Sunday Laws and the Sealing in Revelation 7

Sunday laws are inherently religious enactments that seek to enforce the observance of the first day of the week, often under the guise of civil or police regulationsAMS July 10, 1890, page 210.2. These laws trace their genealogy directly from the original Sunday law of Constantine back in the fourth century, which was enacted solely in the interest of religion to favor the churchMEDM March 10, 1909, page 182.17+1.

The Religious Nature of Sunday Legislation ⛪

• Theocratic Origins: Every Sunday law in history has been enacted out of deference to the religious idea attached to the dayAMS July 10, 1890, page 210.2. They originated in a union of Church and State, intended to propagate religious formsAMS December 13, 1894, page 386.7+1.

• A "Connecting Link": Sunday is the specific link that connects Church and State whenever the government legislates regarding itAMS April 1888, page 28.6+1.

• No Secular Basis: Despite claims that these are "civil" or "economic" regulations for health and rest, there is no such thing as a truly civil Sunday law; they are ecclesiastical in natureAMS April 3, 1889, page 81.8+1.

• Judicial Falsification: For courts to claim Sunday laws are not religious is to falsify the historical record, as the day is religious and religious onlyAMS July 10, 1890, page 210.2.

The Constitutional Conflict 📜

• Violation of Rights: Enforcing Sunday laws invades inalienable rights and constitutes a "religious establishment," which is forbidden by the U.S. ConstitutionAMS June 10, 1897, page 356.1+1.

• Legislative Intent: Principles of legal interpretation dictate that a law's meaning is fixed by the intent of its founders; since Sunday laws were founded for religious purposes, they remain religious laws todayAMS July 10, 1890, page 210.2+1.

• Prophetic Warning: It has been predicted for decades that a union of Church and State in the United States would lead to national Sunday legislation, creating an "image of the papacy" Revelation 13:11-17ECE 869.2+1.

The Impact on Conscience and Liberty ⚖️

• Persecution of Minorities: These laws are often used as weapons against those who conscientiously observe the seventh-day Sabbath, such as Seventh-day Adventists and JewsAMS December 13, 1894, page 386.7+2.

• Enforced Religious Worship: National Sunday laws aim to secure the "religious observance of the day" and promote it as a "day of religious worship"ABSB 54.3+1.

• The Role of the Church: When the church secures such laws, it essentially places the State in a subordinate position to execute the church's willABSB 50.1.

• Spiritual Adultery: For the church to join itself to civil power to enforce its dogmas is to forsake her LordAMS April 1888, page 28.6+1.

Scriptural Perspective 📖

True rest and the Sabbath belong exclusively to God, and Caesar has no right to legislate concerning them Mark 12:17NSLS18 8.1. The Bible identifies the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord, while Sunday is a human ordinance with no scriptural authority Exodus 20:8-11AMS July 4, 1895, page 210.8+1.

• "The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work" Exodus 20:10AMS July 4, 1895, page 210.8.

• The first day of the week is clearly distinguished from the Sabbath in the New Testament Mark 16:1-2+1.

• God's people are identified as those who keep His commandments rather than human traditions Revelation 14:12+1.

• The attempt by rulers to take counsel against the Lord's anointed and break His bands is met with divine derision Psalms 2:2-4.

Revelation 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.

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.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

9 After this I beheld, and, see, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and from where came they?

14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Sealing in Revelation 7 is a profound work of divine transformation and protection where the servants of God are marked in their foreheads with the seal of the living God to ensure they can stand through the coming day of wrath Revelation 7:2-3EVRR235+1. This work represents a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, until the believer is unmovable in their character and loyalty to GodEVRR239.

The Nature and Identity of the Seal 🛡️

The seal is not a literal, visible mark to human eyes, but a mark of redemption that angels can read to distinguish God's people from the world21MR 52.1+2.

• The Sabbath as the Seal: The seal of the living God is specifically found in the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, which serves as a sign of sanctification and a knowledge of the true GodEze 20:12, 20+3.

• Character Completion: Receiving the seal denotes that the sin of transgression has been taken away and the individual fully reflects the image of Jesus, having reached a state where they are without guile or fault Revelation 14:1, 521MR 52.1+2.

• The Father's Name: This distinguishing mark is also called the "Father's name," representing the manifestation of His character in the minds of His children Revelation 14:1CIS 359.4+2.

The Sealing Process and Timing ⏳

The sealing is a current and closing work for the church, taking place while angels hold back the four winds of political strife and war Revelation 7:13T 266.2+2.

• A Protective Measure: The purpose of the seal is to provide divine protection during the time of trouble and the falling of the seven last plagues, much like the mark in Ezekiel's vision protected the faithful from the destroying weaponsEze 9:4-6+2.

• In the Forehead: The seal is placed in the forehead because it is the seat of the mind and intellectADRE September 1850, page 47.6+1. To receive it, the mind must be detached from worldly cares and filled with present truthEW 58.1+2.

• Stability of Character: Once the seal is applied, it signifies a permanency of character where the saints fully love righteousness and cannot be moved by the deceptions of the enemyEVRR239.

The One Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand 👥

Those who receive this seal are numbered as the 144,000, a specific class of God's servants from the last generationCIS 359.4+2.

• A Perfect Square: This company stands in a perfect square on the sea of glass, representing a complete and faultless group redeemed from among the living Revelation 14:3-4CET 59.2.

• Spiritual Israel: While they are sealed from the tribes of the children of Israel, this refers to "Israelites indeed"—those who are Jews inwardly and have been grafted into the true Israel through faith John 1:47+1SLG 37.5+2.

• The Song of Victory: They alone can learn the new song of victory because they have been changed from mortal to immortality without ever tasting death Revelation 14:3MPC 76.2+1.

The Contrast with the Mark of the Beast ⚠️

The sealing work in Revelation 7 stands in direct opposition to the counter-sealing of the enemyBEARF 21.1+1.

• A Choice of Loyalty: While the seal of God is placed on those who keep the Sabbath, the mark of the beast is received by those who choose to honor the false sabbath (Sunday) and the institutions of the papacy Revelation 14:9-12RH July 13, 1897, par. 6+2.

• Consequences: Those who receive the mark of the beast in their forehead or hand will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, while the sealed servants of God are shielded from this destruction Revelation 14:10, 16:2RH July 13, 1897, par. 6+1.

• Urgency of the Work: We are currently in the sealing time, and soon the high priest will finish His work in the most holy place, ending the opportunity to receive this divine markBroadside2 January 31, 1849, par. 11+2.