“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.” Revelation 3: 10 – 12 NLT
“And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9 NLT
Ephesians 2: 8-9
What is the requirement for salvation, reconciliation, transference from this world into the Kingdom of God? It is Faith. Is it Faith in one’s works, the world government and systems, or self- righteousness? No, it is none other than Faith in what Jesus Christ has accomplished in atoning for our sins that sets us apart for His merciful redemption.
Romans 10:17, Romans 5: 3-4, 1 Peter 1:7
So Where and from Whom do we receive such Faith? We receive the Faith that perseveres upon hearing the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Upon hearing and believing the Word we become “born again” and God sets us apart for Christ’s Kingdom. He puts His Seal – the mark of His approval- the Holy Spirit on us, and in us, as a proclamation of His Promise fulfilled. Then He sanctifies us and proves our Faith through testing, trials and tribulations revealing who we are in Christ.
Esther 8 & Daniel 6
Throughout scripture there are examples of how Old Testament Kings would make a proclamation or law, write it on a tablet or scroll and then seal it with their signet ring.Once the proclamation received the King’s Seal, the decision was irrevocable. In two scriptural examples the kings were deceived in sealing a proclamation of death against the Jews. But in both instances, God’s people prayed and received Faith to escape the penalty of death by placing their trust in Him.
Genesis 3, Acts 20:28
In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve He told them that everything was given to them except one thing – the fruit from the tree bearing knowledge of good and evil. He proclaimed to them, that in the day they ate of the tree, they would surely die. Since God’s Word is Truth, He cannot lie, and what a Holy, righteous God proclaims is irrevocable. And so, their mistrust of God’s Word separated them from His presence and so they died. Yet, even while death was imminent, God made a way of salvation not only for them, but for the whole world, in the one who was to come, Who conquered both sin and death, providing each and every one who has Faith, the way back to God and eternal life. The new covenant of salvation through faith was sealed, and the King of Kings, substituted His own life for judgment and satisfied the seal of judgment proclaimed by God. So through His death and resurrection, the Son of God purchased a new proclamation with His own life and blood.
Romans 1:20, Matthew 6:28
God has given evidence of His divine nature in what He has created. That is why Jesus pointed to creation as illustrations and explanations of spiritual truths. In the same way as we observe the metamorphosis of a Monarch, we see how God has designed this creature and predestined it for transformation. The event of transformation begins with the caterpillar surrendering its flesh, then what appears next is a chrysalis sealed until called forth as a butterfly.
It is in the darkest times and places where God is able to do His greatest work. This is where the transformation and change takes place. Knitted together in darkness, the creature emerges with a new identity, purpose and life.
Romans 8: 29-30, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3: 3-16, Hebrews 12:2, 2 Timothy 2:13
Spiritually , when a person believes the truth concerning Christ’s death and resurrection, and surrenders his life to Christ, he is “ born again”, leaving the things of this world and enters the Kingdom of Heaven.
Everyone who comes to faith in Jesus Christ, becomes a new creature, growing in His image, sealed and transformed through sanctification and redeemed for eternal life.
No one, nor anything can break that seal of promise, nor change the predestination of those who are transformed through faith. Jesus Christ is both the Author and Finisher of the believer’s faith (+), and He completes what He begins.
Romans 8: 31-39
38 & 39- “ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NLT
John 12:47-48, Revelation 5
Jesus said that He did not come into the world to judge the world but to save sinners from God’s judgment. So who is worthy to open the seals of judgment. He is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who has atoned for the sins of all who place their faith and trust in Him. And He has promised that God’s judgment would not occur until everyone who comes to faith is sealed with His blood and protection and Love.
Ephesians 4: 30
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Judgment concerning sin is irrevocable because God is a Holy and Just God. He must judge sin, but in His mercy He has given every sinner an irrevocable way of escape through Faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV
So persevere in your faith in Christ Jesus, for there is no other way to eternal life and if you have received the seal of redemption, know your redemption is irrevocable and draws near. DF
