The terms “SEAL”, “SEALS”, and “SEALED” are used to indicate different things [The Greek noun is “sphragis” Strong’s #4973 = emblem of ownership or signet, fencing in for protection. The Greek verb is “sphragizo” Strong’s #4972 = stamp for preservation, to keep secret. The Hebrew word is “Chatham” Strong’s #2856 = close up, make an end].
SEALS were used in Scriptures for legal documents (Neh. 9:38; Jer. 32:10-11, 44); for securing the vision and prophecy of Daniel (Daniel chapters 8, 9, & 12); to represent a covenant or work of God (Deut. 32:34; Job 33:16; 37:7; Rev. 7:3-8); and for Christ’s scrolls of judgments in the Book of Revelation. Circumcision was considered a SEAL of righteousness of Abraham’s faith for the promise that he would be the heir of the world, which refers to believing Jews and believing Gentiles (Rom. 4:11-13).
The Corinthian saints were a SEAL of Paul’s apostleship (1 Cor. 9:2). Saints were SEALED by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee until the redemption at Christ’s Parousia (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30). Satan was cast into the bottomless pit and a SEAL was set on him until the time of his release (Rev. 20:3). A SEAL was a confirmation of fact by God.
“19Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this SEAL: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” (2 Tim. 2:19).
We see that SEALS in Scripture were visible and invisible “marks” for a guarantee, for ownership, for protection, and for preservation of different things. Those SEALS that were set to expire when an event was fulfilled are no longer applicable after AD 70. Some of these include: (a) The SEALING of Daniel’s visions & prophecies of the seventy weeks, which have been fulfilled at the judgment of Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple, in AD 70; (b) the first century saints being a SEAL of Paul’s apostleship, which was fulfilled at the judgment during the Parousia; and (c) Satan SEALED in the bottomless pit for 1000 years, which was fulfilled when he was released near the end of the transition period (c. AD 62) to deceive Rome leading to the intensifying of the persecution on the church (The Great Tribulation AD 64-66), and to deceive the Jews into making war against Rome (Rev. 20:7-8).
Other SEALS that expired are: (d) circumcision as an Old Covenant SEAL of righteousness of faith, which was fulfilled in Christ and the O.T. Law has passed away in AD 70; (e) and the first century saints being SEALED by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, which was fulfilled at the Parousia (when all of the departed souls of the faithful believers in Hades/Sheol were raised, and the remaining living saints were rapture into the unseen realm to be with those just resurrected, where they all received their individual, perfect, immortal, spiritual bodies and ascended together to meet Christ in the aer, to forever be with Him) (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 2 Cor. 5:1-4; 1 Thess. 4:15-17).
Related full “Study Series” (available upon request if not hyperlinked):
[For a more in-depth study see eschatology “Study Series 16 Lesson 2 Rev. Chapters 5 thru 9”]