White Robes by John O. Corliss

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 12, 1875

White Robes.

By John O. Corliss

We are sometimes asked, when teaching the near coming of the Lord, if we believe in making white robes, which is evidently an allusion to the oft-repeated “ascension-robe slander.” We reply that we do not believe in a literal garment, of cloth, but in one of a far different nature.

Our Saviour says: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.” Rev. 3: 5. We also read, in Rev. 7: 9, that John saw a great multitude before the throne clothed in white robes; and to the question, “Whence came they?” reply was made, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” It would seem from this that these robes have been stained, or spotted, but have passed through a cleansing process and been whitened. In Rev. 19: 8, we are told that the fine linen is the righteousness of saints, and Moses, after rehearsing before the children of Israel God’s commandments, says: “It shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deut. 6: 25.

“All unrighteousness is sin,” says the apostle, which is in harmony with his statement in another place, where he affirms that “sin is the transgression of the law.” In giving his law to man, God revealed to him his will, and also his character, which he tells us are pure and holy. See Ps. 145: 17; 19: 8. If, therefore, we willfully transgress God’s law, we not only disregard his will, but fail to acquire the righteousness pointed out by that law, and which was exemplified in the character of our Lord Jesus Christ; and hence our righteousness becomes like that spoken of by Isaiah as “filthy rags.” But Zechariah says that when iniquity shall have passed from us, we shall be clothed with a change of raiment. This “change of raiment” is the “robe of righteousness.” Isa. 61: 10. There is efficacy alone in the blood of Christ to remove those stains of sin which have so spotted our characters, and even then if we disobey the commands of God our garments again become soiled and need the cleansing process.

We may be denounced here for having respect unto all of God’s commandments, yet, like the sweet singer of Israel, we need not be ashamed (Ps. 119: 6), if we can only please our Heavenly Father who has, by the gift of his Son, opened a way by which we may be restored to his favor, and be permitted to walk with Christ in white.

The prophet, in view of this prospect, offers the following words of consolation to those who may be reviled for obeying God: “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.” Isa. 51: 7, 8. Then let us arise and put on strength in the name of the Lord, and press the battle to the gate. J. O. Corliss.