Why Spiritual Sealing Matters

Again the sealing of the Holy Spirit refers to His ministry of marking the children of God as His own possession and guaranteeing their complete salvation. Having discovered from Ephesian 1:13-14, that this holy sealing transpires at conversion and primarily signifies that believers belong to God, it is vital that we explore the significance of this divine act further. In this article we will consider how spiritual sealing refers to spiritual authority, security, and protection. So, not only does the sealing by the Holy Spirit denote ownership, but it further signifies power and safeguarding for every genuine child of God. These are blessings afforded by the Heavenly Father to every believer without a single exception. They are not privileges earned through obedience, but given as pure acts of grace through the Holy Spirit. Note once more what the insightful Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 1:12-14,

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.^[1]

DIVINE PROTECTION

Spiritual safeguarding is afforded because the true Christian is sealed by the Spirit. This is God provided protection and security—it is unparalleled and without equal in potency. The Roman seal on the tomb of the Lord Jesus carried this meaning of security and protection rooted in governmental authority (Matt. 27:66). The tomb was under the protection of Roman authority and was to remain secure and the seal unbroken. This was the Jewish rulers and Roman officials’ effort to insure the disciples of the Lord Jesus did not come secretly to steal his body to then make a false claim that Christ had risen from the dead. Likewise, the believer belongs to God, and is spiritually safe because he or she is under divine authority and protection—we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1Pet. 1:5). According to the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit will abide with the believer forever—He will not break this seal nor forsake this ministry of safeguarding God’s people (John 14:16-17). Certainly, it is possible for Christians to grieve the Spirit and thereby lose the blessings of His ministry (Eph. 4:30). But He does not leave them; in fact, this a far cry from forsaking believers because of some area of unfaithfulness in the believer.  The Spirit keeps each believer safely and securely in God’s grace and love as He promised (Rom. 8:26-39). The result is life-long eternal security and spiritual protection that will never expire! The truth highlighted here is that the Christians can never…ever…ever be lost again.

Anders (1995, Chapter 3) gives one commonly used story picturing the power and significance of a seal through an emissary that Alexander the Great once sent to Egypt. This representative of the most powerful man on earth at the time traveled to Egypt without weapons or military escort. He carried only the seal of Alexander, possibly a signet ring bearing Alexander’s official seal.

The emissary met with the king of Egypt, who stood with his army behind him, and communicated to him that Alexander wanted him to cease hostilities against Alexander’s interests. The king of Egypt, wishing to save face, said that he would consider Alexander’s request and let him know later what his response would be. At that, the emissary drew a circle in the dirt around the king of Egypt and said, “Do not leave the circle without informing me of your response.” Think of that! The king of Egypt was standing there in full military array, with his army instantly ready to obey his commands. The emissary was unarmed. Yet the king dared not harm or defy the emissary without defying Alexander. Whatever he did to the emissary, he did to Alexander. Realizing that he was facing, by extension, Alexander himself, after a long, tense moment he said, “Tell Alexander he has his request,” and stepped out of the circle.

That is the power and significance of a seal. It carries the full weight of the one who owns it. Christians have God’s seal, the Holy Spirit, which carries the full weight of God the Father behind it (2Corinthians 1:22). The entire power and authority of Almighty God stands behind the believer’s security in Christ! The seal signifies that believers are God’s possessions; God is for them guarantying their security. If God is for them, who can successfully stand against them.

BELIEVERS’ ASSURANCE

It should also be reemphasized that the Spirit’s seal in the believer’s life is meant to be experiential. The Spirit grants inner assurance that a repentant believer is indeed justified before the Lord God because of their faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Though a believer is sealed but once, the spiritual blessing can be experienced continually. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1997 p. 260) in God The Holy Spirit taught that this is part of the value in God communicating this truth to the child of God. The truth is given that Christians might have assurance, enjoyment and blessed security in the salvation of the Lord. They are secure until the ultimate complete redemption and perfection in Christ. There is no need to fear being abandoned by God for whatever reason. We are blessed with the assurance that we belong to the Lord and that He belongs to us!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of His spirit, washed in His blood—Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915)

BELIEVER’S AUTHENTICITY

Another use for the seal is as a mark of authenticity (Wiersbe 1989, Vol. 2. p. 13) (John 6:27; 3:33). When the Lord Jesus said that God the Father had set His seal on Him, He meant that God had sent Him and approved Him as the genuine Giver of eternal life (Jn. 6:27). Christ’s power to give life rested in the authority which God the Father had vested in him. Thus Christ’s offer of eternal life is legitimate and real; we are free then to trust Him…to believe any claim He makes…to regard ourselves safe under His influence and care. The Father set his seal of approval and authenticity on the Son at his baptism when the Holy Spirit came upon him and the Father spoke of him. When one sets his seal to something, it means that they promise that it is true or genuine. God sealed the Son of Man in the sense that He endorsed Him as the authentic Giver of eternal life, and the One who spoke the truth. Such clear declarations of the authenticity of the Lord Jesus connects deeply with our need to trust Him...believe Him…commit ourselves to following Him. Christ and His message are confirmed by God; He is real about what He promises. Jesus is free of mere clever manipulations! 

Just as a signature on a letter attests to the genuineness of the document, so the presence of the Spirit indwelling believers proves the believer is genuine. There is more here than a claim to believe…more is involved than participation in religious meetings, something far weightier is of interest than meager assertions about being serious about our faith. Paul said, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9). It is wise to permit that biblical statement to persist with the intended strength with which it was given! Wiersbe (1996, Vol. 2. p. 13) taught it is not simply our “lip profession, our religious activity, or our good works, but also the witness of the Spirit that makes our profession of faith authentic” (Rom 8:14-17).  This reality should be well understood and never diminished. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”^[2] Denney says…Our own spirit tells us we are God’s children, but the voice with which it speaks is, as we know, prompted and inspired by the divine Spirit itself.”^[3] So the significance of the seal is that it declares divine ownership, provides eternal security, and testifies to an authentic conversion experience.

EARNEST

The second observation of the apostle Paul reveals the Spirit’s seal is the “earnest of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14). Consider Paul’s affirmation, “…ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:14). Therefore, receiving the Spirit was only the ‘first installment’ of the spiritual inheritance. This can be seen through a study of the word “earnest.” And one can be certain “earnest” is a fascinating word!  McGee (1997) indicated in his Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee commentary that in Paul’s day, it meant the down payment to guarantee the final purchase of some commodity or piece of property.

Even today one will hear a real estate agent talk about earnest money to secure a property interest. Naturally speaking, earnest has to do with the deposit one puts down when making a sizable purchase.  It means one is contracting that they will certainly pay the rest; they is putting down on account; it is the first installment, paid as a kind of security (Anders 1995, Chapter 3). It’s a pledge that one will follow on with something more.  Basically there are two other passages of Scripture that communicate this concept of the Spirit’s ministry in the believer and they are 2Corintians 1:22 and 5:5.  This seal, the presence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling believers, guarantees the final and full redemption of believers (Richards & Richards 1987). It intimates that the present activities of the Spirit foreshadow the type and quality of ministry He will do more fully in the new creation, and so the Spirit with whom God marks them with his stamp of ownership is also appropriately called the “earnest” meaning “caution-money deposited by a purchaser in pledge of full payment,” ‘guarantee’, even ‘first installment’ of believers inheritance (Rom. 8:23; 2Cor. 1:22; 5:5)  according to Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament (Wuest 1997, Vol. 1, p. 49). Max Anders (1995, Chapter 3) in The Holy Spirit: Knowing our Comforter adds yet another valuable insight to the concept of “earnest” by saying, The word earnest also means “engagement ring.” In Greece today you would find this word being used that way. But, after all, isn’t an engagement ring an assurance—a guarantee—that the promises made will be kept? Our relationship to God through Christ is not simply a commercial one, but also a personal experience of love. He is the Bridegroom and His church is the bride. We know that He will come and claim His bride because He has given us His promise and His Spirit as the “engagement ring.” What greater assurance could we want?

GUARANTEE

Then notice the phrase the “redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph. 1:14); it refers to the full inheritance. The seal guarantee to believers the Spirit will finish His work and eventually bring them to glory. Note what Paul stated in Romans 8:23, which says, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” The “redemption of the purchased possession” refers to the redemption of the body at the return of Christ in the Rapture (Rom 8:18-23; 1John 3:1-3). It speaks of a finished transaction. Even today when important legal documents are processed, they are stamped with the official seal to signify the completion of the transaction. The fact that Christians know the Holy Spirit is living in them is a perfect guarantee of their ultimate salvation—the redemption glorification (1Cor. 1:30). The Holy Spirit has been given to them in order that they might have some kind of idea of what awaits them when they arrive in glory.  God has given them the first fruits.  

One also should view the earnest of the Holy Spirit as having some experiential value for the believer in Christ Jesus.  It seems correct to think that this is afforded to them to give comfort and encouragement.  Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1997, p. 260-262) observed in God The Holy Spirit, that life can be hard and trying and filled with certain temptations and uncertainties, but God affords Christians these assurances to help them through this pilgrimage. What they have experienced of the Spirit is but a foretaste, it is but a sample, a kind of first fruits of the tremendous heritage God is preparing for them.  Again believers not only take these truths by faith, they are moved by them and their emotions are touched deep within, their entire being is influenced and stirred by this truth. Their conduct is curtailed and their actions are guided by this wonderful guarantee. 

The seal and earnest of the Spirit provide assurance of a finished transaction and a guarantee the believer will receive the entire inheritance as an heir of God. Finally, Max Anders (1995, Chapter 3) provides another helpful insight into the seal of the Spirit by noting how the trucking industry provides an interesting illustration of the sealing of the Spirit. For certain types of loads, when a truck is fully loaded and ready for its run, plastic seals are placed around the lock on the door. Breaking this seal before the truck reaches its destination will have at the least the appearance of thief and will mean the loss of one’s job. This is similar to the sealing of the Spirit. The seal of the Spirit cannot be broken before the Christian reaches his heavenly destination. It is the believer’s guarantee of reaching the destination God intends for them.  

Again, the blessings Christians receive now are just a foreshadowing: according to Paul, they still await their “inheritance” in the final and total redemption of the world by God at the end of time. Ephesians 4:30, re-emphasizes this truth, reminding them that they are sealed with the Spirit “unto the day of redemption” to come. Then God’s purpose, initiated in Christ, will be brought to consummation, and seeing it from beginning to end will evoke all creation’s praise of the Creator.

So then regarding the Spirit’s sealing, believers can know they belong to God, is secure in salvation, and their profession of faith is genuine. Then regarding the earnest of the Spirit, believers are assured of a finished transaction. They are guaranteed all the inheritance provisions will be realized fully for each child of God. If the ‘down payment’ was God the Spirit, what in eternity will the full payment be! Clearly, these are important matters to the people of God. 

One other truth should be realized. All these ministries of the Holy Spirit to Christians are simultaneous at the moment of conversion. While the conviction process may be long and drawn-out previous to salvation, people are not saved without it. It is still present at the moment of salvation, convincing sinners to repent, to turn from their previous attitudes about Christ, and to accept Him as their personal Savior. Regeneration, indwelling, and sealing all happen the moment one says “yes” to the invitation of Christ. Then a whole new and wonderful work of God begins in the life of the new convert. Sanctification and spiritual growth are the next natural considerations following such discussions. 

---

^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 1:12–14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 8:16). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 2, p. 135). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

The Seal of The Spirit

Once a person repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, they are not only indwelt by the Spirit of God, but they are sealed by the Spirit also. But, what is the sealing of the Holy Spirit? This is the next logical question to ponder at this juncture in this study. Understanding the Spirit’s ministry of conviction, regeneration, and indwelling, one must examine the truth that believers are sealed with the Spirit at the moment they believe. The sealing of the Holy Spirit refers to His ministry of marking the children of God as His own possession and guaranteeing their complete salvation.  Once again the apostle Paul gives some insight into this wonderful blessing in Ephesians 1:13-14. There Paul said, 

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

In what way is the Holy Spirit God’s mark of ownership on believers? In the Ephesians 1:13-14, the emphasis is on the blessings from God the Holy Spirit. Believers have been sealed by the Spirit and had received the earnest of the Spirit.  It would be best to look at these two concepts separately at first and then consider what they mean together as employed by the apostle. 

CONVERSION

To begin with, every believer has been sealed with the Spirit (v. 13).  Note here that the entire process of conversion is given in verse thirteen, so it would be of maximum benefit to examine it carefully. It reveals how the sinner becomes a saint. First is proclamation, the unbeliever hear the gospel of salvation—“ye heard the word of truth.” This is the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again (1Cor. 15:1-4). Then reception, the Ephesians heard “the Gospel” and embraced it personally– “your salvation” (Eph 1:13). That is they all consciously repented and placed their faith in Christ and His finished work at Calvary.  This is the standard and typical way a sinner comes to Christ—through hearing the gospel. This pattern follows what Paul wrote in Rom. 10:13-15, exactly. There Paul said, 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things (Romans 10:13-15)! 

It is God’s plan for evangelism. Christians must proclaim the message that men may hear and believe.  Conversion can only follow the gospel declaration. Well, having heard the Word, the Ephesians believed—“who first trusted in Christ.  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the truth….” (Eph. 1:12, 13).  The God given gospel of Jesus Christ must not only be heard (Rom. 10:17) but believed (Jn. 1:12) to experience salvation (Rom. 10:8-10).  It is the exercise of this saving faith in the gospel that brings salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). Then when the Ephesians believed, they were immediately “sealed with the holy Spirit.” The phrase, “After that ye believed,” does not indicate a sequence or a process, but merely the resultant outcome.  The seal of the Spirit is not a second blessing—the “after that ye believed” (v. 13b) means effectively ‘when you believed’. That is once a sinner has placed his trust in the gospel of Christ. They receive the Spirit immediately upon trusting Him. Again this is not an experience following conversion, but simply the outcome of placing one’s faith in the complete redemptive work of Christ—it is part of conversion. Regeneration, indwelling, and sealing all happen instantly upon trusting Christ as Savior. A careful reading of Acts 10:34-48 demonstrates how the Spirit was received by sinners upon hearing the gospel and belief in Christ. Consider the words of Dr. Luke as he chronicled Peter’s characterization of these Gentiles receiving the gospel and the Holy Spirit. Luke said,

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (Acts 10:43-47)

Thus the text communicates that they heard the word preached, received forgiveness of sins, the Spirit fell on them who listened, the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit just like the Jewish converts had. All of this happens simultaneously when the sinner believes. So upon belief the convert is seal with the Holy Spirit. This is the teaching of Ephesians 1:13. 

SPIRITUAL SEALING

But, what is the seal of the Holy Spirit? Paul states that very believer was “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13). The seal can be perceived as God’s mark. Since Christians are in Christ because they believed the gospel, they are marked out as God’s people. The idea of God putting his identifying mark on his people is mentioned several times in Scripture (See Ezek. 9:4–6 and Rev. 7:1–8).  So this is not unique and clearly not new. The seal used to mark the people of God, New Testament believers, is nothing less than the promised gift of the Spirit. Walvoord and Zuck (1985) in The Bible Knowledge Commentary noted that according to Acts 2, the promise in question is principally that of Joel 2:28–29; but understood in a distinctively Christian way (Acts 1:4, 5, 8; 2:16-21, 32, 33, 38, 39).¹  

Accordingly, through this promised gift Christians received: (a) wisdom and illumination to perceive the implications of the gospel (Eph. 1:17–20; 3:5); (b) inner strengthening in the gospel (Eph. 3:16; 6:17); (c) access to, and the indwelling presence of, God and of Christ (Eph. 2:18, 22; 3:16–17); (d) the beginnings of the promised oneness of believers; Spirit-given unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3–4; John 17:21; 1Cor. 6:17; 12:11-13; Phil. 1:27; 2:2); (e) inspiration and power for godly living and thankful worship (4:30; 5:18–20) and (f) guiding and enabling help in prayer (6:18). All these activities are what marks believers as God’s people and are indispensable to ongoing Christian experience. All of this is part of the promise and evidence of the Spirit’s sealing in every believer.  Christians are marked by these blessings. They testify to the reality of their conversion.

But still what is the significance of this sealing of the Holy Spirit?  An understanding of the meaning of the word “seal” would be helpful in discovering the significance of this ministry of the Spirit in the believers’ experience. The literal meaning of the word “seal” according to Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance (Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc. 2006) is to, “stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication, to keep secret, to attest.”² Basically it means to stamp for security purposes or to preserve by placing a signet mark upon. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Zodhiate 1994), adds this insight about sealing, “Christians whom God attests and confirms by the gift of the Holy Spirit as the earnest, pledge, or seal of their election to salvation.”³ Therefore, God testifies to a Christian’s conversion by granting the genuine seal of the Spirit. Furthermore MacDonald and Farstad (1995, p. 1911) reiterated how this is true of every believer in Christ when he stated,  

This means that every true believer receives the Spirit of God as a sign that he belongs to God and that he will be kept safe by God until the time he receives his glorified body. Just as in legal matters a seal indicates ownership and security, so it does in divine affairs. The indwelling Spirit brands us as God’s property (1 Cor. 6:19, 20), and guarantees our preservation until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30)⁴.

DIVINE OWNERSHIP

According to these theologians, this sealing implies ownership: God has put his seal on Christians because He has purchased them to be His own.  This should sound very familiar (1Cor. 6:19-20).  The Bible clearly is reinforcing this concept of divine ownership. The sense is the Holy Spirit Himself is the certification of the fact that repentant sinners who trust Christ are God’s people.  The Bible speaks of them as being God’s own particular possession in several places (1Pet. 2:9; Tit. 2:14). Believers belong to Him. The Holy Spirit within them is the mark or God’s sealing.  It has been suggested (Anders 1995, Chapter 3) that this can be understood if compared to branding cattle on a ranch. If one were a rancher raising cattle, the day would come when one would need to brand the yearling calves.⁵ The ranchers would ride out onto the range and drive the cattle with new calves to a holding pen. There they would catch each calf and burn a brand into its hip. Anders said (1995, Chapter 3), “Your brand would be unique, registered to you only. No other rancher can have the same brand. Your brand says, “This calf belongs to YOU,” and no one can dispute it.”⁶ Likewise, the Holy Spirit is God’s brand on every believer. They are marked as God’s people by the Holy Spirit who indwells them.  

Once again, the sealing of the Holy Spirit refers to His ministry of marking the children of God as His own possession and guaranteeing their complete salvation. So, if you are truly saved, then you are truly sealed by the Spirit of God. Therefore, God is yours and you are His.

Who Will be Able to Stand?

REVELATION 6:14-17

SUBJECT: TRIBULATION SEAL JUDGMENTS

THEME:  The Lamb breaks the sixth seal, sending God's judgments upon the earth.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Rev. 6:14–17, King James Version).

INTRODUCTION:

Why doesn’t God do something about all the suffering, wickedness, pain, oppression, and injustice in the world? If He loves us so much…wouldn’t He do something to help and protect us? Surely if He is so powerful, He can simply force everything…fix it all immediately. Right? Why wait to some day in the distant future? Why not change the world for good now? The worldwide hunger is senseless, poverty is also widespread, and the powerful are only concerned about themselves…. Why doesn’t God intervene to introduce some balance in the world?

These questions have been asked by many bewildered souls, and these same thoughts have occurred to many others who would not even dare to mouth them. The shocking truth is God is not primarily concerned with what often misguided people demand of Him. What He values about human beings is quite different than what we value in people and for ourselves. His timing is far more informed then we give Him credit, and His patience is beyond comparison. He exercises patience to give us more opportunities to see things His way. Eventually, He will deal with the big problems of the world and this life more aggressively. Though He will execute perfect justice by doing so, it may surprise you how He will go about it.

The SIXTH SEAL has been broken which introduces significant world chaos— the great day of God’s wrath begins— and catastrophic judgments upon the universe and the natural world occurs in rapid succession with incredible intensity (Rev. 6:12-17). In this paragraph we find that the universe is traumatized, that continents quake insanely, the sun and stars whirl through space unpredictably, and sinners will hide in utter terror. Both the heavens and earth feel the judgment of natural catastrophes while people lose all sense of normalcy and security.

The terrifying results of opening the sixth seal will cause all unsaved people, small and great, to hide in caves, calling for the rocks to crush them rather than face God’s wrath. Who will be able to stand when God finally deals with all that is wrong in the world?

LESSON:

John Hears the Impact of The Lamb’s Wrath on those Who Reject God (Rev. 6:15-17).

Even though John wrote using some symbolic language, these verses describe events that should be taken literally, and these developments should frighten even the most courageous person.  Note that men are so terrified that they cry for the mountains and rocks to crush them alive to escape the multiplied horrors of the Lamb’s wrath.

  1.  The Persons of that Great Day. (Rev. 6:15 a)

Rank and wealth will not deliver anyone in that terrible day. John's list includes kings, captains, warriors, slaves and free men, the rich and the poor. "Who shall be able to stand?"

      A.  Great Fear Will Grip Unbelievers all over the World.

Note the list of those who fear:

          — The kings and rulers of the earth will fear.

          — The great and powerful of the earth will fear.

          — The rich and wealthy of the earth will fear.

          — The military chiefs of the earth will fear.

          — The mighty and the strong of the earth will fear.

          — The slave and insignificant of the earth will fear.

          — The free and independent of the earth will fear.

Every unbeliever upon earth will be stricken with dreadful alarm…a maddening terror. They will be so frightened that panic and pandemonium will sweep the civilizations of the earth.

Isaiah 13:6, Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Isaiah 13:8, And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

Fear drives people to extreme and entirely irrational behaviors in the interest of self-preservation. Everywhere people will perceive multiplied threat to themselves and their loved ones…such painful horrors cannot be escaped. Some will literally wither to the point of incapacitation due to the gravity of their situation and associated anxieties. Constant fears stimulate angst, acute stress, fright, and deep sadness. Though many of the individuals described in this passage are powerful people, they will surely be gripped with the realizations they are not in control and their doom is unavoidable. Is there any hope of escape?

      B.  No One Is Going to Escape the Judgment of God, and They All Know It.

          — And there is no partiality with God; God has no favorites.

          — The world of unbelievers will quake in terror and fright before the unusual events happening in outer space and upon earth.

          — There will be a keen sense, a sharp awareness, an aching consciousness that the judgment of God is looming right over the horizon. The very atmosphere of the earth will be heavy with the feeling that the end is at hand.

Zeph. l:14, The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

Joel 2:1, Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

There is no means of escape for those who have rejected Jesus Christ after hearing the Gospel message. The future is expressly marked by horrific judgment from the Almighty for them. If you are among those who believe you will get away with your sin…I invite you to please think again.

  2. The Places of that Great Day. (Rev. 6:15b-16a)

The sound of the cries comes from the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. Pandemonium and panic have driven people to the wilderness regions for hiding and protection from others. Distrust is escalating in all sectors of society…no one can be trusted. Some are driven from their once luxurious homes and pampered lifestyles to the dangers and inconveniences of the wilderness.

     A.  People Will Seek Refuge in the Mountains and Rural Areas.

This makes sense in light of the massive destruction that has transpired in the average cities of the earth. Cities, especially coastal cities, will be in intolerable chaos and devastation. The industrialized world will collapse, and national and international economies will utterly fail, while people begin to leave the cities of the world and seek refuge in the hills, mountains, and rural areas. Generally, these less developed areas will have less devastation by these judgments; people will retreat to these regions perceiving them as safer and more conducive to hiding.

     B.  People Will Try to Hide from the Face of God and from the Face of the Lamb!

Imagine wanting to hide from a lamb! Dr. Vance Havner said that the day would come when the most expensive piece of real estate would be a hole in the ground, and he was right. They know who they are accountable to…God and The Lamb. They understand exactly who is responsible for these judgments upon humanity and the natural world. Finally, they get it! Yet, it is too late for them. Oh, that people will heed God’s warning today and trust the Savior!

     C.  We Will See More of “The Wrath of God” as We Progress Through Revelation (Rev 11:18; 14:10; 16:19; 19:15).

     D.  We Will Also Encounter the Wrath of Satan (Rev 12:17) and the Wrath of the Nations as They Oppose God (Rev 11:18).

If men and women will not yield to the love of God, and be changed by the grace of God, then there is no way for them to escape the wrath of God... Why not place your trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the forgiveness of sins today?

  3.  The Prayers of that Great Day.  (Rev. 6:16-17)

Despair and hopelessness have now settled upon these refugees. What? Surely with all this trouble they will now turn to God! Right? Well, these displaced souls do not pray to the God on the Throne nor to the Lamb…they cry out to the mountains and hills and beg for death.

     A.  They All will Cry Out to Be Hidden from the Wrath of the Lamb.

They have endured as much as they can handle…they want no more of this dreadful existence…. “Wrath” refers to God’s displeasure with humanity and our actions of unbelief and rebellion. This divine anger is righteous and holy; it is an expression of God’s love for justice and holiness! W.A. Elwell stated the wrath of God is fully consistent with Old Testament and New Testament portrayals of the Almighty. In the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible he says,

Unfortunately, ignorance of the OT and a misunderstanding of the NT have resulted in a heretical view of the biblical canon (Marcionism), in which the OT reveals the God of wrath and the NT reveals the God of love. Contrary to popular misconception the NT, like the OT, also teaches the wrath of God in connection with his love. The biblical teaching on God’s love cannot be appreciated unless it is seen in contrast with the biblical teaching on his wrath. The word “wrath” is a concept represented by many different words and idioms in the original languages of the Bible. The references to God’s wrath are the most frequent—nearly three times as many as any other subject. --(Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Wrath of God. In Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 2166–2167)).

           1.  The phrase "wrath of the Lamb" seems a paradox, "Wrath of the lion" would be more consistent. We are so accustomed to emphasizing the meekness and gentleness of Christ (Matt 11:28-30) that we forget His holiness and justice. The same Christ who welcomed the children also drove the merchants from the temple.

           2.  God’s wrath is not like a child’s temper tantrum or punishment meted out by an impatient parent. Nor is it like the knee jerk reactions of a poor manager or supervisor who drives his or her people with harshness, cruelty, manipulation and sarcasm.

           3.  God's wrath is the evidence of His holy love for all that is right and His holy hatred for all that is evil. Only a soft and sentimental person would want a God who did not deal justly with evil in the world. The truth is all of us want justice for ourselves and our loved ones, but few are concern with justice for God. The God who made the universe… the Giver of every loving and just law…the Lord of all humanity and peoples whether saved or not. All of us would want justice if our mother was captured, repeatedly raped, senselessly brutalized and finally killed and dumped naked in the streets like worthless trash. Without exception we all would demand for justice to be visited upon the perpetrator of such heinous crimes. Each of us would be correctly offended, horrified, and pursuant of retribution to the extent of the law. There would be rioting in the streets if such vicious crimes go unpunished. So, if a person treated so inhumanely should receive fair recompense under the law then why not the perfect God of glory? God has been offended by our sinful feelings, thoughts, motives, and actions every day since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden until this very moment. He will see to the proper administration of impartial justice. God deals in the realm of pure righteousness, and He will determine what is right and equitable without a single exception.

           4.  Furthermore, the people mentioned in Revelation chapter six are impenitent. They refuse to accept God’s salvation and submit to God’s will. They would rather hide from God in fear (remember Adam and Eve?) than run to Him in faith. They are proof that judgment by itself does not change the human heart. Not only will men seek to hide from God, but they will blaspheme Him as well! (Rev. 16:9, 11, 21).

Is.2:19, And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

     B.  They Will Cry for Death Instead of Facing God.

The terror and fright will be so exasperating that massive populations the world around will degrade into panic. People will be insanely scampering about to hide in the clandestine dens and rocks of the wilderness regions. They will literally beg for death as the only perceived means of escape from their terrors. Their only hope now is to be annihilated in order to keep from having to face God’s eternal judgment. This is how the unregenerate mind thinks! It is not guided by faith, but fears. The Scriptures give this warning many times over with the hope of people heeding God’s counsel.

Lk.23:30, Then shall they begin to say to the mountains. Fall on us; and to the hills. Cover us.

Joel 2:11, And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it.

Hos. l0:8, The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains. Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

The sad truth is death is not a means of escape for the unsaved. It flings them violently into far more severe judgment of an eternal nature. Annihilation is a false hope…it is not fixed in truth and reality. We are everlasting beings who will exist forever somewhere. With God or without God are the options…in heaven or in hell. My friend, it is not all over once we die…after physical death comes judgment from God for the unsaved person. Suffering in the Lake of Fire forever is the clearest teaching of the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone who refuses God’s gracious gift of salvation through Jesus Christ must face the God they have sinned against and receive their final sentence to hell.    

   4.  The Point of that Great Day. (Rev. 6:17)

The Judgment Day of the Lord: there is the reason for the catastrophes throughout the universe and for the panic of men-the great day of God's wrath is at hand. This “day” refers to the entire period while these judgments endure and not a mere 24-hour time frame.

     A.  What Is the Great Day of God's Wrath? 

        — It is the day when all unbelievers must stand before the face of God who sits upon the throne of the universe.

        — It is the day when all unbelievers must face the wrath of the Lamb; the day when they must face the Son of God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ whom they have rejected, denied, cursed, disobeyed, disbelieved, ignored, and neglected.

        — It is the great day of His wrath, the very day that His wrath is to fall, the very day that every unbeliever must face Him.

        — It is the day when no unbeliever shall stand, the day when all unbelievers shall crumble and be subjected to the humiliation of eternal guilt, condemnation, and punishment.

Jn. l2:48, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Ro. 2:5, But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

Rev. 6:17, For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Is. 2:11-12, The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.

So, the great day of God’s wrath encompasses a season and series of judgments upon the world and lost humanity. It is not capricious or thoughtless nor is it unreasonable. No, it is God giving people what they want. A life and world without His goodness, blessings, grace, interventions, and provisions—life without Him. It is a time of holding people and nations accountable for decisions and actions.

     B.  John Walvoord Puts it in Simple and Striking Words saying:

The Day of the Lord is a period of time in which God will deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in fearful judgment. Today a man may be a blasphemer of God, an atheist, can denounce God and teach bad doctrine. Seemingly God does nothing about it. But the day designated in Scripture as 'the day of the Lord' is coming when God will punish human sin, and He will deal in wrath and in judgment with a Christ-rejecting world. One thing we are sure of, that God in His own way will bring every soul into judgment. — (The Thessalonian Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1967, p.76).

At this point I must implore you to remember: this passage reveals what will happen in the early portion of the Day of the Lord. These events-the catastrophe in the heavens and on earth and the fright and panic that strikes people with maddening terror-all this transpires before the Great Tribulation Period. This is merely the breaking of the seals of God’s book and the events within the pages of the book-the worst judgments-are yet to come. Beloved, who will be able to stand?

Without any element of exaggeration, the message to all people everywhere is twofold:

1) All unbelievers will stand face to face with God on the great day of His wrath, and that day is right over the horizon.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the rich and the powerful who thought they were self-sufficient and in command of their lives.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the religious who thought they could be good enough and do enough good to be acceptable to God.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the poor who thought they were too insignificant or even thought their oppression would cause God to look upon them with mercy.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the intelligent who thought they were too knowledgeable to believe in Christ.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the scientist and technician because they thought they had progressed so far, they could disprove God.

2) We must trust Jesus Christ now to escape the great day of God’s wrath.

Zeph. l:14-16, The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

Mal.4: l, For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Beloved, only Jesus can save us from the wrath that will come upon the entire world. Trust Him today for the forgiveness of sins.

CONCLUSION:

In contrast, the Apostle Paul outlines in Romans 10:9-10, writing, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus, we must believe that the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before The Father. That is correct…the Lord Jesus is fully and literally alive forevermore. He has finally triumphed over death, hell, the grave, and sin! It is crucial that we understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us (Rom. 1:14-17).

Christ’s sufferings at Calvary were God providing payment for our sins. This is what Christ’s crucifixion was about—justice was served, and sin was paid for in full. God accepts Christ’s sacrifice completely! Now, sinners like you and me can be saved—born again to enter a relationship with God. It is the Spirit who regenerates us and gives us new life when we trust Christ. We cannot save ourselves no matter how good, sincere, or diligent we are. Being born again means we become a part of a new family, God becomes our Father who shares with us His very own divine nature. All of this is realized the moment we humble ourselves in repentance before God acknowledging our sins while trusting Christ and His payment for them. We must accept sin’s payment personally in an attitude of godly sorrow and a willingness to turn from our former sinful lifestyles. We do not need to make ourselves better and then come to God. We come to God recognizing our sinfulness trusting Him to change us deep within which will result in a changed life. Beloved, we must exercise faith in the Person and Work of Christ to experience a spiritual new birth. What about you? You, like me, cannot stand before a holy God with the guilt of all your sins. Why not accept Jesus’ payment for those sins and ask God to forgive you and change you deep within?

So, is there any hope for believers during this terrible time of judgment? And what about God’s special people, Israel, who will make a covenant with the Antichrist? Certainly, people will trust the Lord even after believers from this age are taken to heaven, but how will they manage? We will turn to Revelation chapter Seven for some of these answers.