Revelation 3:5
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels
More than Purity is in view when Christ speaks through the Pen of Apostle of John. Authenticity & Genuineness of Heart, is what Christ is speaking. It is thus, assured in this manner of “white garments” that such a conquerer could never be & will never be blotted nor removed from the Presence of the Assembly of Heaven. It is interesting to note that Christ is speaking about not only before the Presence of His Father but also of the Angels as well. Why is this important? Rather than a community of the Fellowship of the Triune God-head, Christ includes the assembly of the Angels as well. This begs the following the question — Are the Angels involved in some way in the Community & Fellowship of the God-head? Are the Angels knowledgeable as much as the Triune God-head? The answer to both questions is an emphatic NO. The Angels are not in the Fellowship of the God-head exercising powers as if they are divine & eternal in the SAME way as the Trinity. Nor are the Angels knowledgeable in the SAME way as the God-head — they may be spiritual beings, but they have limitations in their essential nature & quality in comparison to the God-head.
Thus, the reason for the assembly of the Angels is not that we, as conquerers, stand in judgment before the eyes of this holy assembly rather, that we, as conquerers stand side by side & with the Triune God-head as the Angels look upon us with reverence. As heirs to God the Father & Co-Heirs with Christ as adopted Sons & Daughters, we take our seat, our rightful place before the Throne of Glory —
Revelation 4:2-4
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
The meaning of the twenty four thrones seated by twenty four elders, clothed in white garments, around the singular throne haloed by a rainbow, whose appearnce is that of an emerald, is none other than the conquerers that Christ mentioned in Revelation 3:5. We, who are in Christ, have a rightful place on the throne with Christ. We will not rule in His Place rather the promise is that we will rule with Him as well as exalt & worship & glorify Him, ALL of THIS at the same time!
This is a promise in Scripture as yet unfulfilled. Why? Because, Christ is speaking to the Church in the time of His NOT YET appearing. In other words, Christ is speaking to Apostle John almost in the same way He is speaking to us now, by the Power & Agency of the Holy Spirit. When He comes again, ALL THINGS will be consummated into His Glory & Excellence. That Consummation has not happened yet because His Second Coming has not happened yet. But it will!
Thus the Call of Christ to be clothed in white. But this is not a call to purity — as if we can do anything of value in terms of morality & ethics in behavior & right thinking. It is a call to genuineness & authenticity of Faith In Christ. THIS is how we clothe ourselves in white. Faith In Christ, means that we value Christ more than our moral & ethical behavior & what WE THINK is right. Faith In Christ, means that we value Christ more than what He can give us or even bless us with. Faith In Christ, means we value Christ more than even righteousness itself — for we know that In Christ, a righteousness apart from Christ is not true, authentic, & genuine righteousness. It is idolatry. A self-idol made by human thoughts & engineered by human behavior.
Rather, what we want is Faith IN Christ where Christ is our object & the goal & the prize. Do you long to know Christ? And I mean KNOW Christ! Do not say to yourself & to your mind & lie & deceive yourself into believing that you already KNOW Him. Because as the Fore-Fathers of the Faith, from St Augustine to Martin Luther to John Owen to Jonathan Edwards, have all wrote & have cried out loud from the strokes of their Pens & the tops of their lungs — CHRIST, let it be nothing but Christ & ALL of Christ & NOTHING more, for there is nothing more than Christ that we long for, desire, & want for all eternity!
Eternal Life begins when we accept & believe Christ — the God-Man suffered & died for my sin; redeeming me to God the Father. And now through His Spirit, through His Power & New Blood, we long to know this Christ throughout all eternity.
Thus to be clothed in white garments means, my friends, is to be clothed IN CHRIST!
