(Revelation 7:1-3) What is the Seal of the Living God?

 

“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. 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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:1-3)

In Revelation chapter 7 we read about four angels who are 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” (verse 1). We have learned in a previous study that wind, in prophecy, represents war or strife.

“And upon Elam will I (God) bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even My fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them.” (Jeremiah 49:36, 37)

By releasing the four winds of heaven God will be giving man over to that which he desires. God is not directly sending “evil” or destruction upon them because God does not do anything that is evil. As we have learned in previous studies, the word “send” here is used in the permissive sense and not the causative sense. The destruction comes from the “four winds” which God’s angels are holding back. Once everyone has decided their own fate, the angels will let go and destruction from Satan and his angels will follow and we will witness the greatest tribulation time in the history of mankind. Please see the article entitled, Why Does God Say He Will Repent of Doing Evil? For more info.

However, before these angels are to let go, we read of another angel who ascends 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (verses 2, 3). 

In our studies on the cleansing of the sanctuary we read from the Jewish Encyclopedia which said, “on the Day of Atonement it is sealed who shall live and who are to die.” Most professed Christians have never even heard about this seal of God, and yet Scripture tells us specifically what the seal of God is.

First of all, do you really believe that a literal angel is going to come down here and start sealing people with a literal seal? Of course not! The forehead is where the frontal lobe of the brain is, which is important for voluntary movement, reasoning, intelligence, memory, and is the center for our behavior and personality.

So whatever the seal of God is, it will be placed in your intellect, your reasoning, which will influence your behavior and personality.

So, what is the seal of God? God once said:

“Bind up the testimony, seal the Law among My disciples.” (Isaiah 8:16)

There’s no guessing here. God’s seal is His Law! When we receive God’s Law in our minds or conscience we will be constantly dwelling upon God’s righteousness. As a result of God’s Law being sealed in our minds, it will be written upon our hearts, a symbol of our affections:

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but My salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My Law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” (Isaiah 51:6, 7)

When God’s Law is written in our hearts we will begin to “know” God’s righteousness. The word “know” here carries the meaning of an intimate relationship resulting in unity, or oneness with our Creator. We will experience God. This is the work of the atonement – or, at-one-ment. In Genesis 4:1 we read, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain …” The word “knew” here is speaking of that intimate relationship between Adam and Even who had become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Notice how the New Living Translation expresses Genesis 4:1, “Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant.” And here it is in the New International Version, “Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.” We will be so intimately unified with our Creator that we will only produce that which is righteous because He is righteous. Are we not to be “betrothed to one Husband” – Christ – and be presented as a corporate virgin (pure and healed from immorality, 2 Corinthians 11:2)?

“And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Genesis 1:26, 27)

Here God is speaking to His only begotten Son, Jesus. Human beings were created in the image of God and His Son. God, the Father created all things by His Son, Jesus:

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, OF whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, BY whom are all things, and we by Him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)

The words “of whom” and “by whom” speak of a source and channel unity between the Father and His son. God is the source “of whom are all things”, while Jesus is the channel “by whom are all things.”

“Christ is the image of the invisible God, and by Christ were all things created. (Col. 1:15, 16) … If we can understand the relationship of God to His only begotten Son, and their relationship to the rest of the universe, we have a key to understanding creation itself and everything in it. For everything was created in this pattern of the Father-Son, and this relationship is the loving pattern for all relationships.” (Sabrina Reedy, Blueprint of Blessing)

Take careful notice that, when God said, “let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness”, that it says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Adam and Eve were created in the same image, the same divine pattern, as God and His Son. Eve came forth from within Adam:

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:21-23)

Just as Christ is “the brightness of His (the Father’s) glory, and the express image of His (the Father’s) person”, Eve was the brightness of Adam’s glory and express image of his person (1 Corinthians 11:7). And we know that, although they were two, they were one (Genesis 2:24). In John 16:27 Jesus says, “For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.” The Greek word John uses here is ἐκ (ek) which Strong’s Concordance defines as, “from out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards.” Just as Eve was taken out from within man, Christ came out from within God.

Jesus also confirms that, although He and His Father are two, yet they are one: “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30). This does not mean they are the same individual, but just as man and woman are not one being, but two, neither are God and His Son one being, but two. As Adam and Eve were one flesh, so the Father and His Son are one Spirit.

In Genesis 3:20 it says, “And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” Adam was the source of whom are all the living; Eve was the channel by whom all living things come into being, thus revealing to us the divine pattern of the Father “of whom are all things” and His Son “by whom are all things.”

In the Creation account, God also gives us an eternal precept:

“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 9:12)

“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:21)

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24, 25)

Here we see the divine precept that kind begets kind. Two birds will produce birds. Two elephants will produce elephants. Two humans will produce humans. Eve being brought forth from Adam meant she was as human as Adam. Likewise, Christ coming forth from His Father means He is as God as His Father is God.

“God, (the Father) who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son (Jesus), whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His (the Father’s) glory, and the express image of His (the Father’s) person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty (the Father) on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He (the Father) at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him (Jesus) a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He (the Father) bringeth in the firstbegotten (Jesus) into the world, He (the Father) saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him (Jesus). And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son He (the Father) saith, Thy throne, O God (Jesus), is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God (Jesus), even thy God (the Father), hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” (Hebrews 1:1-9)

Jesus being begotten of the Father does not mean He is a created being. It simply means His “origins are of old, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2, Berean Study Bible). The “days of eternity” were before “time” (chronos) began. Time began at the conception of sin. Christ speaks of Himself through Proverbs chapter 8 saying:

“The LORD possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” (Proverbs 8:22-30)

Some may object here and ask, “But isn’t Proverbs chapter 8 speaking of ‘wisdom’ and spoken of as being female?”  Surely the very first verse does say, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” (Proverbs 8:1). However, Paul writes:

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23, 24)

Jesus is “the wisdom of God” in bodily form. He is God’s thoughts (wisdom) made audible and seen. Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” We have seen that God created all things “by” His Son Jesus. This is why Jesus’ name is “the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13). So, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made” means “By His Son Jesus were the heavens made.”

In the book of John, we read:

“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14)

This is a perfect parallel to Proverbs 8.

• Proverbs 8 says: “The LORD possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”
• John 1 says: “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus).”
• Proverbs 8 says: “when He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him.”
• John 1 says: “the Word was with God.”
• Proverbs 8 says: “When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.”
• In John 8:42 Jesus says: “I proceeded forth and came (out) from (ek) God.”

But why is “wisdom” spoken of as being female, and how can that refer to Jesus? Although Jesus is male, He likened Himself to a mother hen: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me” (New Living Translation). Although God our Father is male, He also describes Himself in motherly terms: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee” (Isaiah 49:15). “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 66:13).

In our study on the Little Horn (Part Two) we saw that, when Jesus promised “another Comforter”, He was referring to Himself who would return in Spirit form to fill every believer. He said:

“If ye love Me, keep My Commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you … If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE (the father and the Son) will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:15-18, 23)
 

“Many people believe that in John 14, Jesus was trying to teach His disciples that God is a trinity, that the Holy Spirit is a third member of the God family. Yet, when Jesus was asked to explain Himself He did not say, anything similar to ‘God is a trinity of persons.’ Instead, Jesus made it abundantly clear that after He left the world, He would come back to make His abode in the hearts of His disciples. Not only would He return, but His Father would come with Him, so that both of Them would live in the hearts of His children; not physically, but by God’s Spirit. In this way, the disciples could have intimate communion and fellowship with both the Father and His Son. John emphasized this when he wrote, ‘That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ’ (1 John 1:3).” (Lynnford Beachy, see the article entitled, Didn’t Jesus Teach That the Holy Spirit is Another Being Separate from He and His Father?

Earlier in Hebrews 1 we read that Christ “hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they (the angels).” Angels are often called “sons of God” in Scripture (Job 38:7) and have received this name through their creation. Adam was also called “the son of God” (Luke 3:38) through his creation. But Jesus is the only begotten Son “by inheritance.” He is not a created being, but one who was brought forth and came out from God. Therefore, Jesus said, “For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself” (John 5:26). The Father possesses life in Himself, which is unborrowed and underived. He has “given” His Son this life (His life). Thus Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6), and “he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father … Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” (Verses 9, 10).

In turn, Christ gives us this life through His Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which is the very presence, attitude, and life of the Father.

“This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is found in His Son. The person who has the Son has this life. The person who does not have the Son of God does not have this life.” (1 John 5:11, 12, International standard Version)

This “life” lovingly convicts us by diagnosing our problem (John 16:7-11), and then converts us, and we stand protected under His wings as adopted sons and daughters of God:

“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:3-7)

Becoming sons of God means all His children (whether male or female) die to self and submit themselves unto God, becoming dependent upon Him; “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). We no more serve Him as a servant (one who serves out of obligation) but serve Him as sons because we are possessed by His Spirit which naturally produces loving obedience to His holy Law.  

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh (believing God has condemned us), but after the Spirit (trusting in God’s everlasting free forgiveness). For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin (selfishness) and death. For what the Law could not do (restore trust/ cleanse us from sin), in that it was weak through the flesh (it could only diagnose our problem of distrusting God), God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (by showing us the true character of God and the results of sin if left uncured): That the righteousness (selfless love) of the Law might be fulfilled (restored) in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject (submissive) to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh (selfish/without God’s Spirit) cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (selfless/possessed by Christ’s self-sacrificing life), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you …” (Romans 8:1-8)

God’s Law of love being restored in us is the work of God and His Son through Their Spirit in us, sealing us unto newness of life “that the righteousness (selfless love) of the Law might be fulfilled (restored) in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22)

“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

The Spirit of God does not abolish His Law, as some teach, but gives us the power (grace) to observe it correctly and for the right reason. Obedience will come natural as we are restored to harmony with His design because it is based upon selfless love toward God and not for a reward, nor for fear of punishment.

Scripture says the Ten Commandments were “written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18). Luke quotes Jesus as saying, “But if I cast out demons by THE FINGER of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20). However, Matthew quotes Him as saying, “But if I cast out demons by THE SPIRIT of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28). “Finger” and “Spirit” are used as a Hebrew metaphor that mean the same. The Hebrew concept of “hand” represents “work” (Psalm 92:4; Proverbs 31:31; Isaiah 59:6). So, the Hebrew concept of “finger,” since it is connected to the hand (work), is a “detailed work” as the finger can pinpoint (fine-tune) more exact than the entire hand. The “work” of the Holy Spirit is to “fine-tune” (write with His finger) the Law in our hearts and minds:

“My son, keep My words, and lay up My commandments with thee. Keep My commandments, and live; and My Law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.” (Proverbs 7:1-3)

For some strange reason most people believe that the New Covenant abolishes God’s Law, but referring to the New Covenant, God said:

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My Laws into their mind (forehead), and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people.” (Hebrews 8:10)

This writing of His Law in our mind and heart is the detailed work of Sanctification to set us apart for holy use. Jesus said the work of His Holy Spirit is to guide us into all truth (John 16:12, 13), fulfilling the promise when God said;

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause (enable) you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Notice again that being filled with God’s Spirit naturally results in keeping His Commandments. Surrounding these comments from God here in Ezekiel 36, God makes His purpose clear as to why He will empower His people to keep His Law. He says:

“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for Mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:22, 23)

Obedience to God’s Law is not about gaining merit to go to heaven. It’s all about revealing to the world the “name” (righteous character) of God. The world must see God’s character at work within His people. Jesus brings this out when He says:

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that THEY may see your good works, and (they) glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

The final result of the everlasting gospel is indeed the perfection of character within the believer. However, perfection of character is not required as a ticket to heaven, but so that others may see God’s true character (name) and be convinced that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), resulting in the atonement to be completed in them. When others see “Christ in you” they will be reconciled unto God and glorify His name (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:27). Obedience to God should never been about what “I” can do – “look how good I am God!” It’s all about God and others. It’s the golden rule:

“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him (Jesus) a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great Commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:25-40)

Again, strange as it may seem, there are many who believe Jesus is giving us a whole new Law here. But keep in mind Jesus says, “On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” In other words, the whole Law hangs (or depends) upon these two great Commandments. These two Commandments sum up the entire Law, which was written in more detail in the Book of the Law and placed beside the side of the Ark of the covenant (Exodus 31:26).

The commandments written on stone were placed inside the ark of the covenant. They were not accessible to the people, not even the priests, only the high priest was allowed in the Holy of Holies where the Ark was placed, and even then it was beneath the covering of the mercy seat. Thus, the commandments were invisible to the people. But the statutes and judgments were written in the Book of the Law which was placed beside the Ark, and a copy of which was given to the priests to teach the people, reading it to them at the Feast of Tabernacles every seven years. (Deuteronomy 31:10, 11).

The commandments were first invisible; the statutes were given next and were a visible copy or image of the Commandments. The statutes and judgments written in the Book of the Law represent, explain, and magnify the ten precepts.

The relationship between the statutes and the Law of God is mirrored in the Source-Channel relationship between God, the Father and His only begotten Son. 

• Source: “The Father of lights” who is the Source of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17), the “invisible, the only wise God” (1Timothy 1:17), “whom no man has seen, nor can see” (1 Timothy 6:16).
• Channel: “His dear Son ... the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:13,15), “the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3).

Just as “all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father” (John 5:23), so also we should honor the statutes and judgments even as we honor the Commandments. Some say that the Book of the Law, including the annual Festivals and Sabbaths, was made void at the cross while only the Ten Commandments, including weekly Sabbath remain. However, the book of Nehemiah says plainly that the “Book of the Law”, “the Law of Moses”, and the “the Law of God” are one and the same:

“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month [feast of Trumpets] … and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the Law … So they read in the book in the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (Nehemiah 8:1-3, 8)

Moses was the channel, the agent through whom, by whom the Law was given. The statutes and judgments are detailed examples, amplification, magnification of the general principles expressed in the Ten Commandments. So also, Christ came to magnify the Law (Isaiah 42:21) and He too went up into the mount and taught the people the Law in greater detail (Matthew 5). Referring to the same Law, statutes and judgments, Paul wrote:

“Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other Commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill (does no harm) to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.” (Romans 13:8-10)

For a deeper understanding on whether God cancelled out His Festivals and Sabbaths, see the article entitled: Did God’s Festivals and Sabbaths Come to an End at Christ’s Death?

With Jesus living in and through us, we will do the same work that the Father sent Him to do (Ephesians 3:10). We will make known His name (true character). We are to be true witnesses of God, our Father of love. Most people today are opposed to the concept of “commands” and rightly so, since Satan has likened the Ten Commandments of God with commands of tyrannical leaders throughout history—“Obey me or I will torture you!” However, when referring to the Ten Commandments, the Hebrew word for “commandments” is דָבָר (dabar), which literally means “words”, in the context of “promises”— “You have My word.” They are therefore, Ten Promises!

In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My Commandments.” In the Greek, it is spoken more of a promise than a command. The Christian Standard Bible says it this way: “If you love Me, you will keep My Commands.” Love results in selfless obedience (submission), which results in pleasing and glorifying your heavenly Father. Nothing pleases or glorifies Him more than for you to allow Him to do for you that which you have no power to do for yourself. You do not serve your spouse or children because they command it, you serve them because you love them and are pleased to do it.

If you permit the Spirit of Christ to live in you, the promise of keeping His Law of love will be fulfilled through you. “Thou shalt not” is no longer looked at as an arbitrary command, but more as a promise – “you will not.” When the Spirit of Christ is living in and through you, He promises that …

1. You will not have any other gods besides God.
2. You will not make and bow down to images.
3. You will not take His name in vain (bring His name/character to naught).
4. You will remember the seventh-day Sabbath to keep it holy.
5. You will honor your mother and father.
6. You will not kill.
7. You will not commit adultery.
8. You will not steal.
9. You will not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You will not covet your neighbor’s things.

“Here are other examples of the same grammatical construction which are clearly promises and not commands: “And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” (Jud. 6:23). “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” (2 Sam. 12:13). (See also, 2 Sam. 19:23, Jer. 34:4, Jer. 38:24). “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;” (Psa. 91:5). “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep, and do them.” (Eze. 36:27).That last verse is the promise of God putting His Spirit within us which will bring with it the promise of His law within our hearts enabling us to keep all of His commandments. The keeping of God’s law will then be NOT a matter of compulsion to be obedient (for fear of punishment) but it will be what we naturally want to do (for love of Him). The natural result of being filled with the Spirit of God is to keep His commandments. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12). God does not need His word so that He can read our hearts. The Bible is written in such a way that (rightly understood)it helps us to see our own hearts. This is sometimes referred to as the mirror principle.” (Ray Foucher, characterofgod.org)

If God’s Law is sealed in our minds and hearts, it will be shown by our works. We will display the righteousness of the Law by the indwelling righteousness of Christ. Paul wrote, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). God’s seal is for Him to “knoweth them that are his.” He intellectually knows everyone, but He wants to know— experience —His people! And He cannot fully do that until we “depart from iniquity.” He wants to heal us from transgressing His Law. “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3, 4).

The Seal is Found in God’s Law

By now you should be realizing something extremely important. Most professed Christian denominations believe in some form of obedience to the Ten Commandments. However, they seem to have a real problem with the Fourth Commandment and its seventh-day Sabbath. This is because Satan knows that the Sabbath is described in Scripture as being a “sign” between God and a sanctified (set-apart) people who “know” (experience) the righteousness of God:

“Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be A SIGN between Me and them, that they might KNOW that I am the LORD that sanctify them … And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be A SIGN between Me and you, that ye may KNOW that I am the LORD your God.” (Ezekiel 20:12, 20) 

In Scripture the word “sign” and “seal” mean the same thing. We read an example of this in Romans 4:11 where we read, “And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all of them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.” Abraham’s outward “sign of circumcision” was a “seal (or, sign of ownership) of the righteousness of the faith” which he previously had even before he was circumcised. Abraham was righteous by faith alone before he was circumcised. His act of being circumcised was an outward display of his acceptance of that righteousness.

If you look at a government seal of approval you will notice that it has three general parts to it. 1. It gives the name of the one who approves of the law. 2. It gives this person’s title. 3. It gives this person’s territory in which he/she rules. For example:  If you were to look at a government seal of approval given by President Joe Biden, you would see all three parts of the seal. 1. His name – Joe Biden. 2. His title – President. 3. Territory he rules – the United States of America. This seal would be placed upon some type of law in which he has approved or passed.

Where can we find God’s seal of approval? Well, let’s look at His Law, which is the only portion of Scripture God wrote with His own finger. Let’s look for the Commandment which has all three parts of a seal. Only one has them, and that Commandment is the fourth:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD (Jehovah) thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD (Jehovah) 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.” (Exodus 20:8-11)

1. It gives His name – “the Lord (Jehovah) thy God.” 2. It gives His title – Creator (the One who “made”). 3. It gives His territory in which He rules – “heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is.”

As we have seen from our previous study, the remnant of God’s people who would rise after 1798 A.D. would proclaim the everlasting gospel to the world saying, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:6, 7). We saw a clear connection here to the Sabbath Command as it emphasizes our Creator who “made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.” This is the work which the angel (messenger), who has the seal of the living God, is carrying to the world. It will be a message of Sabbath reform; for it is God’s creatorship which sets Him apart from all other man-made false gods:

“But the LORD is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king …Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion.” (Jeremiah 10:10-12)

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” (1 Corinthians 8:5, 6)

It is only by knowing (experiencing) the One true God that we may enter into His rest and find security as His beloved children.

“For he that is entered into His (God’s) rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Hebrews 4:10, 11)

True Sabbath keeping is entering into “God’s rest”, not our own. What’s the difference?

“We must not make the mistake of assuming the Lord’s rest is what we are accustomed to call rest. God is not human. We should rather learn from God’s rest what rest really is. God’s rest is not mere physical rest from weariness … The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary (Isaiah 40:28). The Lord therefore did not rest because He was tired, and His rest is not physical, but spiritual, since He is Spirit. ‘They that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth’ (John 4:23) … God rested not because He was weary, but because His work was finished. When work is finished, and is well done, nothing but rest remains. In six days God finished His work, and as He surveyed it, He pronounced it ‘very good.’ There was no flaw in it. It was without fault before Him. Therefore since God’s work was well done at the close of the sixth day, ‘He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.’ He had no sad reflections, no regrets … Every portion of the work, even the creation of man and woman, was perfect as it was possible for it to be, and God took pure delight in contemplating the work from which He was resting, because it was complete and perfect. This is the rest He offers to us. IT IS NOT SOMETHING HE IMPOSES ON US, but which He in everlasting love and kindness gives to us. Rest is not a task that is laid on us. It is not a burden. They who look upon the Sabbath as a burden have no idea of what the Sabbath of the Lord is. It is rest, perfect unalloyed rest. Jesus Christ is the One by whom the worlds were made, ‘for in Him were all things created, in the heavens, and upon the earth,’ therefore He is the One who offers us this rest. To every soul He cries, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). The rest is found in Him, because in Him the works of God are completed. If the works were our own, then the rest would be our own; but God gives us His rest … No matter what we do nor how we regard the day, its holiness remains. ‘There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God’ (Hebrews 4:9), and the seventh day, which God forever declares to be His rest, is that by which He makes known to us the perfection of His rest, because it calls us to contemplate a finished and perfect new creation. It reveals to us the everlasting God, the unwearied, almighty Creator, who has wrought and laid up great goodness for them that trust in Him before the sons of men (Psalm 31:19). It reminds us that we are ‘complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power’ (Colossians 2:10). It tells us that although we have sinned and brought the curse on God’s perfect Creation, the cross of Christ bears the curse and restores and perpetuates the perfect work of God, so that through it we may stand without fault before the throne of God, just as when Adam was first made. ‘Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift’ (2 Corinthians 9:15).” (E. J. Waggoner, The Three Sabbaths)

This is why simply resting on the seventh-day of the week from your own work as a “duty” is not keeping the Sabbath day at all. This is what became known as “the Jewish Sabbath” and it is not at all in agreement with “the Sabbath of the Lord” even though they fall upon the same day of the week. It is simply Saturday-keeping! This is what Jesus was teaching His hearers, calling out to them to repent and enter into “God’s true Sabbath rest” by resting (believing) in His creative works that He so desires to do in man, re-creating us into a new (selfless) creature, and restoring us into His likeness and image.

The 144,000

In revelation chapter 7 John goes on to say that 144,000 people receive the seal of God:

“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. 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. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 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. 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.” (Revelation 7:4-8)

In Revelation 14:1 John sees the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion with Jesus, and they have the “Father's name written in their foreheads.” Ultimately it is God’s “name” (character) that is sealed in His people’s forehead (mind). Interestingly, most Greek manuscripts actually add the name of “the Son” here as well. Here’s the New Living Translation:

“Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

Most translations, except for the King James and a few others, write it this way as well. Speaking of His Son, God tells the Israelites, “Behold, I send an Angel (Messenger) before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him (pay attention to Him), and obey His voice … for My name is in Him.” (Exodus 23:20, 21).

God’s and His Son’ name (character) will be fully reproduced in us as a final witness against Satan’s lies. The 144,000 will be those who submit and receive the prescribed remedies offered by Jesus to the church of Laodicea.

“I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Revelation 3:18)

We talked about this in our study on the seven churches. We discovered that the seventh church – Laodicea, means “a people judged and found wanting.” They are those who go through “the hour of His judgment” (Revelation 14:7), permitting God to diagnose their shortcomings and receive of His prescribed remedies.

As a result, we will reflect God’s non-violent, compassionate character as we are healed and restored to the image of God and His Son like we were in the beginning. We will live through great tribulation without the thought of retaliation against those who seek to hurt us, thus we will live upon this earth without sinning even by a thought in order to draw others to God and glorify His name. God will accomplish His great work of “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

“And they (the 144,000) sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women (a symbol of church systems, the mother and her harlots); for they are virgins (spiritually pure from all immorality and false teachings concerning the character of God). These are they which follow the Lamb (Jesus) whithersoever He goeth (no one comes to a correct understanding of the Father without Jesus). These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb (first ones so sealed (settled) into the truth about God and His Son that nothing could move them). And in their mouth was found no guile (no lies about God’s character): for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (Revelation 14:3-5)

Amen! The sealed people of God will fully enter into His rest and be ready for translation without seeing death, of which the seventh-day Sabbath is a sign (Hebrews 4).

In fact, we see all of this in the breakdown of the Hebrew word Shabbat (Sabbath).

S (Sh) = “Name” (such as the word Shem means “name”).

Ab = “Abba” or “Father.”

B (Bath) = “Dwelling Place” (such as the word Bethel means “dwelling place of God”).

Ath (oth) = “Sign.”

Altogether, Shabbat = “The dwelling place of the sign of the Father.” 

Giving the truth that the Father’s name will be sealed in the forehead, we must look no further than the Sabbath as giving us that sign — sABBAth. And remember, Paul tells us, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).

As to the meaning of 144,000, the question remains as to what is literal and what is meant to be as symbolic. I personally believe the number (144,000) is literal, but the names who are sealed are symbolic. All the other numbers in Revelation are literal such as the 7 churches. The number 7 is literal while the “churches” are symbolic. There are literally 7 seals and 7 trumpets, although the seals and trumpets are symbolic. The 12 fruits upon the tree of life mentioned in Revelation 22:2 is a literal number due to the fact we will be eating of this tree “every month”, or every new moon, throughout the year.

In an article on amazingfacts.org, Doug Batchelor writes:

“My first clue that there must be a spiritual meaning to the 144,000 was the way in which the tribes are listed in Revelation 7:5-8. This is the only time in Scripture that the names of the tribes appear in this order. Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, is listed as second while Judah, fourth in birth order, is listed as first. Joseph and Levi are included, while Ephraim and Dan are left out. Why? Because ‘Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder [viper] in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward’ (Genesis 49:17), and ‘Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone’ (Hosea 4:17). In the Bible, a serpent is a symbol of Satan. The critical, backbiting nature of Dan aligned this tribe with the kingdom of Satan instead of the kingdom of God. Likewise, the tribe of Ephraim had forsaken the God of Israel and had embraced paganism. Hence, Ephraim and Dan are left out of the 144,000. Jewish names always had a meaning that depicted some characteristic of the child, or an event connected with his birth. For example, Genesis 29:32-35 says: ‘Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now I will praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah.’ In fact, Rachel and Leah made prophetic statements for all 12 of Jacob’s sons. Here are the names of the tribes that make up the 144,000 (in the order listed in Revelation chapter 7), together with the meaning of each name:

 

1.	Judah	=	‘I will praise the Lord’
2.	Reuben	=	‘He has looked on me’
3.	Gad	=	‘Granted good fortune"
4.	Asher	=	‘Happy am I’
5.	Naphtali	=	‘My wrestling’
6.	Manasseh	=	‘Making me to forget’
7.	Simeon	=	‘God hears me’
8.	Levi	=	‘Joined to me’
9.	Issachar	=	‘Purchased Me’
10.	Zebulun	=	‘Dwelling’
11.	Joseph	=	‘God will add to me’
12.	Benjamin	=	‘Son of His right hand’

Now notice what happens when the meaning of the names are combined, in the same order, into a paragraph:

‘I will praise the Lord for He has looked on me and granted good fortune. Happy am I because my wrestling God is making me to forget. God hears me and is joined to me. He has purchased me a dwelling. God will add to me the Son of His right hand.’ (The words in italics are supplied to complete each thought.)

These names describe the story of the church's struggle, redemption, victory, and marriage to the Lamb … Now some may be thinking, ‘How can you say that the names are symbolic but the number is literal?’ It's simple. Jesus did. He did not seem to care which tribes the 12 apostles came from, but He did purposely choose 12 of them. Also remember that all of the numbers in Revelation depict a specific value, while all the proper names in Revelation are symbols (the Lamb, the Dragon, the Lion, Balaam, Jezebel, etc.). For these reasons and others, I believe the number 144,000 is a precise figure. Just as there were actually 12 literal tribes in the Old Testament and exactly 12 apostles in the New Testament, there will be 12 times 12,000 spiritual apostles in the last days.”

The seal of God is the settling into the truth of God’s selfless, non-condemning character and methods of love so that nothing can shake us from the reality of being His beloved children. This status of being a child of God is not due to performance, but simply because of our inheritance through Jesus.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)

Believing We Are His Beloved Children

When Jesus was baptized, He heard His Father say, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16, 17). After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit of His Father into the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan.

“And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:3, 4)

Satan came to Jesus attempting to get Him to doubt His Father’s word that He was His Son in whom He was well pleased. Satan said, “IF Thou be the Son of God …” Satan wanted Him to prove He was the Son of God by performing the miracle of changing the stones into bread. But Jesus didn’t need to prove anything. He had perfect unfailing faith in “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” He believed He was the Son of God by simply trusting His Father’s word on the matter!

God is asking you to believe this truth as well. Believe that you are God’s child through Jesus. You need not earn this status, you simply are! Come into this rest, knowing (experiencing) the love of your heavenly Father, who accepts you just the way you are and loves you so much that He wants to heal and restore you. Satan wants you to doubt this. That’s why we are to live “by the faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). We need to possess His unfailing faith.

It is of no coincidence that the “hundred forty and four thousand” are connected to “the everlasting gospel” which is proclaimed with a loud voice during “the hour of His judgment” in which God’s people will “worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:1-7). The results of this gospel will cause the pagan philosophies of Babylon to fall (verse 8), strengthening God’s people against Satan’s final attack, in which he will enforce his mark (his sign/seal), imposing it upon all through the threat of punishment and death (verses 9-11).

The whole world will be enlightened with God’s glory (character, Revelation 18:1-4) and they will see the character of Christ within the 144,000 on display amidst severe tribulation. Like the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) and the 11^th-hour workers (Matthew 20:1-14), those who are pricked at the heart will join with them at the last hour and glorify their Father in heaven (see again, Matthew 5:16). John foresaw this right after seeing the sealing of the 144,000:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, 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 (Jesus), clothed with white robes (Christ-like characters), and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb (Jesus). 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, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen … These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (they permitted Him to cleanse them from all unrighteousness). Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more (they will never lack God’s righteousness, Matthew 5:6); neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat (no more fiery trials and tribulation, 1 Peter 4:12, 13). For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:9-17)

John saw that the mark of the beast will either be placed in the individual’s “forehead, or in his hand.” This is the very same place God desires to seal His Law:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a SIGN (seal/mark) upon thine HAND, and they shall be as frontlets BETWEEN THINE EYES …Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God (be awe-inspired by Him), and serve Him, and shalt swear by His NAME (His unchanging, selfless character).” (Deuteronomy 6:4-8, 13)

We have also seen that, as we are sealed with God’s righteous name (selfless character) as revealed by His written Law and personified by His only begotten Son – “the express image of His (God’s) person” – we will enter into His rest (His very presence, Exodus 33:14; Matthew 11:28), as symbolized by His Sabbath (Shabbat). However, those who reject the seal of God will “have no rest day nor night, [because they] worship the beast and his image, and … receiveth the mark (sign) of his name (character).” (Revelation 14:11).

Clearly, the mark of the beast is the exact opposite of the seal of the living God. Therefore, the mark of the beast must have something to do with not keeping God’s Law and denying the faith of Jesus, thus hindering people from entering into God’s rest. After all, as soon as the angel was finished warning God’s people about receiving the mark of the beast, John heard these words:

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

Clearly, “keeping the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” is the exact opposite of the mark of the beast. The Law of God is to be sealed in us, taking over our entire reasoning and conscience (mind), affections (heart), and our works (hands). “The Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” and “the commandments of men and the works of the flesh” are at war. Pray that you will be among those “who shall be able to stand” (Revelation 6:17-7:3); for “we ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29).

 

Next study: What is the Mark of the Beast?