The Shaking Has Begun
Part 2, White Raiment
by Richard Myers
As we have seen in Part 1 of this series of articles, the shaking has begun. Some will heed the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans and buy of Jesus, "gold tried in the fire," "white raiment," and "eyesalve," and thus be saved in God's kingdom. Sadly, others will be shaken out of the church. In Part 1 we looked at "gold tried in the fire," faith that works through a knowledge of the love of God. Now, in Part 2 we will examine the "white raiment" that can clothe our nakedness.
"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:17-20.
The message is addressed to church members who believe they are in a saved condition, converted, but are not. This is the condition of the church as a whole today, as it was in the time that Ellen White gave this message within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The fact that Pastor Wilson is calling for revival and reformation is evidence that the condition still exists. If it did not exist, we would not hear of the teaching of evolution [1] and Shakespeare in our schools, [2] the merger of one of our hospitals with a Catholic hospital, [3] and we would not have two divisions of the church in rebellion against the Bible and the world church. [4] These are all symptoms of the much deeper problem of an unconverted church. The spiritual condition of the church is the responsibility of church leadership. This begins with church pastors and elders and extends to local conferences, unions, and the General Conference and its divisions. Not all leaders are Laodicean, but many are and most are surely deficient in their understanding of the gospel message. [5] As we express the truth about the "white raiment" that Jesus holds out, we shall better understand how far removed we are from an understanding of the foundation of our faith.
Let us begin with Revelation chapter three and verse five. "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." This one verse, if believed, will help the Laodicean to understand the great deception which has come into the church. Who will be clothed in "white raiment"? Who will not have their names blotted out of God's book of life? Who will have their names confessed before our heavenly Father and before His angels? He that overcometh the manifold temptations to sin; he that overcomes his sinful flesh; he that manifests the character of Jesus; he that loves God and keeps His commandments. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7.
We all agree? No. The meaning of the Bible has been perverted so that most believe they are rich and increased with an understanding of these matters when in fact they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked," according to the Words of Jesus. Blind men do not see the truth. This is why Jesus is offering us the solution in Revelation chapter three. What does it mean to overcome? Overcome what? Sin. Sin that is in our flesh. Many teach that we cannot overcome sin that is in our flesh. Others deny that we are sinners by nature. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. To have spiritual discernment, one must want to know the truth. When one wants to know the truth, that he may do the truth, then it will be revealed. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." John 7:17. But, the multitude who do not believe it is within their power to obey the truth will remain deceived.
It is a most popular teaching that Romans, chapter seven, identifies the converted Christian's experience: "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." Romans 7:15-20. This is not the experience of a converted Christian, it is the experience of a blind and naked Laodicean to whom Jesus is offering His "white raiment."
When Jesus is allowed into the heart, when a full surrender is made, then man becomes a partaker of the divine nature and this promise is fulfilled: "I will dwell in them, and walk in them." 2 Corinthians 6:16. "The soul temple is to be sacred, holy, pure, and undefiled. There must be a copartnership in which all the power is of God and all the glory belongs to God. The responsibility rests with us. We must receive in thoughts and in feelings, to give in expression. The law of the human and the divine action makes the receiver a laborer together with God. It brings man where he can, united with divinity, work the works of God. Humanity touches humanity. Divine power and the human agency combined will be a complete success, for Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." [6]
If one is doing what he knows is wrong, then Christ does not possess the heart. Conversion by definition is a "new birth," a radical change in nature and character. It is true that we still possess fallen, evil flesh, but it is kept under by the mind that has been purified by the blood of Jesus Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5. With conversion comes Jesus. And with Jesus comes power to obey. "Obedience to the law of God is sanctification. There are many who have erroneous ideas in regard to this work in the soul, but Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and added, "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). Sanctification is not an instantaneous but a progressive work, as obedience is continuous. Just as long as Satan urges his temptations upon us, the battle for self-conquest will have to be fought over and over again; but by obedience, the truth will sanctify the soul. Those who are loyal to the truth will, through the merits of Christ, overcome all weakness of character that has led them to be molded by every varying circumstance of life." [7] "As obedience is continuous" then sanctification takes place. When there is no obedience, there is no sanctification. Disobedience to a known truth is a revelation of a separation between Jesus and man.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." John 15:4. If we possess Jesus, we have life. If Jesus is not in our hearts, then we do not have life. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:9. It is through the Spirit that Christ lives in man. In the parable of the wedding garment we find the simplicity of the gospel opened unto us. Even a child may understand if he wants to.
"By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity; the wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding....By the king's examination of the guests at the feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. But not all who profess to be Christians are true disciples. Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, "to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. Before His coming, then, the character of every man's work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ's followers the reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds.
"It is while men are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. The lives of all His professed followers pass in review before God. All are examined according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to his deeds the destiny of each is forever fixed.
"By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ's true followers will possess. To the church it is given "that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white," "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, "is the righteousness of saints." Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.
"The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.
"This is what the transgressors of God's law have done ever since the day of Adam and Eve's disobedience. They have sewed together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.
"But this they can never do. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
"Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God's presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. "I counsel thee," He says, "to buy of Me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear." Revelation 3:18.
"This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God "was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." Sin is defined to be "the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:5, 4. But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Psalm 40:8. When on earth, He said to His disciples, "I have kept My Father's commandments." John 15:10. By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.
"The guests at the marriage feast were inspected by the king. Only those were accepted who had obeyed his requirements and put on the wedding garment. So it is with the guests at the gospel feast. All must pass the scrutiny of the great King, and only those are received who have put on the robe of Christ's righteousness.
"Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.
"It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. "He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." "Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments." 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.
"The truth is to be planted in the heart. It is to control the mind and regulate the affections. The whole character must be stamped with the divine utterances. Every jot and tittle of the word of God is to be brought into the daily practice.
"He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God's great standard of righteousness, His holy law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character in the judgment." [8]
Now is the time to heed the admonition of the True Witness to buy of Him white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, but Jesus offers to impart to us His righteousness, His white raiment. The righteousness of Christ is ours to reveal to this world and the unfallen worlds the power of grace to transform a sinner into a saint. Today, we are to be His faithful witnesses. "The change from earth to heaven will not change men's character; the happiness of the redeemed in heaven results from the character formed in this life after the image of Christ. The saints in heaven will first have been saints on earth." [9]
"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Hebrews 4:7 A banner has been placed in our hands, upon which is inscribed, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
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[1] Gary Bradley, biology professor in the Department of Biology of La Sierra University, teaches evolution to his class. Creating Controversy; Inside Higher Ed. September 1, 2009
[2] Pacific Union College; Cynthia Westerbeck, Program Coordinator: Shakespeare in Performance: ENGL 212. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is the nation's oldest and largest rotating repertory theater....Those who do not need college credit can come simply for the joy of being immersed in the work of Shakespeare. http://www.puc.edu/academics/summer-classes
[3] Louisville Times, December 16, 1995 (page 10). Two of Colorado's largest health care providers have finalized an agreement to form a single management company, which will create Colorado's largest provider of integrated health services......PorterCare Adventist Health System and Sister of Charity Health Services Colorado, both non-profit health care systems, will consolidate each system's operating and management structures and income statements. The new organization will manage the assets of both systems. The new organization is expected to take effect early 1996, following standard regulatory reviews.....Factors that brought these systems together include common beliefs of the importance of physician partnerships; community service as non-profit organizations; shared values of health care as mission derived from a common Christian heritage; and cost reduction and operational efficiencies that will be provided through a single management company. Both systems are sound Colorado health care providers and each has deep historic roots in the community dating back more than 100 years......"PorterCare Adventist Health System facilities will continue to be Adventist and Sisters of Charity Health Services Colorado facilities will continue to be Catholic," said Sisnara.
The organization will be governed by a board of directors who represent both PorterCare Adventist Health System and Sister of Charity Health Services Colorado. Sisnara will serve as chief executive officer. The balance of the management team will be announced over the next few months along with the final business and organization plans.
[4] General Conference "Appeal for Unity" statement; June 29, 2012: "The actions of certain unions indicate their desire to establish an alternative source of authority for a matter that already carries the authority of the world Church.....For any union to introduce a different ministerial ordination practice is seen, by the rest of the Church, as readiness to set aside a world Church decision and proceed in another direction." http://www.adventistreview.org/article/5488/archives/issue-2012-1518/18-cn-an-appeal-for-unity
The General Conference appeal was made because of actions being taken within the North American Division and the Trans-European Division. Here are a few of these actions:
♦♦On April 8, 2012 this statement is published at the Trans-European Division web site: "We recognise that while waiting for the World Church to establish the Biblical theology of ordination, there are unions/conferences/missions/fields within the TED where the issues of women’s ordination and their election to leadership positions are matters of ethical integrity and individual conscience which may challenge the church and undermine our sharing of the Adventist message with the vast majority of the population. After consultation with the TED administration and approval by the appropriate church governance body, such unions/conferences/missions/fields may apply parity between male and female pastors on the grounds of the TED’s existing policies and guidelines for ordained/commissioned minister credentials. http://www.ted-adventist.org/features-and-analysis/leadership-and-ordination-of-women
♦♦On January 21, 2012, North American Division president, Dan Jackson wrote the NAD Executive Committee explaining that their action to make women conference presidents was illegal. The NAD president then wrote "The North American Division and its Unions and Conferences (as local circumstances permit) must become more intentional in the development of pathways to ministry for female pastors. We must also develop intentional methods of mentoring women who can take on
executive leadership positions within our conferences." http://www.adventistchurchconnect.com/site/1/docs/E-60_Update_Letter_Dan_Jackson.pdf
♦♦The Executive Committee of the Southeastern California Conference on March 22, 2012 voted “to remove the term ‘Ordained-Commissioned’ and replace it with the term ‘Ordained’ on all ministerial credentials, regardless of the gender of the credential holder.” http://secc.adventistfaith.org/news_entries/14788
♦♦On Thursday, March 8, 2012, the Mid-America Union Executive Committee voted “to support the ordination of women in the Mid-America Union.” Thomas L. Lemon, president of the union stated "We are not aware of any candidates, but at some point, one of our six local conferences may vote to recommend a woman for ordination." "As we do with all such requests, the union committee will then prayerfully evaluate the candidate on her own merits while making its decision." http://outlookmag.org/
♦♦On March 27, the Potomac Conference, "according to Dan Jensen, assistant to the Potomac Conference president for communication, it was voted unanimously 'to request the Potomac Conference Standing Articles & Bylaws committee to begin a review process of its bylaws that would enable us to ordain women.'” http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2012/03/27/potomac-conference-moves-ahead-intention-ordain-women
[5] Fernando Canale; Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, "The Eclipse of Scripture and the Protestantization of the Adventist Mind: Part 2", pg. 112
[6] Faith and Works; pg 26. Ellen White
[7] Faith and Works; pg 85. Ellen White
[8] Christ's Object Lessons; Citations from Chapter 24. Ellen White
[9] Maranatha; pg 326. Ellen White
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