(See Zechariah 3:4, 5.) “Take away the filthy garments from him,” is explained by the language that follows, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee.” “The fine linen,” or the white raiment, “is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:8. Being clothed with white raiment is explained in other scriptures to be a symbol of exchanging iniquity for righteousness. See chapter 7:17: “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” DAR 364.3 You shall be clothed in white, - the white raiment of the overcomer, - and walk with your Lord in glory. The multitude of the wicked around you cannot be so great as to hide you from his view and if you keep yourself unspotted from surrounding evil, the promise is sure to you. Lonely Christian, with none of like precious faith with whom to commune, do you ever feel as though the hosts of the unbelievers would swallow you up? You are not unnoticed or forgotten by your Lord. The Lord does not overlook his people in any place, however few their numbers. James says, “ Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27.
#THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD ELLEN WHITE FREE#
But even in this state of things, there are some whose garments are not defiled, - some who have kept themselves free from this contaminating influence. This language would seem to imply a period of unparalleled worldliness in the church. “Ye, brethren,” says Paul, “are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4. It is only to those who are in this condition that the day of the Lord comes unawares. Their not watching would not prevent the coming of the Lord but by watching they could avoid being overtaken as by a thief. The coming spoken of is unconditional the manner only in which it would come upon them is conditional.
This church was to hear the proclamation of the doctrine of the second advent, as we learn from verse 3: “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief.” This implies that the doctrine of the advent would he proclaimed, and the duty of watching be enjoined upon the church. But how have pride and popularity grown apace, until spirituality is destroyed, the line of distinction between the church and the world is obliterated, and these different popular bodies are churches of Christ only in name! DAR 363.4 And what a high position, in a worldly point of view, has the nominal church occupied during this period! Look at her high-sounding titles, and her favor with the world.
The great fault found with this church is that it has a name to live, but is dead. Sardis signifies “prince or song of joy,” or “that which remains.” We then have before us, as constituting this church, the reformed churches, from the date above named to the great movement which marked another era in the history of the people of God. If the dates of the preceding churches have been correctly fixed, the period covered by the church of Sardis must commence about the year 1798. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 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. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee, 4.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Chapter 3 - The Seven Churches (continued)
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