Sealed by God
Five verses in the Bible refer to a “seal of God” or an object or person sealed by God (John 6:27; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 6:9; 7:2; and 9:4). The word sealed in the New Testament comes from a Greek word that means “to stamp with a private mark” in the interest of keeping something secret or protecting or preserving the sealed object. Seals were used for official business: a Roman centurion, for instance, might have sealed a document that was meant only for the eyes of his superior. If the seal were broken, the one receiving the document would know that the letter had been tampered with or read by someone other than the sealer.
Revelation 7:3–4 and 9:4 refer to a group of people who have the seal of God, and thus His protection, during the tribulation. During the fifth trumpet judgment, locusts from the Abyss attack the earth’s people with “power like that of scorpions” (Revelation 9:3). However, these demonic locusts are limited in what they can harm: “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4). The individuals who are marked by God are preserved. During the tribulation, the seal of God is the direct opposite of the mark of the beast, which identifies people as followers of Satan (Revelation 13:16–18).
Paul speaks of the seal of God in the context of foundational truth. He tells Timothy false doctrines are circulating, and some people are trying to destroy the faith of believers. Then he offers this encouragement:
“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).
Mourning the State of Affairs
The Lord knows your frustration and sadness with the present godless administration, the compromised and dead church in the Nations, the intense immorality of the entertainment industry, the alarming rate of abortions, the woke agenda attacking our children in our schools and the lies propagated against God’s land and His people, Israel. It seems like at times our pushback feels like a drop in the bucket. But don’t be discouraged. God is at the helm. There was a similar time when the prophet Ezekiel was shown a vision.
God said, “Ezekiel, do you see what horrible things Israel’s leaders are doing in secret? They have filled their rooms with idols. And they say I can’t see them, because they think I have already deserted Israel. 13 But I will show you something even worse than this.”14 He took me to the north gate of the temple, where I saw women mourning for the god Tammuz. 15 God asked me, “Can you believe what these women are doing? But now I want to show you something even worse.” 16 I was then led into the temple’s inner courtyard, where I saw about 25 men standing near the entrance, between the porch and the altar. Their backs were to the Lord’s temple, and they were bowing down to the * rising sun. God said, “Ezekiel, it’s bad enough that the people of Judah are doing these disgusting things. But they have also spread violence and injustice everywhere in Israel and have made me very angry. They have disgraced and insulted me in the worst possible way. Ezek. 8:15-18
*Ra, the sun god, is a god of power and violence
Judah was the only people on the earth who were identified with the God of all creation yet there were those who turned their back on Him While most of the tribe of Judah was captive in Babylon, Ezekiel was shown a vision of the idolatry that was happening within the Holy Temple, he witnessed God’s Presence leave the Holy Place and stand at the door of the Temple. It was then God turned His attention to all those who mourned the desecration. He then commanded his angels to seal all those who were grieved.
The brightness of God’s glory then left its place above the statues of the winged creatures inside the temple and moved to the entrance. The Lord said to the man in the linen robe, “Walk through the city of Jerusalem and mark the forehead of anyone who is truly upset and sad about the terrible things that are being done here.” Ez. 9:3,4
So, as we encounter the same assault by demonic forces of what is holy to God – the assault on innocent young children, the unborn, the sanctity of marriage, and the hallowedness of His Name – be encouraged by this biblical precedent of God’s shield over the Righteous. He is observing even now, all who are moved with anger, disdain and sorrow for the demonic things that are transpiring in the world. May His secret and protective mark be upon you as He empowers you to raise up a standard against the lies and evil that are unabashedly manifesting throughout the earth. Don’t be afraid – He’s in this! May He preserve you as you to speak out against the kingdom of darkness and stand for His Glorious Kingdom of Light.
