Revelation 3:5 holds out three things to the one who overcomes — white raiment, a name that is not blotted out of the book of life, and a name confessed before the Father. White is the colour of heaven, and the robe is not one we can weave for ourselves.
Revelation 3:5 — 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.
The most important thing in the life of a true Christian is overcoming the great obstacles that prevent Christian progress. The brightest hope is taking Christ at His word and following His examples of overcoming and bringing down the strongholds of Satan daily.
He that overcometh
Eternal life is for all those who overcome sin. Christ again reminds us of the reward of those who shall overcome the many obstacles of life — those who have faced life's battles courageously, and consistently wrestled until they are victorious over all sin, evil habits and influences.
Three things, to the same personClothed, kept, and confessed — and the verse gives all three to the one who overcomes.
Clothed in white raiment
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment." White is the bright colour of heaven and the beautiful symbol of purity. Life has buried humanity in the dark abyss of sin and degradation, but Christ has promised a better way of purity in this life and a beautiful white raiment in the future.
Isaiah 1:16-18 — Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
The invitationNot a demand to be clean first, but a call to come and reason — and the promise of what the Lord will do with scarlet.
According to Revelation, heaven is a place of whiteness — not the kind of white connotation that exists among some people, but a purity that is all-inclusive of all people and races. We read of white thrones, white horses, white hairs, white stones, and are told that those who endure and are made overcomers will make their robes white.
Revelation 7:14 — …And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
To be clothed in white garments will be a most spectacular sight to behold, and we are all invited to share in the glorious moment. To those that overcome is the promise of the righteousness of Christ.
His name before My Father
He will not blot out their name out of the book of life — because they have not denied Him before men, He will not deny them before His Father.
Matthew 10:32-33 — Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
The school of Christ
We must learn in the school of Christ the science of overcoming. In this life we must wear the garment of Christ's righteousness and His robe of salvation. We cannot afford to weave our own righteousness, nor work out our own salvation — we must obtain it as Christ's imputed gift.
None can get to heaven with a catalogue of false hope; only through overcoming selfish motives, self-security and self-righteousness can any receive the salvation of God, which works by love.
Through our own efforts, struggles and works we shall not be victorious — we must all work through the strength of the Lord and the power of His might. We must not attempt to weave our own fabric of righteousness or fashion our own linen of salvation, but work with Christ to overcome all obstacles, and to receive His garment of righteousness that we shall wear for ever.
Revelation 19:8 — And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Granted, not wovenThe linen is given to her. Revelation says plainly what it is made of.
Let us be in receipt of the beautiful garment of Christ's righteousness, so that He will be able to confess our names before His Father in a positive way.
Blessed are the overcomers.
This is the sixth part. Overcoming Obstacles takes up Matthew 24:13 and what enduring to the end will cost; Part Two sets out what Scripture names to overcome and the tree of life promised to the one who does; Part Three turns to Romans 5:20 and the promise that the overcomer shall not be hurt of the second death; Part Four takes up Revelation 2:17 — the hidden manna, the white stone and the new name; and Part Five closes Revelation 2 with power over the nations and the morning star.
If this study has raised something you would like to talk through, the team reads every message: ask a Bible question, or send a prayer request.
On the righteousness this article says we cannot weave for ourselves, Getting to Know Jesus takes up Philippians 3:10 and knowing Him personally, and The Sanctuary works through the types, the services and the Messiah they pointed to. On the book of life and the judgment, The Everlasting Gospel sets out the message of Revelation 14 and the hour of God's judgment, and Time Shall Be No More takes up the close of probation.
For the care of the whole person while that overcoming is asked of us, the Ministry of Healing section takes up health, healing and the mind at rest.
First published at https://timeisathandlive.org/blog/overcoming-obstacles-part-six — Time Is At Hand Evangelistic Ministries. Read more studies at timeisathandlive.org.
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