The “seal of God” is a concept found in the Bible that refers to a mark or identifier that shows someone belongs to God. There are several key passages in Scripture that mention this seal and help explain its meaning.
Revelation 7:2-3
In Revelation 7:2-3, an angel ascending from the east tells four other angels not to harm the earth until the servants of God have been sealed on their foreheads. This suggests that the seal provides divine protection for believers during times of tribulation and judgment.
Revelation 9:4
Revelation 9:4 echoes this idea, saying that demonic locusts released from the abyss cannot harm anyone except those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Paul associates the sealing of believers with the Holy Spirit, writing in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, “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.” The seal of God is linked to belonging to Him.
Ephesians 1:13-14
Ephesians 1:13-14 provides more detail, stating, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” Here the seal is directly associated with receiving the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
Ephesians 4:30
Finally, Ephesians 4:30 warns believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit, whom they were sealed with for the day of redemption. This points to the seal as guaranteeing the salvation of the believer until the return of Christ.
In summary, the seal of God is a symbol of belonging to Him and receiving the protection, assurance, and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It is affiliated with salvation and reserved for those who have placed their faith in Christ. The seal provides security for the future redemption of believers and demonstrates they are set apart as children of God.
Old Testament Background
The sealing concept has its background in ancient customs of sealing goods or documents to identify ownership or authenticate decrees. The Bible applies this idea metaphorically to describe God marking believers as His possession through the Holy Spirit.
Examples in Creation
Even in creation, God seems to establish the sealing principle. For instance, Ezekiel 28:12 describes Satan before his rebellion as being “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.” The metaphor suggests God had sealed Satan during his blameless state.
Covenants
Covenants between God and His people also used sealing for ratification. Circumcision functioned as a seal of the Abrahamic covenant in Romans 4:11, while believers’ reception of the Holy Spirit sealed their participation in the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Ownership
Kings would seal items with their signet ring to identify them as property. When describing Cyrus conquering Babylon, Isaiah 45:13 states that the Lord stirred Cyrus to action “for the sake of his servant Jacob and Israel his chosen, because I called you by your name, I gave you a title, though you do not know me.” Here, “title” can be translated “seal”, suggesting Cyrus bore God’s marking even without knowing Him.
Protection
After Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, the Egyptian ruler removes his signet ring, puts it on Joseph’s hand, dresses him in fine linen, and places a gold chain around his neck (Genesis 41:42). This formal investiture seals Joseph with Pharaoh’s authority to carry out his duties.
Authenticity
Documents written in the name of the king were sealed with his insignia to authenticate them as coming from him. Daniel’s enemies use King Darius’ signet ring to seal the decree condemning him to the lions’ den in Daniel 6:17. Later, Darius seals Daniel’s exoneration in similar fashion (Daniel 6:18).
New Testament Applications
Building on these Old Testament precedents, New Testament authors appropriated sealing as a metaphor for God designating believers as His treasured possession and securing them in faith by the Spirit until Christ’s return. Several implications emerge from this rich biblical theology of sealing:
Security in Salvation
The seal of God provides confidence that salvation cannot be lost. Just as a sealed document cannot be altered without breaking the insignia, nothing can separate believers from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). The sealing of the Spirit is a down payment on the full inheritance yet to come.
Spiritual Empowerment
The arrival of the Holy Spirit in power on Pentecost enabled believers to live differently and fulfill their callings. The seal of the Spirit reminds Christians that the same divine presence remains with them today for spiritual strength.
Set Apart Status
Followers of Christ are set apart as God’s treasured people. This new status comes with a responsibility to avoid grieving the Spirit through unrepentant sin. But it also guarantees their place in God’s family.
Future Blessing
The sealing of the Spirit is a prophetic promise that just as Jesus was vindicated after the cross, so too will believers experience resurrection and rewards in the culmination of history. Living in light of this hope inspires perseverance.
Divine Protection
Though trials and suffering still occur, the seal shelters Christians from the worst of divine judgment. Believers can have confidence that even global catastrophes cannot separate them from the love of Christ.
The rich biblical theology of sealing provides deep assurance and meaning for followers of Jesus today. By understanding this crucial biblical metaphor, Christians can live joyfully as those marked out and preserved by God for eternal relationship with Him.