Revelation

THE BOOK OF REVELATION: M. M. NINAN
Mark 13:32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the
Father. :33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going
away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at
the door to keep watch. 35
"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in
the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him
find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"
Fortunately there were people who kept the fire going even in these situations. One specialty of Sardis was
its white fur coats - the symbol of aristocracy. Jesus refers to this symbol of wealth and glory in verse 4
Rev 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They
will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
White evidently represents purity and undefilement. The book of life referred to earlier in the bible in
Philippians 4:3.
Phil 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the
cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of
life.
However it is implied even in the Old Testament when Moses speaks to God on behalf of his fallen people.
Exo 32:32 But now please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." :33
The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.
In this passage God clearly defines the conditions under which He will blot the name out of the book of
Life. More detailed reference to the Book of Life is made in various places in the book of Revelations at the
time of White Throne Judgment. It is often referred to as "the lamb’s book of life". The implication is thus
that it contains the names of those who have attained the citizenship of the Kingdom of God. As in Rome of
John’s period, these citizens were not liable to normal code of procedures as applicable to non-
Roman citizens. (This is in contrast to the Law of the United States where the code of procedures in case of
crime is the same). The people whose names are written in the book of Life do not stand in judgment before
the white throne.
Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through
Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Whatever be their other basic qualifications for the citizenship to the Kingdom, for those in Sardis, the fact
that they kept themselves from the Jezebelian fornication was sufficient. They shall walk with Christ - in
the stola, the white robes of justification, and adoption, and comfort, or in the white robes of honor and
glory in the other world. .Jesus promises them that He will acknowledge them before the Father as a
member of the Church - as his bride.
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