A THREEFOLD PROMISE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 29.

A THREEFOLD PROMISE.

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." Rev. 3: 5. The overcomer is one who has accepted pardon through the atonement and mediation of Christ, and has been enabled to resist temptation by walking in the light of His Word. Through the Spirit of prophecy the apostle John heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Rev. 12: 10, 11.

An overcomer, then, is one who is clear of sin by virtue of the righteousness of Christ. His blood-sacrificed perfect life—has been accepted in lieu of the sinner’s imperfect life, which was forfeited because of sin. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6: 23. “This then is the message . . . that God is light, and . . . if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, . . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1: 5-7. In the third chapter of Zechariah “Joshua the high priest” is placed to represent the redeemed church. “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.”

What is meant by the clothing of the overcomer in white raiment is further explained by the Spirit of prophecy in Rev. 19: 7, 8: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor unto Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” Now the righteousness of the saints is the righteousness of God imputed unto them because of their faith. See Rom. 4: 3-13; 3: 29. And Paul further says, in regard to his own faith, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; . . . that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Phil. 3: 8, 9. The possibility of enduring faithful unto the end is shown by the Lord’s reference to the Sardis church, of whom He testified, “I have not found thy works perfect.” Notwithstanding this sad fact, He says, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments.” They had been made white in the blood of the Lamb, and had been kept so by a faithful walk in the light of His truth. Therefore the promise, “They shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.” Rev. 3: 2-4.

The promise that the names of overcomers shall not be blotted out of the book of life clearly implies that some names will be blotted out. When men accept Christ, or profess to do so, their names are enrolled, and they are not stricken off until the investigative judgment reveals from the record of their lives that they have not continued faithful. Even Judas was reckoned as a disciple of Christ. Peter says, “He was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.” Acts 1: 17. That the life-record is to determine this matter is shown by the testimony of John, concerning the future judgment. He says, “I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Rev. 20: 11, 12.

“We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. . . . As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue confess to God.” And this adds emphasis to the next statement of the apostle: “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” See Rom. 14: 10-12. But “judgment must begin at the house of God.” 1 Peter 4: 17. This judgment will naturally clear up the book of life, and erase all unworthy names; and this makes clear the after statement of the Apostle John, as he looks forward in vision to the judgment scene and relates what he saw: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20: 15.

The remainder of the promise under consideration—“I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels”—calls to mind a special condition that needs to be made more prominent in these last days. Jesus said to the people and to His disciples: “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of

Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8: 34-38.

There is nothing in these days of which men are so prone to be ashamed as of the commandments of God, and especially of His specific “sign” between Him and His people—the Sabbath. Those who confess Christ in word and deed will be acknowledged by Him in the judgment as overcomers. Matt. 10: 32, 33. The true confession of God is obedience. Of those who stand firm through all the trials and tribulations of the last days, the Spirit says, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12.