The Seal of The Living God

By Hazel Holland

We hear so much more discussion these days about the "mark of the beast" than we do the "seal of God".  Why do you think this is?  Clearly both terms are used and alluded to a number of times in the book Revelation.  My belief  is that in order to establish what these terms mean we must let Scripture interpret Scripture.  We must always let the New Testament interpret the Old Testament and not the other way around.

So before we can properly understand the biblical meaning of the "mark of the beast", we must first examine the meaning of  "seal" in the Old Testament and then see how it is applied in the New Testament to new covenant believers.  Eventually we want to discover who the saints are in Revelation who receive the seal of God in their foreheads.  Furthermore, what is the significance of being marked in the forehead with the "seal of God" and NOT in the hand?    

Significance of Gemstones on Shoulders

We find that the names of the tribes of Israel were engraved on stones worn by the high priest.  God told Moses to engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two onyx stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount these stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel.  Aaron was to bear the names of the sons of Israel on his shoulders as a memorial before the LORD (Exodus 28:11-12). 

Doesn’t the parallel become stunningly clear?  Shoulders are meant for carrying.  So Jesus Christ, our High Priest carries His people upon His shoulders.  “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him… and the one whom the Lord loves rests between His shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12).   Just as the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were inscribed upon the two onyx stones worn upon the high priest’s shoulders, so are the names of God’s spiritual children today carried upon Christ’s shoulders.

"Seal" Upon the Heart

Then in this same chapter we are told that a breastplate was to be made of twelve different stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.  So whenever the high priest, Aaron, entered the Holy Place, he would bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on this breastplate of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord (Exodus 28:15-30).  

What a beautiful picture of our God!  Just as Aaron bore the names of the children of Israel upon His heart, so our High Priest, Jesus Christ, has our names engraved upon His heart forever.   Nothing will be able to separate us  from the  love of God that  is  in Christ  Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).

We are His spiritual sons and daughters. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin”  (Hebrews 4:14-15).   He  feels our pain, He sympathizes with our  sorrows, and He understands our needs.    Jesus Christ, our High Priest carries the names of His repentant children upon His shoulders and upon His heart into the very presence of the Shekinah glory (God’s presence). 

"Seal" upon the Forehead

God also told Moses: "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD" (Exodus 28:36-38).

We see that "Holy to the Lord" was worn as a seal on the forehead of the high priest continually.  "They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the LORD commanded Moses" (Exodus 39:30-31).

Covenant "Sealed" by an Oath 

Here are two Old Testament Scriptures that tell us that covenants are sealed by an oath.  "You  are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God, a covenant the LORD is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (Deuteronomy 29:12-13).

"Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples.  I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him" (Isaiah 8:16-17).

God's Seal upon Jesus

"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."  Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent"  (John 6:27-29).

"Am I not free?  Am I not an apostle?  Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?  Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?  Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you!  For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord" (1Corinthians 9:1-2).

God's Seal Upon Believers

Here are some New Testament Scriptures that clearly apply the spiritual meaning of receiving the "seal of God" as being sealed by the Holy Spirit.  God places His seal of ownership upon us!

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2Cor. 1:21-22).

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:29-32). 

"Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness" (2 Timothy 2:19). 

 

Summary

In the Old Testament the priests were marked as "Holy to the Lord" on their foreheads as a symbol of their commitment to the Lord.  However, in the New Testament believers are marked by the Holy Spirit as a seal in their hearts as they are called to the priesthood of ALL believers.  We are each called to minister to the Lord on behalf of others...on behalf of whoever He places on our hearts!  As New Testament believers, Peter, calls us a royal nation of priests.  

Although we do not wear special clothing or precious stones when we come before the Lord on behalf of others, let us remember that each precious stone that the high priest wore represented the different tribes that he carried before the Lord...perhaps the different characteristics of each tribe—the strengths and weaknesses of the people.

A  similar  application  can  be made  today  for  us  in  the body of Christ--the church.  We are God’s spiritual sons and daughters who are called to be “living stones.”  Peter says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). 

Clearly, God's seal of ownership that has been placed upon us is the Holy Spirit--a sign or deposit guaranteeing our inheritance in Jesus Christ until the day of our redemption.  Now the "work" God is calling us to do is to minister His agape love to others.  

We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us.  We are even called to love our enemies (because once we were His enemies!) so that they may be drawn to the Living Stone—the Chief Cornerstone—Jesus Christ.  We are called to bear witness to the “true Light who gives light to every man”.  For the One who has freed and delivered us from our sins has given us His Spirit as a seal guaranteeing our redemption. 

Therefore, we do not walk in fear of  the "mark of the beast" because we walk in the Spirit.  We have already passed from death to life and received the seal of the living God--the promised Holy Spirit!  We have this witness in our hearts by the Spirit of God that our names are already written in the Lamb's book of Life! (John 1:9; Revelation 7:2-4).♥ 


See also: The Mark of the Beast

No Fear in Love
Gently Broken