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For many years many Christians have advocated that the words of Rev 14:7; “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters;” reflect the words of Exodus 20:11; “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth; the sea and all that is in them; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (1)

One author is very specific; “The Sabbath and the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God. It points to God as Creator, and the sign of His rightful authority over the beings that He made.” (2)

Since the message of Rev 14:6, 7 has the ‘everlasting gospel,’ it is not only a seal and a sign, but also a covenant. Ex 31:16, 17; “the Sabbath is a perpetual covenant, a sign between Me and you.” Without further study, connecting Ex 20:11 and Rev 14:7 could be a stretch. By adding Ezek 20:12, 20 to broaden the understanding of the texts, it bridges any chasm. Verse 12; “Also I give them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies them.” Verse 20; “Sanctify My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I AM the LORD your God.”

We need to do a concordance study on three words; seal, sign and covenant to find the correct correlation regarding the Sabbath. Before we do, we first have to define a seal, sign and covenant with Biblical standards.

Walter Veith states:
“The Sabbath commandment is not only the heart of the Ten Commandments, but it is the seal of the commandments. Remove it and the commandments have no authority or official seal.”

A seal contains three specifications:
---the name of the writer of the law
---his office
---the name of the territory over which he rules (territory or action taken)

“Only the fourth commandment has these three items:
---YHWH God (God’s name)
---Creator (His office, position)
---Heaven and Earth (sea) (His territory)” (3)

Definitions:
Seal: set a seal, shut up, signet ring, lock up, confine, put a seal, set a seal, a signet.
SDA Com 8:974 seal –authority, assurance, ratification, stone or ring, seal official paper, contracts. (4)

Sign: pledge, standard, witness, mark, appointed, assembled, assigned, designated, gather, to make an appointment, to meet together, fixed festival, season, meeting time and place, memorial, remember, keep in mind, written, to give a sign, distinguishing mark, miracle, demonstrate.
SDA Com 8:101 – to confirm divine authority. (5)
Covenant: allied, league, treaty, testament, will, to keep carefully, keep free, treasured, constantly, continually, for the sake of, in the presence of, to watch over, kept in custody, observe, preserve, reserve.
SDA Com 8:229 -- agreement, arrangement, last will and testament, decree, compact – the relationship that has existed and exists between God and man. (6)

In just contemplating the definitions of these three words we find them melding, lending illumination one to the other. Since a seal, a sign and/or a covenant designates an agreement between parties, we can find many Scriptural texts that manifest this contact. For example; John 14:23; “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” One can apply all three, seal, sign and covenant here to this text. Our Bible is full of like Scripture.

Let us apply some text to our S S & C definitions:
‘Seal’:
Exodus 28:21 – “stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel; twelve, according to their names; they shall be like engravings of a seal.” (reference of interest; Rev 21:12; the gates bear the same names)
Ex 28:36 – plate of pure gold, engrave a seal; ‘Holy to the LORD.’ (vs 38; phylactery on Aaron’s forehead)
Ester 8:8 – write in king’s name, seal with king’s signet; irrevocable.
Isaiah 8:16 – “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” vs 20; “to the law and to the testimony; if they do not speak according to this world, it is because they have no dawn.”
Jeremiah 32:44 – buy field, sign and seal deeds, call in witnesses; I will restore.
Ezekiel 28:12, 13 – seal of Lucifer; in garden of God (Eden); every precious stone was your covering.
Daniel 9:24 – seal up vision (of the gospel)
Matthew 27:66 – set a seal on Christ’s tomb stone.
John 3:31-33 – “He who comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard He testifies – He who has received His testimony has set His seal to this, that God is true.” (truthful)
3:34 –He speaks the Word of God and give Spirit.
3:35; The Father gives all things into the Son’s hands.
3:36; He who believes in Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son will not see life.
The pulpits and the airwaves are full of professed teachers who teach that obedience is legalism. Anyone who mentions laws is a grace-buster. They teach that the entire Old Testament was crucified by Jesus. The words belief and love are taught as a mental process, not the action or character of a believer.

John 6:27 – “The Son of Man gives food that endures to eternal life and the Father has set His seal on Him.” (We are sealed by the Father through the Son)
Romans 4:11 - Faith accredited to Abraham as righteousness; received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith which he had while uncircumcised; so that all who believe that are of the uncircumcised might be accredited righteousness, by faith.
Romans 15:28 – Paul sets his seal on fruit of Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 9:12 – believers are the seal of Paul’s apostleship in the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:19 – “The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal; the Lord knows who are His; and everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” (name represents character, always) (7)
Isaiah 29:11 – The spiritual illiterate cannot read the seal book while their hearts are removed from God; they do not have any discernment. (ref 1 Cor 2:14)
Jeremiah 32:9ff – Jeremiah bought field, signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed silver on the scales.

 

32:14; take the deeds, these sealed deeds of purchase.

32:17; Creator of God; living kindness.

32:30; has set signs and wonders; name (character) (notice the resemblance to Rev 14)

Dear Jesus, open our spiritual minds that we might employ the eye salve that you so fully offer to this end-time.

Daniel 6:17 – A stone, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and the signet rings of the nobles; so that nothing might be changed.

Daniel 12:9; sealed and concealed until the end times.

2 Corinthians 1:22 – God established and anointed us in Christ, and sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts, as a pledge. (covenant)

Ephesians 1:13 – “In Jesus, 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 promise”.

 

These are a few selected texts that illustrate the use of a seal from God to His people. Now we will explore the word ‘Sign’:

Genesis 4:15 – The LORD appointed a *sign for Cain, on his forehead, that no one would slay him. (*mark)

Gen 9:12-17 – A sign of the covenant, a bow in the cloud shall be a sign between Me and the earth.

Gen 17:8-12 – I will give you all the land of Canaan: My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you, every male among you shall be circumcised, a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

Exodus 3:12 – “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be a sign to you that it is I who have sent you; when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”

Ex 3:14 – I AM WHO I AM; I AM has sent me to you.

Ex 12:13 – the blood shall be a sign for you; I will pass over; no plague will destroy you.

Ex 13:6-16 – east unleavened bread; a sign to you on your forehead; a reminder on your forehead; dedication of first born of every womb; sign on hand’ phylacteries on your forehead.

Ex31:13 – “You shall observe My Sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies you.”

31:14; it is holy to you

31:15; Sabbath is a rest, holy to the LORD; there is a death decree (A Sunday law would oppose this)

31:17; a sign, for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth (Rather difficult not to compare with Rev 14:6, 7; certainly enough to answer our question; but there is so much more)

Deuteronomy 6:4-8 – sign on hand and forehead; love God with all your heart and soul and might.

Deut 11:18 – impress on mind, heart, soul; sign on hand, forehead.

Deut 28:45, 46 – curses on those who do not obey, will become a sign and wonder on you and your descendents forever.

***Isaiah 7:14 – A sign – a virgin (maiden) will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanual (God with us)

Isaiah 19:20 – a sign; a Savior, a champion; He will deliver them.

 

Ezekiel 20:12 – “ I have them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and you that they may know that I AM the LORD your God.”

20:21; they rebelled and profaned My Sabbaths. (9)

Psalm 65:8 – “They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.”

Around the world, sunrise and sunset have always awed mankind.

Isaiah 8:8-16 – “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples. And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him. Behold, I and the children who the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.” (texts like this certainly promote our understanding of this thesis)

Matthew 16:3 – (Pharisees and Sadducees cannot discern the signs of the times; very appropriate for today)
Matt 24 – Describes signs for age of disciples as well as of the time of the second advent and the end of the age; including false signs and wonders. (we can find similar texts in Mark 13 and Luke 21)

Luke 2:12 – Jesus was a sign at birth.

John 2:11 – “The beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee; and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.”

2:23; many believed in Jesus, observing signs.

3:2; Nicodemus--signs from God in Jesus.

6:30; show us a sign.

12:18; people attracted to Jesus by signs.

 

Acts 2:19 – signs predicted by the prophet Joel---in Jesus; signs miracles and wonders.
Acts 2:14 -- wonders and signs though the apostles.

Romans 4:10-12 – Abraham was credited righteousness and received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness by faith while uncircumcised.

Romans 15:19; power of signs, wonders; in Spirit in preaching the gospel of Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:12 – Signs of a true apostle; signs/wonders/miracles.

1 Cor 14:22 – Prophecy a sign for believers.

Hebrews 2:4 – God testifies with signs; gifts of the Holy Spirit; according to His own will.

In the book of Revelation we find signs and seals everywhere; signs/woman/sun/moon/stars/dragon. John opens many scenes though a door or in  seeing a sign, another sign. (such as in Rev 15:1)

It is good to end our search of the word ‘sign’ in the book of Jeremiah. Jer 32:10-12; a signed and sealed deed’ (a contract, a covenant) In Jer 51; a great chapter which ultimately applies to much of the book of Revelation, we see a ‘signal’ against the walls of Babylon; a signal in the land; to blow a trumpet; to consecrate nations against her. The literal has become the spiritual. Please Father, may we have a spiritual mind.
It is my hope that the Bible student can see the need for including ‘covenant’ in our search for full meaning of Rev 14:6, 7. In fact, the text itself not only has all the ingredients for a seal of God, but a covenant by God. The eternal (everlasting) gospel is the good news, the fact of Christ’s accomplishments to redeem and deliver His people from their bondage of sin and this world. The message is to all the people of the earth from their God, their Creator, for which we are to give Him glory, and more, worship. This Kind of the universe is now pronouncing judgment. Thus, we have His office, His authority, His territory; the earth and all its inhabitants, and His action, which is justice in judgment.

‘Covenant’:
Hosea 6:7 – God tells Hosea that Adam transgressed the covenant. One might ask, what Covenant? He broke his restriction, his only given law; he ate the fruit of the tree of good and eveil. He knew rebellion and sin. According to Jewish tradition, in the tenth day he rebelled against God. When we get to Gen 3:15 we find a new covenant, a promise for a Savior, God’s direct word is always a seal, a covenant.
Likewise in Hosea 8:1; Israel transgressed God’s covenant and laws, as related in Hosea 6:7.
Genesis 15:18 – Abraham was given land to him and to his descendants.

Gen 17 – We find the covenant from God to Abraham to be a father of many nations, for much seed, an everlasting covenant, and to give Abraham and his generations the land of Canaan. Gen 17:16; the promise of a son. In Gen 12:4 Abram was 75 years old; in Gen 17:1 He was 99 years old. Same promise, same covenant; in God’s time. (Abram/Abraham) In Gen 22 we find the disclosure of the offering of his son Isaac, and we again see the affirmation of this covenant. One amazing concept as related in Gen 15:6 is that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. This is the basis of righteousness by faith which we find in Habakkuk 2:4 and Romans 1:17 as well as different places in Hebrews; the everlasting covenant for all mankind who rely on the righteousness of Christ for God’s acceptance. This is reflected in the first angel’s message of Rev 14:6, 7 where our Lord and Savior is our eternal gospel.

Exodus 2:24 – God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, thus in Ex 6:6 he renews his covenant and promises to delivered Israel out of the land of Egypt. Notice the condition of the covenant that will continue after deliverance in Ex 19:5, 6; “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (10)

In Ex 24 we find a blood covenant, especially in verses 5-6. Ultimately, this was a representation of the blood of Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world, of the whole earth.

Ex 31:16, 17 – Now we come to the incredible focal pint of our study! “The sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sands of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from His labor, and was refreshed.”
Some say it was and is only for Israel; and that there is no such thing as spiritual Israel. Israel was born as a son to Isaac; this refers to creation, 2500 years before Jacob was born.
Ex 25:10 – Make an ark to bearht the testimony, the covenant.
Ex 34:27, 28 – In Ex 31 the Sabbath was a perpetual covenant. Now the Ten Commandments are the covenants, written on the tablets of stone. And the basis of God’s authority is found only in the fourth commandment. They are everlasting; for ever. They reflect the character of God, and now are His own people who live according to his guidance and will.

I have tried to point out the incredible truths found in these recorded texts. There is more.
Leviticus 2:13 – The grain offerings shall be seasoned with salt, so that the salt of the convenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offerings; with all of your offerings you shall offer salt.

Leviticus 24:8 – “Every Sabbath he (Aaron) shall set it in order before the LORD continually; it is an everlasting covenant for the sons of Israel.”

26:9 -- The LORD will confirm His covenant; obey.

26:11 -- Make My dwelling among you.

 

26:12 -- Walk among you; be your God; you My people - - though vs 25; breaking covenant results in disasters --- read through vs 46.

Numbers 25:12 – I give My covenant of peace.

25:13 -- A covenant of a perpetual priesthood, was a jealous for his God, and made atonement for sons of Israel.

Deuteronomy 4 is a covenant chapter*******vs 4:13; “God declared to you His covenant which he commanded you to perform.” He wrote it in/on stone.

4:23 -- Do not forget the covenant for the LORD your God.

4:24 -- God is a jealous God, a consuming fire. (refer to Hew 12:28, 29)
4:31 -- God will not forget the covenant He sore to their fathers.

5:2, 3 -- god made covenant with us, at Horeb, and with those alive today.

7:9 -- God is faithful and keeps covenant to a thousand generations; with those who love and keep. (obey)

9:9, 11-- tables of covenant; refer to Ex 19:8; We will do all that You command.

In the historical books of the OT we find many references to covenant keeping and breaking; covenants with David and kings of Israel. Nehemiah 1:5; “God preserves covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments. “We find an echo text in Dan 9:4; Rev 12:17 & 14:12. In 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 we find a covenant songs; a song to and about the covenant. In the Psalms we find a lot about the covenant. In fact, we find three very distinct covenant Psalms; Ps 25, Ps 78, and Ps 111. Sing with me Ps 25:8-14:
“Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the LORD are loving kindness and truth to those who keep His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great, Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” Amen! Wow! Hallelujah!

In Isaiah 42 we find another covenant song. In fact, this chapter starts out identifying Jesus as My Servant, and is verse 6 identifies Him as (the) covenant to the people. Additional texts is Isaiah that mention covenant are” 49:6-8; 54:10; 55:3; 59:21 states that the covenant with His people will put His Spirit upon them and put words in their mouths; and 56:6, 7; “Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD; to minister to him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath and holds fast My covenant; even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in the house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My alter; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” (Sounds like a great intro for John 15, where gentiles are ‘grafted’ in)

Jeremiah 11:1-4 -- Here we have another great covenant chapter, remembering the covenant of Mt. Sinai; but unfortunately recognizing those who disregard and break out Lord’s covenant. Verses 6-10 graphically explain the detail the covenant of the LORD at it was unfolded to Israel. This narrative continues throughout the book, and expressly in 31:31-33; covenant law now in My people’s heart; in 32:40-42; 33:20-26; 34:10ff; and 50:5 which is a plea for God’s people to turn their faces toward the LORD and join in His everlasting covenant. This same theme continues in Ezekiel, and in chapter 16, which is another covenant chapter, verse 8; “-I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine.” The rest of this chapter describes in great detail how Israel broke God’s covenant, but in verses 59-63 our incredible, merciful Lord explains how He will forgive their rebellion and renew His glorious covenant. This theme continues on, and by 20:34-40 God enters judgment, brings His people into a bond of the covenant, purges the profaners, and brings His remnant to His holy mountain. Remember our text Rev 14:6, 7; “the hour of His judgment had come;” and so it was and so it shall be.

Ezek 37:26-28 – “I will make a covenant of peace with them, it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwellings place also will be with them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And the nations will know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when MY sanctuary is in their midst forever”.

Ezek 44:6-10 – An incredible explanation of covenant breaking, this time for those who embrace ecumenical worship and services; “You shall say to the rebellious ones, to the house of Israel, thus says the LORD GOD, enough of all your abominations, O house of Isreal, when you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flexh, to be in My sanctuary to profane it – you have not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set foreigners to keep charge of My sanctuary.”

Remember when Jesus cleansed the sanctuary at the start of His ministry and then again at the end, just before the cross. God wants His sanctuary clean, both in man and in worship places. God’s people will be a separate one; separated unto Christ and out worldly things and activities. The clean shall not embrace the unclean.

Zechariah 9:11 – The blood of My covenant ; once again we must be reminded of the seriousness and far reaching implications of the covenant from and by God. We were reminded of Abraham’s covenant, even reaching back far back to Adam and Eve, who were covered by the ‘robe’ of animal skins, of the lamb they had sacrificed, all of which looked forward to the LAMB OF GOD, who takes away the sin of the world. The blood of Christ salvaged sinners who repented, turned, changed, and were Spirit led. A life in Jesus redeems and regenerates, and creates law keepers, those who revel in resting with Jesus of His holy day, His Sabbath.

Malachi 2:4, 5 – “Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi, says the LORD of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I have him as an object of reverence, so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.” Please read the rest of this chapter through verse 17; amazing and incredible.

Mal 3:1, 2 – I am going to send My Messenger of the covenant; who can endure, who can stand?

Oh, my study friends in Christ, does this not sound so much like the text at the end of Rev 6; at the end of the sealing of God’s people, and who shall be able to stand? This is indeed a covenant relationship with Jesus!

*****Matthew 26:28 – “This is the blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (12)

2 Corinthians 3:6 – A new covenant, not of the letter, by the Spirit; the law kills condemns by the Spirit gives life. The Spirit has put the law in our hearts, not as requirements, but as a love relationship.

Hebrews 8:6-10 – Jesus is the administrator and mediator of the new covenant, because the old covenant was not kept, was broken, not by God, but by His people. This is a covenant of blood for forgiveness of sins, (forgiveness for breaking old covenant) vs 12; and remember their sins no more. In many ways, we can recognize Hebrews as a covenant book, for chapter 9, 10, 11, 12, & 13 deals extensively with this blood covenant. Once again we encounter the concept of God’s laws impressed upon our hearts, in our minds, in our souls, into the only acceptable way of life for the eternal gift of life.

Heb 12:18 – starts the end time scenario of the end time shaking, of coming to Mt Zion, in the very presence of our awesome God, and to Jesus, our mediator

Heb 13:20 – “Now the God of peace, who brought us up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord.”

And here we see in the heart of this covenant of Jesus is creation, redemption, deliverance, purging, cleansing, separation, and regeneration. This must surely include our Sabbath, the rest in Christ God gave us at the beginning, at the end, and all through the history of His people. And so, we see the gospel connected to the Sabbath, as a seal, as a sign, and as part of the old and new covenant; for most assuredly, Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, unto a thousand generations, throughout eternity.

At the end of the Revelation trumpets in 11:19 we again ‘see’ into the heavenly sanctuary, and there in the open heaven we encounter the “ark of the covenant”; and the presence of God is described. And our God is in a judgment more, using His covenant as a standard of justice. And there at the center is the Sabbath, God’s great gift to mankind, in resting in Him, and the foundation for our existence; for He is not only our Creator, but our Deliverer, our Redeemer, our Savior, and our Sustainer. Isaiah 66:23 tells us all how it will end; “And it shall be from new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down before Me, says the LORD.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scripture references taken from New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois.
Article prepared by Augustus L Foster, Akron, Ohio, afoster@neo.rr.com