Scripture is full of warnings about the end of the world. These texts provide very graphic imagery of the pestilence, slaughter and whole-sale destruction that occurs just before Yahushua's Second Coming. Scripture also contains precious promises for those who will be protected during that time of trouble – “trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1, KJV)
Revelation offers details of both the destruction and the deliverance that occurs at the end of the world.
“I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living Elohim; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,till we have sealed the servants of our Elohim in their foreheads.’ ” (Revelation 7:2, 3)
Those who have the seal of Yahuwah in their foreheads are protected during the coming destruction. The “terms of engagement” in the war between Yahuwah and Satan guarantee the protection of those who have the divine seal and the destruction of those who do not.
Seal’s are an important part of legislation. Every monarch or government has one which symbolizes the power and authority of the law-giver. Every seal has three elements, without which, the seal would be incomplete. Seals contain:
- The name of the law-giver;
- The title of the law-giver;
- The authority of the law-giver: the dominion over which they rule.
Without these three elements, a seal could not function. It would not fully represent the monarch whose authority it symbolizes. Great care is taken to protect a state’s official seal. Without it, nothing, not even a signature, is official. But with the seal attached, a simple piece of paper becomes a legally binding document, the requirements of which are enforced by the power of the state.
The seal of the King of kings, like the seal of earthly rulers, also gives His name, title and authority. The divine Law which governs all created beings, both in heaven and on earth, is the Ten Commandment Law. The first four commandments cover the relation of mankind with their Creator. The last six deal with man’s dealings with his fellow man. As with all legally binding legislation, the Law of Yahuwah contains His seal. In fact, it is part of the Ten Commandments! Out of all the ten, only the fourth commandment contains the three necessary elements required of a seal. It contains the name of Yahuwah, His title, and a description of the dominion over which He rules.
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 Yahuwah thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days Yahuwah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Yahuwah blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (See Exodus 20:8-11.)
The fourth commandment is itself the royal seal of Yahuwah, the King of kings. It contains:
- His name: Yahuwah
- His title: Elohim
- His dominion: Heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them
All who want the seal of Yahuwah to rest upon them, and be under the divine protection, will worship Him on the seventh-day Sabbath, calculated by Hisluni-solar calendar. Satan knows of the protection offered all who accept the seal of Yahuwah by worshipping Him on His Sabbath. It is for this reason that he has tried so hard to destroy all knowledge of the ancient lunar Sabbath and lead people to worship on a different day.
As the seal of YAH, the Sabbath has three functions:
- It protects;
- It strengthens;
- It is a mark of loyalty
Those who are sealed with Yahuwah’s seal receive divine protection:
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust;
“Because thou hast made Yahuwah, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” (Psalm 91:1, 4, 9-10)
Those who have received Yahuwah’s seal are strengthened. As warm wax receives the impress of the metal mold, it hardens. The hardened wax seal is a perfect reflection of the metal seal that molded it. Those who commit to obey Yahuwah and worship Him on His holy Sabbath, be the cost what it may, receive the divine impress in their minds. Their characters are strengthened by obedience to the divine law. The human receives the impress of the divine character and a new creature is formed. The mind is strengthened as it becomes one with the divine mind. New thoughts, new habits and desires now lead to a life lived in conformity to the divine Law.
Now He who establishes us with you in Yahushua and has anointed us is Yahuwah, who has also sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit. (See 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.)
It is by this sealing that the obedient children of YAH are strengthened and preserved through the destruction at the end of the world.
“The sealing is a pledge from . . . [Yahuwah] of the perfect security of His chosen ones. Sealing indicates you are . . . [Yahuwah]s chosen. He has appropriated you to Himself. As the sealed of . . . [Yahuwah] we are . . . [Yahushua’s] purchased possession, and no one shall pluck us out of His hands.” (Ellen G. White, Christ Triumphant, p. 102.)
The Sabbath is also a sign of loyalty. It marks the difference between those who worship Yahuwah and those who do not. The mark of Satan’s kingdom has always been rebellion and disobedience. Thus, loyalty and obedience to the divine law is the sign that sets apart the loyal subjects of Heaven. The divine law is as binding today as it was at Creation and later when spoken from Sinai. Yahushua clarified the error of thinking the law was “nailed to the cross” when He explained that the real proof of love for our Maker is found in obedience to His law.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
Obedience to the divine law, including the fourth commandment, is the “pledge of allegiance” Yahuwah’s people give to their Maker. Worship on the seventh-day Sabbath, calculated by the Creator’s designated system of time-keeping, distinguishes the faithful and loyal from all others on earth.
Yahuwah Himself gave the seventh-day Sabbath to be a sign between Himself and His people.
“Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahuwah Who sanctifies you.” (Exodus 31:13)
Satan has, through numerous lies and heresies, tried to deceive and trick people into breaking the fourth commandment. Not only has he taught that it is no longer binding, but he even changed the calendar by which one counts to the seventh day of the week! Scripture warned that Satan would “insult the Most High, he shall torment/wear out the holy ones of the Most High and he shall attempt to change the calendar and the ordinance.” (Daniel 7:25, Knox translation)
Satan changed the calendar by setting aside the luni-solar calendar and putting a solar calendar of continuously cycling weeks into worldwide use. Satan changed the ordinance by teaching people that the divine law was “nailed to the cross.” It was done for one purpose: to ensure that multitudes are left without the divine protection during the last days when the seven last plagues are being poured out on the earth.
It is to provide people with the opportunity for salvation and protection that the call goes forth:
“Fear Elohim and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him Who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7)
All who heed the warning and accept the merciful invitation will be covered during those dark days when the wrath of Yahuwah is poured out upon unrepentant sinners. This is the longing of the Father’s heart. This is the reason Yahuwah has committed the rich resources of Heaven to bring the message of the true Sabbath to every soul on earth. Yahuwah wants everyone to be saved. He wants to protect His earth-bound children. All who worship on the true seventh-day Sabbath, thus honoring the Creator with their obedience, will receive divine protection and will at last go live with the One whom their hearts adore in His Kingdom on earth.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life shall I satisfy him and show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)