Clothed in White Raiment

Revelation


And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write
These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God
and the seven stars
I know thy works
that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Be watchful
and strengthen the things which remain
that are ready to die
for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard
and hold fast,
and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch,
I will come on thee as a thief
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments
and they shall walk with me in white
for they are worthy.
He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life
but I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels.
He that hath an ear
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

*******

1798 to 1844

You live and art dead.
If something is said to live but art dead what's it like, I mean in our modern terms? A coma? Those in a coma live but are as if they are dead. How many people slip into a coma and die? Quite a few, right? I suppose it depends on the cause of the coma. Do all coma patients die? No.


God's people, His church, most assuredly suffered many periods of time in which the truth in God was stifled. The outward religious revivals, the zeal of the people mean little when it's a zeal that is misplaced and not genuine, when it is not the truth of God through Jesus Christ. Living yet dead.

...
Be watchful
and strengthen the things which remain
that are ready to die
for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
...

Strengthen the remaining things that are ready to die- die without intervention? Isn't it often the way that weak things are known to die? If God's people don't hold fast through the adversity surrounding them it's easy to grow weak. Imperfection in actions are unacceptable. So much admontion and this isn't something that can be taken lightly. Sabbath keeping- the keeping of God's commandments in full- was not pronounced until the 20th century and yet it steadily grew up out of small groups here and there which held fast to the truth. Strengthening the things which remain, there is a remainder that needs strength.


No, the works aren't perfect and we can't believe God will ever accept anything less than perfection in Christ.


...
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard
and hold fast,
and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch,
I will come on thee as a thief
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
...


Remember! Hold fast! Repent! Watch!


These are things that throughout history God's people have to adhere to. There will never be a time we should no longer remember all that we've been taught and have received of God. There will never be a time we should loosen our grasp on the faith we need in Jesus. There will never be a time we shouldn't repent, and there will never be a time we shouldn't watch for the coming of our Lord and Savior- never. Foolishness some will say, but it's true. We watch and we keep the hope alive, the faith strong in Christ. If we stop watching for Christ we will not be prepared and like a thief sneaking in and stealing away all that is yours without your ever being alerted to their visitation until it's too late and all your goods are gone- Christ will come and salvation will be lost to those who aren't watching for Him.


Remember! Hold fast! Repent! Watch!


...

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments
and they shall walk with me in white
for they are worthy.
He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life
but I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels.
He that hath an ear
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
...


Defiled garments are unsuitable, if we're not clothed in the pure white of Christ's righteousness then we are stained by unforgiven sin, unrepented sin and we will not walk with Christ. There are few that remain clothed in Christ's righteousness among God's people, few that are trusting solely in Him and not relying on their own filthy righteousness. Only those who are clothed in white will be worthy in Christ.


God's people who overcome with have white raiment, pure undefiled garments and they will have their names in the book of life- Christ will confess our names before God, before God's angels! We want our names confessed by Christ. We want Him knowing our names, knowing us, knowing that we rely on Him and wait for Him, watching, seeking Him and the gift of His salvation.


May the Lord bless us with His mercy. May we be among those clothed in the pure white of His righteousnss and have our names confesed by Jesus to God and the angels. In His name!


Amen.