Signet Cylinder
(Original is in British Museum)
Ancient Seals and Signets
Signet Cylinder
(Original is in British Museum)
The ancient seal was a stamp or engraving set in stone, metal or some hard substance like crystal. It was usually a symbol or a figure that was used to make an impression on clay or wax, or some other soft substance.
It was usually attached to an object like a possession or a document, in order to give it authenticity, ownership or authority. It was used often in the ancient world, especially in Egypt, Babylonia and Assyria and surrounding nations including Israel.
"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm."
- Song of Solomon
8:6
"And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed."
- Isaiah 29:11
"And Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the
righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he
might be the father of all them that believe."
- Romans 4:11
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
- Ephesians 4:30
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
- Ephesians
1:13-14
The Signet and Seal The signet makes a deep impression in clay forming an official seal. The
imprinted seal carries the full authority of the office it represents and no
one dare question it. His design is well known, his symbol without any
doubt authentic, his mark indelibly declares the full authority of royal
ownership. There is the pain of death to those who violate it.
Revelation 10:4 - And
when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to
write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal
up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them
not.
Graphics, like drawings on a cave wall, look primitive and now sit safely on
shelves in museums, yet were we the ones bearing up under the ancient
powers, we would know well the authority of the imprint left in wax. Perhaps
we might disguise our tremble when encountering a magistrate able to open an
emperor's seal providing him legal right to tax our possessions, drag us to
court, or conscript us into his service.
In scripture we find, somehow we are sealed. A metaphor which would ring
powerfully to those under Roman rule. Yet God's sealing is never coercive.
Never forced. A free will decision is made. An imprint is then formed
within us. Our souls bear his mark, His letters, His image, and all powers
are duly informed: we belong to God. In His timing, many times unknown to
us, He opens us as a scroll, and reads aloud what He has written inside, we
become a living decree, a love letter and invitation for others to receive
the forgiveness offered in Christ, and to be sealed forever by the gentle
all-powerful Holy Spirit of God.
The Signet is hard and makes a deep impression, but only on soft substances
like clay, wax or humility. It cannot leave its mark on stone, or metal or
pride.
In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel)
of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him,
were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
The Bible mentions a lot
regarding the word "seal":
Esther 8:8
- Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name,
and seal [it] with the king's ring: for the writing
which is written in the king's name, and sealed with
the king's ring, may no man reverse.
Jeremiah
32:44 - Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe
evidences, and seal [them], and take witnesses in the
land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the
cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the
cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will
cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.
Daniel 9:24
- Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy
city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and
to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the most Holy.
John 3:33
- He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal
that God is true.
Revelation 6:7 - And when he had opened the fourth
seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and
see.
1 Kings
21:8 - So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed
[them] with his seal, and sent the letters unto the
elders and to the nobles that [were] in his city, dwelling with
Naboth.
Romans 4:11
- And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of
the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being
uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe,
though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed
unto them also:
Revelation 20:3 - And cast him into the bottomless pit, and
shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should
deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be
fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Revelation 6:12 - And I beheld when he had opened the sixth
seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the
sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Revelation 7:2 - And I saw another angel ascending from the
east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried
with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt
the earth and the sea,
Revelation 6:5 - And when he had opened the third seal,
I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a
black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his
hand.
Daniel 12:4
- But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the
book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased.
2 Timothy
2:19 - 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.
Revelation 9:4 - And it was commanded them that they should
not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither
any tree; but only those men which have not the seal
of God in their foreheads.
Revelation 6:9 - And when he had opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word
of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Revelation 8:1 - And when he had opened the seventh
seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an
hour.
Nehemiah
9:38 - And because of all this we make a sure [covenant],
and write [it]; and our princes, Levites, [and] priests, seal
[unto it].
Revelation 22:10 - And he saith unto me, Seal
not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at
hand.
1
Corinthians 9:2 - If I be not an apostle unto others, yet
doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine
apostleship are ye in the Lord.
Job 38:14
- It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand
as a garment.
Job 41:15
- [His] scales [are his] pride, shut up together [as with] a close
seal.
Isaiah 8:16
- Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my
disciples.
Revelation 6:3 - And when he had opened the second
seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
Song of Solomon 8:6 - Set me as a seal upon
thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is]
strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof
[are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame.