marks – La Vista Church of Christ

Set a Mark

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 19:25:00 +0000

by Jarrod M. Jacobs

Ezekiel 9 continues the record of Ezekiel’s vision from chapter 8. Here, he sees God calling men, specifically executioners, to Him, for they were going to execute those who had gone astray into idolatry. Remember, this is a highly figurative vision, but these men in the vision stood for the execution that would take place against Jerusalem by Babylon. Seven men answered the Lord’s call (Ezekiel 9:1-2). Six men in this vision were ready to execute, and one man appeared “clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side.” This man’s work is the subject of this study (Ezekiel 9:3-4).

This man may seem insignificant, but this is not the case. This one man had an essential duty to perform. God told him to “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” (Ezekiel 9:4 ESV). Away with this false notion that God is vengeful and looking for opportunities to condemn mankind! Even at this stage in history, God tells one to go and put a mark on those who “sigh and groan.” In other words, mark those righteous people who are upset and sorry over the wickedness of the majority, for God intended to spare them from destruction.

Marking those who are God’s gets my attention. This means God knows people individually. We are not “cogs in a wheel” or “just a number,” as some want to say. Paul told Timothy, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19). The word “seal” used in this text carries with it the idea of a mark God set upon those who are His [Mounce]. When we read the book of Revelation, we see that folks who belong to the Lord and those belonging to Satan receive a particular mark (Revelation 7:2-4; 9:4; 13:18; 14:1-5). In all of these cases, the mark was not a physical mark but a spiritual indicator that God recognized those who belong to Him because they are His children and those He did not recognize.

Notice that God’s mark was set upon those who “sigh and groan” over the sin of the people (Ezek. 9:4). Have there been no other people who have done this? Of course, not! Noah would have done this, as well as Abraham, Lot, Moses, the prophets of God, the apostles, and Christians since the first century! Thus, people today who faithfully follow God despite what the world does are also “marked” as His! What a glorious thing to consider!

How could we be “marked” as belonging to God today? We get the Lord’s mark by believing on Jesus as the Son of God, repenting of sin, confessing our faith in Christ, and being baptized (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:10; Mark 16:16). The Lord’s mark continues on us as we continue faithful to the Lord. It is on us as we “sigh and groan” over sin, but also as we tell people what the truth is, and lead them to the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2:10; II Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:20)!

Has God marked you?

How can I prove to my stepson that branding himself is not a good idea?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:08:00 +0000

Question:

My stepson wants to 'brand' his skin. Why-o-why? I ask, but anyway, I told him per God (Lev. 19:28) that it is forbidden. But when I read it the words "for the dead" makes it seem it's okay as long as it isn't for mourning a dead loved one.

I don't want him to get one period but I can't show him this verse until I can give something that can't be disputed. Can you give me a clearer, concrete verse?

Answer:

Marks on the body were used in the past to indicate who a person belonged to. For example, a hole in the ear lobe marked a person as a permanent slave (Exodus 21:6). The Jews marked themselves as being under the covenant by circumcision (Genesis 17:10-11). So it could have good or bad connotations. The reason marks were forbidden in Leviticus 19:28 was because of idolatry. People would tattoo or mark themselves as followers of certain idols. Cutting oneself to show extreme grief over a death was done, but we often miss the implications. Ancestry worship was prevalent, and that is why it mentions not marking oneself for the dead. Other verses which also condemn cutting oneself are Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1; and Jeremiah 16:6.

We aren't under the Old Covenant, but we still can learn lessons from it. Why does your stepson want these brands? I suspect he wants to mark himself as belonging to some gang. It is there that you need to address the issue because the gang becomes something greater in his life than God, Christianity, or his family. Call up your local sheriff and ask to talk to someone who deals with gangs. Ask him if the particular brand your son wants is being used by a known gang. I think you will be saddened by the answer you get.

Is there a connection between the mark of the beast and the mark of Cain?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Question:

I would like to ask you a question concerning the 'mark' of Cain. In Genesis 4:15, it talks about the 'sign for Cain.' I understand this was something God did. In Revelation 20:4, it talks about the 'mark of the beast, on the forehead and hands'. My question is: Is there a connection or relationship between these two verses? I realize that the book of Revelation uses a lot of symbolism, so maybe these two verses are each talking about something separate from each other. Please, would you clarify this?

Answer:

In the past marks on a person's body were used to signify who a person belonged to. Thus in Israel, a permanent slave was marked by a pierced ear. "But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever" (Exodus 21:5-6).

Marks were also used in pagan religions to denote whom a person worshiped. This is why making scars and tattoos were forbidden in Israel. "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:28).

But the spiritual concept of marking who belonged to whom is used frequently. "Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (Revelation 14:9-10). A mark on the forehead or hand is something in plain sight. Everyone notices who this person is declaring to serve. So Revelation is not talking about a physical mark but the behavior of people which marks them as followers of Satan's false religions.

It was used in a positive sense in Ezekiel. "And the LORD said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it'" (Ezekiel 9:4). Here people were marked because they did not like the immorality around them. God had them marked to spare them from the upcoming destruction. It is used in this way also in Revelation. "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads" (Revelation 14:1). Again, the placement makes it a declaration for everyone to see.

The sign placed on Cain is not specified. The Hebrew word is one typically used for a miraculous sign of some sort. Whether it was a brand, or something else, we are not told. We only know that the sign was to warn people that Cain was under God's protection. "And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him" (Genesis 4:15).

Question:

Thank you for your help in this matter. I remember when I was quite young, I had read this part in Leviticus about not cutting yourself or doing tattoos. It affected me to the point that I have never gotten a tattoo, even under peer pressure.

But I do think what you have pointed out is true today as well. Many people are seen with tattoos, i.e. gangs, bikers, etc. It obviously identifies them as being associated with a particular sub-culture or group. Which makes me even more glad I never did this.

I wonder, could we see baptism as a mark? Baptism is a commandment from Jesus, and maybe this is our mark? And the sin that is done and not repented of would be the mark for those who do not worship God? Does this sound like the right track to be on? Or am I thinking of this in the wrong manner?

Answer:

Baptism is a mark or witness to a person's changed life. "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Colossians 2:11-12).

Paul makes the interesting claim, "From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Galatians 6:17). At first, you might think he was talking about the scars from the beatings he took for being a Christian, something that Paul was willing to bear (Colossians 1:24), but Paul talks about marks in his body, not on his body. He is talking about the changes in his life seen by others which mark him as a servant of Christ.