A Seal of the Living God

GOD’S FOUR EVERLASTING COVENANTS WITH MAN

What are they? and what have they to do with this sealing message? Let us see: 1. Is the covenant of inheritance “confirmed unto Jacob for a law, and unto Israel for an everlasting inheritance. - Psalm 105:8-12. Acts 7:3-6. Ephesians 1:14. 2. Is an everlasting covenant of redemption. “I have made a covenant with my chosen; SLG 59.3

I have sworn unto David my servant. - His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” - Psalm 89:3, 36, 37. Hebrews 9:12, 15. Eternal redemption. SLG 60.1

3. Is an everlasting covenant of peace. “Behold I give unto him my covenant of peace; even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. Numbers 25:12, 13. Ezekiel 20:37. 37:26, my covenant of peace shall be an everlasting covenant. SLG 60.2

Now mark! These three eternal, and everlasting covenants are conditional to God’s children here, and are yet in the future; and can only be inherited by the living saints in the future, by keeping the 4th everlasting covenant. It is not the 4th or last in order in the bible, I have merely called it so in this explanation. SLG 60.3

“The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; the earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away. The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof - because - they have broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. - Isaiah 24:3-6. This is a prophecy now being fulfilled, which we are looking for, therefore the three everlasting covenants above named cannot be referred to here, for they are to be possessed in the future on condition of keeping the 4th. Then it is plain that this everlasting covenant is just what Isaiah says it is, viz: the laws. “They have transgressed the laws,” etc. - This then is the everlasting covenant of the ten words, or ten commandments. 1. On tables of stone. 2. on the heart. “Know therefore that the Lord the God, he is God the faithful God which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a THOUSAND GENERATIONS.” - Deuteronomy 7:9. Now if we take this in its most limited sense, allowing seventy years for a generation, this world has only seen 86 of them yet, therefore there is 914 generations of 70 years, in which this promised blessing will continue, viz: 64,680 years, that will extend 63,680 into the new heavens and new earth. I think by that time the saints will find that it means an everlasting covenant. SLG 60.4

This is his blessing on all those that keep his covenant, the ten words on tables of stone from his hand, from Mount Sinai. 9:11,15. “God will ever be mindful of his covenant. “He hath commanded his covenant forever. ALL his commandments are sure, they are established forever and ever. - He sent redemption to his people. - Psalm 111:5-7. What was it? Answer, Jesus with the Gospel. See God’s promised blessing to the first church if they would keep his covenant - Leviticus 26:1-14. His curse if they broke it, 15-39. Whoever was known to break his first covenant, was to be put to death. - Deuteronomy 17:2-5. God tells them not to forget his covenant, Deuteronomy 4:23; he declares that he will not, 31st verse. SLG 61.1

God told Moses that his people would break the 1st covenant. - Deuteronomy 31:20. SLG 61.2

After this Jesus comes to establish a new covenant, with the house of Israel. Paul says on “better principles,” (not the ceremonial law, but the principles of the gospel,) he is to be the mediator of it. Hebrews 13:6. See also 8:10, put into the mind, and written on the heart; when developed, then they will be God’s people. Paul says the 1st Covenant had a worldly sanctuary or meeting house. But the true meeting house is the one the Lord pitched. It is in Heaven. - Hebrews 8:2. SLG 61.3

Now this 2nd Covenant is the same law. 1st. It was connected with the ceremonial law, but the 2nd Covenant is connected with the gospel. SLG 61.4

God says, I will not break my covenant. - Judges 2:1. Paul speaks of the covenant breakers of the last days. Romans 1:31. 2nd 2 Timothy 3:3. God’s covenant is with them that love him. - Daniel 9:4. SLG 61.5

It is for breaking this everlasting covenant under the Mosaic and Gospel dispensations; even God’s holy law of commandments, for which the earth is now to be destroyed, as I have quoted from Isaiah 24:3-6. God makes his covenant with all. - Deuteronomy 29:14, 15. SLG 61.6

Now all advent believers that have, and do, participate in the advent messages as given in Revelation 14:6-13, will love and keep this covenant with God, and especially his Holy Sabbath, in this covenant; this is a part of the 144,000 now to be sealed. SLG 61.7

The other part are those who do not yet, so well understand the advent doctrine; but are endeavoring to serve God with their whole hearts, and are willing, and will receive this covenant and Sabbath as soon as they hear it explained. These will constitute the 144,000, now to be sealed with “a seal of the living God,” which sealing will bear them through this time of trouble. I think the evidence is pretty clear that a part of the 144,000 will come from the east; the river Euphrates will be dried up for them to cross over at the pouring out of the sixth seal, in “the great day of the lord.” Esdras.13:40-47. Isaiah 11:15, 16. Revelation 16:12. Then 1st. To perceive the everlasting covenant of peace, when delivered at the voice of God. - Ezekiel 20:37.(margin,) Isaiah 59:19, 21. 2nd. Then the everlasting covenant of redemption, at the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus. 3rd. Then lastly, the everlasting covenant of inheritance after they enter the holy city. There in that city, in the temple is the Ark of this covenant. Revelation 11:19. 15:5, perfect and entire, without any change whatever, and without any doubt will be binding on all the redeemed forever and ever. The Sabbath especially, and certainly. Isaiah 66:23. SLG 61.8

All advent believers who despise, and reject this covenant, will just as certainly be burned and destroyed with the ungodly wicked at the desolation of the earth, as that Isaiah has prophesied. See 24:5th and 6th vs, with the argument on the two preceding pages, and ponder it well. God will not be mocked! Thousands on thousands have already been destroyed for breaking this covenant. “He is no respecter of persons.” James says, “if ye fail in one point you are guilty of all,” every commandment in this covenant must be kept to insure eternal life. Those that died before they heard the second advent message, never had this test.. SLG 62.1

Now let us look at the seal in this covenant! what is it? God says his Sabbath is a sign, and shall be kept for a perpetual covenant. This means to the end of the world, or time without end. But the opposer of the Sabbath attempts to destroy this point, because in one instance in the Bible, where the word perpetual is used viz: Exodus 29:9, it says, “The priests office shall be theirs for a perpetual statue,” etc. They say it ended with the legal dispensation. Let us see. SLG 62.2

God’s promises are conditional! two of these sons, viz: Nadab and Abihu, were destroyed for offering strange fire. - Leviticus 10:1. So we see the priest-hood ended with them there forever. But it could be perpetuated in the others, which were faithful. See the case of Phinehas. Numbers 25:11-14. Here God made a covenant of peace with him, and his seed, for an everlasting priest-hood. - This covenant of peace as we have shown, is in the future, of course it belongs to him and his posterity; and all the redeemed in immortality. See 1st 1 Peter 2:9. Revelation 1:6, 5:10. 20:6. Think the faithful priest-hood in Aaron’s posterity won’t be perpetuated there? yes. Then perpetual here is the same as the everlasting covenant of peace, from everlasting to everlasting. SLG 63.1

This then removes all difficulties here respecting the Sabbath’s being perpetual forever, and ever. Isaiah also shows it perpetual, 66:23. Here then, is God’s covenant within the covenant; like the white stone, and in the stone a new name written. This looks like a seal. I ask then, where in all the Bible is there any other covenant, or single truth, in which God has entered into covenant with man to keep, like this? You say the gospel: I answer, this is a part of it. It is what Paul calls “better principles,” which was added to this covenant; who will deny that this jewel, the Sabbath of the Lord our God,” in this everlasting covenant is not “a seal of the living God?” Methinks I hear the objector say, I do not believe the Sabbath, my trust is in Jesus and the everlasting gospel. But stop a little, how can you look to Jesus and his gospel for salvation, when you are continually despising him and the very foundation of his gospel. SLG 63.2

1st. Did not God to make this covenant sure, seal it with blood? - Exodus 24:7, 8. 2nd. Did he not after he had destroyed Jerusalem for breaking his perpetual covenant within this covenant, Jeremiah 17:27, send the Angel Gabriel to Daniel to inform him that Jesus would come and confirm the covenant with many, for one week, 9:26, 27. What covenant? why the same, only now the gospel was to be added. 3rd. Did God fulfill his word? yes, Jesus did come according to this promise. 4th. Did he not come as a Prince, and also the Mediator of this covenant? 5th. Did he not seal it with his own blood? 6th. Did not God raise him from the dead thro’ the blood of this everlasting covenant. - Hebrews 13:20. Although it was called the second or new one, Paul shows you it was the same as Isaiah 24:6. God’s law can never be altered or changed. SLG 63.3

7th. Did you not know that Jesus founded the whole law of God, and the prophets on this covenant of ten commandments? Matthew 22:36-40. Luke 10:25-28. 8th. Did you not know that Jesus taught eternal life through this same covenant also in Matthew 19:16, 17. SLG 64.1

9. Did you not know that in his sermon on the Mount that he made the keeping of their covenant a test of everlasting life? Matthew 5:17, 18 and 19, (see Macknight’s translation,) now read 21st, 27 and 33 verses; see he is talking about the covenant. Now be sure that you understand his testimony: 7:24, 26. Their house will fall; they will be in no esteem in Heaven; the meaning is, they that break the commandments, the covenant will not be there. 10th. Did you know that the Sabbath was included in this covenant? Exodus 20:8-11. 11th. Did you know that Jesus in whom you say you trust for salvation, was the Lord of the Sabbath that you despise. 12th. Did you know that God had taught his people that they were sanctified through the keeping his Sabbath? Exodus 31:13. 13th. Did you know that God sanctified the Lord Jesus, through this covenant? Finally, do you know that God will reject you for despising his covenant in which is his holy Sabbath? Let Paul speak: “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the spirit of grace.” - Hebrews 10:29. Do you not see now, if you despise his covenant by rejecting his holy Sabbath, that your trust, (whatever your pretensions are,) are no better than the spider’s web; and that you never can be sealed with “a sealing of the living God;” to save you from this awful time of trouble that will finally devastate the universe, while you insist upon it that there is no such seal or Sabbath. This was what John in holy vision called “the commandments of God and the faith (or testimony,) of Jesus,“because his testimony is so interwoven with this covenant of commandments, that it is impossible to separate them. The present truth of which is the Sabbath, and the shut door. It is impossible to keep one, and reject the other; whoever attempts it will fail. SLG 64.2

We have now given three inspired witnesses to prove this sealing message. Ezekiel saw that the crying ones would be sealed. John heard them cry. - Revelation 16:15. Isaiah saw the law, the Sabbath as we proved, was sealed with the disciples, and the testimony, i.e. the teachings of Jesus were bound up with them, because those that rejected the law, in which was the Sabbath, had rejected the most essential part of the testimony of Jesus, as shown on the last page. Therefore we see a peculiar reason for binding the testimony and sealing “the law among the disciples,” or as Ezekiel says, “the sighing and crying ones.” While John says, they are “the servants of our God.” “ALL the tribes of the children of Israel,” the 144,000 living saints, now sealing, and to be sealed, with “a seal of the living God,” and after that stand with Jesus on the Mount Zion. - Revelation 14:1. SLG 65.1