Revelation 3:5, commentary and pictures

Christ's promise to Sardis divides its members into those who profess life while dead in imperfect works and the few who keep their garments undefiled by holding fast integrity and striving to overcome to the end. Overcoming is a daily lifelong battle against temptation, the world, the flesh and selfish tendencies, possible only by faith in Christ who overcame for humanity through His blood, grace and Spirit. The white clothing promised is His righteousness alone, received by repentance and faith and washing in His blood, which gives a pure spotless character fit for walking with Him in glory and eternal life. A name is written in the Lamb's book of life on giving self to God in Christ, but remaining there is conditional, so unconfessed and cherished sin blots it out while zealous repentance, confession and obedience keep it unto pardon. In the investigative judgment every case is reviewed from the records, and Christ Himself pleads for the truly penitent who claim His blood and keep His law, confessing their names before the Father and angels and counting them worthy of eternal life.

Sardis Message Setting

The promise to the overcomer belongs to the message to Sardis, given through John on Patmos from Him who has the seven Spirits and the seven stars, to be read with all of Revelation 2-3 and especially chapter 3 and applied to the present church and the last days. It pledges white clothing, keeping of the name in the book of life, and confession of the name before the Father and His angels, with walking with Christ in white because they are worthy, and it stands together with the open door that no one can shut, keeping from the hour of temptation, and being made a pillar in the temple of God bearing the name of God and of the New Jerusalem. It belongs only to those united to Christ by creation and redemption who accept Him as Saviour and become one with Him, deciding day by day between eternal life and eternal death, and it was given to God's chosen ones for the work they are to do, though some refuse to receive it. It is words of mercy and encouragement and warning from the Messenger of heaven, from lips that cannot be moved by human influence, penned by inspiration of the Spirit as what the Spirit says to the churches, to be given careful attention and heard by all who have an ear. It is directed especially to those who have a name to live but are dead, whose works are not perfect before God and whose characters are defective, who have known the truth for years and yet have not obeyed it even while standing in positions of responsibility, calling them to humble proud hearts, hold fast, and repent lest protection be removed and they be punished as sinners.

Within Sardis the promise divides two parties, those having a name to live but dead and those striving to overcome who have not defiled their garments and are counted worthy to walk with Christ in white. The few even in Sardis and today love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, hold fast integrity with their only hope in holding fast to God, and the Lord knows His own even when tares are mingled with the wheat. To them the True Witness pledges walking with Christ in white because they are worthy, being clothed in white, keeping of the name in the book of life, and acknowledgment before the Father and the angels, set beside the warning to repent and hold fast so that faithfulness and overcoming are central.

The seven churches symbolize seven states of the Christian church covering the entire period from the first advent to the second appearing, the number seven indicating completeness and showing the messages extend to the end of time and are in force today. The sixth state with one united voice proclaimed the coming of Jesus in the autumn of 1844 and was about to enter great trial, and relief in ascertaining its true position would come by light from the heavenly sanctuary on the shut and open door, which is the connecting link between the past Advent movement, present duty to keep the commandments including the Sabbath, and the future glory and reward to the overcomer. The passage for the last days brings down to the closing scenes of earth's history and belongs to the proclamation of the third angel's message, which combines the first and second messages and binds them with the third, setting forth the great last warfare between those who keep the commandments and those who make void the law. The messages to the churches in Asia portray the state of things existing in the churches of the religious world today, with the names symbolic of different periods and the figures symbolic of God's professed people as wheat developing among tares, truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error. The discrimination revealed weighs the characters of those who take Christ's name, for every individual is under His supervision, He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart as well as every word and act and all about religious experience and whom each loves and serves, so there is need of close self-examination.

The promise comes with mercy, warning, and rebuke in love, calling for watchfulness, strengthening what remains ready to die, perfect works before God, remembering and holding fast what was received and heard, repentance, receiving the Holy Spirit, unreserved consecration, doing first works and what needs to be done, with more zeal and genuine interest in eternal things, or Christ will come as a thief at an unknown hour for failure to watch. It warns against a name of living while dead and a position of spiritual indifference and half-hearted work, and it is sent in rebuke and judgment for departure from pure, holy, sanctified principles in business management, confronting worldliness, loss of first love, and departure in business and doctrine. The white clothing means a perfected Christian character, garments not defiled by sin but washed white in the blood of the Lamb, belonging to the five wise virgins who perfect such character. The daily transactions of members are registered in God's book of records and will appear in the great day when each receives according to works, requiring searching the heart as with a lighted candle and criticizing actions in the light of the law as the standard, with clear remembrance of every word and deed in judgment.

Patient endurance of whatever tribulation comes keeps the name in the book of life for confession, for through Him who loved them the enduring are more than conquerors. The promise was opened to John with the great events of the future that will shake the thrones of kings and cause earthly powers to tremble, the close of all earthly scenes and the ushering in of the reign of Him who is King of kings whose kingdom shall endure forever, when Christ receives the adoration of all the hosts of heaven.

The promise is God's call to listen, spoken to those who have resisted light and evidence and therefore walk as blind men, not knowing what they stumble over, making crooked paths and turning the lame out of the way. When the Holy Spirit is proffered again and again and breathes upon souls for whom Christ died, then is the time to honor God, to praise Him, and to respond to His grace by cultivating love for heavenly things and by beholding Jesus so His likeness is reflected in cheerful, grateful praise for His love and grace. There is but a step from earth to heaven, and the heavenly anointing departs where pity is untrained, faith scarcely exists, and sacred things are handled in a sharp, critical, censorious spirit.

Those who have not stained character but have held fast integrity with their only hope in holding fast to God are counted worthy by the True Witness to walk with Christ in white, to receive white clothing, to keep their names in the book of life, and to have their names acknowledged before the Father and before His angels. In them is fulfilled the making of a man more precious than fine gold, even than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Meaning of Overcoming

Everyone has something to overcome in a daily, lifelong battle to the end against the enemy and all his agencies and besetments, temptation, the world, the flesh and the Devil, selfishness, and inherited and cultivated tendencies. Overcoming means firmly resisting, staying watchful and on guard every moment, never losing sight of Christ and His power to save in trial, placing the hand in His to be upheld by His might, and enduring tribulation, testing and family opposition. It is victory even though all the powers of darkness are arrayed against God's people, coming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony held in consecration, devotion and humility so the enemy cannot control the mind, unto a pure and spotless character and a crown of life.

Overcoming is possible only in Christ who fought Satan and overcame for humanity, by His blood and testimony, His atoning sacrifice, grace constantly imparted, the Spirit, and the open door no one can shut. It requires wholehearted faith, conversion, dying to self, taking God's strength in Christ's name, dealing honestly with self, looking unto Jesus to be changed into His image by beholding, and cooperating with God rather than trusting self or human agents. 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, for through receiving Jesus and believing, those dead in trespasses and sins are brought nigh by His blood, the constraining love of Christ ends sin in the heart, and the fountain prepared at infinite cost washes robes of character white in the blood of the Lamb.

To overcome is to keep garments undefiled by perfect works before God, obedience to all commandments made possible by Christ's death, loyalty through trial, holding fast truth already received rather than yielding to apostasy, and practicing and teaching truth through evil report as well as good report. It is keeping the baptismal vow to break all connection with Satan and his agencies and to enlist heart and soul in extending the kingdom of God, with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit cooperating and a door of communication with heaven opened that no human hand or satanic agency can close. It is being watchful, strengthening what remains ready to die, remembering and holding fast and repenting, having self crucified with the love of Christ as an abiding principle, overcoming self-love and self-deception, hardness of heart, and gross neglect to help brethren by encouraging words and deeds, refusing to join the accuser, confessing Christ before the world, and buying white raiment to cover the shame of nakedness. Keeping the name in the book of life requires careful and zealous repentance of every sin, entire surrender, asking God to come into the heart and abide there, glorifying God by example, washing the robe of character white in the blood of the Lamb, purifying self as Christ is pure, and conquering day by day with the strength of the Infinite One and the light of God's glory shining from the face of Jesus, with God and angels helping those who walk with God, unto entrance through the gates into the city and right to the tree of life.

Undefiled garments can be kept by faith even in unfavorable surroundings, in the marketplace and workshop as well as in prayer, by loving and believing in Christ as personal Saviour and claiming His grace and guardian care. This calls for steadfast integrity that clings by faith to the Mighty One, refuses a religion dependent on favorable circumstances, does and dares danger in Christian service, holds no parley with Satan but meets him with It is written, and proves by unfeigned faith and clean, pure example that it is possible to be active and not slothful in business while fervent in spirit serving the Lord, so that commercial enterprises are conducted on Bible principles.

The verse presents Christ as the living, personal Savior whom believers must know, and those who cast Him aside do not know Him.

White Raiment Promised

The white raiment promised to the overcomer is the garments of Christ's righteousness, the righteousness of the saints, the only garment that covers shame and keeps from walking naked, and the only fitness to stand before God and endure the glory of the Son of God when He appears with power and great glory. It is given through His atoning sacrifice, by which overcomers are accounted worthy, and it is received by washing robes and making them white in the blood of the Lamb, by repentance and faith, by searching the heart and refusing to cherish anything offensive to God, and by putting on the wedding garment now. It means a perfected Christian character, garments not defiled by sin, kept undefiled and worthy to walk with Christ in white, belonging to the five wise virgins who perfect such character. All who have that righteousness are partakers of the divine nature and have written upon them the name of God and the name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, and Christ's new name, with the crown of life added to clothing in white, keeping of the name in the book of life, and confession of the name before the Father and angels. The promise is rich and full of hope and encouragement to parents and to children, but only on conditions of faith and obedience to do works of righteousness, dealing honestly with self, looking unto Jesus, and by beholding becoming changed into His image, with the charge to remember how truth was received and heard, to hold fast and repent, and to watch lest Christ come as a thief at an unknown hour.

White denotes unsullied character, inward adorning and inward grace, a pure and holy life with garments undefiled by sin, with self emptied and the lost moral image of God restored by beholding Jesus, looking to Jesus, and clinging to Him in full faith rather than trusting human agents. It is kept by staying the mind on God as sun and shield amid deceiving and deluding temptations and influences in connection with the world, so that surrounding blackness and darkness leaves no spot or stain, whether associating with the world or meeting to worship. Those so clothed sought to be like Christ, upheld righteousness, walked with God, kept themselves unspotted from the world, prayed and believed and worked to save perishing souls and break the bands Satan fastened on them, and their faithful lives lead to eternal glory without being put to shame. They are counted worthy to walk with Christ in white as sons and daughters of the royal family, belonging to Him whatever race or station, humble and meek and lowly of heart, keeping the way of the Lord to gain the victory to heaven's joy, with God requiring this likeness to Christ and making it possible so there is no excuse for remaining unlike Him.

Being clothed in white brings honor and glory, rest and eternal life measuring with the life of God. It is robes of honor and glory in the world prepared for the overcomers and an eternal weight of glory, given because in this life they did not boast or lift themselves to vanity but with pure holy faith grasped the promise of eternal riches, desired only to be like Christ, kept the standard of righteousness uplifted, walked with God unspotted from the world, and revealed Christ's righteousness to sinful people. Weak, faulty souls who give themselves to Jesus and live a pure life bring joy to all heaven, and those who overcome much love Jesus the most and are greatly honored, set next to Christ beside the great white throne within the inner circle, owned by Christ before the Father and angels and at last receiving from Him the crown of life by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony held in consecration, devotion, and humility so the enemy cannot control the mind. The white raiment is the wedding garment, pure and white and spotless as the pure white lily, even the robe of Christ's righteousness, the richest gift that can be given to mortal man, proffered for acceptance even by wealthy and worldly men if they accept Christ. To walk in white is to find rest and peace and repose from all trifling and ambition for the highest place, to be brought into the banquet of truth and seated at Christ's table, to be crowned as overcomers and sing the triumphant song of the conqueror, to receive palms and crowns of life and righteousness and a jeweled crown and a white mantle at the welcome into the city, to reign with Christ, and to receive the very highest honor which the world can neither give nor take away, found in keeping the commandments, with a robe and crown prepared for faith to anticipate.

The white raiment must be obtained now by clothing oneself with humility, for only so will the name be honored and confessed before the Father and the holy angels instead of blotted out, with every step toward heaven marked by humility.

Book of Life Kept

When a person first gives self to God in humility, accepts Christ and believes, the name is written in the Lamb's book of life. That book is distinct both from earthly church rolls and from the books that record works, for putting on a form of godliness and getting a name on the church book takes very little self-denial, while profession alone does not establish true religion or secure a place among the saved. Heaven rejoices over the entry, and the faithful hope to have their names written there, where standing before God matters more than how people handle the name by human slander. There the black believer's name stands beside the white believer's without regard to race, color, nationality, birth, social station or education, for character and not birth or status decides standing, and right actions are the unmistakable fruit of the true godliness that keeps the name there by watchfulness and prayer, self-denial and sacrifice, following Christ, bearing a daily cross, coming out from the world and being separate, and imitating His life.

Remaining in the book is conditional on overcoming each day and hour and minute by keeping garments undefiled so as to be worthy to walk with Christ in white. In the judgment each record is examined, and names are blotted from the book of life when sins remain unconfessed and unrepented, when light and knowledge are resisted, when profession continues in transgression of the law, worldliness and impurity, and when the undisciplined life is left unchecked through carelessness, indifference and prayerlessness. Overcoming that retains the name means resisting temptation to conform to the world and coming out in separation, loving God with all heart, soul, mind and strength and neighbor as self, following Christ's sanctification as the pattern for holiness. Some names remain while those who have not walked in God's counsel forfeit their right to be there, and conduct that lowers the Bible standard or neglects religious duty and draws others, especially the young, away will be exposed.

Keeping the name calls for careful and zealous repentance of every sin, entire surrender with Christ abiding in the heart, sincere confession to God and to one another, forsaking every sin, conversion, cleansing the soul sanctuary, restitution where wrong was done, and steadfast wholehearted obedience made possible by Christ's death to keep the commandments. Then pardon is written against the name, sins are blotted out and remembered no more, and the overcomer is clothed in white and confessed before the Father and angels. The blotting out takes place now while heaven is all activity for this world and the temple and its worshipers are measured, falling on those who had precept upon precept and appeal upon appeal yet never had transforming grace and living connection with Christ, so that light was not brought into life and character and the record keeps selfishness, envy, pride, jealousy, evil-surmising, hypocrisy, licentiousness, hatred and murder in the heart, and above all want of love and compassion, leaving them with unclean hands unfit for angels and a holy God who watches daily character, weighs moral worth, and keeps lives pictured on heaven's books. Those who meet the conditions of faithfulness and obedience and continue steadfast may be children of God and be happy here in order to be happy above, without speculating about a fixed number of the elect or when probation will end.

Confessed Before Heaven

It is the Saviour Himself who does this work, not any human messenger, presenting the overcomer and pleading the case in the heavenly sanctuary where He makes atonement for transgression. With His own voice He repeats the name before the Father and before His angels, owning the person as His jewel and acknowledging faithfulness just as the few in Sardis who had not defiled their garments were acknowledged. As Redeemer and Captain of salvation He leads them to the Father with triumphant joy, keeping their names in the book of life because in this life they did not boast or lift themselves to vanity but grasped eternal riches by pure holy faith, desired only to be like Christ, kept the standard of righteousness uplifted, walked unspotted from the world, and revealed His righteousness to sinful people. Through His atoning sacrifice they are accounted worthy and clothed in the white raiment of His righteousness, which alone can perfect a character able to stand before the Son of God and endure the glory of His presence when He appears with power and great glory. That confession is given at the judgment and again when the gates of the city of God open to the nations who have kept the truth, where Christ welcomes the overcomers as the blessed of the Father and entrance into eternity makes the trials and perplexities of this life sink into insignificance, the life given measuring with the life of God.

Christ confesses before His Father and the holy angels the names of those who confess Him before the world here, in words and in a life that does not find fault with one another or take the work of judgment into human hands. Those He confesses are such as exalt Jesus and give Him their hearts' best and holiest service, following His example of obeying His Father and keeping His law, putting no stumbling blocks in the way of others and clearing the King's highway, so that when the judgment sits and the books are opened they will not be ashamed of their record. Publicly acknowledging the truth belongs to overcoming, springing from the Holy Spirit's inward work in heart and character consecrating every faculty to God's service, while those who find that acknowledgment inconvenient and choose the company of worldlings will not have their names recorded among the overcomers but will share the worldlings' final portion. He can confess His people before God and the heavenly angels when they live in unity with Him, partake of the divine nature, and manifest Christlike love. They are His sheep who hear His voice and follow Him, confessing Him in spirit, in word, and in action by revealing His meekness and lowliness, by guarding the spirit under His influence, and by never scattering His pasture through dissension and variance.

That confession highly exalts the overcomer before God and His angels, openly acknowledging and speaking the name with approval before the Father and the holy angels. Weak, faulty souls who give themselves to Jesus and live a pure life bring joy to all heaven, and those who overcome much and love Jesus most are greatly honored, set next to Christ beside the great white throne within the inner circle and placed close to Christ when each is rewarded according to works. Souls are worth everything, so gathering them in brings the happiness of seeing their names kept and spoken with approval, and laboring together with God in that work is worth living for. To one in utter despair who fears he can never come into harmony with the laws of heaven as he must to be saved, that confession means personal help, as Christ brings him by an angel into the presence of Jesus where he falls as dead, looks on Him, takes His hand, hears the charge not to fear with the promise of presence and light and courage and strength, a promise then fulfilled continually so that in every strait place help from Christ can be expected. Everyone should want that confession for himself.

Judgment and Pardon

In the investigative judgment and great day of atonement every name and every case is reviewed from the heavenly books where daily transactions, thoughts, words and deeds are registered to appear when each receives according to works. Works must be made perfect before God, and the promise to the overcomer is conditional on wholehearted religion — giving the whole heart to God, standing under temptation, proving fidelity through daily test by cleansing from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Names whose sins remain unconfessed and unforgiven are blotted from the book of life, with pardon written against the name only through sincere repentance and forsaking every sin. Those who truly repent and by faith claim Christ's blood as atoning sacrifice receive pardon, and as they share His righteousness and their characters harmonize with God's law their sins are blotted out, they are kept in the Lamb's book of life as sons and daughters of the royal family, are confessed by Christ before the Father and angels, are counted worthy of eternal life, and are given an Eden home.

Preparation for that judgment is strictly individual, for no one's purity or devotion can supply another's lack and God examines each case separately with searching, exact scrutiny. Each must sorrow and grieve over sin, humble the heart before God, search the heart as with a lighted candle, criticize actions in the light of the law as the standard, subdue evil tendencies, purify the mind by obeying truth, and strive earnestly now during probation. Character cannot be changed at Christ's coming or at death, and to be found wanting in love and obedience when the book is searched for each person's name is a fearful outcome that cannot then be corrected.

The book of life is a heavenly record containing every person's name with a faithful account of actions, sins and obedience, whether good or evil, including the names of all who have ever entered God's service. Continuance in it is conditional, so if any who have served God depart and by stubborn persistence in sin become finally hardened against the Holy Spirit, or commit sins too grievous for pardon, their names are in the judgment erased and they themselves are devoted to destruction, while the righteous do not suffer for a sinner's guilt. Moses' willingness to have his own name blotted out with Israel rather than see judgment fall on a graciously delivered people showed his love for them and illustrates Christ's love and mediation for sinful humanity. God refused to let Moses bear the people's guilt, answering that whoever sinned against Him would be blotted out of His book, with this difference that He permits Christ to bear the guilt of the transgressor as Moses was not permitted to do.

Conversation is to be shaped by the divine model given in the passage. Conduct is to be shaped by that same divine model. Christian profession must be lived out in practice as the standard for judging character.

Faithful Life Now

Overcoming includes keeping the body pure from defiling indulgence, laying aside tea and coffee and every unhealthful indulgence, flesh meat, wine, beer, strong drink, liquor and tobacco, and bringing daily eating and drinking into harmony with nature's laws so soul and body are sanctified for worship in holiness. Garments are defiled by taking what brings disease and infirmity and creates an unnatural state of mind and body, while the white raiment belongs to those who stand free and pure from worldly degradations of appetite and who overcome appetite, passion, earthliness, cheap conversation and everything sensual and licentious. Victory in this is possible through Jesus Christ of Nazareth who overcame in behalf of humanity, by an inner life developed through living connection with heaven, bearing fruit unto godliness with intense loathing of vice and aiming for nobility of soul and a pure unspotted character that values inward holiness above outward dress. True manliness and honor before God belong to the one who thus overcomes intemperance, whose name remains in the book of life, trained from babyhood to be controlled by Christ and to resist appetite and temptation.

Overcoming is shown in thorough work in home life, educating and training children to well-balanced characters the Lord can approve, doing duty by making the most of school advantages, reaching a high standard of perfection and Christlikeness in word and action, and bringing joy to Christ and gladness to parents. It requires separating from secret societies and all such bodies as Satan's work that separate from faith and tempt from godliness, valuing endless life above short suffering life and any exalted worldly position, and giving self to God without reserve with full purpose of heart. A record of unrepented wrong blots the name out, especially having no love for a long-suffering wife and failing to support wife and children, robbing the Southern field by selfishness and covetousness, and acting in a hard unforgiving manner over money, eating, drinking and self-worship. To keep the name in the book the wrongdoer must make haste to retrieve the past, repent, become Christlike, clear the track and remove stumbling blocks, make restitution to wife and children as far as in his power including paying what is justly owed for support, and show thorough repentance leading to purifying cleansing work with hearty fourfold restitution so the disgraceful blot is wiped away.

Overcoming means being on the right side at all costs, holding to the law and principles of God even when the world under Satan sustains and popularizes sin, knowing the majority choosing wrong as in Noah's day does not lessen one principle of God. It means keeping the high standard clean and pure while carrying on work of highest importance and making provision for people to hear and understand so souls are stirred, for some will overcome while others let minds be confused so coming events seem impossible. Ministers are to link with worldly and wealthy people rather than pass them by as hopeless, work for them with loving persuasion, tell the cross in cities, and labor together with God to gather souls, for souls are worth everything and those won from the world will be crowned overcomers walking with Christ in white. That labor is worth living for because it brings the happiness of seeing names kept in the book and spoken with approval, following Christ who spent a little more than three years as educator training poor fishermen to be fishers of men in sympathy and tenderness toward suffering humanity and even a little child. Overcoming also watches, prays, strengthens what remains, and clings firmly to faith against spiritualistic and mesmeric influence, false messages, false science and new-light theories that unsettle sanctuary faith.

No soul that trusts in God need be overcome, for Christ is as truly with believers when associating with the world amid deceiving temptations as when meeting to worship, and staying the mind on Him as sun and shield keeps surrounding blackness from leaving spot or stain so character remains unsullied. Weak faulty souls who give themselves to Jesus and live a pure life bring joy to all heaven, and those who overcome much love Jesus most and are greatly honored, set next to Christ beside the great white throne within the inner circle. The race is not uncertain and discipline is not at hazard of loss like ancient athletes running for a perishable crown, for by looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith believers are changed from glory to glory by the Spirit and may attain the victor's crown by fighting the good fight for perfection and holding fast what they have so no one takes the crown. The plain sure promise with crown and open door calls youth, parents, ministers and producers in God's vineyard to faith, diligence, gratitude and praise, turning half-conversion into full purpose, for election depends on meeting conditions and humble meek lowly hearts that keep the way of the Lord, pray, believe and work to save perishing souls and break Satan's bands will not be put to shame but gain victory.