Ezekiel 9:3–4 (NIV)
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
In the midst of God's horrific judgment against His people, He calls an angel who has a writing device to out a mark on all those who were faithful -- all those who were appalled at the idolatry in Jerusalem. That mark, from the Hebrew word 'taw' in the day of Ezekiel was an 'X'. " Ancient Christian interpretation saw in this symbol an anticipation of the cross." [1]
“Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.” (Revelation 7:2–4, NIV)
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:21–22, NIV)
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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1512). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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