Seal of a Monarch — E.A. Johnston

The Great Seal as a Picture of Salvation

In England, in the days of kings, the term the Great Seal was used by monarchs to authenticate a document. The king's ring, which had a royal design, would be pressed in beeswax, often dyed red, and then stamped onto paper to seal or to authenticate a document which would carry legal import.

For example, Henry VIII's Great Seal was red wax with a Latin motto translated, Henry, by the grace of God, King of England and France, Defender of the Faith and Lord of Ireland. Now, hold that thought in mind, friends, as I transport you from Old England to eternity at the Last Judgment.

The Great White Throne and Christ the Righteous Judge

In Revelation chapter 20, and in verses 11 through 15, we read,. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them.

Let me pause here, friends. The scene before us is so terrible and filled with an awful solemnity, and there is a great white throne which symbolizes a pure tribunal of judgment, perfectly just and righteous.

The figure on the throne is a monarch, endued with majesty and authority, for he is the righteous judge of all the earth, none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. And his very appearance, as he takes that throne, is so full of all the power of the Creator, displayed in Genesis 1, that there is a dissolution of the whole frame of nature.

Creation itself trembles at his presence. Now, do you think you're going to stand before that throne and before that monarch with a smart aleck look on your face and flimsy excuses? And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened.

The Books of Human Deeds and the Judgment of Works

Let me pause here again, friends. John Wesley called this scene the Great Tribunal. Just look at that courtroom scene. Cases are brought forth. Evidence is presented. No one is in a hurry, as all time has stood still during this trial of every mother's son who walked the earth.

The dead, small and great, speaks of all the great masses of society in each generation since Adam. Young and old stand there. Low and high stand there. Poor and rich stand there. The nobodies and the somebodies from each generation stand there.

What books are referred to? Why, the biography of every human life is opened from chapter 1 at birth to the closing chapter in death. Every thought, every action, every motive done in the body will be placed under extreme scrutiny by that judge who has eyes of fire.

His gaze will scorch the proud, shrink the mighty, startle the powerful. Our text goes on to say, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. Let me pause again to describe the searching statue book of heaven.

This book contains the rule of life, God's holy law, for God requires perfection to get to his holy heaven. And no man is perfect, but all have sinned, transgressed and broken that law. Each one will stand there guilty as charged.

Because one's life actions will be held up against the strictness and severity of that law. As the book of life is opened, both thunder and lightning come forth to alarm and accuse. This book contains the law of touchstone by which the hearts and lives of men are tried.

They are either justified or condemned. Look at the penalty of sin as the sentencing of the law is carried out upon the guilty heads of those law-breaking rebels who've committed treason against a sovereign.

And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them.

And they were judged, every man, according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Salvation Rests on Christ's Merits

Remember my introduction, friend, about the seal of the monarch? I believe it is here that if you are found in the book of life, if your name is in there, it is because you did not stand in your own merits against God's holy, strict, and severe law.

But you are in that book because you stood there in the merits of another. I know I am a sinner, and I need a substitute for sin in the person of Christ Jesus. I believe it's not too far of a homiletical stretch to see that book of life with my name in there, E .A. Johnston, a guilty sinner.

And across my name is stamped a red wax seal which carries legal import. And that great seal of the monarch is dipped in his blood. That's the only way this poor preacher is going to get in that book.

If you're not saved, friend, if you are just a good church member with a nice track record of service and a good opinion of yourself, you won't cut the mustard that day. You won't make it in that book.

The Blood of the Lamb and the Invitation to Life

You must be washed in the blood of the Lamb. For in Revelation 21, 27, we read, Get to Christ, friend. Salvation is Christ. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.

And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. The gospel is for the hungry, the weary, and the thirsty. Let us pray.