Sealed Before the LORD

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
(Rev 13:16-17)

People who view Revelations outside the framework of scripture have a tendency to see the prophetic descriptions in the book as symbolic and not literal. It is important to recognize that the prophecies relating to the first coming of JESUS CHRIST were fulfilled in literal terms, not symbolic. From the Psalmist quotation of JESUS’ words on the cross (Psa 22:1) and the depiction of HIS death (Psa 22:14-18), to the words of Isaiah, "he was led like a sheep to the slaughter" (Isa 53:7), all find literal fulfillment in the life of JESUS. Even the prophecy of Zechariah, "your King comes to you…gentle and riding on a donkey" (Zech 9:9), was a literal donkey. Therefore, it is more reasonable to conclude that the prophecies contained in Revelations will receive literal fulfillments.

So how will the above prophecy of receiving a mark be fulfilled and what is the significance of where the mark is located, that is, the right hand or forehead? Scripture has a remarkable way of defining scripture and the more I study, the more I become convinced that a "shadow" or "type" already exists in scripture to give us insight into the events depicted in Revelations. Solomon knew what he was talking about when he said, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Eccl 1:9)

In the Shema "Hear, O Israel" (Deut 6:4), the LORD instructs Israel to tie the commandments "as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." (Deut 6:8). Isn’t that interesting? The mark of the Beast in Revelations will be on the same places that are currently reserved by the LORD for HIS commandments. By his actions, the Beast is attempting to replace the knowledge and instruction of the LORD with the commandments of the Beast. Everyone who accepts the mark will, in effect, be accepting the lifestyle and instruction of the Beast. The Revelation passage further specifies the "right hand" as opposed to "hands" in the original commandment. Again, I think this is an attempt to imitate the many passages about JESUS who sits at the "right hand" of GOD (Heb 1:13), and may also be a reference to the hand containing the signet ring (Jer 22:24), used to seal documents in the name of the king.
So I was reading this morning in Exodus the 28th chapter, thanks Bryan for assigning homework, and I read the following:

"Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD." (Ex 28:36-38)

Among the garments and accessories the LORD told Aaron to wear, was a gold plate engraved with the words, "HOLY TO THE LORD." The passage likens the engraving on the plate to the engraving on a seal, specifically in other translations, the seal on a signet ring. The engraved words both display the name of GOD and indicate that the wearer is set apart for the service of GOD. This plate, which is understood to be more like a rectangular band, was located on "Aaron’s forehead continually," as if, to deflect the judgment of the LORD away from Aaron when Israel sinned. I don’t understand exactly how this was to work (a shield, a deflector plate, a force field?), but the engraved plate protected Aaron by providing a continual reminder to LORD, or maybe the angels, that Aaron was acceptable before the place of worship.

In the book of Revelations, those with "the seal of God on their foreheads" (Rev 9:4) are not harmed by some of the coming judgments (Rev 7:2-3). Like Aaron, the servants of the LORD are protected because they have a seal on their forehead. Scripture is clear that this seal, like the plate Aaron wore, contains the "Father's name written on their foreheads" (Rev 14:1). Like the FATHER’S NAME, the scriptures tell us, "Christ...anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us" (2 Cor 1:21-22) and "having believed, you were marked in him with a seal" (Eph 1:13). We understand that the seal is the HOLY SPIRIT and the FATHER’S NAME, but scripture also seems to be drawing on the image of the physical gold plate Aaron wore that can be seen, at least by angels.

The location of this "seal" does not escape the notice of Satan. Seeking to claim ownership of GOD’S creation for himself, Satan will require a mark over the places previously reserved by GOD. The scripture warns us, "there is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." (Rev 14:11). The last 42 months of the Beast’s reign, "calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’" (Rev 14:12-13). I believe these "saints" are those who come to believe in JESUS as MESSIAH after the rapture.

The book of Revelations holds out the following promise to those who endure to the end, "They will see his (the LORD GOD) face, and his name will be on their foreheads." (Rev 22:4)