Marked

Ezekiel 9:4

And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.

 

Thought for the day – Marked

Here’s the Greek word for the day. Sphragis. Just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it. It means sealed. And it’s a pattern that we see in Scripture, most notably Ezekiel and the book of Revelation. That sense that God seals his people. Particularly during times of persecution and trial.

 

So, Ezekiel’s vision has a man with a writing block going round marking those who grieve what grieves God. And then the executioners are let loose on Jerusalem. The Sphragis, the mark, or seal is what distinguishes those spared from those who are struck. The mark is a sign of ownership, belonging and protection during times of judgement.

 

But in Revelation we see the opposite. Those who reject God are marked with the sign of the beast. And I believe John relying on his knowledge of the Scriptures uses this to further distinguish between those that choose God and those that reject him. And so, we see whether it’s in Ezekiel or Revelation everyone gets marked, one way or the other. The choice is ours. So what will you choose?