February 7 - Living God

February 7 – Living God
Revelation 7:2

A fifth angel comes from the east, carrying the seal of the Living God. The three words ‘east,’ ‘seal,’ and ‘Living,’ will open up even more of the Old and New Testament to us. John expected his readers to understand much of this information. I will only touch a few of the passages used as reference here.

From the East:
We all learned that the sun rose in the east and this bit of information has anchored my way in so many instances. It happens every day and because of this I can find my way when traveling.

In Matthew 2:1-2, we find that the star announcing the royal birth of God’s son to the Magi came from the east.

In Ezekiel 43:4, the glory of the Lord entered the temple from the east.

In Malachi 4:2 we read, “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” The sun rises in the east.

The Seal
The angel coming from the east bears the Seal of the God. This is something that is very personal to our Creator. A seal was the way that anything could be authenticated, in lieu of or in addition to a signature. It was as good as a signature – nearly as personal as a fingerprint. This seal is God’s signature; He is placing His imprint on these people.

Ezekiel 9:1-6 tells us of God sending a man through the streets of Jerusalem placing a mark (a seal) on men’s heads so they won’t be destroyed when He kills the idolaters of the city. This is reminiscent of the seal made by the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorways of the homes of the Israelites who were saved when the angel of death passed through Egypt.

Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his.”

In 2 Corinthians 1:22 we find that God anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us and put his Spirit in our hearts. And in Ephesians 1:13, Paul says we were “marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…” And finally in Ephesians 4:30, we find that we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption.

The Living God
This is the God who walked with Adam & Eve in Paradise, put a rainbow in the sky to remember the covenant with Noah, renamed Abram and promised his descendants would be innumerable, wrestled with Jacob, spoke to Moses in a burning bush and was present with the Israelites as the moved throughout the desert. He has been a part of their daily lives since the beginning of time.

Psalm 42:2, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Matthew 16:16, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” And Peter responds with, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”