SEALING
Sealing
A legal process by which the validity of a deed of conveyance is confirmed: see Jer 32:7-11. A seal is often employed as a witness and proof of genuineness. This may help us to understand the force of the term as applied to Christ and to Christians.
1. The Lord Jesus spoke of Himself as sealed by God the Father, Joh 6:27, doubtless referring to the Holy Ghost having come upon Him at His baptism. He was thus witnessed of as the Son of God.
2. Believers are sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption, and the Spirit is also the earnest of their inheritance. 2Co 1:22; Eph 4:30. The gift of the Spirit is the seal. This could not be until redemption had been wrought and righteousness secured thus for man. But the seal is now the distinctive mark of those who are of God. The idea of sealing is distinct from that of being born of the Spirit, as well as from that of being led of the Spirit after He has been received. Believers only are sealed, in virtue of their faith in a Saviour who died for them and rose again. The sealing, based on forgiveness of sins, gives the consciousness of the benefit gained by faith.
Various incidents in the Acts of the Apostles throw light upon this. On the day of Pentecost, after Peter had proclaimed the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ, the hearers being “pricked in their heart,” said, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Act 2:38. So also when Peter preached to Cornelius and those gathered with him, while he was saying “Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins . . . . the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” Act 10:43-44. In Eph 1:13, it is said of the Gentiles that having believed the gospel of their salvation they were sealed. See HOLY SPIRIT.
3. The hundred and forty-four thousand of the twelve tribes of Israel referred to in Rev 7:3-8 will be sealed in their foreheads. The number typifies the completeness of the remnant which is preserved through the great tribulation for blessing, and they are conspicuous as bearing the witness and mark of the living God.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
SEALING
Sealing has several acceptations:-
1. It denotes preservation and security. Thus, in Cant. iv. 12, a fountain sealed, is a fountain carefully preserved from the injuries of weather and beasts, that its water may be preserved good and clean. In Job 14:17, sins sealed up in a bag, signify that no sin shall be forgot. And thus for the greater security the stone at the mouth of our Saviour’s sepulchre was sealed with a seal.
2. It denotes also propriety; from the custom of sealing goods and servants when they are bought, that it might be known to whom they belonged.
3. Sealing may denote secrecy and privacy; men sealing up those things which they intend to keep secret. Thus a book sealed, is a book whose contents are secret, and have for a very long time been so, and are not to be published till the seal be removed.f1 Horace has used the symbol, L. i. Epist. xx. ver. 3. And in Isa 29:11, ” a vision like to a book sealed,” is a vision not understood.
4. Sealing sometimes signifies completion and perfection; because the putting of the seal to any instrument or writing completes the matter about which it is, and finisheth the whole transaction. Thus concerning the king of Tyrus, says the prophet Eze 28:12; “Thou sealest up the sum [or measure] full of wisdom and glory;” that is, thou lookest upon thyself as having arrived at the highest pitch of wisdom and glory. Thus the Arabians call the Alchoran the seal of God’s promises; as being, according to them, the completion or perfection of God’s promises; and Mahomet, the seal of the prophets, as being according to them the greatest of the prophets, after whom no more are to follow.f2
5. Sealing signifies assent, confirmation, and authority, from the use of a seal’s being put to decrees, diplomas, covenants, and wills. Thus in Nehem 9:38, the princes, the priests, and Levites, to shew their assent to, sealed the covenant. And sealing has the same signification in Joh 3:33.
In Est 8:8, “a writing sealed with the king’s seal,” denotes the will and pleasure of the king, and that it is unalterable, not to be reversed. And hence a person sealed, signifies a person authorized and commissioned, as in relation to our Saviour, concerning his giving that meat which endureth to everlasting life;-says St. Joh 6:27, “Him hath God the Father sealed.” Hence the bearing of the ring or seal is a token of a high office. See Gen 41:42. And therefore in Aristophanes, the giving of a ring to a person is making him chief magistrate or high steward, and the taking away of the ring the discharging him of his office.f3 To the same purpose speak the Persian and Egyptian Interpreters, in ch. cclx. concerning a ring or seal.
6. Sealing signifies hindrance and restraint, to put a cessation to, or stop the effect of any design. Thus in Job 37:7, God is said “to seal up the hand of every man:” i.e. to hinder their work by storms and wet weather, or to restrain their power. And so in Job 9:7, he is said “to seal up the stars,” that is, to restrain their influences. And thus in schylus, ” thunder sealed up,” is thunder restrained, not used, or laid aside.f4
F1 . Hor. Ap. L. ii. Hierogl. 25.
F2 Herbelot. tit. Abou Maaschar.
F3 Aristoph. Equit.
F4 schyl. Eumen. ver. 830, &c.