Ezekiel 9:4

Mark. Heb. taw, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In the time of Ezekiel this Hebrew character was written in the form of X. The marking was done in vision, and the exact nature of the mark is perhaps not important. An ancient interpretation that saw in the sign a prefigurement of the cross is rather fanciful. In the vision the mark was doubtless literal, but in significance it had reference wholly to character. The messenger was to pay no regard to birth or position, but to mark only those who mourned for the prevailing sinfulness and kept themselves aloof from it.

The vision had primary reference to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. It will have another fulfillment during the closing scenes of this world’s history. It parallels closely the visions of Rev. 7; 15; 16. The distinguishing mark in Revelation is “the seal of God” and, like the mark in Ezekiel, is based on character qualifications. God places His mark of approval upon all who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reflect the image of Jesus (see COL 67). This stamp of approbation has been likened to God’s mark of ownership, as though God inscribes upon those who qualify for citizenship in His kingdom His name and address — “God, New Jerusalem” (TM 446).

The outward, visible sign of this completion of the work of grace in the soul will be the observance of the true Sabbath of the Bible (see 8T 117). This will be brought about in the following way: The seventh-day Sabbath has always stood as God’s appointed rest day for man. Established at creation (Gen. 2:1-3), it was designed to be of perpetual obligation. The command to observe it was placed in the bosom of the moral law (Ex. 20:8-11). Neither Christ nor His apostles abrogated the Sabbath. The great apostasy following the death of the apostles presumed to set it aside and substitute in its place another day of rest, the first day of the week. But the Word of God predicts a great work of Sabbath reform to precede the second coming of Christ. (Isa. 56:1, 2, 6-8; 58:12, 13; Rev. 14:6-12; see GC 451-460). It also predicts that simultaneously Satan, the great apostate leader, will exalt his own counterfeit system of religion, presenting a false sabbath, Sunday, as the day of worship (Rev. 13; 14:9-12; cf. Dan. 7:25). He will be successful to the extent that he will be able to unite the whole world in a great religious reform movement, a prominent feature of which will be the exaltation of Sunday (Rev. 13:8; 14:8; 16:14; 18:3; see GC chs. 35-40). As a result of his efforts in this direction the whole world will be divided into two camps, those who are faithful to God and keep His Sabbath, and those who join the universal counterfeit religious movement and honor the false sabbath. The observance of the true Sabbath will thus become the distinguishing mark of the true worshiper of God.

Yet it is not the outward observance of the Sabbath that constitutes the mark. The seal stands for that character qualification that all must have who are accounted worthy of citizenship in the kingdom of glory about to be established. Only those who have purified their souls will cling to the Sabbath in that awful time of trouble preceding the return of Jesus. Insincere Sabbathkeepers will abandon the ranks of God’s people and unite with Satan against heaven, and join in the battle against the Ruler of the universe (TM 465). Thus only the genuine and true remain as the sole defenders of God’s holy Sabbath.

These are joined by others of God’s true children who, until now, have been scattered throughout the various communions of Christendom, but who, under the increasing light of the loud cry, embrace the Sabbath and join God’s remnant people (see GC 611,612).

The mark is placed upon those “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done.” Those who belong to this class have been described as distinguished by their soul anguish over the declensions among God’s professed people. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of every kind are in the church. They feel powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity and hence are filled with grief and alarm (see 5T 210). Those in the other class seek to throw a cloak over existing evils and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent. They claim that God is too good and too merciful to punish evil. The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil, they say. They assert the Lord does not expect so high a standard, and will be satisfied with a mere desire to do right. But the Lord cannot change His standard. To do so would be to change Himself. Rather, He supplies grace for the acquirement of every virtue and the correction of every defect. He asks of every Christian that full advantage be taken of these provisions. He demands no less than perfection. Unless this is attained, the soul will be found without the seal of God when probation closes.