Revelation 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
This passage of scripture teaches us that God's seal of approval will be placed in the foreheads of those who will live through the very last days of earth's history, and the time of trouble will not commence until this sealing process has been fully completed. The sealing is a process, not an event, and it takes place over the course of one's lifetime in relationship with The Lord, and it has to do with the decisions that are made individually, to follow the Lamb wither-soever He goes. The fact that the sealing process takes place in the frontal lobes of the brain, tells us that the decisions made are not emotionally charged, but are rather made deliberately and intelligently.
It is very important to note here that God never forces the will, for this is contrary to His manner of working, but as the truths that pertain to our eternal salvation are brought home to our consciences, they require decisions either for or against, and if we respond in the affirmative to the ongoing calls of truth and duty, these positive decisions are finally sealed for eternity. The law of God which forms the basis of His government sits at the heart of the sealing process, and although the law cannot save us, yet the work of the Holy Spirit is to write God's laws indelibly into our consciences so that we would not sin against Him, and that our characters may be developed with symmetry. The sealing of God's law into our hearts is a sacred truth that is confirmed in the Bible. Let's read:
Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Another very important point to note is that every person who has sincerely accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, has been given a "Down-payment" or a first installment of the Holy Ghost. However this initial measure is not sufficient for the entire Christian journey, and that's why we should be seeking more and more of His Spirit everyday, so that our will can be merged with God's will. This point must be clearly understood by all Christians, for there are those who dwell with satisfaction on their first encounter with Christ, but what really matters in the final analysis, is the daily encounter and fresh baptism of The Holy Spirit on an ongoing basis. Not long before Christ left this earth, He gave to His disciples a portion of the Holy Spirit to take them through to the day of Pentecost. Let's read:
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
However this was obviously not sufficient to enable them to carry the Gospel to the then known world, for Jesus Himself told them to wait for the promise of a greater outpouring, that would fit them for their work, and finally seal them for eternity. Let's read:
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In our day and in our own experiences, we should be seeking God earnestly for greater and yet greater measures of His Holy Spirit, so that this Gospel of the kingdom can be preached in all the world, and also that the sealing process can be completed. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to ask the Lord for a greater portion of His spirit, for God responds in the affirmative to anyone who sincerely makes this request. Let's read:
John 16:23 "......Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
May the sealing work that God has begun in our hearts, continue uninterrupted until the coming of Christ. "Good night" and God bless!