The Mark of God
Today’s passage: Revelation 7:1–8
Focus verse: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:3)
Many people are familiar with the mark of the beast as revealed later in the book of Revelation, but what about the mark of God? What about the protection afforded to Jesus’s followers who receive his seal on their foreheads?
But Bible teachers seldom mention the seal of God, while often addressing the mark of the beast. This unbalanced perspective produces unwarranted fear. Our focus should be on the seal of God and not the mark of the beast.
Hearing about the mark of the beast is indeed terrifying. It’s something people must have if they’re to buy or sell anything. Without having this sign on their right hand or forehead they’ll be unable to do what they need to do to survive.
However, those who don’t comply—because of their refusal to worship the beast and receive his mark—could face martyrdom for their faith and beheading for telling others about Jesus.
Anyone who worships the beast and receives his mark will face God’s fury and endure everlasting torment day and night. Those people will later break out in ugly, festering sores.
In his discussion of receiving the mark of the beast, John also mentions worshiping him. By receiving the mark of the beast, people implicitly worship him rather than Jesus.
It’s a disconcerting situation, giving us good reason to fear the end times and the mark of the beast.
Yet this misses the alternate symbol, having the seal of God on our foreheads. Though bearing God’s mark will not save us from the beast’s persecution, it will protect our lives and keep the beast from killing us.
Revelation says that some from the tribes of Israel will receive this seal of God and implies that many non-Jewish people will also receive it. They’ll come from every nation, tribe, people, and language. This can include us.
As followers of Jesus, we can receive God’s seal of protection and not fear the mark of the beast.
Questions:
- Do we fear the mark of the beast more than we relish the seal of God?
- Do we think we have the seal of God on us?
- How can we receive God’s seal of protection?
- How can we avoid receiving the mark of the beast?
- How can we maintain our worship of God when faced with pressure to worship something else?
[Discover more about God putting his mark of protection on people in Genesis 4:15. Read more about the seal of God in Revelation 9:4–5.]
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Read more in Peter’s devotional Bible study, A New Heaven and a New Earth: 40 Practical Insights from John’s Book of Revelation.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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