my reader, if you recognize God as the Creator, and have been delivered from the bondage of sin, of which the bondage of Egypt was but a type, you are under obligation to keep God's Sabbath, the seventh day which He has sanctified as His sign or seal. And if you will turn away your foot from His Sabbath, from polluting it, and keep your hand from doing any evil, then shall you be an Israelite indeed; and you shall be numbered among His remnant who have His seal, and shall have right to the tree of life, and shall enter in through the gates into the city.
The Lamb inside the city, the beast outside, each with his own. Where will you be? Whose image and superscription will you bear?
