Are You Sealed? Preparing for the Final Judgment
Revelation 7:4-8
Introduction: The Mark of Eternity
Imagine a scene of cosmic urgency: angels poised to unleash judgment, yet God pauses to seal His servants (Revelation 7:3). In this vision, 144,000 are marked—a symbolic number representing God’s complete and redeemed people. Today, this seal is not for a select few but for all who belong to Christ. The question for us is urgent: Are you sealed? As we explore God’s Word, let this truth anchor us: The sealed are saved, the saved are secure, and the secure live with purpose.
1. The Significance of the Divine Seal: Ownership, Protection, Assurance
“You were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
First, Ownership, the seal signifies ownership. In ancient times, a seal was a mark of ownership, indicating that an item belonged to a particular person. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we become God's possession, bought with the precious blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This seal reminds us that we are no longer our own but belong to Him. A seal in ancient times denoted ownership—think of a king’s signet ring authenticating a decree (Esther 8:8). When God seals us, He declares, “You are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). This seal also brings protection. Just as the blood on Israel’s doorposts spared them from death (Exodus 12:13), God’s seal shields us from eternal judgment. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were sealed by God’s presence in the fire (Daniel 3:27)—unharmed, for He is our refuge.
Second, the seal offers PROTECTION. Just as a king’s seal on a document ensured its safety and authenticity, God’s seal protects us from the evil forces that seek to harm us. In Ezekiel 9:4-6, we see a vision where God commands a man to go through Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over the abominations committed there. Those marked were spared from destruction. Similarly, God’s seal on us is a promise of His protection and preservation.
Finally, the seal provides assurance. The Holy Spirit is described as a "deposit guaranteeing our inheritance." Just as a down payment assures the buyer that the full purchase will eventually be theirs, the Holy Spirit assures us of our future inheritance in heaven. This assurance is a source of great comfort and confidence as we face the trials of life. Most profoundly, the Holy Spirit is our assurance—a “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14). Like an engagement ring promising future union, the Spirit whispers to our hearts: Heaven is certain. Do you feel His confirming witness? The seal is not a visible mark but a spiritual reality—God’s claim on your soul.
2. The Identity of the Sealed: God’s Chosen People
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 7:4-8).
Revelation’s list of 12 tribes isn’t about ethnicity but about God’s promise to redeem a people from “every nation, tribe, and language” (Revelation 7:9). The sealing of God’s people transcends earthly labels such as race, nationality, or social status. It unites believers from all walks of life as part of God’s redeemed and sanctified remnant. In Christ, earthly labels dissolve: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28). Like Rahab the Canaanite and Ruth the Moabite, who joined Israel’s story, God’s seal transcends human boundaries.
You are part of a “royal priesthood”—called to reflect His light (Matthew 5:14). When Paul persecuted Christians, he discovered the sealed aren’t defined by pedigree but by grace (Acts 9:1-5). You are chosen. Not because you earned it, but because God, in mercy, stamped His name on you.
In Revelation 7:4-8, we read about 144,000 from the tribes of Israel who are sealed. While this passage has been interpreted in various ways, it is clear that the sealing represents God’s chosen people. This theme is echoed in 1 Peter 2:9, which states, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."
This unity is beautifully illustrated in the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14:15-24, where the master invites all kinds of people to his feast, symbolizing the inclusive nature of God’s kingdom. As sealed believers, we are called to embrace this unity and work together to fulfill God’s mission in the world.
3. The Call to Repentance and Readiness
“Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2; Matthew 24:42-44).
The seal isn’t a license for complacency but a call to vigilance. Jesus warns, “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). Like the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps (Matthew 25:1-13), we must live prepared.
Repentance is daily. The Prodigal Son’s father waited eagerly (Luke 15:20), but the son had to turn back. Today, God’s Spirit convicts us: Surrender hidden sins. Forgive as you’ve been forgiven. Cling to faithfulness. The sealed live with urgency—not in fear, but in readiness to meet the Bridegroom.
The sealing of God’s people is not an automatic process but a call to action. In 2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul urges us, "I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." This urgency is echoed in Matthew 24:42-44, where Jesus warns, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come... So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."
To be sealed by God, we must respond to His call with repentance and readiness. Repentance involves turning away from sin and turning towards God, seeking His forgiveness and transformation (Acts 3:19). Readiness involves living a life of faithfulness and vigilance, always prepared for Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8).
Consider the story of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The wise virgins were prepared with enough oil for their lamps, symbolizing the readiness of those who have the Holy Spirit and live in faith. The foolish virgins, however, were unprepared and missed the bridegroom’s arrival. Let us be like the wise virgins, ensuring that our lives are filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit through prayer, obedience, and service.
4. The Assurance of Salvation and Eternal Security
“No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:38-39).
Satan will accuse you. Trials will shake you. But if God has sealed you, you are secure. Job lost everything yet proclaimed, “My Redeemer lives!” (Job 19:25). Paul and Silas, imprisoned and beaten, sang hymns—confident in their sealed identity (Acts 16:25).
Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:39). Not failure, not fear, not even death. The Shepherd knows His sheep (John 10:27), and His grip is unbreakable.
For those who are sealed by God, there is an unshakable hope and assurance of salvation. In John 10:28-29, Jesus declares, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." This promise is further reinforced in Romans 8:38-39, which assures us that nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This assurance is not based on our own merits but on God’s unchanging promises and the finished work of Christ. It is like the anchor described in Hebrews 6:19, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." No matter what storms we face in life, our hope in Christ remains steadfast.
The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 illustrates this assurance beautifully. Despite the son’s waywardness, his father welcomed him back with open arms, symbolizing God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. As sealed believers, we can rest in the knowledge that God’s love for us is unwavering and that our salvation is secure in Him.
Conclusion: Live as the Sealed
As judgment looms, God’s seal is our only hope. Today, if you’ve resisted Him, hear His knock: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20). Confess, believe, and receive His Spirit.
For the sealed: Live as heaven’s citizens. Let the world see His ownership in your love, His protection in your peace, and His assurance in your joy. One day, the final trumpet will sound, and the sealed will stand unscathed, shouting, “Salvation belongs to our God!” (Revelation 7:10).
Closing Hymn: “Blessed Assurance”
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Blessings,
Pastor JM Raja Lawrence
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
email: lawrencejmr@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9933250072
