“... seal of God in their foreheads” means what?
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There are five verses in the Bible that refer to a “seal of God” or an object or person sealed by God (John 6:27; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 6:9; 7:2; and 9:4). The word sealed in the New Testament comes from a Greek word that means “to stamp with a private mark” in the interest of keeping something secret or protecting or preserving the sealed object.
Revelation 7:3–4 and 9:4 refer to groups of people who have the seal of God, and thus His protection, during the tribulation. During the fifth trumpet judgment, locusts from the Abyss attack the people of the earth with “power like that of scorpions” (Revelation 9:3). However, these demonic locusts are limited in what they can harm: “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4). The individuals who are marked by God are preserved. The seal of God during the tribulation is the direct opposite of the mark of the beast, which identifies people as followers of Satan (Revelation 13:16–18). https://gotquestions.org/seal-of-God.html
Revelation 7:3–4 and 9:4 refer to groups of people who have the seal of God, and thus His protection, during the tribulation. During the fifth trumpet judgment, locusts from the Abyss attack the people of the earth with “power like that of scorpions” (Revelation 9:3). However, these demonic locusts are limited in what they can harm: “They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4). The individuals who are marked by God are preserved. The seal of God during the tribulation is the direct opposite of the mark of the beast, which identifies people as followers of Satan (Revelation 13:16–18). https://gotquestions.org/seal-of-God.html
Here's another good verse.
NIV Deuteronomy 11:17-19
Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.
NIV Deuteronomy 11:17-19
Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.
2 Timothy 2:19, "Nevertheless, the Foundation of YHWH stands sure, having this seal*: YHWH knows those who are His, because everyone who reverences the Name of YHWH departs from iniquity*."
*seal is 4973. "sphragis"
Strong's Concordance
sphragis: a seal, a signet
Original Word: σφραγίς, ῖδος, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: sphragis
Phonetic Spelling: (sfrag-ece')
Short Definition: a signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Definition: a seal, signet ring, the impression of a seal, that which the seal attests, the proof.
iniquity* 93. adikia
Strong's Concordance
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: adikia
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-ee-kee'-ah)
Short Definition: unrighteousness
Definition: injustice, unrighteousness, hurt.
A full breakdown of the mark of YHWH here:
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/106502-mark-yah-clearly-stated-scripture.html
*seal is 4973. "sphragis"
Strong's Concordance
sphragis: a seal, a signet
Original Word: σφραγίς, ῖδος, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: sphragis
Phonetic Spelling: (sfrag-ece')
Short Definition: a signet-ring, impression of a seal, the proof
Definition: a seal, signet ring, the impression of a seal, that which the seal attests, the proof.
iniquity* 93. adikia
Strong's Concordance
adikia: injustice, unrighteousness
Original Word: ἀδικία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: adikia
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-ee-kee'-ah)
Short Definition: unrighteousness
Definition: injustice, unrighteousness, hurt.
A full breakdown of the mark of YHWH here:
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/106502-mark-yah-clearly-stated-scripture.html
Thanks for asking this question Earstohear. The seal of God is the Holy Spirit and it is mentioned in this verse as a way of showing that it is talking about those persons who are true believers, who have the mind of Christ, the word of God in their hearts and minds. It is not a physical stamp mark on a physical forehead, but is symbolic parable language. The Bible is written in parable language as we read about God's law book, the Bible: "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable". God clues us in to the fact that the Bible is entirely composed in parable language in Mark 4:34: "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." Incidentally, the verse you quoted uses more parable language to describe the true believers: "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." In this verse, the grass of the earth, any green thing, and any tree mean those who are true believers apparently. At the very least, they are those who are hearing the word of God.
It means that there will be Followers of God during the end times Wrath of God that will be protected through it.. Think end times Noah and His family...
Psalm 91:KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 ¶Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 ¶Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Greetings birdie,
Just FYI, those who are sealed with the seal of God, will only be the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel. There are no other scriptures specifying that anyone else is sealed but them. Therefore, when those demonic beings who come up out of the Abyss who have the appearance of locusts, torment the inhabitants of the earth, it is only those 144,000 who are protected from this plague of wrath. Even the great tribulation saints are not exempt from being exposed to God's wrath, as recorded in Rev.7.
The scripture above makes it clear, that the only people that he spoke parables to, were that generation of Israel and that because of the following prophecy against them:
"In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I
would heal them.’ "
But regarding the disciples and all believers, Jesus said "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."
So, the Lord's speaking in parables were specifically for that generation of Israel because of the prophecy in Isaiah and is not directed to the church.
Blessing in Christ!
Just FYI, those who are sealed with the seal of God, will only be the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel. There are no other scriptures specifying that anyone else is sealed but them. Therefore, when those demonic beings who come up out of the Abyss who have the appearance of locusts, torment the inhabitants of the earth, it is only those 144,000 who are protected from this plague of wrath. Even the great tribulation saints are not exempt from being exposed to God's wrath, as recorded in Rev.7.
The scripture above makes it clear, that the only people that he spoke parables to, were that generation of Israel and that because of the following prophecy against them:
"In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I
would heal them.’ "
But regarding the disciples and all believers, Jesus said "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."
So, the Lord's speaking in parables were specifically for that generation of Israel because of the prophecy in Isaiah and is not directed to the church.
Blessing in Christ!
Thanks for your response, Ahwatukee. While I can appreciate this idea, I personally disagree. I see this as an example of surface reading rather than parable reading. If I were to base my understanding of Revelation and the Bible on surface direct interpretation, I would see Jesus as having a metal sword sticking out of his mouth rather than the word of God coming forth from him (Rev 19:15), or the true believers in Rev 11:5 having literal fire coming from their mouths, rather than the judgment side of the gospel for those who don't receive it. In like manner, I do not see numbers and Israelite tribe names in Revelation as free from parable interpretation. I see the tribes of Israel as being pictures of true believers generally, just as it is written: "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:" Indeed, when Romans 11 tells us that in this manner shall all Israel be saved, I read that as meaning all true believers. I understand that you do not and that many people on this site have surface readings of verses pertaining to Israel. I see these as pertaining to true believers generally, and it may be that we will simply disagree.
As regards your approach to Mark 4, I see this differently as well. I see this chapter as a picture of how the seed (the word of God, which is the Bible and Christ) is planted in different types of soil (different people's hearts) throughout broader time and not just for those persons being spoken to at one time period. Indeed, the parable of the sower leads straight into statements about how to interpret parables, that are the seed being sown. Unto the true believers (disciples generally - which the original disciples are a picture of) it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom, but unto those who are without (unbelievers generally) it is not given, but the entire Bible (all these things) are done in parable form, so that hearing they would not hear. Reading the Bible in a surface or direct interpretation way will lead you to a different conclusion many times, than in an interpreted way. Jesus explains interpretation of parables in this chapter of Mark, explaining that surface words in the story have interpreted meanings, often quite different in a spiritual sense than the physical things the words represent on the surface. Thorns, for example, are not talking about the kind of thorns in someones blackberry thicket in their back yard, but ultimately are talking about "such as hear the word,the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." This is a little different than the surface meaning of thorns. So, with the 144,000, I believe that the interpreted meaning is a little bit different than the surface meaning.
Here, again, we may simply disagree. Thanks for taking the time to respond nevertheless. I enjoyed your name. Is that a native American name?
As regards your approach to Mark 4, I see this differently as well. I see this chapter as a picture of how the seed (the word of God, which is the Bible and Christ) is planted in different types of soil (different people's hearts) throughout broader time and not just for those persons being spoken to at one time period. Indeed, the parable of the sower leads straight into statements about how to interpret parables, that are the seed being sown. Unto the true believers (disciples generally - which the original disciples are a picture of) it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom, but unto those who are without (unbelievers generally) it is not given, but the entire Bible (all these things) are done in parable form, so that hearing they would not hear. Reading the Bible in a surface or direct interpretation way will lead you to a different conclusion many times, than in an interpreted way. Jesus explains interpretation of parables in this chapter of Mark, explaining that surface words in the story have interpreted meanings, often quite different in a spiritual sense than the physical things the words represent on the surface. Thorns, for example, are not talking about the kind of thorns in someones blackberry thicket in their back yard, but ultimately are talking about "such as hear the word,the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." This is a little different than the surface meaning of thorns. So, with the 144,000, I believe that the interpreted meaning is a little bit different than the surface meaning.
Here, again, we may simply disagree. Thanks for taking the time to respond nevertheless. I enjoyed your name. Is that a native American name?
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God's seal (mark) is when God writes His words (law and testimony) upon our hearts and minds by way of His Holy Spirit.
Descriptions of God's seal (or mark) by the Spirit.....
Ezekiel 9:4
And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Revelation 7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:4
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Proof that God's seal (mark) and name written in the forehead is spiritual.....
2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Descriptions of God's seal (or mark) by the Spirit.....
Ezekiel 9:4
And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Revelation 7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:4
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Proof that God's seal (mark) and name written in the forehead is spiritual.....
2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
When you understand that God's seal is spiritual, and has to do with the heart and mind, then you will come to see how this plague from hell is also spiritual in nature, corrupting the hearts and minds of men who are not sealed and protected by God's Spirit. This army from hell represents seducing spirits sent out into the world to deceive the masses by doctrines of devils as was also prophesied to come by way of many deceivers.
Here is an old post I made on the topic of the locust army which darkens the Light of the Truth and makes desolate....http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/106782-swarm-locust.html
Here is an old post I made on the topic of the locust army which darkens the Light of the Truth and makes desolate....http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/106782-swarm-locust.html
i don't know if this holds any relevance but within the first year of my faith I entered my room and felt a presence in it I layed in bed to be still still and know him as I sometimes do in this time I was overcome with a deep love and he and I poured our deep feelings for each other into each others hearts in a way that words couldn't it.
I saw an image in my minds eye it was his heart and in my minds eye I endearing wrote my name on it and the branded the word mine on it yet at the same time I saw in my minds eye he branded the word mine on my forehead with the deepest endearment.
It was a beautiful moment of deep intimacy with him and I don't know if this is the seal you are refering to but I thought I might put it out there
I saw an image in my minds eye it was his heart and in my minds eye I endearing wrote my name on it and the branded the word mine on it yet at the same time I saw in my minds eye he branded the word mine on my forehead with the deepest endearment.
It was a beautiful moment of deep intimacy with him and I don't know if this is the seal you are refering to but I thought I might put it out there
The "seal" talked about in Revelation is talking about the 144,000 from the different tribes of the sons of Israel.
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we believed in Christ as Paul said in Eph. 1:13. There is no "feeling" involved with that. It is just a spiritual reality that is to be believed in order to bring stability within our un-renewed minds.
I agree with you....I think your encounter with the Lord was Him loving on you. I have had similar experiences. I can tangibly feel His acceptance and love. His presence was so weighty and it seemed that His love was the most overwhelming aspect of His tangible presence. The power of His love is indescribable. He is awesome and He loves us dearly!
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we believed in Christ as Paul said in Eph. 1:13. There is no "feeling" involved with that. It is just a spiritual reality that is to be believed in order to bring stability within our un-renewed minds.
I agree with you....I think your encounter with the Lord was Him loving on you. I have had similar experiences. I can tangibly feel His acceptance and love. His presence was so weighty and it seemed that His love was the most overwhelming aspect of His tangible presence. The power of His love is indescribable. He is awesome and He loves us dearly!
There simply is no outward mark. Signs, as walking after one’s own experience after the flesh are for those who believe not. The kingdom of God is not of this world .Never was never will be.
That sign for the rebellious (no faith) was fulfilled at Pentecost when God interpreted His langue as prophecy in other languages, as prophecy. Tongues are both a sign for the lost, and prophecy for those who believe God according to the faith of God, as it is written .
This is other than His interpretation to the Jews who did believe just as the gentiles at Pentecost he put no difference between the two purifying the hearts of both by a work of His faith as a labor of his great love and mercy. . . The words He put on Peters tongue worked in the same way He put his words on Balaam’s donkey tongue as a work of His faith, working in the creatures. Not of, coming from the creatures.
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people
The apostate Jews walked after their own experiences hoping in their own flesh , called walking by sight having it in respect to a ceremonial work they performed. This is again is as if the kingdom of God was of this world and did not belong to the god of this corrupted world, Satan.
The Gentiles walked or understood after the intellect of the philosophies( of sinful men as oral traditions, commandments of men , having their faith in respect to their own dead consciences that cannot produce the faith of Christ but they rather had His faith in respect to their own selves. Therefore making the wisdom of God to no effect.
Christ said it is an evil generation that seeks after as sign of what they ceremonial perform as a work.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: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. 1Co 1:22
Again they walked after their own experiences, in sight of them, through the ceremonial laws that clearly did nothing to make their consciences /hearts complete, but were mere shadows used until the time of reformation. They did not walk by the faith of Christ, hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.
It why He said to them in Joh 5:39, they searched the scriptures and saw the history of a Jew that was used as a parable pointing to the eternal not seen (the faith principle). Until the time of reformation.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Joh 5:39
They came and placed their faith coming from their own hearts in the ceremonial laws, as a work they could do. In the same way as Josef Prince today walking by sight . And therefore not after Christ the Holy Spirit of God, according to His work of faith which works in the believer to both will and do His good pleasure as an imputed righteousness. .
2Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight
And that faith above is of Christ, it is not of our own self after our experiences.(walking by sight) There simply is no out ward sign . There is a inward sign of a contrite heart made new thorough Christ, the incorruptible seed that desires we do His good will. It is his witness that witnesses to our new spirits that we have been born again.
That sign for the rebellious (no faith) was fulfilled at Pentecost when God interpreted His langue as prophecy in other languages, as prophecy. Tongues are both a sign for the lost, and prophecy for those who believe God according to the faith of God, as it is written .
This is other than His interpretation to the Jews who did believe just as the gentiles at Pentecost he put no difference between the two purifying the hearts of both by a work of His faith as a labor of his great love and mercy. . . The words He put on Peters tongue worked in the same way He put his words on Balaam’s donkey tongue as a work of His faith, working in the creatures. Not of, coming from the creatures.
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people
The apostate Jews walked after their own experiences hoping in their own flesh , called walking by sight having it in respect to a ceremonial work they performed. This is again is as if the kingdom of God was of this world and did not belong to the god of this corrupted world, Satan.
The Gentiles walked or understood after the intellect of the philosophies( of sinful men as oral traditions, commandments of men , having their faith in respect to their own dead consciences that cannot produce the faith of Christ but they rather had His faith in respect to their own selves. Therefore making the wisdom of God to no effect.
Christ said it is an evil generation that seeks after as sign of what they ceremonial perform as a work.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: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. 1Co 1:22
Again they walked after their own experiences, in sight of them, through the ceremonial laws that clearly did nothing to make their consciences /hearts complete, but were mere shadows used until the time of reformation. They did not walk by the faith of Christ, hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.
It why He said to them in Joh 5:39, they searched the scriptures and saw the history of a Jew that was used as a parable pointing to the eternal not seen (the faith principle). Until the time of reformation.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Joh 5:39
They came and placed their faith coming from their own hearts in the ceremonial laws, as a work they could do. In the same way as Josef Prince today walking by sight . And therefore not after Christ the Holy Spirit of God, according to His work of faith which works in the believer to both will and do His good pleasure as an imputed righteousness. .
2Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight
And that faith above is of Christ, it is not of our own self after our experiences.(walking by sight) There simply is no out ward sign . There is a inward sign of a contrite heart made new thorough Christ, the incorruptible seed that desires we do His good will. It is his witness that witnesses to our new spirits that we have been born again.