Scripture:

Scripture describes God’s seal as the Holy Spirit within each individual.

• “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise." Ephesians 1:13-14
  • Ἐσφραγίσθητε - esphragisthēte: “you were sealed”
  • Original Word: σφραγίζω - Sphragizó (verb) - “to seal, to set a seal upon, to mark with a seal”

 

• "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
  • Σφραγισάμενος - sphragisamenos: “having sealed
  • Original Word: σφραγίζω - Sphragizó (verb) - “to seal, to set a seal upon, to mark with a seal”

 

• "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30
  • Ἐσφραγίσθητε - esphragisthēte: “you were sealed”
  • Original Word: σφραγίζω - Sphragizó (verb) - “to seal, to set a seal upon, to mark with a seal”

 

The Seal of God is placed on His people’s foreheads in Revelation and is described as a sign of God’s ownership and a promise of divine protection. Revelation states that the name of God is what is written on the foreheads of His people. 

• "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” Revelation 7:1-3
  • Σφραγῖδα - sphragida: “the seal”
  • Original Word: σφραγίς - sphragis (noun)- “Seal”
  • Sphragisōmen - σφραγίσωμεν: “we shall have sealed”
  • Original Word: σφραγίζω - sphragis: “Seal”

 

• “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1

 

Ezekiel’s vision also spoke of a mark from God which protected God’s people from his wrath.

• “Then He cried out in my presence with a loud voice, saying, “Come forward, you executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.” And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his smashing weapon in his hand; and among them was one man clothed in linen with a scribe’s kit at his waist. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar. Then the glory of the God of Israel ascended from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose waist was the scribe’s kit. And the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and make a mark on the foreheads of the people who groan and sigh over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my presence, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly kill old men, young men, female virgins, little children, and women, but do not touch any person on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” Ezekial 9:1-6

 

Ellen G. White:

Ellen claimed that the “seal” of God is keeping the sabbath, which is not stated anywhere in scripture. She makes no mention of the seal as the Holy Spirit or the name of God as scripture does. In Ezekiel, God places his mark on those “who groan and sigh over all the abominations,” not those who are only concerned with the sabbath.

• (continued quote from above regarding the sabbath test) “...Satan is now using every device in this sealing time (referring to the seven-year theory between 1844-1851 / shut door theory), to keep the minds of God’s people from the present, sealing truth; and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over his people, to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth, and was pure in heart, was to be covered with the covering of Almighty God…Some of these agents of Satan were affecting the bodies of some of the saints; those that they could not deceive and draw away from the truth by a satanic influence. Oh! that all could get a view of it as God revealed it to me, that they might know more of the wiles of Satan, and be on their guard. I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away God’s people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet were sliding; because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling. Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the sealing was past, and the covering drawn over God’s people, and they left out, without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering over his people, and it will very soon be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will work in power for his people; and Satan will be permitted to work also. …Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the Most Holy Place, until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction: and that the wrath of God could not come until Jesus had finished his work in the Most Holy Place—laid off his priestly attire and clothed himself with the garments of vengeance. Then Jesus will step out from between the Father and man, and God will keep silent no longer; but pour out his wrath on those who have rejected his truth. I saw that the anger of the nations, the wrath of God, and the time to judge the dead, were separate events, one following the other. I saw that Michael had not stood up, and that the time of trouble, such as never was, had not yet commenced. The nations are now getting angry, but when our High Priest has finished his work in the Sanctuary, he will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out. 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, and they thought that we had brought them down upon them, and if they could rid the earth of us, then the plagues would be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the Voice of God. Then the 144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God. Then I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On their garments was written in large characters, “thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting.” I asked who this company were. The angel said, “these are they who have once kept the Sabbath and have given it up.” I heard them cry with a loud voice—“we have believed in thy coming, and taught it with energy.” And while they were speaking, their eyes would fall upon their garments and see the writing, and then they would wail aloud. I saw they had drunk of the deep waters, and fouled the residue with their feet—trodden the Sabbath underfoot, and that is why they were weighed in the balance and found wanting. ” Present Truth, Aug 1, 1849

 

• "The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the Seventh Day Sabbath. ...The mark of the beast is the opposite of this—the observance of the first day of the week. This mark distinguishes those who acknowledge the supremacy of the papal authority from those who acknowledge the authority of God." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 117

 

• “Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God.” The Great Controversy, p. 640

 

• “The seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord.” 7A Bible Commentary, p. 980