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REVELATION 7:1- 3

"THE SEAL OF GOD"

I. THE SEAL, THE MARK OF OWNERSHIP.
        A. Each merchant had his own seal.
                1. In Ephesus he would purchase goods from the caravans coming from the east.
                        a. They would be crated for shipment then sealed with was seal with 
                           owner's imprint.
                2. When the goods arrived at Puteoli the port city for goods headed for Rome.
                        a. Agents for merchants recognized and claimed goods by  seal. A mark
                           of ownership.

II. IN REVELATION WE SEE THE PROTECTIVE CAPACITIES OF SEAL.
        A. Four angels about to release violent winds of destructive force upon the earth.
                1. Hold them back till servants of God sealed.
        B. In Chapter 9, when demon hordes are released from abbusso.
                1. Power to inflict torment.
                2. Not to hurt those with seal of God in their foreheads.

lIl. IN REVELATION THOSE WHO HAVE THE SEAL OF GOD ARE JEWS.
        A. Of all the tribes of Israel -144,OOO.
        B. 12,000 from each tribe.
        C. The imprint on the seal is "Yahweh."
                1. Many cult groups have tried to identify their group as the 144,000.

IV. ANOTHER GROUP SEALED OF GOD. (Eph. 1:13.
        A. Eph 1 declares our spiritual blessings in Christ.
                1. We have been chosen, predestined, adopted.
                2. We are accepted by God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, now heirs of God.
        B. "Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."
                1. "Earnest of our inheritance."
                        a. Greek word "Arrobon" deposit.
                        b. We have today the term, "earnest money."
                        c. That which indicates full intent.
                2. "Until redemption of purchased possession."
                        a. You are Gal's purchased possession.
                                1. "What, know ye not your body is the..."
                        b. The redemption is not yet consummated.
                                1. God has not picked up His goods.
                                2. We with all creation wait for that day.
                                3. Some day soon, He is coming to claim that which is His.
                                   Either by death or rapture, I will be standing before Him
                                   in my new body, my redemption complete.
                3. In the meantime, He has placed His mark of ownership on me.
                        a. How do you know God is sincere in His promise to redeem you?
                                1. He made the deposit.
                                2. His seal of ownership is on me.
                                3. I'm lust waiting to arrive in port so He can claim His
                                   goods.