Notice that each seal has three things in it. It must contain the name of the authority, the office or title of the authority, and the territory over which he has power. The seal of America's president contains the following words: Bill Clinton, President, United States of America. When that seal is placed upon a law or an official document, it shows that the president's authority is supporting that declaration.
In the heart of God's law (the Ten Commandments) is the memorial of His creative power, and in that fourth commandment we find also the three components of the seal:
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the lord thy God. (name)...For in six days the Lord made (office--Creator) heaven and earth, (territory) the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day." --Exodus 20:8-11.
In other words, the Sabbath is the seal of Godthe mark of the only One who can create and who is authorized to rule the earth. And to make His law authoritative, He has placed His seal in it, showing that He stands behind every single commandment in that law.
Let us see what the relation is between the seal of God and the mark of the beast. The two things are in competition with each other. In Revelation 14:9, 10, the third angel's message portrays those who have the mark: "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."
In verse twelve we have another group identified by these words: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." In other words, those who keep the commandments of God do not have the mark of the beast and those who have the mark of the beast do not obey the commandments of God. The Ten Commandments, containing the seal of God, are set up in competition with the mark of the beast. The seal is the Sabbath, therefore the Sabbath is opposed to the mark.
The mark of the beast is the pagan/papal counterfeit sabbath, after its observance has been commanded by law. The seal of God is the true Sabbath, Saturday, the seventh day of the week.
The world is rapidly approaching the time when God's Sabbath will become a great test of obedience. Its claims will be placed before all of earth's inhabitants. At that time, when the issues stand clearly revealed, individuals will accept the seal of God or the mark of the beast. The book of Revelation describes a final edict of this earth's governments which will actually seek to enforce the mark upon all the world. "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. Revelation 13:16, 17.
It is evident that no one has the mark until it is pressed upon all through this legislative act of human government. Then, the true Sabbath and the counterfeit Sunday will be so revealed that no one can escape a decision--a decision to keep the true Sabbath with mind and hand, or to submit to the counterfeit Sabbath of the papacy.
No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast. Evangelism, pp. 234, 235. (Italics supplied.)
But Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath; and there are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him. But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God.... As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome"the mark of the beast." And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive "the mark of the beast." The Great Controversy, page 449. (Italics supplied.)
Sunday-keeping is not yet the mark of the beast, and will not be until the decree goes forth causing men to worship this idol sabbath. The time will come when this day will be the test, but that time has not come yet.
Ellen G. White Manuscript 118, 1899.
For more on the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, click here. For an illustrated explanation read The Mark of Cain. Scroll down 14 items and click on Open Lesson, or watch the video.
