After
John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of
“Revelation”,
he began to write to the “seven
churches in Asia”. He
started with the church located in “Ephesus”,
then the “church of Smyrna”,
the “church
in Pergamos” and
then the “church
in Thyatira”. He
added “the
church in Sardis” and
how Jesus knew their “works,
that”
they “have
a name that”
they “live”,
“and
are dead”
and
he
exhorted them, “Be
watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to
die:
for
I have not found your works perfect before God.” John
shared how Jesus instructed them to, “Remember
therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent”
because
“If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief,
and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you”,
and he told them, “You
have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their
garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”
In
chapter
three and verse five of Revelation, John shared how Jesus told “the
church in Sardis” “he that overcomes, the same shall be clothed
in white raiment”
where
we read:
He
that overcomes, 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.
The
verse begins, “He
that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;”
John
began with the words, “he
that overcomes”
which means “the person whether male or female who conquers,
carries off the victory and wins”, “the
same”
or “that selfsame person” “shall
be clothed” or
“will be arrayed and surrounded about” “in
white raiment”
which means “in brilliant and shining garments, cloaks, mantles or
tunics”. Jesus promised to “array” the person who “conquers
and is victorious” in “shining and brilliant clothing”.
The
verse goes on to say, “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.” John
continued with the words, “and
I will not blot out”
which means “and Jesus will not wash away, obliterate, besmear,
wipe out or erase” “his
name”
or “that person's thoughts or feelings of which is aroused in the
mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “of
the book”
which means “pertaining to the written roll or scroll” “of
life”
or “pertaining to living, vitality and animation”,
“but”
or “nevertheless, notwithstanding, yes and moreover” “I
will confess” which
means “Jesus will profess and acknowledge openly and joyfully”
“his
name”
or “that person's thoughts or feelings of which is aroused in the
mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “before
my Father”
which means “in front and in the sight of Jesus' heavenly
progenitor”, “and
before” or
“and in front in the sight of” “his
angels” which
refers to “God's messengers, envoys and ones who are sent”. Jesus
promised not to “erase” the names of people who have “overcome”,
and He will “profess their names joyfully” before God and His
“angels”.
When
we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see Jesus' promise to
those within the “church in Sardis” who “overcome”.
They shall not only be “clothed” with “white, bright
and shining” “garments”, but their “names”
will not be “erased” from God's “book of life” and
shall have their names “professed” before God and His “angels”.
God Almighty desires to give every person these blessings, and they
are obtained through a relationship with His Son Jesus. Jesus Christ
came to the earth to “die” for the sins of the world, and through
the power of His Holy Spirit believers in Him shall “overcome”.
May all who read these words receive Jesus as their personal “Savior
and Lord” and be “overcomers” with God's promised blessings
ahead.
Next
time
we see John share how Jesus once again declares, “he
that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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