Q: On the internet, there are certain sites I've noticed they have spoken about a final sealing or a 2nd sealing [of the anointed]. Does the bible even speak of it? What does that mean? and how would they even know they have it? If they got it does it mean if anyone went against them, it would mean their own deaths? And if they got it does it mean they don't need to prove themselves loyal or faithful anymore? Can you explain what this is about?
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A: There are no Scriptures that speak of any "second" sealing! They do, however, speak of the sealing of certain ones who are chosen by Jehovah; and when we understand what that sealing and choosing means then we also understand that there is no need for any secondary or final sealing, as many claim it says in Revelation.

The sealing in Revelation 7:3,4 does not refer to a “final” or “second” sealing of the anointed. The scripture reads: “After this I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth or upon the sea or upon any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and sea, saying: ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.’ And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.” (Rev. 7:3,4)

What does it mean for a person to be sealed? According to Insight on the Scriptures, page 883, a seal in Bible times was “an object used to make an impression (usually on clay or wax) that indicated ownership, authenticity, or agreement.” Concerning the figurative use of a seal it says, “First-century Christians are spoken of as being ‘sealed’ by means of holy spirit, which is an advance token of their heavenly inheritance. (Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30) The seal signifies their being God’s possession (2Co 1:21,22) and shows that they are truly in line for heavenly life. The book of Revelation shows the number finally sealed to be 144,000.”

The Scriptures indicate that a person is sealed by the holy spirit at the time Jehovah chooses and anoints the person for the heavenly inheritance. Paul writes: “By means of him also, after you believed, you were sealed (past tense) with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance.” (Eph. 1:13,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5) God's spirit now acts within such person, powerfully bearing witness with him and changing his natural desire of living forever on a paradise earth to one belonging to heaven. It is not a false hope or desire, for God's spirit enables him to act in accordance with that desire. (Phil. 2:13) This is further shown at Ephesians 4:30: “Also, do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which you have been sealed (past tense) for a day of releasing.” And in writing to the Corinthian brothers Paul wrote: “He who has anointed us is God. He has also put his seal upon us (past tense) and has given us the token of what is to come, that is, the spirit, in our hearts.” (2 Cor. 1:21,22) Clearly, the sealing is done at the time and in connection with their anointing. There is no mention anywhere in the Scriptures of any future secondary sealing of those who have already been sealed.

But then, why did Paul say: “Brothers, I do not yet consider myself as having laid hold of it; but there is one thing about it: Forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead, I am pursuing down toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus?” (Phil. 3:13,14) Did he mean that there would eventually be a second sealing that he needed to attain? No! Paul was simply stating that he, like all of us, need to be faithful right to the end in order to be worthy of any reward. “For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left.” (Heb. 10:26; 2 Peter 2:20-22) What Jesus wrote to the congregation in Smyrna equally applied to Paul, as it does to all of us: “Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10) Paul simply meant that he had not yet considered himself as having laid hold of the reward of the upward call because there was still the possibility of him proving unfaithful. He had seen some of his closest associates forsake Christ and return to the world. (Phil. 3:18,19; 2 Tim. 4:10) Paul did not consider himself to be above his own counsel when he wrote, “let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12) But he had the assurance that once a person was sealed by means of holy spirit he would keep that seal as an advance token of his heavenly inheritance as long as he remained faithful to death.

We can use another scriptural example in connection with this, and that is the figurative “Book of Life” the Bible speaks of. (Phil. 4:3) A person can have his name written in God’s book of life, but he can also have it wiped out. Consider: When is a person’s name entered into the book of life? Is it at the moment he dies, at which time he has proven himself faithful unto death? If that were the case, what happens when the person has been unfaithful? How can his name be wiped out of the book of life if it had not yet been entered, as God said to Moses? (Ex. 32:32,33) Clearly, his name must be written in the figurative book at some time during his life. As Jesus says: “He that conquers will thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will by no means blot out his name from the book of life.” (Rev. 3:5) In the book of Malachi it indicates that a person has his name entered into God’s book of remembrance while he is worshiping Jehovah: “At that time those in fear of Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name.” (Mal. 3:16)

A person has his name entered into God’s book of life when he exercises faith in Jesus; particularly at the moment of his baptism at which time the benefits of Jesus’ ransom is applied to him and he becomes a member of God's temple. (Acts 2:38; Eph. 1:7; 2:8, 11-13, 19-22) His name remains there for as long as he proves faithful. (Rom. 11:22; Heb. 3:14) He does not need to have his name written in the book a second time at some future day, as if the first time was only temporary. All who have their names written down in God’s book of life are assured that they will receive the promised everlasting life. In case they die they will return in the resurrection of the righteous; while those alive will survive the coming great tribulation at Armageddon. (Dan. 12:1; John 5:28,29; 11:25,26; Rev. 13:8) Likewise with the 144,000 who are sealed with God’s holy spirit, and who also have their names written in the book of life. They keep that seal of belonging to Jehovah for as long as they remain faithful. (Compare Rom. 8:38,39) There is no mention anywhere in the Scriptures of his chosen ones needing to be sealed a second time at some future point, as if God all along doubted their loyalty. It's not Jehovah, but Satan who questions their loyalty! (Job 1:9-11; 4:1, 18; 42:7)

In John's Revelation, chapter 7, we are told that the destructive four winds are held back from blowing upon the earth, "until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads." That means that the great tribulation cannot begin before the full number of them is complete, which is revealed to be 144,000. But that doesn't mean that all of the 144,000 are sealed at this time. Only the final number of them are chosen and sealed in order to complete the full number of them. After all, the choosing and sealing of them began with the twelve apostles. (Luke 6:12-16) According to the Scriptures, some of them, a remnant, will still be alive at the time Jesus returns. (Matt. 24:21,22; 42, 45,46; 1 Thess. 4:15, 17) He will then settle accounts with his slaves and identify the faithful ones and reward them accordingly; while the wicked slaves among them, who have already been replaced by this time [like Judas Iscariot was replaced before the outpouring of the holy spirit at Pentecost], will also be clearly identified and dismissed from his household. (Matt. 24:48-51; 25:26-30) Their names will be blotted out from the book of life. (2 Thess. 2:3,4; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:28-31; Rev. 3:3) What happens in their case is similar to what took place with unfaithful Saul, when Jehovah rejected him and replaced him with young David who was "a man agreeable to his heart." (1 Sam. 13:13,14)

The last few members of the 144,000 will have been chosen and sealed immediately prior to the master’s return. The four angels are holding back the four winds of destruction until this has been accomplished. (Compare Jesus’ illustration of the workers who are hired late in the day; Matt. 20:1-16.) Thus, when Jesus returns and is glorified in connection with his holy ones, the entire number of the 144,000 will be present with him “upon the Mount Zion.” (Rev. 14:1-5) They were “bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,” and are shown as having the name of the Lamb and of his Father written on their foreheads. These two names on their foreheads represents their seal which clearly identifies them as belonging to God and to the Lamb, whose “wife” they are. (John 3:28,29; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:2, 9-14)  


I suspect that the second sealing has been taught by the Society out of necessity to address the problem that the end of this system did not follow shortly after 1935, when it was believed the number of the 144,000 had been completed. After all, if the number is already made up, why are the four angels still holding back the four winds of the earth? What's causing the delay? (This understanding was changed in 2007.) If someone claims to have received the second sealing, that would be highly suspicious, since there is no such thing; especially in view of what Jesus warned against in Matthew 24:24,25!


As to your second question: …does it mean if anyone went against them, it would mean their own deaths? I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. Jesus indicates that he takes it personal how the members of his “bride” are treated, saying, “to the extent that you did it [or failed to do it] to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me.” (Matt. 25:34-46; 1 John 4:6) And the apostle Paul says that anyone who destroys God’s temple (they are the foundation of that temple), God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you people are.” (1 Cor. 3:16,17; Eph. 2:19-22; 2 Peter 2:10-12; Luke 17:1,2) We need to recognize that this is God's arrangement. None of them chose themselves. If they do, Jehovah would not acknowledge such one as belonging to him.

I hope in the above explanation I have also answered your final question: if they got it does it mean they don't need to prove themselves loyal or faithful anymore?
Jesus said that “he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved.” (Matt. 24:13) There are no exceptions to that!
 

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