Essence of the Seal of God vs Mark of the Beast Conflict
Calvary illustrated the spiritual nature and character of the Seal of God vs the Mark of the Beast Conflict Issue in the Final Crisis (For context, see Revelation 13-14)
The Seal of God manifested —
Jesus and all He did and said while on the Cross
The thief confessing and praying to Jesus as Lord when it appeared impossible that Jesus could be the Messiah
The disciples (even young John and the weeping Mary’s) that were gathered around Him in faith and love amidst the violent mobs
The Mark of the Beast manifested —
The Roman soldiers just “doing their job” in performing the crucifying work
The unbelieving thief echoing the tempting voice of Satan, saying “if you are the son of God, save yourself and us…” etc.
The religious leaders and the mocking mob/crowd shooting out the tongue, and exalting over Jesus in His distress.
While the precise intellectual distinctions between the Sabbath and the Sunday are often focused on in the Seal vs Mark conflict, this is the real and decisive issue behind this subject — the character of God or the character Satan. Calvary revealed people who had the Sabbath intellectually yet were void of its spirit, and of God’s Spirit (the Jewish leaders who wanted the legs of Jesus broken before the Sabbath in order to keep it “holy”). On the other hand, Calvary also revealed people who were deeply honest in their inmost souls, though they were their whole lives led by a system founded upon falsehood (as the Roman soldier who confessed “Truly this man was the son of God”).
Though the apparently unstoppable force of human works (sin) and its deadly and demonic results of death comes head to head with God’s works (righteousness) and its heavenly and divine results of life, we see Jesus conquering at the center of this conflict, leaving us with the promise of Everlasting Rest.
Christ’s rest in His Father conquered the crucifying works of the flesh and the deceptive power of Satan.