Chapter 14: The Seal of God
What special event is described as taking place shortly
before the close of probation?
Revelation 7: 1-4, Ezekiel 9: 1-6
"John sees the elements of nature--earthquake, tempest, and political
strife--represented as being held by four angels. These winds are under control
until God gives the word to let them go. There is the safety of God's church.
The angels of God do His bidding, holding back the winds of the earth, that the
winds should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree, until the
servants of God should be sealed in their foreheads...This sealing of the
servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision" (TM 444, 445).
What is the seal of the living God?
Exodus 20: 8-11; 31: 12-17
"Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the
seal of the living God" (GC 640).
"True observance of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the sign
of loyalty to God" (7BC 981).
"Those who would have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the
Sabbath of the fourth commandment" (ibid. 970).
"There is to be a mark placed upon God's people, and that mark is the
keeping of His holy Sabbath" (ibid. 981).
"To us as to Israel the Sabbath is given 'for a perpetual covenant.' To
those who reverence His holy day the Sabbath is a sign that God recognizes them as
His chosen people. It is a pledge that He will fulfill to them His covenant. Every
soul who accepts the sign of God's government places himself under the divine,
everlasting covenant. He fastens himself to the golden chain of obedience, every
link of which is a promise.
"The fourth commandment alone of all the ten comtains the seal of the
great Lawgiver, the Creator of the heavens and the earth" (6T 350 [see also PP 307]).
What must be the spiritual condition of all who receive the seal of God's approval?
They will have perfect characters. "Are we seeking for His fullness,
ever pressing toward the mark set before us--the perfection of His character?
When the Lord's people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads.
Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording
angel will declare, 'It is finished'" (6BC 1118).
Nothing can move them from the truth. "Just as soon as the
people of God are sealed in their foreheads--it is not any seal or mark that
can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually,
so they cannot be moved--just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared
for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of
God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming"
(4BC 1161).
They are Christlike. "The seal of the living God will be
placed upon those only who bear a likeness to Christ in character" (7BC 970).
They are overcomers. "Those that overcome the world, the
flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of
the living God" (TM 445).
They are pure and without spot. "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 on the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or
woman. It will never be place 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" (5T 216).
They mourn over their own sins and sins in the church and world.
"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...They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness,
and deception of almost every kind are in the church...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 seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads
of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land" (ibid. 209-212).
Are we in the sealing time now? If so, when did it begin?
"I saw that the present test on the Sabbath could not come until
the mediation of Jesus in the holy place was finished and He had passed within
the second veil; therefore Christians who fell asleep before the door was opened
into the most holy, when the midnight cry was finished, at the seventh month,
1844, and who had not kept the true Sabbath, now rest in hope; for they had not
the light and the test on the Sabbath which we now have since that door was opened.
I saw that Satan was tempting some of God's people on this point. Because so many
good Christians have fallen asleep in the triumphs of faith and have not kept the
true Sabbath, they were doubting about its being a test for us now...Satan is now
using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of God's people from the
present truth and to cause them to waver" (EW 42, 43).
Do we know of any people who have already been sealed?
"I saw that she [Mrs. Hastings] was sealed and would come up at
the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we
need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble (2SM 263).
"There are living upon our earth men who have passed the age of fourscore
and ten. The natural results of old age are seen in their feebleness. But they
believe God, and God loves them. The seal of God is upon them, and they will be
among the number of whom the Lord has said, 'Blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord'" (7BC 982).
Is it possible that there are men and women living today who have already
received the seal of God?
"Another 'suppression' reads as follows: 'Well, bless the Lord,
brethren and sisters, it is an extra meeting for those that have the seal of the
living God.' There is nothing in this that we do not still hold. Reference to our
published works will show our belief that the living righteous will receive the
seal of God prior to the close of probation; also that these will enjoy special
honors in the kingdom of God" (1SM 66).
Before the sealing of God's people is finished, what glorious
event will take place?
"Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is
finished, we shall receive the outpouring of the Spirit of God" (1SM 111).
"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"
(5T 214).
What will happen to those who are not settled "into the truth...
so they cannot be moved"?
"Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads-
-it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both
intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved--just as soon as God's people
are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already;
the judgements of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know
what is coming" (4BC 1161).
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