HOW TO OBTAIN THE SEAL
HOW TO OBTAIN THE SEAL
In Revelation 7:1-8, we find that the 144,000 are sealed from the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. The Spirit of Prophecy in commenting on this says: "This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. " Testimonies to Ministers p. 445.
Continuing on, the Spirit of Prophecy asks the question: "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 inkhorn is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel follows this angel (Letter 12, 1886)." 4 Bible Commentary 1161, E.G. White.
The Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy has made it very clear that we must have the mark or seal in order to escape the slaying that takes place among those who do not have the seal.
"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. " Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 212.
WHAT MUST WE DO IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE SEAL?
Since the Spirit of Prophecy has told us that the vision John saw concerning the sealing of the 144,000 is the same that Ezekiel witnessed (Test. to Min. 445) then let us turn to Ezekiel for more information on this all important subject.
"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. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house." Ezekiel 9:4-6.
"At the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing after the manner of the world." Testimonies, Vol. 5 pp. 209,210.
It now becomes crystal clear that the only way we can get the mark or seal is to sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of Jerusalem our church. See: Ezekiel 9:4.
HOW DO WE SIGH AND CRY?
"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." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 211.
Our neglect to sigh and cry for the abominations in the church WOULD MEAN OUR ETERNAL LOSS. We dare not allow anything to divert our attention from this great and glorious work for the saints, and the most dreadful and inglorious end for those who receive not the mark. This work must "engross the whole mind, the whole attention." Early Writings p. 118. Nothing should be allowed to interfere with your eternal welfare. No, not for a moment, for the day is far spent.
Therefore as the sealing makes its way through the church, ONLY THOSE WHO AWAKE AND REFORM (sigh) and ENDEAVOR TO SHARE WITH OTHERS (cry) THE LIGHT that is shining upon them, receive the SEAL Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it." Testimonies to Ministers p. 507.
The LATTER RAIN comes in TWO PHASES. The first phase comes in doctrine or truth which prepares the heart or the life for the reception of the second phase which is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in power (Pentecostal power). When it is falling on hearts all around us and yet some fail to discern or receive it, that is when it is in it's first phase (truth or doctrine). Jesus taught the disciples for three and one half years (former rain) before they had it in the second phase, the Pentecostal power. See Joel 2: 23, 28.
"My doctrine shall drop as the RAIN, . .." Deut. 32:2
"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 that cry for all the abominations that be done" in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel. Testimonies, Vol. 3 p. 267.
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Hosea 4:6 .
The only way we are going to know what is exceedingly sinful in God's sight, so as to intelligently know what the abominations are that we are to SIGH AND CRY against, is to study the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. And yet we are told that: "Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 217.
"It is not alone those who openly reject the Testimonies, or who cherish doubt concerning them, that are on dangerous ground. To disregard light is to reject it.
"Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to His people, because they do not read the books which contain the light and knowledge in cautions, reproofs, and warnings. The cares of the world, the love of fashion, and the lack of religion have turned the attention from the light God has so graciously given, while books and periodicals containing error are traveling all over the country." Testimonies, Vol . 5 pp. 680, 681.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ABOMINATIONS IN OUR CHURCH THAT WE SHOULD BE CRYING OUT AGAINST?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AREAS IN WHICH WE NEED TO REFORM?
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Finite man is likely to misjudge character, but God does not leave the work of judgment and pronouncing upon character to those who are not fitted for it. We are not to say what constitutes the wheat, and what the tares. The time of the harvest will fully determine the character of the two classes specified under the figure of the tares and the wheat. The work of separation is given to the angels of God, and not committed into the hands of any man. {TM 47.2}
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 anti-typical 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." {TM 445.1}
This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation.Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! 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 that cry for all the abominations that be done" in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel. {3T 267.1}
But the general slaughter of all those who do not thus see the wide contrast between sin and righteousness, and do not feel as those do who stand in the counsel of God and receive the mark, is described in the order to the five men with slaughter weapons: "Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." {3T 267.2}
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.
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In the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. With tears they will warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they will humble themselves before the Lord in penitence. The wicked will mock their sorrow and ridicule their solemn appeals. But the anguish and humiliation of God's people is unmistakable evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility of character lost in consequence of sin. It is because they are drawing nearer to Christ, because their eyes are fixed on His perfect purity, that they discern so clearly the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Meekness and lowliness are the conditions of success and victory. A crown of glory awaits those who bow at the foot of the cross. {PK 590.2}
God's faithful, praying ones are, as it were, shut in with Him. They themselves know not how securely they are shielded...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. These are they that stand upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having the Father's name written in their foreheads. They sing the new song before the throne, that song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." Revelation 14:4, 5.
592
{PK 591.2}
Now is reached the complete fulfillment of the words of the Angel: "Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My Servant the Branch." Zechariah 3:8. Christ is revealed as the Redeemer and Deliverer of His people. Now indeed are the remnant "men wondered at," as the tears and humiliation of their pilgrimage give place to joy and honor in the presence of God and the Lamb. "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone that is written among the living in Jerusalem." Isaiah 4:2, 3. {PK 592.1}
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