What are the 'white clothes' Jesus gives in Revelation 3?
📰The Bible is one of the best-selling and most widely distributed books in history, yet it is also considered to be among the least understood. The Bible, which is referred to as the New Covenant and Promise of God, in which 'the way to heaven and salvation' is presented, differs in theologians' interpretations that make it difficult to understand. These differing interpretations have been the cause of the rise of denominations with each one establishing their own doctrine. With the increase in online church services and gatherings resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there has been growing interest in the comparison of various church doctrine. This paper, therefore, attempts to provide readers with the opportunity to compare differing Biblical teachings without interpretation. Among a host of online sermons and Bible-based teachings, the contrasting doctrine between the established Church and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has drawn public interest throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, is hereby compared and summarised. Best efforts have been made to provide a summary of Shincheonji Church of Jesus' understanding of the Bible. Judgment as to what is right or wrong is left to the reader’s discernment.
In Revelation 3:4, it is said that there are some people in Sardis who are dressed in white and walk with the Lord. Jesus calls these people worthy in the sight of God. Also, in Revelation 6, it is said that a white robe, that is, white clothing, is given to the souls of the people who had been slain because of the word of God and their testimony. Therefore, we can see that these white clothes are clothes that God approves of and clothes that are worn by people whose faith is acknowledged.
However, we can see that the white clothes are washed clean with the blood of Jesus, and not with physical water. In Revelation 7:14, it is said that one's clothes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. If you were to wash your clothes with the physical blood of Jesus, would they turn white or red? If washed with the physical blood, such clothes would turn red. How can we be washed clean with the blood of Jesus?
However, Jesus was not referring to his literal, physical blood, but to his words; that is, the words of Jesus. Since the new covenant was made with the blood of Jesus, the word of the new covenant is the blood of Jesus. The expression that the clothes of Jesus were washed clean does not mean that the clothes of the flesh were washed clean, but that the clothes of the heart were washed clean with the words of the new covenant for which Jesus shed his blood.
In Isaiah 1:18, God said that though your sins are like scarlet, if you engage with the word, they will become as white as snow. Just as it was said that the words given to you can make you clean, you will know that the clothes of your heart are cleansed only by hearing the words of Jesus and correcting your sinful deeds.
Therefore, the one who overcomes in Revelation 3 wears white robes; white robes are given to the martyred souls in Revelation 6; and the great multitude in Revelation 7 wear white robes that have been washed with the blood of Jesus. In Revelation 19, Jesus had the bride of the Lamb wear bright and clean linen clothes, which Jesus said represents the righteous acts of God's holy people. In Revelation 22, it is said that only those who wash their robes can enter the holy city and the kingdom of heaven. White clothes are symbolic for one's clean and spotless faith. Therefore, white clothes represent the clothes of one's spiritual heart, that is, a heart washed with the words (blood) of Jesus, and also represent one's righteous deeds (Rev 7:14, Rev 19:8).
Wearing white clothes means that your conduct has been acknowledged as correct. That the clothes were not defiled means that one has kept the word of the Lord and has not defiled their spirit and deeds.
But at that time, there was a worthy believer who had not become one with the Nicolaitans, the group of Satan, and had not defiled his clothes. He was the leftover grain and the remnant seed of Revelation 6 (Isa. 1:9) who, as seen in Revelation 12, fought and overcame the war to the point of death with the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony, together with the brothers. The white clothes worn by the one who overcomes and his brothers is the robe of their (spiritual) heart, and it means that they have been acknowledged as having a pure and unblemished faith, keeping the word of the Lord and being acknowledged right in spirit and deed. Those who fight and overcome Satan's Nicolaitans create God's new kingdom and new people, the 12 tribes of Shincheonji, and a world of peace that is ruled by God.
Just as the disciples who followed Jesus 2000 years ago were cleansed by the words Jesus gave them, today, people can receive the forgiveness of their sin by keeping the words of the new covenant established by the blood of Jesus, as seen in Revelation chapters 1, 5, 7, and 22. To belong to the 12 tribes of Shincheonji, the new kingdom and new people of God, through the Word, is to become someone who wears white clothes.
Pastor, Presbyterian Church
"Now, if you read the book of Revelation and see white, it means victory or holiness. There are people who ask why it means victory or holiness. How do I know? God just gives white clothes as a sign of victory."
⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2021/09/who-is-rich-in-revelation-3.html
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