The 144000 sealed

PT Ministries production 1

Chapter 7 Exposition


The 144 000 Introduction

This chapter comes just after the sixth seal has been broken. Commotion is raging high as a result of the seal. God is about to rain havoc on earth, see Rev. 8:6 SOP says: “I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds

until Jesus' work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous…” EW36.

Just like with Israel of old, God would like to whisk His children to safety first before havoc begins.

In the case of Israel, the blood on the doorpost was said to mark their safety, this time God’s special mark does the trick.


Introduction Cont. Symbology used here is not our ordinary Constant

Keys (CKs) but Variable Key (VK). Please refer to our chapter 1 to refresh your

memory on these keys. Seal = many different interpretations depending

on the context e.g. Seal in Rev. 6 is different from seal of Rev 7:2-3 , Dan 12:4 and also different from seal of Rev 22:10. NB: seal in prophecy should be different from seal elsewhere in the bible.


Exposition Verse 1: “After this…” “this” refers to the beginning of a

havoc as explained in Rev. 6:15-17. This chapter then speaks to what will happen just

before the second coming of our Lord. SOP shares this light: “The Lion of Judah, SO TERRIBLE

TO THE REJECTERS OF HIS GRACE, will be the Lamb of God to the obedient and faithful. The pillar of cloud which speaks wrath and terror to the transgressor of God's law is light and mercy and deliverance to those who have kept His commandments.” 6T404


Exposition V1 cont. Next, we need to resolve the on “Angel” in this verse. In Rev. 1:20, “angels” referred to the Ministers / Elders /

Bishops of the church. That was a variable key (vk.) and was explained in the

chapter! In this chapter since no explanation is given, then we’ll

interpret “angel” as a literal messenger of God as is known and believed to exist.

“...Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels...” LS119. EG White confirms our view.


The next key we recognise is “winds”. “Winds are a symbol of strife.” GC439.

SOP also calls this a “restraining power of God” 6T408.

“The four winds of heaven …represent the terrible scenes of conquest and revolution by which kingdoms have attained to power.” GC.440.

We have thus confirmed with the SOP our CK.

Exposition V1 cont.


We have since established that we’ll face real havoc should these angels let go of the wind.

There seem to be a multiplicity of danger here since the angels are holding back FOUR winds.

As we conclude this part, SOP says: “…and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.” Ed179.

Exposition V1 cont.


The SEAL and SEALING As stated earlier on, the “seal” is a variable key thus

depend on the context. In this chapter an Angel is presented as having a “seal of

the Living God” as he’s “sealing” God’s people. We’ll spend some time looking at the best possible

explanations of the seal as EG White gives it to us: “... While living under and proclaiming the most solemn

message ever borne to mortals, presenting the law of God as a test of character and as the seal of the living God, they are transgressing its holy precepts”2T468


“… the four winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to the Father, and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them.

Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels, and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads.” LS119.

The SEAL and SEALING cont.



“The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those ONLY WHO SIGH AND CRY FOR THE ABOMINATIONS DONE IN THE LAND. Those who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity.” 5T212

“Our own course of action will determine whether we shall receive the seal of the living God or be cut down by the destroying weapons” 5T212

“Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. Ibid 214

“There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads” 5T213

“NOT ONE OF US WILL EVER RECEIVE THE SEAL OF GOD WHILE OUR CHARACTERS HAVE ONE SPOT OR STAIN UPON THEM.” 5T214



“We must bear our message without any delay. We must give evidence to the universe of Heaven, and to men in this degenerate age, that our religion is a faith and a power of which Christ is the Author and His word the divine oracle.” AU.1898-10-15



“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His." God cannot be deceived. He reads CHARACTER correctly. He weighs motives. Nothing escapes His all-seeing eye; the thoughts, the intents and purposes of the hearts--all are discerned by Him” 4T583 / 2T490



“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God.” 5T211

“Many hear the invitation of mercy, are tested and proved; but few are sealed with the seal of the living God.” 5T50



“Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God--candidates for heaven” 5T216

“…close and unexpected tests will be brought to bear upon them to see who are worthy to receive the seal of the living God.” 5T382


The SEAL and 4th Commandment.

“The fourth commandment alone of all the ten contains the seal of the great Lawgiver, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Those who obey this commandment take upon themselves His name, and all the blessings it involves are theirs.” 6T350

“But God has set His seal upon His royal requirement. Each Sabbath institution bears the name of its author, an ineffaceable mark that shows the authority of each.” 6T352


The SEAL and 4th Commandment. “The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance

of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord's memorial of creation. "The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:12, 13. Here the Sabbath is clearly designated as a sign between God and His people” 8T117

“We are to be distinguished from the world because God has placed His seal upon us, because He manifests in us His own character of love” 7T144


The SEAL and 4th Commandment. “The Sabbath will be the great test…

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.”

“If parents allow their children to receive an education with the world, and make the Sabbath a common day, then the seal of God cannot be placed upon them.” HS217



“"A fair miter" is set upon their heads. They are to be as kings and priests unto God. 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. These are they that stand upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having the Father's name written in their foreheads.” 5T475 /5T501



“The precious graces of the Holy Spirit are not developed in a moment. Courage, fortitude, meekness, faith, unwavering trust in God's power to save, are acquired by the experience of years. By a life of holy endeavour and firm adherence to the right the children of God are to seal their destiny.” 8T314

“When Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous will be holy and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the living God.” EW48



“In every case the great decision is to be made whether we shall receive the mark of the beast or his image, or the seal of the living God. And now, when we are on the borders of the eternal world, what can be of so much value to us as to be found loyal and true to the God of heaven? What is there that we should prize above His truth and His law? What education can be given to the students in our schools that is so necessary as a knowledge of "What saith the Scriptures?” 6T130

“The message we bear has the seal of the living God.” 6T166



“…I saw that those who of late have embraced the truth would have to know what it is to suffer for Christ's sake, that they would have trials to pass through that would be keen and cutting, in order that they may be purified and fitted through suffering to receive the seal of the living God, pass through the time of trouble, see the King in His beauty, and dwell in the presence of God and of pure, holy angels.” EW67

“I also saw that many do not realize what they must be in order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest in the sanctuary through the time of trouble. Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.” EW71


The SEAL and SEALING cont.LIVE AND ACT wholly in reference to

the coming of the Son of man. The sealing time is very short, and will soon be over. Now is the time, while the four angels are holding the four winds, to make our calling and election sure. EW58



“The human family is in need of a moral renovation, a preparation of character, that they may stand in God's presence”. 6T21.

“Let nothing lessen the force of the truth for this time. The present truth is to be our burden. The third angel's message must do its work of separating from the churches …” 6T61


Verse 2 recap. Recapitulation from slide 8 – 23. The Angel in this chapter and verse is literal. He is not going to go around preaching the

Sabbath to any person. The sealing here is not as defined in 2Cor. 1:21 Those sealed this time have been loyal to the

Eternal God throughout. Their loyalty included the TRUE SABBATH

keeping.


Verse 2 recap. Just as in the case of Israel of old, before they left Egypt

they had a special mark to distinguish them from Egyptians, so will it be in the case of these spiritual Israelites.

Marking {sealing} is done by an unseen angel of God to the true remnant of God.

Sealing indicates the side of Eternity one belongs to and will not change.

This sealing takes place at the close of mercy when every individual’s case has been decided either for eternal life or eternal death

Ten (10) of our 15 slides spoke of loyalty to the precepts of God, hence the sealing.


Verse 2 recap. One's character immerged as primary to sealing. 5 of the 15 slides emphasize on the Sabbath as

prerequisite to sealing. This sealing confirms salvation by faith as

opposed to salvation by works (my keeping of the Sabbath).

The Sabbath here is crucial in identifying ones loyalty, then the sealing.


Verse 3 Exposition This Angel has been specially sent from God with

the special message. LS119 Note that the faithful remnant is there even at this

time and is observing the True Sabbath already! For the reason to call on these 4 Angels, let’s read

Rev. 9:4-5. Note that this happens after the event of Rev. 7:3

hence now they are told who not what to harm.


The Number of Sealed Note that verse 4 talks about what

John heard as the number to be sealed (protected).

There usually is a discrepancy between what John hears and what he sees.(Rev.1:10 cf. 12; 4:1 cf. 2 {throne wasn’t about to happen}; 5:5 cf. 6)


The Number of Sealed Similarly here he heard “the number” and

the “12 tribes of Israel”. Remember that so far there’s no prophecy

restoring the 12 tribes of Israel! Only spiritual Israel exists so far.

Notice that the sealing takes place in verse 3 ONLY since the time in verse 4 is in the perfect time.


The Number of Sealed Verses 5-8 recount the tribes of Israel (as

John heard). These numbers form a perfect square!

(120002) John did not see the sealing but heard about

it. The events in verse 9 are interrupted since

he says: “after this…”


The Number of Sealed It is only now that he looks at what he heard was

happening. Now there’s clear discrepancy between what he heard

and what he sees! He does not see the 144 000 but a multitude,

innumerable! This is now as promised to Abraham, Gen 22:17. Quickly John is returned to Heaven in his vision, to link

these sealed with those “souls under the Alter” Rev. 6:9-11


The Number of Sealed “By this time 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.[ G REV. 3:12.] At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us in prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and the wicked would fall helpless to the ground…” WLF14

“ON THEIR FOREHEADS WAS WRITTEN, GOD, NEW JERUSALEM, and a glorious Star containing Jesus' new name… The 144,000 shouted, Hallelujah! as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.” Day Star 1846-01-24; RH.1851-07-21; 2SG32;


The Number of Sealed “We all in solemn silence gazed on the

cloud as it drew nearer, lighter, and brighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud.[ J REV. 14; 14.] The bottom appeared like fire, a rainbow was over it, around the cloud were ten thousand angels singing a most lovely song…” Ibid


Recap on Sealing Notice the “we” and the “us” by EG

White! Notice again that this group is literally

sealed by an angel and we are told what that inscription contains!

This way, EG White is perfectly in agreement with the Bible, Revelation 7:2-3


The Number of Sealed Remember in chapter six, these were

crying “how long…” but now they cry “Salvation belongs to our God…”

These together with their counter parts who had been slain for the Gospel, are wearing white robes!


The Number of Sealed These were not a great multitude in chapter six, but

they together with the 144000 now form this great multitude.

They are all referred to as the 144000, Rev. 14:1 They all sing the new song that no man or angel could

learn, as it is the song of their experiences. Rev. 14:3-5. The verses after verse 9 in chapter 7 are a continuation

of chapter 6:9-11, only that they include the 144000.

The 144000 sealed

Spiritual

Transcript of The 144000 sealed