Being around Christianity for any length of time, we hear about the Mark of the Beast from Revelation. Revelation describes this symbol of those belonging to the Devil and his representatives in the end times. An apocalyptic term and context, the Bible warns against this mark, and a host of theories exist about it.
The New Testament also mentions the Seal of God, in many ways the opposite of the symbol of the Antichrist. The Seal of God protects the Lord’s people, securing us for eternity. The Mark of the Best gets a great deal of attention, but perhaps we should talk more about the Seal of God.
Looking through the Scripture, we can piece together what it means to have the Seal of God and what it teaches us about our heavenly Father.
What Verses Mention the Seal of God?
Revelation 7:3 says, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” Here, God instructs the angels to resist destruction until his servants get a seal on their foreheads, marking them as his own. The Greek word for “seal” here is sphragis, which means an official symbol of ownership and security, similar to a king’s seal on a paper. This seal on God’s servants represents how they belong to him and live under his protection. God will keep them from harm.
Paul writes about this seal in 2 Timothy 2:0-10. He addresses his spiritual son, Timothy, saying, “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’” The seal expresses an assurance of belonging to God. He alone knows who belongs to him, and Paul uses the same Greek word, sphragis, to point to ownership and authority. In addition, those who have the seal will also exhibit righteousness, turning away from wickedness.
In the ancient world, the seal indicated authority over something valuable. Kings, nobles, or other officials would place a seal on a document to show its true source and protection. To abuse the item that had the seal meant to dishonor the king or noble. Consequences would ensue. In the same way, the Seal of God implies the Lord owns those people and they exist under his care and authority. The Seal of God also symbolizes the believer’s allegiance, security, protection, and Kingdom favor.
Now and in the future, God is responsible for our care and protection. He has bought us with his blood (1 Corinthians 6:20).
How is the Holy Spirit the Seal of God?
The Seal of God isn’t a physical or visual mark like a tattoo. The seal is a Person. The Holy Spirit marks believers as the Lord’s own, affirming an inner transformation and relationship. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.” Paul again uses the same Greek word for seal, sphragis. The Spirit confirms a Christian’s place as one of God’s children. Further, it assures them of a future inheritance in the heavenly Kingdom.
Paul further uses this concept in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22. “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” God directly seals believers through the Holy Spirit. He places his presence within their hearts. Unlike an outward mark, the Holy Spirit transforms the disciple’s character, nature, and desires. Like we saw in 2 Timothy above, this inward change manifests through words and deeds, living a heavenly life here on earth. The Holy Spirit shapes the believer’s hearts to God’s will and mission.
This shift from a physical mark to an inner change represents a major historical change. The Old Testament included outward symbols and meaning. Circumcision especially meant a person belonged to the people of God, Israel. Yet the New Testament changes this. Christian “circumcision” is now of the heart (Colossians 2:11). Outward symbols can’t change a rebellious heart. The New Covenant remakes the person’s nature (Ezekiel 36:26). Romans 8:16 reveals the fulfilment of the prophetic promise. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Christians need this seal above all else. Ephesians 4:30 says to “not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” The Spirit seals believers in an active relationship where they have hope in the future good inheritance as children.
What is the Difference Between the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast?
The Devil doesn’t create anything. He takes what’s been created and twists the design. God seals with the Holy Spirit, and Satan institutes the Mark of the Beast during the apocalyptic times.
In contrast with the Seal of God, the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13:16-17 is placed on people’s right hands or foreheads. The Antichrist system requires people to have this mark in order to buy or sell. This manufactures an outward type of security and provision. The mark identifies those who serve the Beast, which symbolizes conforming to a godless and worldly system rather than God. John uses the Greek word charagma for mark, different than sphragis. Charagma means an engraved or stamped mark, also used to show allegiance to a ruler. To accept the Mark of the Beast means choosing the world, wickedness, and rebellion against God.
As Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” The opposite of transformation is conformity. Conformity speaks of a superficial copy, not touching the heart. The Mark of the Beast can only be an outer mark. The Seal of God produces true transformation and freedom through the inward witness and power of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.
Revelation clearly sets up two different types of people in the earth—the people of God and those who choose to bow to the Beast. The scripture further reveals the consequences of taking this Mark. “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his head, he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:9-10).
Ultimately, the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast reveal two paths: faithful following of God verses conformity to rebellious and destructive evil forces.
What Characteristics Describe Those with the Seal of God?
Revelation 14:1 offers a look into the character of those who bear the Seal of God. “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” First, the verse shows the Lamb, being Christ, standing with those of the seal, showing how they’ve come to him. This points to their loyalty to God and his commandments.
Instead of the Mark of the Beast, God has written his name, the “name of the Father,” upon their foreheads. This marks them as children. Humans have been created in the image of God, but they aren’t children. To be a child speaks to something beyond creation; believers are “born again” from the Father through the Son by the Spirit. This act separates them in their inner, full commitment to follow God. Revelation 14:4 further describes them as those “who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” This connects with Paul’s insistence Christians won’t give into the flesh if they walk in the Spirit (Romans 8).
Walking in the Spirit makes believers pure. Revelation 14:4 also identifies those with the seal as those “who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.” This might be symbolic, pointing to spiritual purity, often expressed as sexual purity in the Old Testament, counting idolatry as a type of adultery (Ezekiel 16, Jeremiah 3). Those with the Seal of God commit themselves to holiness, a separation from the world’s ways.
In Revelation 14:5, the people with God’s seal show truthfulness and integrity. “And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before they throne of God.” They don’t lie or bear false witness. The people of God speak truth, which is love. Integrity means all parts align with truth, like the unity of the Trinity. Those with God’s seal don’t act one way in one situation while behaving differently around others. Their whole lives manifest a unifying truth.
What Can Christians Learn from the Seal of God?
We have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Christ, denoting God’s ownership over us. “You were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Through Christ’s sacrifice, we have been redeemed from sin and death and set apart as the Father’s children. This purchase is both transactional and relational. In purchasing us, he placed his seal on us as children. We no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to God. With this, we have security, protection, and an eternal inheritance.
Having God’s seal calls us to follow and actively listen to the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we live by the Holy Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” We need the Spirit to empower and guide us to live a life for God. Created beings have no ability to live like the Creator. Therefore, he gives himself as the seal. Only God within us can give us the strength to follow him.
We must follow the Spirit more than the ways of the world. The seal warns us against taking any other mark—worshipping idols, physical or philosophical. Revelation’s warning about taking the Mark of the Beast reminds us our loyalty to God must be absolute. Idolatry essentially means bowing down to anything or anyone other than God. He alone is worthy of glory and worship. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters.” Our devotion can’t be divided between God and any other allegiance.
Finally, the Seal of God promises us an eternal inheritance as God’s children, secured through the Holy Spirit. Our destiny includes ruling and reigning with God in the New Heaven and New Earth. We also see this in Revelation 22:5. “They will reign forever and ever.” This speaks of us, God’s children, fully redeemed taking our place alongside him. We will live forever in light of his glory. Our eternal existence will be filled with purpose, worship, and joy.
The Seal of God gives us ultimate hope. If God seals us with himself, we have ultimate surety. God’s hope helps us stay faithful during hard times and persecutions, knowing he holds us close and will work all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Peace.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Andrey Iudin
