What is the Seal?

Question No. 21:

   What is the seal of God upon the foreheads of the 144,000 (Rev. 7:3)? Is it the Sabbath seal or something else?

Answer:

Now in Bro. Houteff’s answer in response to the questioner in question No. 21 he was only given two options. Had this been one of those types of trapping questions Bro. Houteff as you know would not be slow to sharpen his tongue and put the questioner in his place. But from the tenor of the question and the genuineness to determine what that specific seal, which will be found upon the foreheads of the 144,000, is we see a definite answer. Had any of these two options not been tenable Bro. Houteff would have disqualified both of them and then given what it could only be according to the Word.

Which two options was Bro. Houteff given? The first option given is the Sabbath, which we already know is a revealed present truth for this end time period. Consider the context of the three angel’s message in Rev. 14, it will be preached by the 144,000 but what will their present truth be in the time of the Loud Cry? Will it not be the Sabbath truth preached more fully? This time it will be forcefully preached in the light of the great and dreadful day no longer coming but come whereas before that could not have been the case.

The second option Bro. Houteff was given was “something else.” And from the looks of the answer, to the unambiguous specific question relating to the foreheads of the 144,000, his answer definitely falls under “something else.” Although the Sabbath is related and included it is not the sole cause.

He begins by establishing by what means is any believer sealed. Because Christ is the hub of all truths it stands to reason that every seal must seal us in Christ by the Holy Spirit. The subject and the method is established. Christ the subject and the method is by the “Holy Spirit of promise” after hearing “the word of Truth” (Eph. 1:12; 4:30), the saints (meaning those conforming in the sanctification process described in John 17:17) are consequently sealed by Present Truth—the truth preached in their own day.

How many truths are preached in our day? We as believing DSDAs can confidently say all the truths from Genesis to the preaching of that other angel (EW:277.1; 6T:406.5; 7T:140.3; 1888:1070.1) that is to unite with the third angel to give the third angel’s message power and force. Now here’s where it starts to become very interesting. Are we authorized by the messenger to make it appear that any previous truth is irrelevant? No. For every opened seal (truth) has a starting point in the past but every seal continues to the end of time. However, do we now turn around and reject any new light, or revelation of truth just because all of these previous truths started sometime in the past and we believe them all today? These past truths would not immediately qualify as present truth as directed in COL:127.4.

In the light of the fresh unfolding of truth we have a better appreciation, and a clearer direct representation of every past truth in its distinct rays of light and can begin to distinguish what is and what is not present truth whereby we are sealed.

By looking at this question through the parable of Matt. 20 one can begin to examine which messages are not technically present truth. Yet as soon as you reach the pre-11^th hour period or the pre-harvest period, even our present time, the truth our church is endeavoring to bare in the fainter cry period will be present truth once again in the future during the Loud cry when the Sabbath will be proclaimed more fully with a twist (Mar:170; EW:85.2, 3; EW:278.2). More on this twist a little later

   "The seal of the living God," the Truth, by which the 144,000 are sealed (Rev. 7:2), is a special seal, being the same as "the mark" of Ezekiel 9. (See Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445; Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 267; Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211).—2 Ans:32.2

First and foremost let’s deal with the several definite articles that are present in this paragraph here. “The seal, ” “the living God,” “The Truth,” by which “the 144,000.” This cannot be turned by any or our explanations into “a seal,” “a Truth,” “a 144,000” otherwise we are not being faithful to the text. Secondly the prophet tells us right off-the-bat that it “is a special seal.” If that is true it cannot fall under any other regular category. There is nothing anyone should say to make it not special. Then he pins it down further connecting it to inspired references thus his interpretation of course stands and our understanding should follow with the aid of the Holy Spirit.

If there is still any lingering doubts as to what is going on here notice carefully when you examine the chart “The Havest Period and the Close of Probation.” Bro. Houteff places “The closing work for the church…” which is referenced in 3T:266-7 at the commencement or where you can find in the prophetic time line the actual event of the physical separation of the tares from among the wheat. If this is where he put it, then our explanation has no power to shift it to another supposed location. And this indicates what is written in 2Ans:32.2.

Again when looking at another chart, The Harvest, we see that the Harvest has and is given a definite starting point and it is not 1929. The prophet marked the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 by its commencement. He also shaded both sides of the comingled experience of the tares among the wheat. Had any portion of Ezekiel 9 had any previous application before the time marked as the unshaded portion labeled “the harvest” we would have been told like in the case of Dan. 11:45 compared to the previous verse 44. And still yet although the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 will be known at leasts 24 hrs before the event of its fulfillment, when the second fruits are being gathered we also have been informed that its work of separation which began in the house of God will pass on and continue out into the world and end when Probation closes for the world. Continuing…

“It demands one's sighing and crying over the abominations which defile him and which desecrate both the Sabbath and the house of God,.…As the saints have this seal OR mark on their foreheads, the angels will pass over them, not slay them. It is equivalent to the blood on the door post on the night of the Passover in Egypt.”

Note carefully, “the angel is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who by ”sighing and crying…“ show fidelity to the Truth.” In this instance fidelity to all revealed truth since 1929 and if the Holy Spirit pressed the matter upon your heart for conviction then this is what “seals” both kinds of faithful Seventh-day Adventists. Either to rise in the special resurrection or those who will receive that “special seal” which prevents them from tasting death. There are many lessons that signal why 144,000 cannot taste death but there is only one reason that satisfies the condition and that is they qualified themselves and have also received that “mark” that is to be passed over by the destroying angel that follows in the second Passover. Only those who died in faith of the third angel’s message have access to the special resurrection non other. Any other believer who passes away while showing fidelity to the Truth they lived up to has access to the resurrection of the righteous, the first resurrection.

Again the angel “is to” showing that even at the time Bro. Houteff published this statement the sealing work of Ezekiel 9:4 had not commenced. This “special seal” or “Mark” is still yet future. According to Ezek. 9 this mark is placed in the presence of Jesus. According to Isa. 63:1-3 we see Who is responsible for this harvesting. It is the Lord of glory who dwells between the cherub. Ezek. 9:1-3 identifies the Lord removed from the Sanctuary in heaven giving instructions to the angels at the thresh hold of the House according to Malachi 3:1(b)-3.

   “So, the former seal enables the receiver to rise from the dead in the resurrection of the just, while the latter seal enables the sighing-crying one to escape death and forever to live for God.”

Here you have it as plain as day. The former seal (the Sabbath truth in connection with the Sanctuary and other corresponding bible related truths) and the “something else” which the questioner wanted to know which Bro. Houteff answered.

There is no new information that can follow from Bro. Houteff that can overturn what Bro. Houteff just finished answering. No, not so much as using 1 Cor. 11:15 to overturn what is written in 1 Cor. 11:4-7. Building on what has been already clearly established everything which follows must be harmonized.

As we follow on into the next question No. 22 this key sentence in the first paragraph gets easily overlooked when we fail to carry over what Bro. Houteff just finish establishing and in its place is our former unsubstantiated understanding.

“…Definitely, then the message of the sealing and the sealing itself go hand in hand the same as the needle and the shuttle travel together until the seam is completed.”—2Ans:33:2

The message of the sealing has been proclaimed since 1929 but its sealing as we have clearly seen is still yet future. Therefore that “special seal” shall go hand in hand with the sealing message and the outcome will be “until the seam is completed” when that unknown date for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 comes to pass and Jesus is wearing those garments of vengeance. I know that prophet did not specifically place that key sentence in future tense and yet I cannot bring myself to undermined the future implication of what he has clearly established previously nor what is illustrated in the charts.

“…Thus, the sighing and crying since 1929 for the abominations in the church, has been the supreme evidence that we are living in the period of the sealing.”—2Ans:33.3

Is there great significance between the period of the sealing, the message of the sealing and the sealing itself? This can only be rightly understood in light of the previous answer given and as it is illustrated in the two previous charts brought to view. The sealing, as it relates to when that “special seal” is placed upon the foreheads of the 144,000, happens during the period of the sealing which is marked between 1929 and the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9. However, we are instructed by the Rod that at the time that “special seal” is placed upon the sighing and crying ones, even upon the foreheads of the 144,000 is followed always immediately by the destroying angels.

Now saying that the revelation of present truth as it has unfolded before the coming of the great and dreadful day does not immediately produce that specific “day” nor does it automatically invokes that “special seal” or “mark” of which only the 144,000 will receive. This could not be advocated especially by the prophet himself. Even though this “…has been the supreme evidence that we are living in the period of the sealing” does not give occasion for the fulfillment of any verse in Ezek. 9 as explained previously.

The only thing that is certain, that can be harmonized, is that the period of the sealing will be met by actual moment of sealing and this could not have begun prior to 1929 or years after while the investigative judgment for the dead is still taking place in heaven, while Jesus is dressed in his High Priestly attire. Although many faithful SDAs have passed away knowing “the sealing message” which eventually and ultimately is responsible for qualifying 144,000 saints to receive that “special seal” or “mark” this work of sealing could not have begun according to what has been revealed in Question No. 21 which is objectively specific to the definite foreheads of each of the members of the 144,000. At that appointed time the seam is completed.

The first three paragraphs of the answer to Question No. 22 (2Ans:33.2-34.1) deals with the first part of the Question No. 22. Keeping very clear the previous inspired authoritative thoughts established as written and explained by the prophet which are intentionally specific will help not only to alleviate the controversy raging in the minds of those who are teaching that the harvest has begun already but you will no longer yourself return into the cloud of uncertainty. Every other related and satellite truth which dovetails with this one will perfectly harmonize and be symmetrical. We will have cause for us to see eye to eye on this subject sooner than later.

By Neftali Garay 2/2/2018