The King’s Seal of Approval

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us in God, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit, who confirms them as belonging to God. He renews and sanctifies them. He produces in their hearts those feelings, hopes, and desires which are evidence that they are approved by God. They are regarded as his adopted children, their hopes are genuine, and their redemption and salvation are sure, in the same way, a seal makes a will or an agreement sure. God grants them His Holy Spirit as a pledge that they are His, approved, and saved in the last days.

The Earnest of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is given to the believer as a first installment to assure his full inheritance as a son of God shall be his hereafter (Eph. 1:13-14). Further, this sealing which is thus the token of God’s ownership is also the pledge of security. A seal is stamped so that there may be no tampering with what it seals. The word used here means to seal up, to close and make fast with a seal, or signet, e.g., books, letters, etc., that they may not be read. It may be kept safe from all assaults, thieves, and violence.

The Olivet Discourse

“Seventy’ sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, “to seal up” vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy (Daniel 9:24 NIV).

The Seven Seals

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” (Rev. 6:1 NIV).

The 1st seal introduces the Antichrist (Rev. 6:1-2).
The 2nd seal causes great warfare (v. 3-4).
The 3rd seal causes famine (v. 5-6).
The 4^th seal brings about plague, famine, and warfare (v. 7-8).
The 5^th seal tells us of those who will be martyred for their faith in Christ during the end times (v. 9-11).
The 6^th seal, when broken, a devastating earthquake occurs, causing massive upheaval and terrible devastation (v. 12-14).
The 7th seal, when broken, there was silence in heaven for 1/2 hour, and 7 angels who stood before God were given 7 trumpets (Rev. 8: 1-5).

The first four introduce the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Perhaps they are personifications representing a series of judgments.

A White Horse and its rider who held a bow were given a crown and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
A fiery Red Hone and its rider were given power to take place from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
A black horse and its rider. Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. This rider seems to personify famine.
A pale horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beast of the earth.

144,000 Sealed (Rev. 7:1-8)

One hundred and forty-four thousand were sealed; they were from the tribes of Israel and they were sealed; 12,000 from each of the tribes, including, Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin.

Rev. 9:4 reads “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. (The seal of God is the Holy Spirit.)

AMBASSADORS (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

An ambassador is a respected official acting as a representative of a nation. Sent to a foreign land, the ambassador’s role is to reflect the official position of the sovereign body that gave him authority. Christians are God’s ambassadors, approved by God, to be entrusted with the gospel (1 Thess. 2:4). Empowered by the Holy Spirit we are commanded to preach, teach, and tell others of the message of the “Good News” of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Cor. 5:20a).

“ROYALTY”

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 marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9 NIV).

As ambassadors for Christ, we wear our badge as a seal of approval from our Lord. I pray that you will boldly go forth, empowered by the Lord’s Spirit, to present the life-changing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. May everyone that you encounter see the love of Christ glowing from within you.

All glory to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Amen