Your Answer:  Put Seal on Heads

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New American Standard Version of the BibleAnd I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal* of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." Revelation 7:2-3 (NAS)

* from the Greek word #4973 "sphragis" (pronounced sfrag-ece'); meaning a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication, the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively.

Angels told to wait:

The angels were told not to hurt the earth until the seal or stamp was used on the foreheads of certain people (the bond-servants of God). Another translation says it this way:

"Don't hurt the land or the sea or the trees before we put the sign on the people who serve our God. We must put the sign on their foreheads." (ERV)

A Seal:

So far we are looking at two different types of seals in the Revelation:

  1. The first type is the seal used to seal up the book that the Lamb was holding.  Oftentimes seals on letters or scrolls were stamped into material like wax. It would be evident if the book or letter had been opened if the wax seal was opened, removed or broken.
     
  2. The second type is a seal used to make a stamp or mark on the foreheads of the bond-servants of God (such as an ink seal or ink stamp on a piece of paper).

The size, shape and stamp of the seals vary immensely.  Following are just few examples of seals used in various countries and times throughout recent history.

Common Types of Seals

Example of a seal
used in the latest century A.D.

Example of a seals
used in earlier times:

The Seal
 (the instrument)
The Seal
(the resulting sign or mark)
The Seal
(the instrument)
The Seal
(the resulting sign or mark)

 

    

            

        

What was the mark or sign put on the foreheads of the people who serve God?  The text does not provide this explanation at this time...but let's continue our lesson.

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