Throughout the Bible it speaks of a God who is in control of this world; a God who knows the future, a God who does not guess. He knows, my brothers, and sisters, dear friends, a loving Father who wants all of His people, one day, and that is very soon, to live with Him throughout eternity—an endless life, rejoicing in the presence of the one who loved us so much that He was willing to die the death we deserve so that we may live the life He deserves. This is our Lord Jesus Christ whom I want to share with all of you in this message.

The prophet Isaiah put it this way, “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; . . . Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done.” Isaiah 46:9­–10. So, one of the qualities that makes God a different God from all the other gods which people have in this world is that He knows and declares the end from the beginning. God knows what will happen in the future as well as in the present.  The Bible gives us confidence about the future when we look at the life of Jesus when He was upon the earth, and the Bible gives us confidence when we see prophecies being fulfilled regarding the end of time, and Jesus’ second coming. Before He comes something needs to happen among God’s people, which is the sealing work, found in Revelation 7:2–4. In other words, you and I must receive either the seal of God or the mark of the beast; there is no middle ground, and the Bible makes this crystal clear. This precious truth is of utmost importance, because we as individuals are involved in this battle whether we desire to be or not. In the end of time we will be part of one of these two categories. It is not my intention to enter into a controversy, but rather to explain what the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy have to say about the sealing work among God’s people. We want something we can rely upon, so take your Bible and let us enter into this important subject.

“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 on their foreheads.  And I heard the number of those which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Revelation 7:2­–4

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: And I heard the sound of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:1–5

The 144,000 is the group to be sealed and protected from what is coming upon this earth during the seven last plagues. Revelation 14 describes them as those who were “redeemed from the earth”. John says “they have not defiled themselves”. The 144,000 follow the Lamb wherever He goes and “no lie was found in their mouths”. It seems clear that the vision in Revelation 7 has the church in view, not the ancient nation of Israel. The emphasis in the New Testament is on the spiritual people of God or His remnant church, because according to the Apostle Paul in Romans 2:29, the believer in Christ is the true Jew. So, this is a description of this special people who will be sealed with the seal of God, and finally they will end up singing a special song to the Lamb. Don’t you want to be part of this group? Wouldn’t you like to follow Jesus wherever He goes? Oh, I would, and I wish you the same, because that will be a wonderful privilege, my friend. Revelation reveals God’s final message for humanity at the end of time. Jesus gave us a revelation of His love, a revelation of His guidance down through the centuries until He comes with the clouds to take us home, my brothers and sisters. Would you like to be ready when He comes? Would you like to have the seal of God and be saved? Would you like to say with me, “Yes Lord, I want to receive Your seal and be saved?”

Let us consider the following: According to the Bible, we believe there are two classes of redeemed, namely, the great multitude, which began with Adam, and a group of 144,000 in number which began in 1844. So, we do not limit God in saving people, but I want to make it clear that for those who have the light regarding the proclamation of the third angel’s message, they will be among or (part of) this special group, the 144,000.

We have been entrusted by God to sound the trumpet, in giving a clear sound to His people who want to know the truth—the present truth that sanctifies lives and prepares people for eternity. This message we have is a life or death message. In Isaiah 58:12–13, God calls us to the very important work of the restoration of the breach made in the Law of God. For many centuries the Sabbath has been cast down, but it is to be exalted and observed by the true people of God in these last days. Now, if you and I have been enlightened with the present truth, praise God, because we live no more in darkness. But let us not forget that the love of this world is often the cause of turning back from the truths and ways of Jesus Christ, as we find in 2 Timothy 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”  Demas was once a “fellow laborer” of Paul, along with Mark and Luke.

Let us consider some quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy and try to put them all together in order to get a glimpse of what this special group is all about and what characteristics they have. Remember, the Bible says in Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” The phrase “precept upon precept from the King James Version of the above scripture is often associated with “deep teaching” and biblical research.

In 1901, Ellen G. White wrote: “It is not His [God’s] will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without question.

“My brethren and sisters, appreciate and study the truths God has given for you and your children. Spend not your time in seeking to know that which will be no spiritual help. ‘What shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ This is the all-important question, and it has been clearly answered. ‘What is written in the law? How readest thou?’” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 174–175

“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. And let us do all that we can to help others to gain heaven.” –The Review and Herald, March 9, 1905

“The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. . . . I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said, ‘You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God.’” –Early Writings, p. 39–40

“I saw that she [Mrs. Hastings, who had just died] was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble. –Letter 10, 1850.” –Selected Messages, book 2, p. 263

Now, all of us know that God desires all men to be saved, yet few shall listen to God’s voice and do His will. The Bible tells us that many are called but few are chosen. “Many hear the invitation of mercy, are tested and proved; but few are sealed with the seal of the living God. Few will humble themselves as a little child, that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 50. Taking this into consideration, if the majority chooses to be lost, God is fair and He respects the choices people make; no one is coerced, because this is not God’s character. Throughout the Scriptures, in both the Old and New Testament we are often reminded that there is always a remnant left. They carry God’s purpose on this earth, remaining faithful to His commandments, having the faith of Jesus. Bearing this in mind, let us study some important things about the characteristics that the 144,000 have and what makes them a special group which will be saved by God’s grace.

“It is now that we must keep ourselves and our children unspotted from the world. It is now that we must wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now that we must overcome pride, passion and spiritual slothfulness. . . . Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. . . . All who receive the seal of God must be without spot before God—candidates for heaven.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 216

Angels are God’s agents for carrying out His plans, and we are told that four angels are standing on the four corners of the earth and holding the four winds. According to the Bible winds represent strife, wars, upheaval. Why are these angels holding back the winds? To seal God’s people, the 144,000 in number. “The fourth commandment alone of all the ten contains the seal of the great Lawgiver, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Those who obey this commandment take upon themselves His Name, and all the blessings it involves are theirs.” ­–Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 350. In this context we ask a few questions: Did the sealing work start already? If yes, when? Are there conditions in order to be sealed?

We believe that the sealing work of the 144,000 in number began with the proclamation of the third angel message found in Revelation 14:9–13. Though this work started 1844, it was not fully understood until 1848 when Sister White was given a vision about the sealing work at the meeting held in Dorchester, Massachusetts in November, 1848.

The sealing work began in 1844 and continues to the close of probation when Jesus leaves the sanctuary and the seven last plagues begin to fall. Sealing is defined as writing the principles of God’s law in our lives, including the fourth commandment. So, the sealing is a work now in process and closes when the angel with the writer’s inkhorn from Ezekiel 9 returns to heaven. “And behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as Thou hast commanded me.” Ezekiel 9:11. The sealing is the mark of allegiance of divine authority and also the mark of deliverance.

In this last part of the message let us study what is said about the 144,000, namely if there are conditions in order to be sealed. Sister White wrote the following; “Our only safety is to surrender our all to Him and to be constantly growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.” –Counsels for the Church, p. 50.  This is an important statement, it tells us we need to be submitted completely to Jesus if we want to be sealed. Here is another quotation: “Men need to learn that the blessings of obedience, in their fullness, can be theirs only as they receive the grace of Christ. It is His grace that gives man power to obey the laws of God. It is this that enables him to break the bondage of evil habit. This is the only power that can make him and keep him steadfast in the right path.” –Counsels for the Church, p. 216

Only when we are committed Christians, submitted completely to God, will He give us the victory over sin and bad habits, making us reflect the character and image of Jesus fully. “Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.” –Early Writings, p. 71

“We may talk of the blessings of the Holy Spirit, but unless we prepare ourselves for its reception, of what avail are our works? Are we striving with all our power to attain to the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us,—the perfection of His character? When the Lord’s people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording angel will declare, ‘It is finished.’” –The Review and Herald, June 10, 1902

The people of God who have finished their work of preparation and have received the latter rain will give the message in a loud cry, calling God’s children out of Babylon to receive the seal. The latter rain will come before the finishing of the sealing work. “Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God’s people is finished, we shall receive the outpouring of the Spirit of God.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 111

As we come to the close of this message I want to say that the 144,000, sealed with the seal of the living God are not a group of faithful people within the church but the remnant church itself in its ultimate triumph. As we look down through the history of the Christian Church, God has always had a people proclaiming His truth to each generation. We have been called in this last generation just as Noah was called in his generation. In the days of Noah, God called a man. Noah appealed to men and women to enter into the ark of safety. The majority rejected God’s call but God still had a few faithful people who entered the ark. They were His church, just as we believe we are His people, His last remnant church, who gives the last message of warning, the last appeal of God’s mercy to a world in rebellion.

Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Do we preach the last and most important message to the world? I hope we do, for there is laid up a great reward for us when we do what God tells us to do. But we can only preach with power when our lives are changed by Jesus. May God bless us richly to be able to sing with the 144,000 before God’s throne and worship Jesus throughout all eternity is my wish and prayer. Amen!

In Christ,

Br. Nicholas Anca