Marked by God

We've been studying the book of Revelation with Beth Moore in our Thursday morning group, and this week one thing really stood out to me that I wanted to share with you.

We have been marked by God, and He knows those who belong to Him!

In Rev. 7:3, a seal was placed on the foreheads of the servants of God, marking those who belong to the remnant nation of Israel, the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel.  In the Old Testament times, the priests wore turbans on their heads with plates of pure gold that had inscriptions on them that said "Holy to the Lord".  These plates were attached to the front of their turbans, across their foreheads (Ex. 28:36).

In the New Testament, WE have become a royal priesthood, a people belonging to the Lord (1 Pet. 2:9).  And WE have been marked by God!  Look at these scriptures:

Eph. 1:13-14  And you also were included in Christ when you head the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, until the redemption of those who are God's possession!

Eph. 4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

2 Cor. 1:22  He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Tim. 2:19  Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription:  "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

We don't see this "mark" in the natural realm, but you can bet that every angel and demon in the unseen world sees that mark of God on His people, and certainly God Himself sees it!  We are His children, marked by Him and sealed with His Holy Spirit until that day when we  will receive the final payment of our salvation, when the Lord returns to claim His Holy bride!