Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

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6. THE SEALING OF GOD’S SERVANTS

The 144,000 Receive a Special Seal.

It is important that we recognize the difference between the seal of the Spirit and the seal given by the angels just before probation closes. Through failing to do this some folk have brought in confusion where otherwise all is plain. They have assumed that all that was necessary was to advance a few thoughts on the seal of the Spirit and that the latter rain, the outpouring of the Spirit, will indicate that the seal has been received. We quote: “Fullness of the Spirit after Seal. God designs to have a people who will appropriate the benefits of the final atonement of Christ. Even as the fullness of the Spirit was given to Christ as a seal (see John 3:34; 6:27; Acts 10:38), the fullness of the Spirit will seal each saint (see Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Testimonies, vol. 3, page 267). Then the power of the Spirit will attend his earthly witness, as he testified to the glory and power of Christ’s atoning ministry with the loud voice of the third angel (Revelation 18:1-4). After quoting Early Writings, page 277- 279, this author says: “The above passage shows that this message will be sounded by a people lighted with the glory of God, and clothed with power from on high. The glory of God is the name and character of God (Exodus 33:18, 19:34:6, 7). The name of God is the seal of God (Revelation 7:24; 14:1). When the people receive, believe and appropriate the benefits of the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14, they will have the seal of God, which is the name of God, which is the character of God, which is the glory of God. Thus the angel of Revelation 18 will unite his voice with the third angel to swell his message to a loud cry.” Good as some aspects of this presentation are, this position, nevertheless, brings in confusion through a failure to grasp the reason the Lord has given two pictures of the sealing of the 144,000: (1) Revelation 6:14-17; 7:1-4, where the terrible calamities of the day of the Lord are realistically depicted in somber shades and where it is made perfectly clear that only those with the seal will be protected in that coming day of God’s wrath; and (2) Revelation 14:1-5, where the character of those protected is emphasized. Important as it is to consider the character of those sealed (Revelation 14), it is also important to consider why they are sealed (Revelation 6:14-17; 7:1-4) -namely, for their Protection during the day of wrath, as Israel was protected in Egypt when God’s wrath was poured out upon the Egyptians. It was to draw attention to these two features of the 144,000 that the Lord gave these two pictures of this holy company. A failure to grasp this twofold nature has caused some of our brethren to arrive at the erroneous conclusion that the seal of God must be given before the loud cry. But this conception throws out of balance important last-day truths. The truth of Bible subjects is seen when all the relevant facts are considered. Partial study of a subject cannot present a true picture. In this chapter we desire to show that a distinction must be drawn between the seal of the Spirit and the seal given by the angels, as indicated in Revelation 7:1-4.

The word “seal” is found many times and used in various ways in the Bible. There are references to kings’ seals (1 Kings 21:8); there is the figurative seal upon the heart (Song of Solomon 8:6). The seal, or fruitage, of Paul’s apostle ship (1 Corinthians 9:2); the seals that secured ancient Scrolls (Revelation 5:1); the seal which transgression puts upon a man (Job 14:17); the seal of wisdom (Ezekiel 28:12); the seal of a righteous faith (Romans 4:11), etc. In most of its uses the word “seal” means finality, something unalterable, the sum total or perfection.

It is fitting that the remnant people - those living at the time of the final work of our Lord Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary should be sealed, for such an action indicates the completion of the gospel work. That the seal received by the remnant is of a special kind is obvious from the fact that those sealed are declared by the sealing angel to be “the servants of our God”. The commanding angel, especially sent on this important mission by Christ, the King of the church, is described as “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). The fellowship among the angels themselves and toward those to be sealed is evident by the plural “we” and “our”. The sealing angel is not commissioned from Jesus to come to make

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men the servants of Christ, but to seal those who are already His “servants”. As we shall shortly show, all Christ’s servants have a seal; but these are to receive a special seal for the special purpose of assuring them safety in the unprecedented time of trouble.

The Lord’s servant has written a chapter on “The Sealing (Early Writings, page 36-38) in which is graphically portrayed how King Jesus commissions the angels to hold back the world strife until the remnant are sealed. She says: “They [the angels] were about to let them [winds of strife and destruction] go; but while their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed upon the remnant that were not sealed. Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels, and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed.”

These not sealed ones were servants of God and were “a remnant according to the election of grace”, and as such had already been given the seal of the Spirit, for this is the privilege of all who sincerely accept Jesus as their Savior. As stated by Paul: “In Whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest [pledge] of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Ephesians 1:13, 14). The Holy Spirit is the King’s own seal on those who are His peculiar people, proving them to be His- property. It is the pledge which the Redeemer gives to His believing disciples, ‘while they are in the body, of the full redemption yet to come in the resurrection when the dead in Christ shall live again. Here again we may observe that this revelation is made because of God’s love for His people -He desires us to rest in His goodness, and find peace and contentment in knowing that, having commenced the Christian. life, He will guide and protect us until we pass through “this present evil world”.

“And in Him you also by your faith have been stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit, which is the pledge and installment of our common heritage, that we may obtain our divine possession” (Ephesians 1:13, 14, Moffatt). “In Him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it” (RSV).

“And so also is the Holy Ghost Whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32). The blessing of the presence of the Holy Spirit is for all who believe - see Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:17, 18, 33-39; 3:19; Romans 8:9-26; Galatians 3:14, etc. From these and other Scriptures we are informed that the Spirit’s presence quickens the present mortal body, giving renewed life and energy day by day. In a sense, the immortal life promised the believer in Jesus becomes a present possession. At least enough is experienced to be a foretaste of glories divine. “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36). “He that hears My Word and believes on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life” (John 5:24). “He that believes on Me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47). The believer hath eternal life now - that is, a present possession. Girdlestone, in “Synonyms of the Old Testament,” page 318, says: “The adjective (AIONIOS) is used more than forty times in the New Testament with respect to eternal life, which is regarded partly as a present gift, partly as a promise for the future.”

“He that believes on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that has not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:10-13). John’s repeated assurance of our present possession is echoed in the Spirit of Prophecy: “Christ declares that even now the power which gives life to the dead is among them, and they are to behold its manifestation. This same resurrection power is that which gives life to the soul ‘dead in trespasses and sins’, Ephesians 2:l” (Desire of Ages, page 209).

“Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal” (Desire of Ages, page 388).

“The Holy Spirit will renew every organ of the body. Vitality increases under the influence of the Spirit’s action” (Medical Ministry, page 12). “Those who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God will constantly receive a new endowment of physical, mental and spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth His highest energies to work in heart and mind. The grace of God enlarges and multiplies their faculties. Through co-operation with Christ, they are made complete in Him, and in their human weakness they are enabled to do the deeds of Omnipotence” (Gospel Workers, page 112).

The believer truly has “the pledge and installment” of the promised inheritance in Christ - the seal every believer receives from a loving Savior with the assurance of His keeping grace and power that will lead all trusting hearts into the fullness of eternal life. “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). “Who hath sealed us, and given the earnest of the

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Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:22). “Who stamped me with His seal, and gave me the Spirit as a pledge in my heart” (Moffatt). “He has put His seal upon us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (RSV.). “Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). Cruden: -Having this confirmation, or security, that God discerns His people from others, and will take care of them.”

The prophecy of Revelation 7:1-4 depicts the sealing of God’s “servants”. As God’s “servants” they will have been already sealed with the Holy Spirit and recipients of all the blessings which come in the train of the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is obvious that the sealing of God’s “servants” refers to a special seal given for a special occasion. “This sealing secures the safety to the sealed ones as the judgment of the great day goes over the nations” (The Apocalypse, by Joseph Seiss, Volume 1, page 424). “This action of sealing with the seal or signet of God is equivalent to a declaration that they who are sealed appertain to God, and are distinguished as such from others who do not belong to Him, and are assured by Him of His Protection against evil” (Chr. Wordsworth, Lectures on the Apocalypse. Quoted by J. A. Seiss in op. cit., Volume 1, pp. 423, 424).

The Sabbath Commandment is the seal of the Law of God. “The fourth commandment contains the seal of God” (Patriarchs and Prophets, page 307). “The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God” (Great Controversy, Page 640). It is the sign of sanctification - see Exodus 31:13, 17; Ezekiel 20:12, 20. “Seal the law among My disciples” (Isaiah 8:16). This obviously refers to the fact that when God’s law is lived out, or enshrined, in a human heart, that is the justification of the law. It is the protection of God in a man’s life and the sign of God’s presence. Observance of the Sabbath recognizes God, the Creator, and places a sign, mark, or seal on the observers. Those sealed have the Father’s name on them. They partake of His character. They, having no guile (lie) in them, are faultless before God - see Revelation 14:1-5.

It is because the remnant (through learning to obtain unlimited power from our Lord Jesus in His priestly ministry) attain unto holiness that they are sealed with the seal of the living God -the sign of sanctification is the keeping of the Sabbath Commandment (which shows that the Ten Commandments come from the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the living God). A distinction is thus drawn between the sealing of God’s law among His disciples (Isaiah 8:16), and the sealing of God’s people because they honor the seal of the law (Revelation 7:1-4). The two seals cannot be separated - only those who honor the seal of the law will be honored by the seal of the Creator upon those whom He promises to protect through the day of His wrath and the time of trouble which is to come to a world in rebellion against His government.

The Spirit of Prophecy refers to two sealings: one now in progress and another future and to be accomplished just before the close of probation. “God has placed His seal upon us, because He manifests in us His own character of love” (Ministry of Healing, page 37). In the chapter: “The Open and the Shut Door” (Early Writings, page’ 42-45), the Lord’s servant says: “Satan is now using every device it! This sealing time to keep the minds of God’s people from the present truth.” The context shows that reference is made to “the present truth”, the added light which has come upon the ministry of Jesus in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary before the Law of God, resulting in -the call of Christ to His people in all the churches to restore the Sabbath, the seal of the law, to its rightful place in their hearts. Satan is pictured as trying hard to prevent the honest people in all churches from seeing this present truth “in this sealing time”. Then in, the chapter, “Mark of the Beast” (Early Writings, page 64, 67), God’s servant says:

“I saw that those who of late have embraced the truth [which concerns the sealing of the law among Christ’s disciples] would have trials fitted through suffering to receive the seal of the living God, pass through, the time of trouble, see the King in His beauty,” etc. This reference to, the sealing of the remnant is a future work. Sabbath keepers - those who have the seal of God’s law in their hearts are here referred to who, through suffering, would be prepared to receive the seal and thus he equipped for protection in “the time of trouble” and live to see “the King in His beauty” at the time of His second advent.

“Just before we entered it [the time of trouble], we all received the seal of the living God. Then I saw the four angels cease to hold the four winds” (Day-Star, March 14, 1846).

Under the chapter “The Sealing” (Early Writings, page 36-38), Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed. Observe that God’s faithful remnant are thus bright to view just before the time of trouble commences. They are loyal Sabbath keepers having the seal of the Spirit and also the seal of God’s law in their hearts, but they are not sealed with the special seal until just before the close of probation and the winds of strife are permitted to blow. That the giving of this special seal occurs after the outpouring of the

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latter rain as the last act of Jesus in His priestly ministry may be seen by the following statements: “When the third angel’s message closes. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received ‘the latter rain’, ‘the refreshing from the presence of the Lord’, and, they are prepared for the trying hour before them. An angel returning from the earth announces that His work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts [shown by observing the Sabbath, the seal of the law] have received ‘the seal of the living God’. Then Jesus ceases is intercession in the sanctuary above” (Great Controversy, Page 613).

That the seal not the latter rain, as some have suggested, but is given subsequent to the latter rain and, just before the close of probation, is again shown in the itemized description of the final events given in Early Writings, page 279: “They had received the latter rain. The last great warning had sounded everywhere. An angel returned from the earth, and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus throw down the censer.” It will assist the reader further to discern the difference between the two sealings when it is pointed out that the seal of God is given to Sabbath keepers after they have been tested concerning the mark of the beast, and Sunday keepers do not receive “the mark of the beast” until after they have been tested concerning the seal of God, the Sabbath. “While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God” (Great Controversy, Page 605). Those who obey the Law, shown by obeying the Sabbath Commandment which contains the seal of God, will “receive the seal of God”; those who will not obey this fourth Commandment which contains the seal of God, will then receive “the mark of the beast”. That is, the acceptance or rejection of the seal of the Law will determine whether we receive the seal of God for protection from the coming storm of wrath, or receive the mark of the beast and be thus marked down for death. Observe that the above quotation presents two features for each class: the former people accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, then receive the mark of the beast; the latter ones, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, then receive the seal of God.

This same feature is brought to view again in Great Controversy, Page 449: “And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive ‘the mark of the beast’.” Thus the seal of God, or the mark of the beast, is not received until after the issues have been plainly set before the people. Then, after the testing, people are either sealed for protection, or marked for destruction. Those sealed have “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his name, and over the number of his name (Revelation 15:1-3), and they are mentioned in connection with the outpouring of the wrath of God in the seven last plagues. It is showing that the receiving of the seal of God is for their protection during the outpouring of the wrath of God. The Lord’s servant has given us a commentary on this Scripture: “Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire . . . are gathered the company that have gotten the victory over the beast. With the Lamb they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men. They have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble. They have stood with out an Intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered. They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat” (Great Controversy, Page 648, 649).

That the seal of God given to loyal commandment keepers refers to a special seal given to them just before the time of trouble commences is again revealed in Prophets and Kings, Page 591: “While Satan has been urging his accusations, holy angels, unseen, have been passing to and fro, placing upon the faithful ones the seal of the living God.”

This sealing done by the angels just before probation closes must not be confused with the seal of the Spirit which is given early in the experience of every believer. The seal of the Spirit has been received down through the centuries, but the sealing of the 144,000 by the angels is given to those who courageously face the threat of death by resisting “the mark of the beast” “in the closing scenes of the great day of Atonement.” See context Prophets and Kings, Page 587-592.

In Prophets and Kings, Page 591 the Lord’s servant is not employing symbolic language. “The seal” must be something as real as “Satan”, “this company” (the remnant), and the “holy angels” who place “upon them the seal of the living God”. The angels cannot symbolize the people with a message, for the angels place the seal of God upon the remnant.

Statements made by the apostle Paul concerning righteousness by faith without works and statements made by James concerning faith and works harmonize when we see the particular aspect of faith

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that each is at that moment stressing. Similarly, sometimes the Lord’s servant stresses the character of those to be sealed, other times, their deliverance; and then also there may be discerned a mingling of both. When one understands the two aspects of the sealing work he can read those statements more understandingly. Some people believe that the character is the seal, but according to Ellen G. White the character must be perfected before the seal is given, as shown by the following: “All who receive the seal must be without spot before God” (5 Testimonies, page 216). If by the seal, character is all that is intended this statement would be incongruous, for it is to those who have a pure character that the seal is given.

It will help us to grasp more fully the two aspects of the sealing of the 144,000-one by the Holy Spirit in the development of character, and the other by the angels just before probation closes when we consider the way the seal itself is sometimes referred to: (1) unseen to human eyes; (2) visible to the angels.

Stressing the thought that this seal will not be a mark visible to human eyes, the Lord’s servant says:

“In the issue of the great contest two parties are developed, those who ‘worship the beast and his image’ and receive his mark, and those who receive ‘the seal of the living God’, who have the ‘Father’s name written in their foreheads’. This is not a visible mark” (Signs of the Times, November 1, 1849, Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, page 980).

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads- it is not a seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so that 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 upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming” (Manuscript 173, 1902, Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4, page 1161). God is waiting for His people to be ready and sealed before permitting the coming calamities, the more terrible shaking to come upon the nations - “the judgments of God” (“war, and rumors of war, sword, famine, and pestilence shake the powers of earth”, Early Writings, page 41).

“Science has revealed that there are millions of real things which human eyes cannot see - microscopic forms of life indigenous to this planet too infinitesimal for man to see; also the electrons and protons of the atomic world; and many rays in the electro-magnetic fields. Multiplied millions of angels - good and evil - are moving ceaselessly around on this planet unseen by man. Some day, when God’s people enter the eternal kingdom, they will see more clearly that we now see through a glass, darkly . . . in part” (1 Corinthians 13:12), that in the kingdom there is a satisfying union of real things and spiritual things. With these thought.; in mind we are not surprised to read the following extracts from the Spirit of Prophecy in our Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4, page 1161:

“A MARK WHICH ANGELS READ ... What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption (Letter 126, 1898). The angel with the writer’s ink horn is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who separate from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel follows this angel (Letter 12, 1886).” Again we quote:

“The Israelites placed over their doors a signature of blood, to show that they were God’s property. A mark is placed upon every one of God’s people just as verily as a mark was placed over the doors of the Hebrew dwellings, to preserve the people from the general ruin.” (Review and Herald, February 6, 1900, Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, pages 968, 969).

Thus in some places the Lord’s servant says that this seal is not a visible mark (to human beings), but yet “is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption”.

The part played by the angels in the sealing of the 144,000 is clearly stated: “While Satan was urging his accusations, and seeking to destroy this company, holy angels, unseen, were passing to and fro, placing upon them the seal of the living God” (5 Testimonies, page 475, 476; Prophets and Kings, Page 591).

While the angels place upon them the seal of God, this seal is not visible to human beings nor to evil angels, for, after God’s people have been sealed, Satan cannot see anything upon their persons that indicates this, for we read: “He [Satan] sees that holy angels are guarding them, and he infers that their sins have been pardoned; but he does not know that their cases have been decided in the sanctuary above” (Great Controversy, Page 618). Satan cannot see what the holy angels see, for by His almighty power the Lord has enabled holy angels to read our thoughts (1 Testimonies, page 124, 544; 2 Testimonies, page 181); whereas concerning Satan we read: “The adversary of souls is not permitted to read the thoughts” (Mrs. E. G. White, Training for the Throne). It does not surprise us to consider the possibility of some invisible sign

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known only by holy angels being upon those sealed when we remember that light that is invisible to the human eye falls upon those who pray: “The light which fell from the -open portals upon the head of the Savior will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation” (Desire of Ages, page 113). Were we to “pray without ceasing” that stream of light would never cease to flow to us personally: “Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life” (SC.). Writing of the “celestial glory” which will surround the persecuted saints, the Lord’s servant says: “They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God” (9 Testimonies, page 16).

In the light of the foregoing we can discern more clearly the operation of the Holy Spirit in character development and the seal given by the angels for the protection of the saints, in the following statement in 3 Testimonies, page 266, 267:

“Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet’s illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon, in his hand. Unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work, and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval. They will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those ‘that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done’ in the church.”

Here the Lord’s servant emphasizes the truth that those who are to receive God’s mark for their protection in the day of His wrath, “the mark of God’s sealing approval”, are those who “receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost”. These are led by the Spirit. From the time they “were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise”, and thus “sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30), they were 1ed of the Spirit, 1ed by the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:18; Romans 8:14, etc.). Day by day the principles of truth and righteousness became part of the warp and the woof of their lives. These alone are the ones who will receive the seal - “the mark of God’s sealing approval”. The character developed through life is done by the power of the Holy Ghost. The seal for their protection from “the general destruction of the wicked”, given at the conclusion of this work by the angels, acknowledges a work completed; “the stamp is impressed”, on the perfected character.

What is contained in this special seal, which is given for the safety of the 144,000 during the time of trouble, is stated in Early Writings, page 15: “The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name.” The Lord’s servant, in presenting before us our choice:

“Whether we shall receive the seal of the living God, or be cut down by the destroying weapons” (5 Testimonies, page 212, etc.), directs us to the events associated with the close of probation. Then, in obedience to the behest of King Jesus, the angels impress the seal of deliverance, for God’s servant says: “These are receiving the heavenly mold, and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth, and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity (5 Testimonies, page 216).

From Prophets and Kings, Page 591; 5 Testimonies, page 473, 476, we learn that “holy angels unseen” place “upon them [the 144,000] the seal of the living God” “while Satan is urging his accusations, and seeking to destroy this company”. Then “the mark of deliverance will be set [by angels] upon the men who keep God’s commandments, who revere His law, and who refuse the mark of the beast or of his image” (5 Testimonies, page 451). The angels will wait for Christ to give them the command, and then “the stamp is impressed”, and those sealed - “fitted through suffering to receive the seal of the living God, pass through the time of trouble, [and] see the King in His beauty” (Early Writings, page 67) - will pass unscathed through all the perils and perplexities in the post-probationary period and live to see the coming of the King in all His beauty, majesty and power.