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Appendix
345
refer to a time when utter destruction is coming on the ungodly. The
seal is placed upon God’s people as a safeguard to preserve them
from the evil impending. But “the forehead” is evidently used as
a figure, to denote the intellect or mind, as “the heart” is used to
denote the disposition or affections. To mark or seal in the forehead
is the same as to “write in the mind.”
Hebrews 10:16
.
The Sabbath is the sign of God; it is the seal of his law.
Isaiah
8:16
. It is the token of his authority and power. It is a sign whereby
we may know
that he is God, and therefore it is appropriately said to
be placed
in the forehead
. The worshipers of the beast (
Revelation
13
) are said to receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands.
As the forehead represents the intellect, the hand represents power,
as
Psalm 89:48
, “Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the
grave?” Compulsory worship is not acceptable to God; his servants
are sealed only in their foreheads. But it is acceptable to wicked
powers; it has always been craved by the Romish hierarchy. See
Note 8 for proof on the nature of this mark. The sign or seal of
God is his Sabbath, and the seal or mark of the beast is in direct
opposition to it; it is a counterfeit Sabbath on the “day of the sun.”
In the message of the third angel (
Revelation 14:9-12
) they who do
not receive the mark of the beast keep the commandments of God,
and the Sabbath is in the fourth precept; they keep the Sabbath of
the Lord; they have his sign or seal. The importance of this sign
is shown in this, that the fourth commandment is the only one in
the law which distinguishes the creator from false Gods. Compare
Jeremiah 10:10-12
;
Acts 17:23, 24
;
Revelation 14:6, 7
; etc. and
it is that part of his law for keeping which his people will suffer
persecution. But when the wrath of God comes upon the persecutors
who are found enforcing the sign or mark of the beast, then they will
[506]
realize the importance of the Sabbath,—the seal of the living God.
They who turn away from that which the Lord spoke when his voice
shook the earth, will confess their fatal error when his voice shall
shake the heavens and the earth.
Hebrews 12:25, 26
:
Joel 3:9-16
,
and others. See also page 457 of this book.