Revelation 3:4, commentary and pictures

Christ speaks these words to Sardis as the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars and knows its works, set between His rebuke of a lifeless name and imperfect works and His call to watch, strengthen, hold fast, remember and repent. Even where the church is dead, a few keep their garments undefiled and are distinct from those dead in profession. The garments are robes of character, the spotless righteousness of Christ freely offered, the only dress that will stand in the judgment. Not to defile them is to keep life and integrity pure and unspotted from the world, washed white in the blood of the Lamb through repentance and faith. Those who so overcome will walk with Him in white, accounted worthy through His atoning sacrifice, clothed in white raiment with names retained in the book of life and confessed before the Father and His angels.

Setting in Message to Sardis

The words belong to the message of Christ to the angel of the church in Sardis, spoken by the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars and who knows their works. They stand between the rebuke that Sardis has a name to live while dead with works not perfect before God, and the call to be watchful, strengthen the things that remain ready to die, remember how they received and heard, hold fast and repent, lest He come as a thief at an unknown hour, followed by the promise to the overcomer. They are the declaration of the True Witness who guides and rules the churches in every land and who measures the temple and the worshipers, sent in rebuke and judgment for departing from pure, holy, sanctified principles. The warning is addressed not to the common sinner or those making no profession of piety but to church members themselves in a distracted, disordered condition needing most earnest work that things may be set in order, a special message of life or death to professed churches not obeying truth and living in transgression of the law, on which eternal interests depend. Those warned may have some excellent qualifications, yet self-love, self-deception and self-justification for gross neglect to help brethren by encouraging words and deeds neutralize them like a dead fly in the ointment, showing the love of Christ is not an abiding principle and their hard, loveless actions leave works imperfect before God who weighs and never mistakes.

Sardis has a name that it lives but is dead, with works incomplete, not perfect before God, and ready to die. Within it two parties are presented, those who have a name to live but are dead and those striving to overcome, one of two classes of members who strive to keep themselves in the love of God. The few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments are the striving overcomers distinct from the rest, faithful and unstained by sin, who keep character undefiled and are counted worthy to walk with Christ in white. Keeping the garment, which is the righteousness of Christ and the only garment that will do, comes by watchfulness against the devising of Satan, strengthening what remains ready to die, remembering how truth was received and heard, holding fast and repenting, lest Christ come as a thief and the shame of nakedness be seen. The promise is rich and full of hope and encouragement to parents and children, but only on conditions of faith and obedience to do works of righteousness, with honest dealing with self and no self-deception, looking unto Jesus and by beholding becoming changed into His image, unto overcoming clothed in white raiment with the name retained in the book of life and confessed before the Father and His angels.

Sardis was a very wicked city where light had been given through Paul's preaching and some had believed, but many departed from the faith. Yet a few names did not defile their garments with its wickedness, and they shall walk with Christ in white because they are worthy, and the same is true today when wickedness fills the world that some will keep their garments from pollution.

The whole third chapter with the first and second chapters must be read, diligently studied and given personal application as present Bible truth and the work to be done, a call for the church to examine itself and awaken to the work assigned it. The third chapter points out the danger of losing hold upon the things heard and learned from the Source of all light, calling for refusing even a moment's listening to interpretations, fables, new light and theories that would loosen one pin or remove one pillar from the platform of truth tested for half a century, since human interpretations spoil faith, confuse understanding and make faith in Jesus Christ of none effect. It gives the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension, warns against indifference to foretold signs proving the end is right upon us, and presses advancing day by day to receive grace, since watchfulness and prayer in faith bring through the Holy Spirit a rich blessing that saves and strengthens and prepares to meet the Lord coming in clouds with power and great glory. It stands with the messages to Ephesus, Pergamos, Philadelphia and Laodicea as message after message commanded to be written of things seen and present and to come, with the Laodicean portion applying especially to God's people today as professing Christians grown so like the world that no difference can be seen.

The message reaches to the close of earth's history, belongs to things given from heaven to be written, is in force today, and is a communication for all living in these last days. It belongs to the proclamation of the third angel's message combining the first and second and binding them with the third, bringing God's people into the closing scenes and the great last warfare between those keeping God's commandments and those making void His law. It applies now to professed Christians grown like the world, and as a lesson of warning to Seventh-day Adventists to take heed in the present hour when a most trying time is ahead and perils thickening around will increase until the close of history, as the church spoken of in the last part of the chapter. It warns those sustaining spiritual loss and losing bearings through deceptive teachings and false science from the archdeceiver, those changing faith at Battle Creek and elsewhere, those who once rejoiced but lost first love, and those ministers and workers sustained by the tithe who are consumers and not producers through selfishness, careless dealing and inaction, calling them to watchfulness, strengthening what remains, remembering and holding fast what was received and heard, repentance, and sincere earnest persevering labor bearing much fruit for souls. It was given as a final test at the last General Conference in Battle Creek, where the moving of the Spirit could be discerned and decisions were made for eternity, with no greater evidence ever to be given, so that all failing to improve it would be more blinded to do strange things bringing a new order with overturning, proving, trying and humbling of those misrepresenting truth and falsifying principle. Some will refuse to receive this message, but God's chosen receive it and do the work it calls for, for living name, church membership, orthodox theories and going through forms and ceremonies are not life, and motion is not life unless alive in Christ.

Garments Kept Undefiled Meaning

Garments mean robes of character, and to keep them undefiled is to keep character undefiled. The white garment is the spotless character of Christ, His righteousness, the only garment that will do in judgment, worn instead of the old citizen's dress. It is the wedding garment pure as the lily, freely offered to everyone, formed as pure loving thoughts are cherished and loving helpful deeds are done, beautifying the life now and serving as title of admission to the King's palace. To walk in white is to be clothed in that white raiment of Christ's righteousness.

Not defiling the garments means keeping life pure and unspotted from the world, walking with God on earth unstained by surrounding spiritual corruption. It means being true and loyal and faithful through evil as well as good report, not yielding to falsehood and satanic influence, but holding fast to truth in watchfulness and repentance. It means not becoming careless, indifferent and prayerless, but being Christian every day, every hour, every minute, living without the stain of sin. Those who so keep themselves pure desire only to be like Christ, do not boast or lift up the soul unto vanity, grasp eternal riches with intense pure holy faith, uplift the standard of righteousness, and reveal His righteousness to sinful men. Such purity is possible because God has made holiness possible, calling His people to be unlike the world and like Christ.

Garments are defiled by unbelief and by whatever corruption is around, an experience to strive against more than ever before. They are defiled by working to uplift self, cherishing and exalting self in pride, haughtiness and spiritual poverty, leaving words, spirit and actions unlike Christ. Dying to self keeps them undefiled, with putting on the whole armor of God and depending on the Holy Spirit to resist temptation and fight the battles of the Lord. They are defiled by contamination with the world in dress, in conversation, in selfishness, pride and idolatry, including love of fashionable dress and dishonoring God with speech. They are defiled by backsliding under worldly favor until faith and zeal expire into dead formality, while keeping them white means retaining first faith and first love.

Garments are also defiled by eating and drinking what brings disease and infirmity. The darling luxury of tea and coffee creates an unnatural state of mind and body, and overcoming unhealthful indulgence by bringing daily practice into harmony with right principles belongs to being worthy to walk in white. Indulging perverted appetite, especially eating flesh meat, animalizes human nature, robs of love and sympathy, and, since people are built up from what they eat, brings a condition where lower passions control the higher powers. Not defiling the garments in this respect means accepting the light on health reform, denying perverted appetite, and refusing flesh meat as not the right food for God's people especially where fruits, grains and nuts are abundant, choosing many kinds of wholesome food instead. By temperance in eating and drinking mind and body are kept in the most favorable condition for service, keeping the commandments in sacred relation with God so He can cooperate and strengthen with better health. The few overcome in this, and their overcoming is linked with being clothed in white and having the name retained in the book of life and confessed before the Father and the angels.

Keeping garments undefiled means washing robes and making them white in the blood of the Lamb. This is done by receiving Jesus Christ and believing in Him, so those dead in trespasses and sins are brought nigh by His blood, with the constraining power of His love in the heart and grace through faith making an end of sin in the heart, the fountain for washing having been prepared at infinite cost. It is the purity God gives to all who come with broken hearts and contrite spirits, whom He promises to make whiter than snow, pictured by snow clothing the world in a pure vestment of white. It is sanctification of body, soul and spirit through the truth by receiving the crucified and risen Saviour as Regenerator and enjoying His abiding presence in the heart, keeping His words, living His life, and showing the world the power that comes to those who live the life of Christ. No sin can be tolerated in those who shall walk in white, so filthy garments must be removed and His robe of righteousness placed upon them, and by repentance and faith they render obedience to all the commandments and are found without blame before Him. This requires exerting every energy of the soul in overcoming evil, with attention, hopes and faith fixed upon Jesus as Advocate for strength to do what cannot be done alone, giving Him all the glory of salvation, and that present identification with Christ, Christ in them and they in Him, prepares for identification as His saints in the mansions He has gone to prepare.

Walking in White Worthy

To walk in white is to be clothed in the white raiment of Christ's righteousness, receiving and wearing His spotless character instead of the old dress of self. That character is freely offered to all, and it is formed as pure, loving thoughts are cherished and loving, helpful deeds are done. It is the imperishable beauty of a meek and quiet spirit, more valuable than outward adornment, reflected outwardly so that the believer is made beautiful and beloved here. It beautifies in this present life and is the title and badge of admission to the King's palace. Only those so clothed will be able to endure the glory of His presence when He appears with power and great glory, and their sins will be forgiven and remembered no more as holy ones written among the living.

They are called worthy because through His atoning sacrifice and infinite sacrifice they are accounted worthy. Their worthiness is joined to penitence and faith, and is no excuse for sins. Christ does not excuse their sins but pleads forgiveness for them, claims them as His own, clothes them with His own righteousness, and presents them to the Father as forgiven and cleansed and holy, a purified church. Their names are recorded in the book of life.

The worthy are those united with Christ, who have accepted Him as Saviour and been converted from sin to holiness. They determine to be partakers of the divine nature, and as such escape the world's corruption through lust. They overcome through the blood of the Lamb and their testimony, become rich in faith, and inherit a treasure greater than gold. That union is decided day by day and determines eternal life or eternal death, for without daily union and constant dependence on the Saviour eternal life cannot be won. People are His property by creation and by redemption, and though He gave His life as a propitiation for sin, His sacrifice avails only for those who accept Him and become one with Him.

Walking in white includes walking with Him now by faith as companion, for Christ is with believing ones when compelled to associate with the world just as when they meet to worship, and no soul that trusts in God will be overcome. While the mind is stayed upon God as sun and shield, the surrounding blackness and darkness leaves no spot or stain, and by faith making Christ companion they pray and believe and work to save souls ready to perish and to break the bands Satan has fastened, gaining the victory to heaven's joy in humility and meekness and lowliness of heart. Their earthly walk with God, holding to righteousness without boasting or vanity and revealing His righteousness to sinners, leads to eternal glory. That present identification — sanctified body, soul and spirit through truth by receiving the crucified and risen Saviour, keeping His words and living His life — is required in order to be identified as His saints in the mansions prepared, to see the King in His beauty and sit with Him in heavenly places. It leads to a future walk in the world He has prepared, in Paradise with a renovated race, in a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness, in a beautiful home of bliss where all is happiness, joy and peace with no sorrow, night, pain or death because the crucified Lamb is its glorious light, and in the higher school where He teaches where there is no tempting devil.

To be counted worthy is the highest honor that can be bestowed on human beings. It means being greatly honored and put closest to Christ, next to Him by the great white throne within the inner circle, crowned as overcomers in robes of honor and glory with an eternal weight of glory. It is promised even to worldly, wealthy, influential and honored people of every position, race and background if through persevering effort they accept truth, accept Christ and the wedding garment pure as the lily, keep the commandments and become faithful stewards. Then they share heaven's triumph with rest and peace and life that measures with the life of God, becoming kings and priests to God, sons and daughters, jewels and heirs with Christ. Those who remain faithful through persecution and suffering, though the world counts them unworthy of life, are worthy of honor in heaven and will receive eternal glory.

Overcomer Promise Joined Together

The few who have kept their garments undefiled are the striving overcomers within Sardis, distinct from those who have a name to live but are dead and whose works are not perfect before God. The promise to walk in white belongs to those united with Christ who strive to overcome inherited and cultivated tendencies and to perfect a character that will enable them to stand before the Son of God. They are counted worthy because they keep themselves in the love of God rather than dishonoring Him by evil works.

The next verse explains the promise, that he who overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment, his name shall not be blotted out of the book of life, and Christ will confess his name before the Father and before His angels. Keeping the garment undefiled requires watchfulness against Satan, strengthening what remains ready to die, remembering how truth was received and heard, holding fast, and repenting, on conditions of faith and obedience with honest dealing with self and no self-deception. Gathering souls for that confession is worth living for as laborers together with God.

Names are written in the book of life when first accepting Christ, but they do not always remain there. Unconfessed sins lead to blotting out, while overcomers who are Christians every day, every hour, every minute retain their names and keep walking in white. This conditional salvation plainly stated is Bible election, specifying who shall be crowned in the city of God.

Christ's confession of their names is connected with His present ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, where He pleads their cases and makes atonement for their sins. It belongs to the judgment of each person's case, in which the faithful are clothed in Christ's righteousness and presented to the Father as forgiven, cleansed, holy, with sins remembered no more. It is also connected with His appearing at the close of His mediation to bless His waiting people with eternal life, so those living when intercession ceases must have purified characters by continually given grace and diligent effort while judgment is taking place.

The undefiled few are the same company as the five wise virgins, who have perfected Christian character by washing their robes and making them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are those who love Christ and keep His commandments, accepting the wedding garment He provides, pure and spotless as the lily, which is the robe of His righteousness and not the old citizen's dress. Their white is the fine linen clean and white which is the righteousness of the saints, granted to those made ready for the marriage of the Lamb and called to the marriage supper, with right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city for those who do His commandments and keep the patience of the saints in the faith of Jesus.

Prophetic Reach to Last Days

The seven churches set forth seven states of the Christian church reaching from the first advent of Christ to His second appearing. The number seven denotes completeness, so the message to Sardis is symbolic of a period of the Christian era, extends to the end of time, and is in force today. It portrays the condition existing in the churches of the religious world today, depicting professed people of God as wheat developing among tares, with truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error. Christ discriminates in weighing character, being acquainted with the thoughts and intents of the heart as well as every word and act, knowing the religious experience of each and whom each loves and serves, which calls for close self-examination.

The communication of Revelation 3:1-5 is for all who live in these last days. It belongs to the proclamation of the third angel's message, which combines the first and the second messages and binds them up with the third. It brings God's people into the closing scenes of earth's history and the great last warfare between those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void His law. It calls to prepare to meet the Lord coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, warns against indifference to foretold signs proving the end is right upon us, and presses advancing day by day to receive grace, since watchfulness and prayer in faith bring through the Holy Spirit a rich blessing that saves and strengthens.

Even amidst the fearful moral pollution of the last days there are a few who through grace have kept garments pure and undefiled, and they shall walk in white because they are worthy. In the future time of perplexity and trouble and deception they hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end, receive the mark of God in their foreheads, are declared worthy, and at the appointed time hear the glad tidings of deliverance filling hearts with gladness and lips with praise, their only safety being unity in the work given them under God alone as supervisor. Revealed truth is being fulfilled today, leaving no time for idleness and indifference but calling all to strive to develop Christian character with understanding cleansed, purified, sanctified and ennobled and mind purified by obeying truth, while a heavenly Watcher marks words and deportment and reads motives as all take sides for blessing or curse. The spotless garments are characters purified from sin by Christ's blood, and those living when His intercession ceases must have such characters, overcoming evil by grace and diligent effort while the investigative judgment is taking place.

To walk in white is to be clothed in the white raiment of His righteousness and to be accounted worthy through atoning sacrifice, and the same acknowledgment of faithfulness given to the few in Sardis will be given to overcomers now who perfect character to stand before the Son of God. Only those so clothed will be able to endure the glory of His presence when He appears with power and great glory, so earnest striving to overcome, constant resistance of the enemy, and moment-by-moment holding to Christ and His power to save are required. The worthy belong to a renovated race received into Paradise, having the moral image of God restored and the likeness of Christ's character revealed in every soul as His glory expressed in life. All are on trial during probationary time; those who lay hold of the Saviour and by faith receive His merits perfect a character like His, while those who refuse His character lose heaven, and the worthy will live in a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness, free from dissension, selfishness, poverty, sickness and oppression.

Those who remain faithful through persecution and suffering, even when the world counts them unworthy of life, are worthy of honor in heaven, shall walk in white, and shall receive eternal glory. The few who suffer and give up life rather than give up truth give others courage to lift the cross and obey at any cost. This includes the Waldensian martyrs hidden in mountains and caverns and clefts of rock and valleys and dungeons and caves, who walked with God in life, valued integrity above ease and property and life itself, and died in exile by starvation or cruelty. They remain in hidden graves, in ground sanctified by martyrs' blood, until the Life-giver calls with the voice of the Archangel and the trump of God, when the dead come forth to walk with Him in white.

The faithful are to keep garments spotless while He goes to the Father to receive the kingdom, awaiting His return to receive them. Keeping the garments is watching and holding fast in readiness for His quick coming, so as not to walk naked and be exposed in shame. This gives part of the education needed for the day of trial coming as a thief in the night, calling for training and consecrating all powers to glorify God as in the school of the prophets, with youthful zeal and ardor employed in real, thorough, well-organized efforts under instructors to be a blessing to others.

Keeping Garments Undefiled Now

Keeping the robe unspotted comes by heeding the counsel to the dead church that has a living name: be watchful against satanic devising, strengthen the things that remain ready to die, remember how the truth was first received and heard, hold fast to principles and to the evidence given, and repent, lest the coming as a thief expose nakedness and shame. That watching includes prayer at all times and clinging firmly to faith, so that spiritualistic and mesmeric influences leading to false belief and conduct are resisted. It also means holding fast to what was heard and remaining true to it, refusing new theories, false science, and ideas that would destroy confidence in truths tested for half a century. Studying and obeying the Word in this way disciplines evil in the life and prepares the soul to endure the trials of the last days.

Day by day the faithful are tested, tried, and continually tempted, yet they watch and pray and lay hold by faith on One ever ready to hear the petition of even the humblest suppliant. They submit to Christ to be kept unspotted from the world, press forward by living faith instead of resting content with present knowledge, and receive abundance of grace from heaven's full storehouse made possible by infinite sacrifice. As partakers of the divine nature they escape the corruption in the world through lust, overcome by the Lamb's blood and their testimony, become rich in faith, and inherit a treasure greater than gold. Only such constant dependence on the Saviour keeps integrity amid moral pollution and forms a holy life, showing sagacity, sound faith, and unbending integrity like Joseph and Daniel with Christ formed within.

Worthiness is settled day by day by union with Christ, which decides between eternal life and eternal death, since His propitiation avails only for those who accept Him as Saviour and become one with Him. That union is proved by earnest, frequent, laborious self-examination of spirit, habits, temper, appetites, and practice by the moral standard of God's holy law, discarding every defect as rotten timber until becoming pure, peaceable, kind, and full of goodness, love, and truth. Keeping the robe clean means dying to self rather than cherishing and exalting self, for working to uplift self brings pride, haughtiness, and spiritual poverty in word, spirit, and action, while dying to self brings precious experience of walking in white. It calls for putting on the whole armor of God and depending on the Holy Spirit to resist temptation and fight the Lord's battles, putting away traits unlike Christ whose sinless obedience is the example, and those so counted worthy walk and talk with the Prince of Light under His commendation, bringing joy to His heart and honor to parents.

That inward worthiness appears in active service rather than idleness, keeping the Gospel lamp burning brightly in unfavorable surroundings, in marketplace and workshop just as in the place of prayer. The undefiled cling by faith to Christ as personal Saviour, claim His grace and guardian care wherever they are, meet Satan with Scripture, and do and dare danger for God, proving by clean example that diligence in business can join fervor in spirit. In daily professional work they fix thoughts on Christ, let silent petitions constantly ascend for strength and guidance, and flee to the secret place of the Most High where everlasting arms are underneath and the way to the throne is always open. They correctly represent Bible religion by piety, earnest devotion, and strictest fidelity, whether in medical missionary institutions or foreign fields, using entrusted goods unselfishly, educating others, establishing worship, obeying truth even when unpopular, confessing Christ by life as well as mouth, and bearing fruit to God's glory.

Belonging to that company requires living in consecration, devotion, and humility, drawing nigh to God by prayer, contemplation, and reading His Word so that He draws nigh to lift a standard the enemy cannot pass amid arrayed powers of darkness. It requires religion in the home, with thorough work educating and training children to well-balanced characters the Lord can approve, for while those duties are neglected the blessing cannot be expected. Putting on the robe of Christ's righteousness through true conversion, sanctification of soul and mind, and salvation from sin calls for determined effort in every church and family, with fathers and mothers understanding their consecration and with instruction and earnest prayer in all schools and institutions that youth may grow up to honor God.

Each person should ask whether he is among that few, for there is a right side and a wrong side and only a few are on the right as in Noah's day, though the world under Satan sustains and popularizes transgression without lessening any principle of God. The answer is learned from 2 Peter 1 by living on the plan of addition, letting the graces be in him and abound so he is not barren in Christ's knowledge, giving diligence to make calling and election sure unto abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom. The undefiled keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, hold fast integrity, keep souls in God's love unspotted from the world as a peculiar chosen people, make the Bible the supreme guide and close companion through evil as well as good report, and shape speech free from guile and idle words by Scripture's standard. Loving fashionable dress while having no pleasure in Christ's righteousness, and using speech to dishonor God, defiles the robe, while trimming the inner lamp and keeping the root holy makes speech sound and fragrant to Him.

Today a faithful few on earth love God supremely and neighbor as self and have not defiled their garments. Even in corrupt Sardis a few hold fast their integrity with holding fast to God as their only hope, and in them is fulfilled being made more precious than fine gold and the golden wedge of Ophir. They overcome evil hereditary and cultivated tendencies to become like Christ in spirit, word, and character, choosing whom to serve, weaning the heart from other confidences, being emptied of self and reshaped into the moral image by beholding Jesus, seeking inward adorning rather than outward surroundings and human praise. They refuse to join the accuser in presenting God's people as unworthy, and God claims them as His.

Warning Encouragement and Reward

Even in a church that has a name to live while dead, a few keep themselves undefiled and are counted worthy to walk in white, and this is mercy and encouragement and warning to those defective in character who have long known truth without obeying it even while standing in positions of responsibility, calling proud hearts to humble themselves and repent before passing the boundary line. It is a warning of grave import to lead out of spiritual indifference and half-hearted work into unreserved consecration, receiving the Holy Spirit and serving with zeal and genuine interest in what is of eternal importance. It speaks especially to all who have a name to live while dead and to stewards who thought it their privilege to ascend to the highest places, bidding careful attention to what the Spirit says to the churches, for the warning comes from the Messenger of heaven and not from human lips. It belongs to a message that applies in every age to those who have received great light but have not opened the heart, urging heed to heaven's counsel and repentance lest they share the condition under judgment. The faithful few stand in contrast to those who dishonor by evil works, and their promise is joined to the promise that every overcomer shall be clothed in white, kept in the book of life, and confessed before the Father and His angels.

Religious life may be outwardly praiseworthy yet dead without love to God and to neighbors, and hearts must not be allowed to grow cold and unimpressible. Self-love, self-deception and self-justification for gross neglect to help brethren by encouraging words and deeds neutralize excellent qualifications like a dead fly in the ointment, for hard loveless actions show love is not an abiding principle and works are not perfect before God who weighs without mistake. Pharisaical harshness that hurts a brother is rebuked, with the call to be watchful, to strengthen things ready to die, to remember how truth was received and heard, to hold fast and repent lest He come as a thief at an unknown hour. Refusing to join the accuser in presenting God's people as unworthy marks the undefiled, whom God claims as His, and accusing His faithful servants and sealed people is warned against.

Even where the cause struggles with limited resources and only a few undefiled names, the great Husbandman cares for all churches alike, and the few forbid needless outlay yet require sowing truth, guarding missionary settlements, helping the lowly, hindering no work, and watching for souls. Their unsoiled garments picture lives not defiled by wrongdoing amid a corrupt environment, and their steady faithfulness to principle proves religion genuine before God's throne. In the publishing house the moral atmosphere leaves only a few undefiled amid selfishness and injustice, in contrast to the corrupt surroundings. Workers in every department of a medical missionary institution are to be missionaries correctly representing Bible religion by piety, earnest devotion and strictest fidelity, and workers in institutions and the school are to make thorough preparation to make a place where people can hear, understand and have souls stirred, keeping the high standard and remaining clean and pure in God's sight instead of letting minds become confused and doubting coming judgments. Failures of some will not leave Christ without faithful witnesses to shine in their places, for some will keep the high standard and this work must be taken up by everyone who accepts truth.

The promise gives encouragement and courage to those who face temptation. It sustains remaining true to right principles despite compromise and unfaithfulness around, for even when many prove unfaithful a few remain undefiled and faithful. Lack of food and clothing cannot separate God's children from Him, and even in suffering want a faithful few keep garments undefiled with comfort promised to them as worthy to walk in white. It applies to faithful tried servants true as steel to principle who finish earthly pilgrimage in faith, so when old standard-bearers lay off armor in death there is reason to rejoice and not mourn as counted among the undefiled and worthy. Only a few amid multitudes devoted to mammon keep garments unspotted from the world when account must be given of time, influence and possessions, and to be of that number is to hold fast integrity, cling to Jesus as refuge, obey, live for and love Him, be pure and holy and undefiled with no guile in the mouth, and find joy in saving souls, precious in God's sight as a power with faith working by love and purifying the soul, exemplifying lofty principles, seeking personal connection with the Source of light, making constant improvement, cultivating every faculty, and showing unbending uprightness distinguishing them as children of the most high God. Clean garments are contrasted with pretended righteousness hiding defilement.

Amid unbelief, criticism, evil-speaking and working against what is appointed, the few walk and work circumspectly under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, choosing Christ rather than Barabbas and not crucifying the Son afresh to open shame. They retain purity of first faith and have not forfeited place among God's people by failing to walk in counsel, retaining hope of names acknowledged and of walking in white. Clean garments mark inward principle and moral purity sustained by genuine truth in the heart and faith in atoning blood, not outward appearance or passing emotion. The call is to listen rather than resist light and evidence, no longer walking as blind men not knowing at what they stumble while the Spirit is proffered again and again, but honoring God, praising Him, responding to grace by cultivating love for heavenly things, and beholding Jesus till His likeness is reflected in cheerful grateful praise. Those counterworking will be gathered in bundles with the tares when the unsetting Sun of Righteousness shines forth, while those holding confidence firm hear deliverance.

Those who overcome will walk in purity, enter through the gates into the city with right to the tree of life, and inherit a treasure greater than gold. Undefiled garments mean character tested and proved by earnest frequent laborious self-examination of spirit, habits, temper, appetites and practice, discarding every defect like rotten timber until becoming more like Christ, pure, peaceable, kind, full of goodness, love and truth, with worthiness decided day by day by trying character by the moral standard of holy law. They are those who love Christ and keep His commandments, to whom the Father's love and Christ's manifestation and the abiding Comforter are given, white being the fine linen clean and white which is the righteousness of saints granted to those made ready for the marriage of the Lamb and called to the marriage supper, their worthiness the patience of saints in keeping the commandments and the faith of Jesus. This precious glorious promise is what is to be wanted, valued and sought, and why Christ came in a life of suffering, constant labor, sympathy and tenderness toward suffering humanity and little children, with souls worth everything so that gathering souls for names to be confessed and not blotted out is worth living for as laborers together with God. It is to be sought by earnest striving, constant resistance and moment-by-moment holding to saving power.