by Leland Earls
SEALED WITH THE FATHER’S NAME
In Revelation 7:1-4 we read of the sealing of certain ones as follows: “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 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, saying. Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God In their foreheads. 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.” Notice that a “hold” order is given by the angel “having the seal of the living God” to the angels in charge of the four winds. These winds represent the destructive judgments which are coming on the earth (organizations of men), the sea (the masses of people), and the trees (nations and rulers). The “hold” order indicates a time of delay or waiting while the “sealing angel” accomplishes a certain work. In other words, a minimum number (144,000 firstfruits) of the “servants” of God must be sealed before the judgments begin to fall. The “servants” here are first and primarily spiritual Israelites out of the end-time tribes (nations) of Christian Israel. Later, however, there shall be the same number sealed out of physical Israel, for this prophecy has a double application.
Just because only 144,000 are mentioned to be sealed, we must not jump to the conclusion that these are the only ones to be sealed. The 144,000 are mentioned especially because they are the firstfruits (Rev. 14:4), and the Lord has a special purpose for them. They are sealed first because they are to precede their brethren into the heavenly Kingdom (Zion, Rev. 14:1), and they must be made ready to be taken before the great hour of trial comes to try all men on the earth (Rev. 3:10). This is in harmony with the fact that they are sealed before the angels of Rev. 7:1 loose the four winds of judgment. We read in Rev. 3:12 that all overcomers are to have three names written on them by Jesus, the first being “the name of my God;” this being in harmony with the fact that the “angel” (messenger) in Rev. 7:2 has the “seal of the living God.”
In Rev. 7:3 the servants are to be sealed in their foreheads, in Rev. 14:1 they have the Father’s name written on their foreheads, and in Rev. 3:12 Jesus says “I will write on him the name of my God.” The word “seal” in the Greek means an impress. A “seal” in ancient times was an instrument such as a ring or bracelet which had a certain engraving on it. It was sometimes called a “signet” and was used to make an impression on soft moist clay to indicate the official mark or sign of the one using it, much the same as we would use a signature by writing. Thus “sealing” and “writing” would become synonymous or interchangeable. Since all overcomers are to have “the name of my God” written on them by Jesus, we know that the “sealing” is not confined to 144,000. Either before or during the tribulation all who are to be received by Christ into His heavenly Kingdom and enter the New Jerusalem must be sealed. This is clearly seen when we read Jesus’ words in Rev. 3:12: ” . . . and I “will write on him the name of myGod, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new name.” The fulfillment of this sixth covenant to the overcomers prepares for and makes possible the seventh covenant: “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:21). This seventh covenant consummates the “overcoming cycle” for those who are to rule and reign with Christ in His throne. But there can be no “reigning with Christ” until the overcomer has had all three names written (impressed – sealed) on him. The writing of these names has nothing to do with any outward inscription on a person. They have to do with spiritual (inner) conditions; and the “writing” of these names has to do with the preparation and progressive changes within the overcomer which make possible that stepped-up power potential so necessary for those who are to rule and reign with Christ. We are to be as soft clay within, to receive the divine impress. Those who are not susceptible to this “sealing” simply cannot be among those who are being made ready for joint rulership with Christ in His Kingdom.
In this article we are interested only in the first of the three names mentioned in Rev. 3:12. First, Jesus says, “I will write on him (the overcomer) the name of My God.” The “My God” here is none other than “His Father” of Rev. 14:1. Before we look into the reason for the sealing with the “Father’s Name,” I want to clear up a point which has caused much confusion in the minds of most Christians. Neither “God” nor “Father” are names, but rather titles. The name of the Father has never been revealed (I will deal with the “why” and “how” of being sealed with that unknown name shortly). The only “name” revealed in the scriptures is that of Yahweh-Jesus, who is the SON of the FATHER. Notice that Jesus speaks of His Father as “My God” (Rev. 3:12). The word “God,” as a title, indicates a relationship and a function. It indicates one who is a “keeper” over another. Is not a “father” also a “keeper” over his son? Therefore Jesus refers to “His Father” (Rev. 14:1) as “My God” (Rev. 3:12, see also Mt. 27:46, John 20:17, Heb. 1:9). Since we were brought into being by the Son (John 1:3, 10, Col. 1:16, Heb. 1:2), He is also our God (or keeper). The title “God” can be applied to either the Father or the Son (Heb. 1:8-9) depending on who is the acting Keeper, for there can be only one (acting) God in relation to humans.
Now let us consider WHY the overcomers are sealed first with the Father’s name. Is not Jesus our pattern? Was He not the first (born) of many brethren? (Rom. 8:29). Then notice the words of John 6:27, where Jesus explains WHY He is able to fulfil? His ministry and give a LIVING WORD to the people: “Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you; for him has God the Father sealed.” Can we as HIS BODY fulfill a ministry in this end time unless we are sealed as He was sealed (who is our pattern)? The “sealing” involves both a protection and an enablement for an end-time ministry. Being sealed with the Father’s name is a special end-time fulfillment of Jesus’ high priestly prayer (recorded in John 17) that those given to Him (by the Father) would be kept in the Father’s Name. In 17:11, 23 He prays: “Holy Father,keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are. . . that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me.” Surely Jesus’ prayer will be especially fulfilled in this end time when those whom the Father has given Him shall be kept (sealed) through the Father’s Name. In one sense all who believe in Jesus are His, but there is a special sense in which that (overcoming) Body which is made perfect in one, to manifest His glory to the world in this end time, and also to be joined with Him in His (own) Heavenly Kingdom, are His bygift of the Father. They are His Inheritance (Ephes. 1:18) and His Fulness (Ephes. 1:23); His Bride and Household (Ephes. 5:25-32), to share His Calling (Ephes. 1:18, Heb. 5:10), to be with Him forever. These are to be especially kept (sealed) through the Father’s Name in this end time.
The “sealing” not only provides divine protection but also divine enablement. As a seal leaves a definite impress when it is used on soft clay, so is there a definite impartation to the one who is sealed. The words in John 6:27 definitely indicate that Jesus was able to minister a LIFEGIVING word, with authority and power, because He had been sealed by the Father. Thus sealed, His ministry then became a manifestation of the Father’s Name. After finishing His ministry Jesus prayed thus to His father: “I have manifested your name to the men which you gave me out of the world . . . I havedeclared to them your name.” Now there is no record that Jesus ever spoke or uttered any new name to the disciples, but notice John 17:4, “I have glorified you on the earth.” Could Jesus glorify the Father without manifesting His name (the essence of His being and nature)? Impossible! Beloved, we are not talking about a name as an inscription which we can see and read; neither some sound uttered by the voice which we can hear; but we are dealing with the declaring and manifesting of that which GOD IS.THAT is revealing the Father’s Name! Those who are sealed with the Father’s name in this end time are going to manifest His power and glory as no people have ever done before. This will take a special divine impartation and enablement.
We can illustrate this principle of a name-impartation by going to the Old Testament. Turn to Ex. 23:20-21, where we read that the Lord promises to send an Angel before the Israelites to keep them and bring them into the Promised Land. Then He warns, “Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.” Here the Lord states that His name is in the angel. What does this mean? How can we separate the Lord’s name from that whichHe is and that which He manifests? The Lord’s name in the angel would indicate that the vibration ofHis own being, as well as His power presence was in the angel, making him equal to the occasion.
The same principle is shown (by type) in that the Lord said He would choose a place where He would put His name, or where He would cause His name to dwell (Deut. 12:5, 11,21, 14:23-24, 16:2,6,11). He was referring to the future temple which would be built (see I Kings 8:16, 29, 9:3, 11:36). But where do we read that the Lord actually wrote or inscribed His name in the temple? It can’t be found. We can only conclude that He was talking about a living reality within the temple. “His Name” in the temple was the shekinah glory which dwelt in the Holy of Holies and which was a vibrationalrepresentation of His own being and power. Under the New Covenant our bodies are the living temples of which the Old Covenant temple was a type (I Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19). Solomon’s glorious temple (in contrast to the portable, perishable tabernacle) is a type of our coming GLORIFIED BODIES which will be necessary for us to dwell in the heavenly Kingdom and the New Jerusalem. At the present time, in these mortal bodies (the portable tabernacle), through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we have the vibration or spiritual-essence of Jesus’ redemptive name in us. “Jesus” comes from Joshua or Yoshua, which means YAHWEH IS SAVIOR. But when we receive our Glorified bodies, we shall receive the power–essence of HIS NEW NAME. This is the third of the three names Jesus says He will write on the overcomer in Rev. 3:12″. . . and I will write on him my new name.” This new name is mentioned in Rev. 19:12; and in Rev. 22:4 we read of those who will dwell in the New Jerusalem: “and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. ” This will be the vibrational power-essence of His new name, making us equal to the occasion of ruling and reigning with Him.
But FIRST, while still in mortal bodies, we must have the Father’s Name written (sealed) on our foreheads. WHY? Because Jesus is still at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us (Rom. 8:34), which is a continuation of the prayer recorded in John 17 that those given Him by the Father would be kept (sealed) in the Father’s Name, and perfected together in one (spiritual Body), with a special enablement from the Father for a spirit-powered end-time ministry which will be the fulfillment and consummation of Christ’s own ministry on the earth. The many sons (Rom.8:29, Heb. 2:10) cannot be separated from The Son. They must be sealed by the Father even as He was sealed by the Father (John 6:27). “For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he (Jesus) is not ashamed to call them brothers, Saying, I will declare your (the Father’s) name to mybrothers. . . And again. Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” (Heb. 2:11-13). The last phrase is a question from Isaiah 8:18 which reads as follows: “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel.” Also in Isa. 8:16 we read, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.”
Is there not an intimation here as to why the sealing is in the FOREHEAD? Can we fulfill our ministry as HIS BODY without the LIVING WORD being “bound up” and “sealed” in our minds? Jesus’ mind was so completely “possessed” by the WILL and the WORD of the Father that He could do nothing of Himself. “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what [ever] things [ ] he does, these also does the Son likewise. . . I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hassent me. . . I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.” (John 5:19, 30, 8:28). Here is the evidence of a mind “sealed” with the “Father’s Name” (the spiritual vibration of His very being and nature) where His will is known and His word is “seen” and “heard” and spoken. This is the pattern for the end-time spiritual Body of Christ, and the Father will attest this by putting the seal of His Name on those who are ready to fully follow in the footprints of Jesus in doing only the Father’s will. Putting a seal in the forehead would indicate a stamp of approval and a choice. Notice those mentioned in Rev. 17:14 who are “with the Lamb” in the final battle of the ages. They are referred to as being “called, and chosen (sealed) and faithful.” Certainly the Father is not going to seal (choose) those who are not totally committed to His will and purpose.
Those who are “sealed” with the Father’s Name are those who are being prepared for manifest sonship. Does not a Father place and leave his name in his sons? Is not Jesus the pattern Son? Is it not written that “him has God the Father sealed?” (John 6:27). Are we not also to be sealed to full sonship? Those who are sealed, “having His Father’s name written in their foreheads” (Rev. 14:1), are those who have come into a minimum of maturity as the sons of God and are thus being made ready for manifestation. No son is ready to put on immortality (whether to the earthly or heavenly glory) until sealed in the forehead with the Father’s Name.
We saw previously the principle of name-projection in the temple by means of the shekinah glory residing in the Holy of Holies. Now note: only the High Priest could go beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies on the great Day of Atonement. Before entering therein he had to be properly clothed. Special garments were made “for glory and for beauty” (Ex. 28:2). A part of these garments was the mitre (or turban) for the head, on which was a plate of gold with the words “Holiness to the Lord” engraved on it “like the engravings of a signet (seal).” (Ex. 28:36). Exodus 28:38 says that this engraving was to be on Aaron’s forehead. The High Priest is a type, not only of Christ, but also of His Body. (I Cor. 12:12). The garments of the High Priest are a type of that which the Body of Christ must be clothed and adorned with before entering the Holy of Holies beyond the veil. This includes the engraving (seal) on the forehead, “Holiness to the Lord.” We must become partakers of His holiness. His righteousness must be fulfilled in us. (Rom.8:4) by being woven into the very fabric of our mind and soul as with a garment of finely twined linen (Rev. 19:8).
Going “beyond the veil” as His spiritual Body means entering into HIS FULLNESS for a spirit-powered ministry, and also, in time, to enter into the heavenly Kingdom which He has prepared for those who love Him, and who are to rule and reign with Him. Those who are “overcomers” (Rev. 3:12) are now candidates to have written (sealed) on them the Father’s Name; then when they are received into the heavenly Kingdom with GLORIFIED bodies they will have written on them the name of the NewJerusalem; and finally when they are made ready to rule and reign with Christ they will have His NewName written on them. Glory!
