19.Jan.25

The throne of God described in Revelation is the very center of the heavenly kingdom. It is a place where we may only enter after being cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and arrayed in fine white linen garments. There are garments we must put on, and today, we will reflect on a few of them.

One of the recurring symbols of purity in Revelation is clothing.

• “One like a son of man” is described with a long robe, golden belt, head and hair as white as wool and snow, eyes like flames, feet like burnished bronze refined in a furnace (1:13-15).
• There were people of Sardis who had not “defiled their clothing” and who will “walk in white” (3:4).
• The image of having robes washed or dipped in blood is employed to describe both the elect and Christ (7:14; 19:13; see also 22:14).
• The bride of Christ is described as “clothed with fine linen, bright and pure; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (19:8).
• The armies of God are similarly arrayed in fine linen (19:14).

1. Where the throne of God is…

Psalm 89:14 (NASB95) — 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.

• It is a holy place
• It is a place of justice
• It is eternal
• It is unchanging

The throne of God is the center of the universe and all history. That is heaven, and the throne is the center of heaven.

(Ps 9:4, 7, 11:4, 45:6, 47:8, 93:2, 103:19, 122:5, Prov 16:12, Isa 6:1, 66:1)

Who is there seated on the throne? It is the place where the Father’s eternal presence is. He is clothed in white and there are myriads of angels around the throne serving Him. (Psa 9:7, 11:4, 47:8) The throne is the center of holiness, and those who do not put on the garment of holiness cannot come near it.

2. What is the garment of holiness?

(i) Garment of new self (armor of light)

Romans 13:11–12 (NASB95) — 11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

The old self is clothed in garments of darkness. We must cast off the garments of darkness and be clothed in the armor of light.

The new self is one who has received new life. To be clothed in the new self means to believe that one has been renewed in knowledge according to the image of the Creator! Therefore, to be clothed in the new self signifies the restoration of God’s image, as it was before sin entered the world. (2 Cor 5:17, Psa 51:5, Col 3:6-10, Gen 1:26, Rom 1:22-23, Rom 8:9-11)

Ephesians 4:24 (NASB95) — 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

• Righteousness refers to the royal authority given to humanity as stewards of all creation, ruling over the heavens and the earth as God intended.
• “Created in truth” means “created in holiness.”

It implies being without blemish of evil, without even the appearance of wrongdoing—created in holiness. Thus, He has made us priests who are able to enter the Most Holy Place where God Himself dwells (1 Pet 2:9)

Therefore, we must fulfill the priestly mission of God, the royal authority mission, with all our lives, and we must fully carry out our calling as a royal priesthood.

(ii) Garment of Jesus Christ

(Rom 13:13-14) The Word of God instructs us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” When we are clothed in the garments of Jesus, even if we are tempted to pursue the works of the flesh, we will not, for our identity has changed. The garments of the Lord emit a fragrance. (2 Cor 2:11, Eph 5:2, Phil 4:18)

(iii) White robe

The garments worn by the One seated on the throne and the garments of His sanctified people are both white. (Rev 4:4). Those who have believed in Jesus in this world overcome themselves, overcome sin, and overcome the world, are clothed in white. Through repentance, we are given white garments. (Rev 7:14, 6:9-11, Rev 7:9-10) By the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ, all the stains of sin are washed away. Those who endure suffering, pain, tribulation, misunderstanding, and hardships without losing heart cleanse their garments each time with the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ, becoming those who “have not soiled their garments.”

(iv) Fine linen

The garment worn by the holy ones is fine linen. The reason humanity began wearing clothing traces back to the disobedience of Adam and Eve, our ancestors, who doubted and rejected the Word of God, choosing instead to believe the words of the evil serpent. Before they sinned, as seen in Genesis 2:25, “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame,” because they were clothed in the glory of God. (Gen 2:25, Isa 30:26)

Fine linen was also integral to the Tabernacle. (Exo 26:1, 27:9, 36:35) It was used in the garments of the priests. (Exo 39:2; 27) Scripture teaches that fine linen symbolizes the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev 19:8; 14)

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s ultimate purpose is for us to be restored to holiness.

AMEN.