Ellen G. White once wrote:
“The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord's memorial of creation.” (Last Day Events, 224.3)
Sounds spiritual, right? But let’s pause. Does the Bible actually teach that the Sabbath is the seal of God? Or is this another case where Adventist tradition forces an idea into Scripture that just isn’t there? Let’s dig in with some common sense, logic, and careful exegesis.
1. The Seal of God in Scripture
When the Bible talks about God’s seal, what does it actually mean?
-
Ephesians 1:13 – “You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
-
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 – “He has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
-
Ephesians 4:30 – “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Notice: the seal of God is not a day of the week — it’s the Holy Spirit Himself.
Question: If Paul repeatedly says the Spirit is God’s seal, why would we swap out the living presence of God for a calendar date?
2. Common Sense Check
Let’s use some everyday logic.
Imagine your passport. What makes it valid the date of issue, or the official seal and signature of the issuing authority? Obviously, the seal shows authenticity and ownership.
In the same way, God’s seal is the Spirit who marks us as His own, not our ability to follow a 24-hour block of time. To say “Sabbath is the seal” is like saying your passport is official just because it was printed on a Friday.
3. The Historico-Grammatical Lens
When Ellen White calls the Sabbath the “memorial of creation,” she’s borrowing from Exodus 20:8-11. True, the Sabbath was given to Israel as a reminder of God’s creation and His covenant with them (see also Deut. 5:15).
But here’s the kicker:
-
The Sabbath is never once called the “seal of God” in the Old Testament.
-
In fact, Ezekiel 20:12 calls it a sign between God and Israel, not humanity as a whole.
-
A “sign” (Hebrew ’ot) is not the same as a “seal” (sphragis in Greek). A sign is temporary and external; a seal is internal and permanent.
So historically and grammatically, Ellen White is conflating two totally different biblical concepts.
4. Exegesis of Revelation
Adventists often point to Revelation and say, “See, the end-time seal of God must be Sabbath-keeping!” But let’s actually read the text.
-
Revelation 7:3 – “Do not harm the earth... until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
-
Revelation 14:1 – “They had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
Notice: The seal in Revelation is connected with God’s name and identity, not with Sabbath observance. If John wanted to say Sabbath was the seal, he could have, but he didn’t.
Cross-exam question: Why would Adventists claim John meant Sabbath, when John himself wrote that the seal was God’s name?
5. Illustration: The Wedding Ring
Think of marriage. A wedding ring is a sign of the covenant, but it’s not the covenant itself. What makes the marriage real isn’t the jewelry — it’s the love, vows, and legal covenant.
Likewise, the Sabbath was a sign for Israel’s covenant. But the New Covenant is sealed, not by a day, but by the indwelling Holy Spirit. To cling to the old sign while ignoring the Spirit is like obsessing over the wedding ring while breaking the marriage vows.
6. The Gospel Implication
If the Sabbath is the seal of God, then only Sabbath-keepers are sealed. That means no Sunday Christian, no Gentile believer in the early church, and no Spirit-filled martyr who didn’t keep the seventh day could belong to God.
Is that the gospel? Or is that legalism dressed up as gospel?
Paul answers clearly in Romans 4:11. Abraham received the sign of circumcision, but he was already righteous by faith before circumcision. In the same way, believers today are righteous and sealed by faith and the Spirit, not by an Old Covenant sign.
Final Thoughts
Ellen White claimed the Sabbath is the seal of God, but Scripture is crystal clear:
-
The Holy Spirit is the seal.
-
The Sabbath was a sign given to Israel, not the church.
-
Revelation’s seal is about God’s name and ownership, not Saturday observance.
At the end of the day, replacing the Spirit with the Sabbath is like replacing the Author with a bookmark. It misses the whole point of the New Covenant.
So here’s the question: Would you rather be sealed with the Spirit of the Living God — or with a shadow that pointed to Him?
Former Adventists Philippines
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
For more inquiries, contact us:
Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com
Website: formeradventistph.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/formeradventistph
No comments:
Post a Comment