While the two are not the same, the apocalyptic seal is totally dependant on the work of the Gospel of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit within the individuals life. Without the gospel seal, none will receive the apocalyptic seal!
There are three things to look at:
Obviously the Holy Spirit is involved, but what part does He play?
The Holy Spirit's job is to sanctify us.
How does the Spirit sanctify us?
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit
The sealing process is done by Christ through the Holy Spirit and
this process is the process of sanctification. The sealing process is being led
into a life of obedience to God's laws by the Holy Spirit, and kept
there by the Holy Spirit's power.
What happens if we resist the Holy Spirit and refuse to give up our sins?
1 Peter 2:18-22 False teachers promise obedient Christians liberty, but actually they suck them back into the bondage of corruption. For once a person has escaped the pollutions of the world through knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.
So here we see, that to resist the Holy Spirit once He has pointed out to us the true way, is a very serious thing. It is better for those who have never known the commandments, than for one who understood them, but then turned away from obedience. This is straight from the Bible — the New Testament — written after Christ's death. I'm not quoting it to condemn, but to try to alert people that it is IN THE BIBLE!
Romans 6:16 Don't you know that to whom you yield yourselves in obedience, he is your master? You are the servants to him whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness
1 John 3:24 And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
Many people think obedience and faith are opposites. They are not. The word faith and faithful come from the same linguistic root. By faith God's people are faithful!
FAITH reveals itself in faithful action.
By faith -- "Noah moved with fear and prepared an ark....
By faith -- "Abraham OBEYED and went out not knowing where he was going. . .
By faith ---"Moses refused to be son of Pharaoh's daughter CHOOSING to endure trouble
with the people of God... giving up the pleasures of sin. .
By faith --- "Moses kept the passover. . .
If faith led Moses to risk and loose such great earthly advantages, should faith not lead us
to obey God even if it means losing all earthly advantages. EVEN IF IT DOES NOT FEEL
GOOD.
Hebrews 11 records many who, because their faith led them to obey God's commands were placed in opposition to earthly
commands that would require them to disobey God. As a result they were
tortured, stoned, sawn asunder, wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens
and caves of the earth. Were they at times tempted to "listen" to the wrong voices? To take the easy road?--
Yet even if all earthly powers are arrayed against God's people the Bible declares:
Peace and rest are the result of living in compliance and trust with our God. Rest is not something that comes apart from God's law, it comes as a result of heartfelt surrender to God's ways. The Sabbath is not only a sign of CREATION it is also a sign of sanctification.
Hebrews 4 gives us the strongest evidence that the Sabbath was a cherished day to spend with the Lord in New Testament Christian times. There is no indication in these verses that the Hebrew Christians are debating which day to observe, or if they should observe a day. No, the whole passage accepts the reality of the Sabbath and uses it to illustrate the rest that Christians are to enter into with Christ. They are to rest, the literal Sabbath rest being an example of the spiritual rest, both in Christ.
Sabbath was not meant to be "time put in" so we can check off our merit list. We have no merit list. It is by CLAIMING THE MERITS of Christ that we present ourselves in holiness before the Lord on His holy day! We know it's not our merits. The Sabbath is not a day of works, it's a day when we rest spiritually and physically in the Lord, trusting in His merits. We hear the argument put forward that the Sabbath cannot be the seal of God because the Holy Spirit is the seal. Sabbath keeping, according to some accusers is the center of SDA worship rather than Christ and that we somehow believe we cannot worship on any other day or we will receive the Mark of the Beast.
Here our opposition make several wrong assumptions.
The apostle John, in the Revelation of Christ, sees an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had the work of holding back the winds of destructive forces which threaten to hurt earth, crying with a loud voice--"Hold,! Hold! Hold! Hold! Hurt not the earth! Not yet! Not yet!
Yet those winds will not be held back forever.
Ezekiel talks about a heavenly Being, clothed with priestly linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side Who is commissioned to go and set a mark upon the foreheads of the people who sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of the professed people of God. When the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn, reported the matter completed, destruction comes upon those who did not receive this mark. (See Ezekiel 9)
Revelation 14 continues with the same concept. The 144,000 which were sealed in chapter seven, are now seen with the lamb,
Thus a differentiation is made between the righteous and the wicked. This differentiation shows the remnant to be saved are,
When that work is completed, everyone will be set in their minds as to who they worship.
"And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one whose name is written in the book." (Daniel 12:1)
In the last days there will be one of two possible identification marks in the foreheads of people. (Rev. 9:4) The seal of God in their foreheads or (Rev. 14:9) the mark of the beast in their foreheads or in their hands.
God, the Creator, ruler of heaven and earth has His seal.
The seal of God, the token or sign of His authority, the evidence that He has the right and soveriegn authority to command his subjects, is found in the fourth commandment. This is the only precept of the Decalogue that points to God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, which clearly distinguishes the true God from all false gods. Throughout the Scriptures the fact of God's creative power is cited as proof that He is above all heathen gods.
When an earthly government sends out legally binding documents they place upon them their seal of authority. If anyone tried to tamper and rip off this seal from the original document they would be court marshaled. Yet we have the King of the Universe, the Creator of all that exists, declaring a simple, yet powerful law revealing His very nature and character. In the heart of this law He has placed His seal. Yet finite human beings presume to tear that seal from His law and declare it simply a shadow.
What open defiance against God and His government! The work of the Holy Spirit is to cause us to love God's laws and God's ways. To love God.
Ezekiel 36:27 God promised to put His spirit within us, and cause us to walk in His statutes, and we shall keep His judgments and do them.
Those who are sealed are those who have committed themselves fully to Christ and are following Him. They belong to God. The work of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify God's people through the truth. With the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence they will be acting upon high and holy principles, showing in a high, elevated sense, the line of demarcation between those who keep the commandments of God and those who trample them under their feet. The sanctification of the Spirit signalizes the difference between those who have the seal of God and worship Him as He commanded, and those who worship as the beast commanded.
Scan Revelation 13 quickly and see what major word pops up most often.
Revelation 14 continues the same theme:
The mark of the beast is a serious offense against God — it is a direct challenge to His authority. People do not lose their salvation because they buy and sell. God would not send His most solemn warning against the use of a credit card or shopping number, or even an implanted micro chip. No these prophecies have to do with worship and with God's commandments. The fourth commandment is the only one that deals specifically with worship, and it is alluded to in
Jesus said, in Matthew 15.9
When the people made a law that released the children from supporting their parents, Christ said,
In vain— useless, of no value, In vain— hypocrisy, is the worship of those who come before God claiming to worship while teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
In vain— useless, hypocrisy, is the worship of those who transgress the commandment of God and follow their tradition.
Strong, strong words. How can we ignore them? How can we replace the tradition of Sunday for the direct command from God to REMEMBER the Sabbath day to keep it holy, for in six days God created the heavens and the earth and rested, sanctified and blessed the seventh day?
God blessed and sanctified the Sabbath at Creation. He gave the command for it to be kept holy unto Him. No where in the Bible do we find a command to stop worshiping God on this day. With all the hassle the apostles had trying to convince people that circumcision was not longer binding, don't you think there would have been a major uproar if Sabbath was questioned? Yet there is no record of anything of that nature. The disciples kept the Sabbath, regularly in the book of Acts, they would seek out Sabbath worshipers and worship with them. Having an occasional meeting on another day is not the same as keeping that day holy. We can have a meeting on any day. Having church on Saturday does not make the day holy. God made the day holy by blessing and sanctifying it and resting. Keeping the Sabbath Holy is a personal experience with Christ. It is spending the day with Him.
Just because a person goes to church on Saturday does not mean he will be sealed. Many people attending church will stop keeping the Sabbath as soon as oppression comes because to them it was just a habit, it was not an experience of loving worship in obedience to the Creator God, they have never really kept the Sabbath IN THE SPIRIT. Yet others will joyfully begin keeping the Sabbath holy as this light is brought to them.
Remember it is the Holy Spirit that does the sealing, preparing the heart and mind to be in perfect harmony with Jesus. It is the relationship that counts. When we have that relationship and have the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will keep God's commandments, to glorify Him, no matter what happens. In the end, those who submitted to the Holy Spirit's leading, and made Christ there focus, will be sealed in a special way to carry them through the great time of trouble. And their keeping of all of God's law will be a sign to the whole universe that they are God's children.
Remember, the whole world will be following the beast, numbers will never be the determining factor on who is right. Only a small group will stay true. As in the days of Noah, so shall it be. Numbers were always small for the faithful remnant throughout history. They were always the minority. That is the sad part. That's why it is so important to spend much time on our knees asking for the Holy Spirit, studying God's Word and then going out and reaching out to all we possibly can, not just preaching, but helping and befriending people and gently leading them to Christ.
May God's Holy Spirit guide you into all truth.
AND THE GOSPEL SEAL
The Holy Spirit and the Sealing
What is the sign or evidence that the Holy Spirit is leading in our lives?
Are faith and obedience to God's commands at odds with each other?
THE APOCALYPTIC SEAL
There is a difference between the final apocalyptic seal, and the Gospel seal that all Christians receive when they have committed their lives to Christ. Now He who establishes us in Christ and anoints us, is God; and it is God also who has set His seal upon us, and given us the pledge of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. (2 Cor. 1:21,22)
1. There is the process of sealing
2. There is Someone doing the sealing
3. There is the seal itself.
1 Peter 1:2
1 Peter 1:22 We are purified in obeying the truth, through the
Spirit in sincere love and pure heart.
2 Thess. 2:13 God chose us for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit
1 Thess. 4:7,8 God called us for cleanness and holiness, if we reject this
we reject not man, but God who has sent His Spirit.
John 14:17 He dwells within us if we ask in Christ's name
John 14:26 He will teach us all things
John 16:8 He will convict us of sin, of righteousness and judgment
John 16:13 The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth: he will show you things to come.
John 16.14 He shall glorify Christ and help people know Him:
Romans 8:2 He frees us from law of sin and death
— that other law lodged in our flesh,
which wars against the God's law of righteousness-Romans 7:23)
Romans 8:5 He sets our minds on the things of God
Romans 8:13 Through the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body
Romans 8:26 He helps us in our weaknesses
Romans 8:29 He conforms us to the image of God
1 Cor. 2:13,14 He teaches us spiritual things, helping us to discern spiritual things
2 Cor. 3:3 He writes God's ways on our hearts
Hebs. 8:10 He writes God's laws on our hearts
Hebs. 10:15-16 He puts God's laws into our hearts and minds
2 Cor. 3:18 He transforms us into the image of the Lord
as we behold as in a mirror the glory of Christ
Eph. 3:16 He strengthens us in the inner man
Eph. 3:17 He roots and grounds us in the love of Christ
Eph. 3:18 He helps us comprehend the breadth, length,
depth and height of the love
of Christ which passes knowledge
that we might be filled with the fulness of God.
Eph. 5:9 He develops in us the fruit of the Spirit which is all
goodness, righteousness and truth
Eph. 1:13 Having believed in Christ we are sealed with
the Holy Spirit of Promise.
Eph. 4:25-30 So put away lying, anger, stealing, bad language
and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you
are sealed for the day of Redemption.
THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LEADING IN OUR LIVES?
Romans 8:5,13 "For they that live according to the flesh, will obey the demands of the flesh; but they that yield to the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit. .. If we live after the flesh, we shall die; but if we, through the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, we shall live."
1 John 5.2-4
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
BY FAITH WE KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY UNTO THE LORD FOR THE SIMPLE REASON
THAT HE ASKED US TO SPEND THAT DAY WITH HIM.
but FAITH
kept them strong in obedience to their Lord and Master--because they KNEW God and His
will-- even if all the impressions were urging against God's will.
Isaiah 57.20,21
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
How can people take the verse:
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him,
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light,
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
"establishes the law." (Romans 3:31) "Knowing this, that our old nature is crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed and we no longer serve sin." (Romans 6:6) Now we "serve the LORD with gladness. Knowing that the LORD he is God: it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people." (Psalms 100:2,3)
The rest of the world also receives a mark in their forehead, or in their hand. Their mark is also the MARK OF A NAME--the BEASTS name that is! (Rev.14:11) Again terrible destruction is pronounced upon those who have spurned the mark of God and taken the mark of the beast.
A seal is a sign of ownership or authority over something. When a king places his seal on a document it shows that it is his communication. So it will be in the last days. All will have a seal or sign showing who they belong to. Revelation describes the saints as those who keep God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. All the commandments are important, but the forth contains the seal.
13:4 They WORSHIP the dragon
They WORSHIP the beast
13:8 All inhabitants of earth will WORSHIP him whose names are not in the book of life.
13:12 The second beast causes all to WORSHIP the first beast whose deadly wound was healed.
13:15 Those who refuse to WORSHIP the beast are to be killed
This forced worship will be the criterion on whether a person can buy and sell.
14:7 WORSHIP Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.
14:9 Those who WORSHIP the beast and his image and obey his sign . . .fire . . .
14:11 Those who WORSHIP beast and his image and receive his sign . . . destruction . . .
14:12 The true worshipers are they that keep the commandments of God
and have the faith of Jesus.
"Why do you transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother:
But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift to the temple, whatever he have by which he could support them. Therefore he is free from the command to honour his father or his mother. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
This people draws near unto me with their mouth, and honour me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
The MARK which another religious power claims as proof that her authority is greater than God's authority, says:
"Of course the Catholic church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." Converts's Catechism by Peter Geiermann.
Here is a religious power blatantly claiming greater authority than God.