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The Reformation Herald Online Edition

Peter's Ladder

Christ and the Sealing
Part 3 (Conclusion)
A Bible and Spirit of Prophecy compilation, with commentary by D.P. Silva
Christ and the Sealing
The close of probation

In Revelation 22:11–15, we find the most solemn declaration ever given by Jesus in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary:

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

“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. But those that are unjust and filthy will be unjust and filthy still; for then there will be no Priest in the sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father's throne. Therefore what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath must be done before Jesus leaves the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.”1

“Every individual soul, if he would receive the seal of the living God, must hear the Word of the Lord and do it with exactitude. There must be no such thing as haphazard religion if men would have a place in the family of God.”2

“As [John] looked with intense interest he beheld the company of God's commandment-keeping people. They had upon their foreheads the seal of the living God, and he said: ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ (Revelation 14:12).”3

“When the third angel's message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. 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. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. 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 have received ‘the seal of the living God.’ Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands, and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still’ (Revelation 22:11). Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up; ‘the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.”4

“There can be only two classes. Each party is distinctly stamped, either with the seal of the living God, or with the mark of the beast or his image.”5

“The seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord.”6

“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.”7

“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.”8

“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. And I saw famine, pestilence and sword, nation rose against nation, and the whole world was in confusion.”9

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads--it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so 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 now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.”10

“Only those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City. But there are many who take upon themselves responsibilities in connection with the work of God who are not wholehearted believers, and while they remain thus cannot receive the seal of the living God. They trust in their own righteousness, which the Lord accounts as foolishness.”11

“As wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the image of Christ.

“Many will not receive the seal of God because they do not keep His commandments or bear the fruits of righteousness.

“The great mass of professing Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of God. They have not upon their foreheads the seal of the living God. Lukewarm and halfhearted, they dishonor God far more than the avowed unbeliever. They grope in darkness, when they might be walking in the noonday light of the Word, under the guidance of One who never errs.”12

“Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God. Those whose hands are not clean, whose hearts are not pure, will not have the seal of the living God. Those who are planning sin and acting it will be passed by. Only those who, in their attitude before God, are filling the position of those who are repenting and confessing their sins in the great antitypical day of atonement, will be recognized and marked as worthy of God's protection. The names of those who are steadfastly looking and waiting and watching for the appearing of their Saviour—more earnestly and wishfully than they who wait for the morning—will be numbered with those who are sealed. Those who, while having all the light of truth flashing upon their souls, should have works corresponding to their avowed faith, but are allured by sin, setting up idols in their hearts, corrupting their souls before God, and polluting those who unite with them in sin, will have their names blotted out of the book of life, and be left in midnight darkness, having no oil in their vessels with their lamps. ‘Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings’ (Malachi 4:2).”13

Escape for your life

When God and His angels were rescuing Lot and the remnant of his family from the imminent destruction of Sodomah and Gomorrah, He urged them:

“Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed” (Genesis 19:17).

“The same angel who visited Sodom is sounding the note of warning, ‘Escape for thy life.’ The bottles of God's wrath cannot be poured out to destroy the wicked and their works until all the people of God have been judged, and the cases of the living as well as the dead are decided. And even after the saints are sealed with the seal of the living God, His elect will have trials individually. Personal afflictions will come; but the furnace is closely watched by an eye that will not suffer the gold to be consumed. The indelible mark of God is upon them. God can plead that His own name is written there. The Lord has shut them in. Their destination is inscribed—‘God, New Jerusalem.’ They are God's property, His possession.”14

“Many hear the invitation of mercy, are tested and proved; but few are sealed with the seal of the living God. Few will humble themselves as a little child, that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.”15

“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. The intelligent mind has seen the sign of the cross of Calvary in the Lord's adopted sons and daughters. The sin of the transgression of the law of God is taken away. They have on the wedding garment, and are obedient and faithful to all God's commands.”16

“The enemies of God's law, from the ministers down to the least among them, have a new conception of truth and duty [when God’s holy law is revealed as the rule of judgment]. Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God.”17

To His people in this last period of the Christian era, Christ declares:

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:19–21).

The following beautiful words are given by divine Inspiration through the apostle Paul: “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37–39).

“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

References
1 Early Writings, p. 48.
2 The Faith I Live By, p. 288.
3 Ibid., p. 307.
4 The Great Controversy, pp. 613, 614.
5 The Review and Herald, January 30, 1900.
6 The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 980.
7 Early Writings, p. 71.
8 Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 216.
9 The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 968.
10 Ibid., vol. 4, p. 1161.
11 Ibid., vol. 7, p. 970.
12 Ibid.
13 Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445.
14 Ibid., p. 446.
15 Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 50.
16 Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, p. 52.
17 The Great Controversy, pp. 640.