The Sealing, Charagma or Charakter?

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark^G5480 [charagma] 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.” (Rev. 14:9,10).

“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image^G5481 [charaktēr] of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb. 1:3).

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal^G4973 [sphragis] 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, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed^G4972 [sphragizō] the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Rev. 7:2,3).

Charagma G5480 From the same as G5482; a scratch or etching, that is, stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue).

Charaktēr G5481 From the same as G5482; a graver (tool or the person), that is, (by implication) engraving ([“character”], the figure stamped, that is, an exact copy or [figuratively] representation.

Sphragis G4973 Probably strengthened from G5420; a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness).

Sphragizō G4972 from G4973; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication to keep secret, to attest

Charaktēr is related to charagma (an etching or scratch or a slave’s brand), in that charaktēr translates to the engraving tool used to do the etching. However the Koine Greek use of the word charaktēr was in the way that it came to be eventually translated to the anglicized homonym that we use today, “character”. Charagma, however, leaves a very evil connotation, as in the scriptures its most common use was for the “mark^G5480 of the Beast”. But, charaktēr leaves a holy connotation in the Bible, as its only use was the divine character of Christ, who was in “the express image^G5481” of the Father’s] person or character. The holy character of Christ must be impressed upon our hearts and consciences. This is where the sealing comes into the picture. The heart and conscience of Jesus was very soft and impressionable toward His Father. Never has there been one who more loved the holy things of God than did Christ who dwelled in His bosom. “Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him” (Prov. 8:30). The Son was sealed from the days of eternity, “for Him hath God the Father sealed.” (John 6:27).

As the Son of man, Jesus was the replacement for Adam, the first human son of God and patriarch of humanity. Adam was sealed until he defected to Satan. Adam was a living soul, a walking, talking, rejoicing beloved of God. Jesus was the same, “for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” (John 3:34). And all will know the same sealing who will open their heart to God through His perfect Representative, Jesus Christ. “In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13). “For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee. And again, I will put My trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given Me.” (Heb. 2:11-13).

But, how do we open up to God? How do we surrender our hearts? How can we escape the deceptions of Satan who leads the whole world to believe that he is God, which we see happening today?

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?...

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.…

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13:3,4,6,8).

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” (Rev. 13:7) Through his delusions, “they shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.” (John 16:2,3).

“The only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3) are known by Their method of salvation, which differs widely from the blasphemous “God” and his way of salvation. God and Christ can use the time/space continuum in which to exist, but They don’t have to. So They don’t limit Themselves to reach us through certain places or object or times. They want to touch us and to bring us into Their bosom, but They can only accept holy, humbled hearts. Therefore, they must humble our hearts and then make us holy.

Satan and his demons also seek to make contact with us, but he does not desire holy, humbled hearts. From his perspective, every heart humbled and made holy must forever be banished from his earthly kingdom. Therefore, he has devised his spiritual kingdom to forever remain connected with objects and places and special events in the cosmos to create his opening for their possession.

Broaches, and miniature images, “golden emerods, and … golden mice, images of … emerods, and images of … mice that mar the land” (1Sam. 6:4,5), full sized idols, huge stones and mountains “high places, and … images” (Lev. 26:30) that are supposed to act as hyper-sensitive lightning rods for spiritual power from the Most High. Astronomical events, such as eclipses, planet alignments, the movements of planets, moon phases and positioning of the Sun in its annual risings and settings along the horizon, are also used by Satan to proclaim the special manifestation of supernatural reconciliation between God and man. Come to the humanity wide gathering “and [we] shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.” (1Sam. 6:5).

But not through those means alone does the God of the Bible, the only true God, meet with His people. He normally uses not the time/space continuum, but a condition of the soul, a heart humbled in repentance. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” (Ps. 51:17).

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Ps. 34:18).

“For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.” (Isa. 66:2).

“And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.” (1Sam. 10:26).

“But He that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To Him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.” (John 10:2-4).

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

“ (Luke 15:4-7). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls which I have made.

For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isa. 57:15-21).

The same principle Jesus said will determine the day of His coming.

“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” (Mark 13:32). The time for the Day of Judgment is not determined by a certain day or deadline date. That date is the Father’s decision based on His investigative judgment. The Father decides the day at the time that He has a group that is sealed and able to stand in His presence. It won’t be determined until His Son’s heavenly ministry, as His children’s High Priest has perfectly reproduced His character in them.

Therefore, Jesus’ character, His tender heart, His unflinching loyalty to His Father’s Law and government, reconciles the heart of God to the rebellious descendants of Adam. A humbled heart submissive to the revealed will of God creates the opening for heaven to be poured into the needy human soul. The doing of righteousness, the effect that mercy has on the receiver as well as on the giver of mercy, is the lightning rod that moves the Most High. Going to the cross and beholding the soul agony of the “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8) is what Cain should have done, which would have prevented accumulation of the anxiety of a long-term, unreconciled heart and would have kept him from becoming the world’s first murderer. Christ’s blessedness comes with giving instead of receiving, ministering and giving the life for the ransom of others rather than being ministered to; His Spirit of grace comes when remembering the widows and the fatherless, having bowels and mercies; His comfort from looking “not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4), being doers of the work and not hearers only in the school of Christ. Otherwise, God and His blessed, promised Spirit, “the Desire of all nation” (Hag. 2:7), remains beyond our possession.

“Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. As understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness.” Great Controversy, p. 599.

No spiritualistic imposture will ever lead to that greatest of all boons to the human race—atonement with the great Creator. If we will not be led to repentance, if we don’t receive a knowledge of the truth in the love of it, then we are withholden from His longed for water of life, and the incomprehensible rest and health that come with it.

“If [we] know these things, happy are [we] if [we] do them.” (John 13:17).