The Promise-Revelation 3:4-6

The Promise-Revelation 3:4-6

THE PROMISE

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy (3:4).

A few names in Sardis – In the dead church at Sardis, a few true Christians were scattered like flowers in a desert (Malachi 3:16-17; Hebrews 6:10; Romans 11:1-5).

Not defiled their garments – Defiled, soiled (μολύνω molúnō, Gk.) means to “defile, besmear or soil as with mud or filth (1 Corinthians 8:7; Revelation 14:4).” Garments symbolize character in scripture (Isaiah 64:6; Jude 23), and the faithful remnant could come into God’s presence because they had not defiled or polluted themselves, but they manifested their godly character.

Walk with me in white, for they are worthy – Because they refused to defile their garments, Christ would replace those humanly preserved clean garments with divinely pure ones (Revelation 7:14). The white robes of purity Christ promises here and in verse 5 are elsewhere worn by Christ Himself (Matthew 17;2; Mark 9:3) and the holy angels (Matthew 28:3; Mark 16:5; Acts 1:10). Those who have a measure of holiness and purity now will be given perfect holiness and purity in the future.

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels (3:5).

He who overcomes - We overcome by steadfastly maintaining the works of genuine Christianity.

Clothed in white garments – In the ancient world, white garments were worn for festive occasions such as weddings. True Christians will wear theirs at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). White robes were also worn by those celebrating victory in battle. All true Christians are victorious through Christ over sin, death, and Satan. Those who have a measure of holiness and purity now will be given perfect holiness and purity in the future.

I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life – The Book of Life refers to the book of the living, the record of those who are alive (Psalm 69:28, Philippians 4:3). The threat is not eternal damnation, but physical death. Christ, the King of Heaven, promises never to erase a true Christian’s name from the roll of those whose names were “written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8).

Before my Father and before the angels – Christ will affirm that they belong to Him (Matthew 10:32; Romans 8:28-29). We are eternally secure in Christ.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says the churches” ’ (3:6).

What the Sprit says to the churches:

1. The spiritually dead Christians playing church needed to heed Christ’s warning of impending judgment.

2. The indifferent believers needed to wake up before it was too late to save their church.

3. The faithful few could take comfort in the knowledge that their salvation was eternally secure.

Until Christ returns, it is not too late for other dead churches to find the path to spiritual renewal.