p. 9 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 47.

Earlier text: He Hath Set Some in the Church

God's Stamp of a Righteous Character

By Roderick S. Owen

"And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel; of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand." Rev. 7:2-6.

Among the True Israel

THIS is the true Israel and not the literal tribes, for Ephraim and Dan, who became leaders in idol worship, are omitted. But Joseph, according to the promise of God, gets this double portion by the insertion of his name with that of his son Manasseh. And the work of priesthood being finished, Levi comes in for his portion. Thus the book of Revelation gives us the enumeration of the tribes of Israel who will take possession of the whole earth made new, of which the earthly Canaan was simply a type. Out of this Israel there are to be sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand.

This work is to take place while the winds of strife are being held, just before they break in destruction over the world; just before the opening of the seventh or last seal, as shown by the first verse of chapter eight. The "silence in heaven" is the result of the absence of all the holy angels who have accompanied Christ as He comes to earth to receive His saints. And connected with it the wicked of earth will call for rocks and mountains to fall upon and hide them from His face. See last verses of chapter 6.

Thus we see that the hundred and forty-four thousand constitute the last or remnant of the true Israel of God, and are to have the seal of God in their foreheads, or minds. Against this remnant the dragon (Satan) will go to make war, because they keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Rev. 12:17.

Opposing Forces

This same company is described in Rev. 14:12 under the work of the Third Angel's Message, for we read, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." But while God is placing His seal upon His remnant, the wicked powers of earth, even by sentence of death, are seeking to compel all to receive the mark of the beast, and to worship and obey the beast or his image. But God's warning is, If any man worship the beast or his image, or receive his mark, the same shall drink of the unmixed wrath of God, or the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God (Rev. 15:1).

Thus all the inhabitants of this world are divided into just two classes,—the one keeping the commandments of God, and having His seal in their foreheads, and against whom a sentence of death is passed; the other class obeying the dictates of the beast, receiving his mark in their foreheads or hands, and destined to drink of the seven last plagues.

Reader, in which class will you be found? Will you have the seal of God or the mark of the beast? How important that we know what constitutes the seal and mark, that we may receive the one and avoid the other!

What Is the Seal of God?

A seal is a sign of power or authority, and must contain the name or descriptive title of the one who exercises the power or asserts the authority. The one hundred and forty-four thousand appear in Rev. 7:3, 4 and 14:1. By comparing these it will be found that while they have the seal of God they have also the Father's name in their foreheads. This proves that God's seal contains His name. The seal of any power is always found attached to its laws. In Isa. 8:16 we read, "Bind up the testimony, seal [or put the seal to] the law among My disciples." Thus we see that God's law has been robbed of its seal among His disciples, yet it is to be restored to its place.

Then a study of the law must reveal the seal, and it will contain the name; and those who sincerely keep the law will receive this seal and have the Father's name written in their foreheads, or minds. In whatever part of the law we shall find God's name clearly set forth, there we shall find the seal, since one is involved in the other. Then let us search the law for the descriptive title of Jehovah.

God's Distinguishing Characteristic

As we read the first, second, third, and fifth commandments we find that they mention the words Lord and God, but there is no descriptive title in them, nothing to distinguish the true from the false, nothing which could not be applied by the heathen to his god. The last five commandments make no mention of God. Turning then to the fourth we find in it these words, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Here we find the title of the true God, a descriptive title which can be applied to no other, which clearly distinguishes Him from all false gods. And it is a fact that all Bible writers in pointing out the true God used either the language of the fourth commandment, or its equivalent. See Jer. 10:10-12; Acts 17:23, 24; 14:14, 15, etc. He is the Creator, and the Sabbath is set forth as a sign of His creative power.

Those Who Are Sealed

Here then is the seal of the living God. But it is a fact that among the disciples to-day the law is robbed of its sign or seal, for God's Sabbath, the seventh day, has been set aside and another, the first day, has been substituted. But God calls upon those who are "looking for Him" to restore the seal to the law. See Isa. 8:16, 17. Only the servants (those who obey) of our God are to be sealed. Rev. 7:3.

But those who have the seal, have also the name of God. When God revealed His name to Moses He simply declared His character. Ex. 34:5-7. Hence those who have the name of God in their minds will have His character.

How This Character Is Received

God's character is revealed to man in the person of Jesus Christ. To have Christ in us is to be one with God, as Jesus said, "I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one." But any man who is in Christ Jesus is a new creature, or creation.

2 Cor. 5:17. In Him is manifest creative power. In this new creation is revealed the name or character of God, for His works declare His name; and the sign or memorial of this name ought to be seen upon this new creature. O, my dear reader, if God has made you a new creature in Christ Jesus you ought to carry to the world His Sabbath, which is the sign or seal of His creative power. And, O my brother, do not deny your Father's name by being ashamed of the sign and by failing to keep it. See Rev. 3:8-11.

When God finished the creation of the world in six days, he entered on the seventh day into His rest and was refreshed; not physical rest, for the Creator fainteth not, neither is weary. But He rested. He viewed His new creation, and saw that it was good; and He rejoiced and took delight in it. And this was His rest, while the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. So, my dear reader, if you have looked to Him, and find in Him for you a new creation, and are rejoicing in it, you have entered into God's rest, "for we which have believed do enter into rest." It is therefore your privilege to shout for joy and to join in the song of the angels who are rejoicing in the presence of God over one sinner who has repented. Such "call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable." Such do not do their own ways, nor find their own pleasure, nor speak their own words (Isa. 58:13); but they delight in the law of the Lord, and in His law do they meditate day and night (Ps. 1:2). Such will not worship the beast nor his image, for they keep the commandments of God, and in such is the righteousness of the law fulfilled. Such do not receive the mark of the beast, for they have the seal of God. Such shall escape the seven last plagues, and shall stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion.

A Sign of Redemption

The seventh day therefore was sanctified as a sign of God's creation, an outward sign of His rest. When that rest was broken by the entrance of sin, and the earth passed under its curse, God did not take away His sign, but left it as a memorial of the beautiful creation which He had made, and at the same time as a sign or pledge of the recreation of all, and the restoration of His rest; so that wherever creative power is manifest in recreation the Sabbath should be recognized as its sign.

In harmony with this thought, when God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, He used creative power; first, in the plagues, signs, and wonders by which He brought them out; and secondly, by making them new creatures in Christ, for they were all baptized and did all eat of that spiritual meat, and drank of that Rock which followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1 Cor. 10:1-4. And because of this, He gave them His law, in which He said, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work. . . . For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Also remember that thou wast a servant in Egypt, and that He brought you out so that you might serve Him. Wherefore He commanded you to keep the Sabbath. So He said to them, Hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you by which ye may know that I am the Lord your God, and that ye may know that I am the Lord which doth sanctify you. Eze. 20:12, 20.

So, my reader, if you recognize God as the Creator, and have been delivered from the bondage of sin, of which the bondage of Egypt was but a type, you are under obligation to keep God's Sabbath, the seventh day which He has sanctified as His sign or seal. And if you will turn away your foot from His Sabbath, from polluting it, and keep your hand from doing any evil, then shall you be an Israelite indeed; and you shall be numbered among His remnant who have His seal, and shall have right to the tree of life, and shall enter in through the gates into the city.

The Lamb inside the city, the beast outside, each with his own. Where will you be? Whose image and superscription will you bear?

OUR PREPARATION FOR THE END

By Ellen G. White

By Mrs. E. G. White

What That Preparation Must Be

To us has been given the message of Christ's soon coming. At the ascension of our Lord, angels stood beside the disciples, and with them watched the Saviour as He passed into the heavens. Then they turned to the disciples with the word, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."

Are we preparing for this great event? Are we preparing to meet the Saviour in peace, or are we absorbed in worldly business and pleasure? In the judgment, the question will not be, What profession did you make? but, What have you done for Me? What fruit have you borne to My glory? Now is the time to prepare for the coming King.

As John saw the multitude standing around the throne of God, the question was asked, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" The angel answered, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." At infinite cost a fountain has been prepared for our cleansing. If we now wash our robes of character at this fountain, God will give us a place in the mansions that are being prepared for those who love Him.

His Robe of Righteousness

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God's presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. "I counsel thee," He says, "to buy of Me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear."

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God was "manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." Sin is defined to be "the transgression of the law." But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." When on earth He said to His disciples, "I have kept My Father's commandments." By His perfect obedience, He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart; the will is merged in His will; the mind becomes one with His mind; the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then, as the Lord looks upon us, He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.

What the Judgment Will Reveal

Sad will be the retrospect in that day when men stand face to face with eternity. The whole life will present itself just as it has been.

A striking composite drawing is that of Mr. Mente's above. The lower scene carries us back to the slaying of the paschal lamb in Egypt, the blood of which must be placed on the sides of the door of each household and on the lintel above, or the first-born would die. The unbelieving in Egypt's land failed to do this, and the first-born of man and beast died throughout the land where the sprinkled blood was not seen by the destroying angel as he passed over. In the small drawing we have the deeper meaning of that solemn rite; 'for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.' But to no soul will that blood apply, no soul will be free from sin when God's plagues fall, unless that soul has put away his sins and by faith washed them in the blood of Jesus. O, there is cleansing, there is healing, in His blood. But are you hidden underneath it? Is your household safe?

The world's pleasures, riches, and honors will not then seem so important. Men will then see that the righteousness they despised is alone of value. They will see that they have fashioned their characters under the deceptive allurements of Satan. The garments they have chosen are the badge of their allegiance to the first great apostate. Then they will see the results of their choice. They will have a knowledge of what it means to transgress the commandments of God.

There will be no second probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments.

The days of our probation are fast closing. The end is near. Solemnly there come down to us through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." Beware lest it find you unready. Take heed lest you be found at the King's feast without a wedding garment. "In such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." "Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

FOR LOVE TO US

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

"Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame." Phil. 2:5-8, reads according to the Revised Version: "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God [Greek, "originally in the form of God"], counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross."

The joy that was set before Jesus was the salvation of souls. When He sees the travail of his soul, that is, the result of the travail of His soul, He will be satisfied. It was not for any personal good that He could gain that He suffered; for He had all heaven already. Equal with the Father, having life in Himself, the Creator and Upholder of the universe, receiving the adoration of the highest angels, there was nothing that could be added to Him. But when he saw mankind in sin and suffering, doomed to eternal death, He did not count His lofty place in heaven a thing to be desired.

So great was His love for fallen humanity, that He could not enjoy heaven till He had rescued from perdition all who would receive His kind offices. So He "emptied Himself,"—laid aside His joy,—that He might have the (to Him) greater pleasure of saving sinners. Surely it is worth while to consider Him. If we would continually look upon Him, viewing Him in His true character, who could become weary and discouraged? Such love as that, combined with divine power, will surely be sufficient to make us "more than conquerors."—E. J. W.

Gratitude Without Pride

It is well to express publicly one's gratitude for blessings received; but it is also well to beware that the expression be not of pride because of the possession of such blessings. No blessing of God is designed to impart a feeling of superiority over others. It is good to be without sin, but not to boast of it.

The Third Angel's Message

By A. O. Tait

INTELLIGENT and unbiased people are awake to the conditions of lawlessness, violence, and crimes of every kind that exist in all parts of the world. They see that these evils must be met and conquered or the whole of mankind is doomed.

Every vexing and distressing problem of criminality and oppression that has been known to all past ages is entering into this modern conflict. The seeds have been sown, and the time is rapidly drawing on when intolerance and the inflammable condition of society will add the relentless horrors of persecution to the crimes that are already cursing the world.

The foregoing is not a presentation of theory advanced for the sake of argument; it is a statement of fact for consideration.

God foresaw these masterly efforts of the powers of darkness, as they make their supreme efforts in the closing moments of time to sweep as much of humanity as possible into the horrors of eternal ruin. And against this great hurricane of evil the divine Father utters a warning, befitting and commensurate to these last desperate efforts of the agents of sin. Read and carefully ponder the following vitally significant words:

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:9-12.

What God Has Done

In this time of great intellectual and spiritual light there is no occasion or excuse for mankind to abandon itself to the crimes and sins of the age. God has caused unsurpassed light to shine in this generation. Everything that the tenderest love could suggest to divine foreknowledge has been done to warn and save men from making wrecks of themselves through the prevailing wrong-doing of the day.

In view of these things is it astonishing that God's wrath, as noted in the foregoing text, is poured "into the cup of His indignation"? Divine kindness has been exerted to the limit to save men, but this has all been spurned, and Satan's methods of doing wrong have been chosen instead of God's plain path of right.

In the early days of the present generation the printing-press placed the Bible in the homes of all who would receive it. In the same days God also raised up men to become students of the prophecies of His divine Book. These prophecies disclose and lay bare every sin and danger of this time. Clear and distinct notes of warning have been raised in every part of the world, and these warnings have not been given in the words of man's choosing, but have been read from the pages of Scripture in the very words of Jehovah Himself.

Every one of the tender arts and emotions of the Father have been brought into play. The significance of the cross, and the depth of love that permitted the Son of God to endure all the sufferings of Calvary have been poured upon the people of this time from that bosom which is the wellspring of every endearing affection. The rising flood of evil has been steadily met and resisted by the Light of the Ages; and the secure haven of God's own protecting power has been kept in distinct view by the lighthouse of His Word. Step by step the darkness and the miseries of wrong have been met by the light of the Sun of Righteousness who has arisen with healing in His wings.

The Fruitage of Man's Sowing

Thus has God made His supreme protest against the mightiest final efforts of the prince of darkness. And thus does our Father make it clear that the result of despising His protest is to be required to drink of that just and righteous wrath "which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation."

Wrath without mixture is wrath untempered by mercy. God's last great protest for this time makes it plain that every one who resists His light and His affectionate and righteous entreaties will press to their own lips the cup of the wine of His unmingled wrath. God's Spirit sends the conviction deep into your heart, regardless of your resistance, that these things are so. The possibility of your joining in the pleasures and occupations of an eternal existence depends upon your attitude to these convictions.

ENTER THY CHAMBERS

By Frances Eugenia Bolton

BY FRANCES EUGENIA BOLTON

"Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Zeph. 2:3. "Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." Isa. 26:20.

There gathers o'er the world the stormcloud's wrath, Blackness and darkness and thick tempest dire, And angels hold the whirlwind from thy path, And strive to shield thee from the tempest's ire, Holding the winds till thou art sheltered warm, 'Neath love's pavilion from the coming storm.

There gathers o'er God's own a sheltering cloud, A wing of love, a covering of grace, A panoply of heaven with power endowed, A peaceable and quiet resting-place. Enter thy chambers till the fearful blast Of indignation and of wrath be past.

Like doves within their cotes with tender breast, All undefiled and harmless, nestle down, Within the safe, sure shelter of God's rest, And hide while earth removes and heaven shall frown; For O, the fierce tornado of the blast Shall sweep till indignation's overpast.

Thou'lt hear the storm as one beside the hearth While sweeps the tempest on in field and wold. Thou'lt feel the strange upheavals of the earth, The noise of battle wild and uncontrolled; Yet in thy safe pavilion thou shalt rest, Hid in thy refuge, on God's sheltering breast.

Come, O my people, come, O, enter now, Enter the chamber of God's rest and power; For angel hands hold back the winds that blow, There scarce remains one little fleeting hour, Till cyclone storm and tempest war is hurled, And death and chaos reign in all the world.

The Book is opened, and behold revealed, Four angels holding back the nations' strife, Until the servants of the Lord are sealed With living seal for everlasting life, And still they stay the world-wide storm and flood, That ye may hide, O purchase of Christ's blood.

Hide but a moment, then He'll call you forth. The graves shall burst, and myriads greet the skies. Give up, O south, and from the far-off north, The children of the mystery shall rise, Blest, beautiful, made meet for endless peace, And gifted with love's song that shall not cease.

Together with the living saints of God, The risen dead shall rise in angel arms, And meet the Saviour who before them trod, Nor ever know again sin's rude alarms, O day of days, let us not stay thee long, When indignation's past, and comes thy song.

THE TRUE ISRAEL

1. What is the meaning of the name, Israel? The Lord said to Jacob, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Gen. 32 : 28.

2. What does Christ promise to the overcomer? "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Rev. 3 : 21.

3. To whose seed is the kingdom promised? "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy Seed, which is Christ." Gal. 3:16.

4. How much did the promise to Abraham imply? "The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." Rom. 4 : 13.

5. Who are reckoned as children of Abraham in connection with the kingdom? "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Gal. 3:7, 9. "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Verse 29.

6. Were the literal children of Israel all the children of faith? "Some, when they had heard, did provoke; howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. . . . And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief," Heb. 3:16-19.

7. How only can the natural Jews become heirs to the promises to Abraham? Only as individuals. So Peter exhorts them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2 : 38.

8. Then who only will be recognized as Israelites in the kingdom of Christ? "He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Rom. 2:28, 29. "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Phil. 3:3. "Salvation is of the Jews." John 4:24. "Unto Him [Shiloh of the tribe of Judah] shall the gathering of the peoples be." Gen. 49:10.

9. Who will be the sub-rulers over the twelve tribes in the kingdom of Christ? "Jesus said unto them [the twelve], Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Matt. 19:28.

Continue reading: The Church Militant, and Triumphant