20161106 Sunday, November 6 2016
Revelation 03: What Will People Be Wearing In Heaven?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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 ... Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. 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"

The English-language word "heaven" originated from an ancient Anglo-Saxon word, heofon, that simply meant above.

"Heaven" is used to translate the Hebrew word, pronounced shaw-may, and the Greek word, pronounced oo-ran-aws, both of which are used to refer to either the sky or the Earth's atmosphere (e.g. "fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven" Genesis 1:20 KJV), or the limitless outer space above it (e.g. "God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth" Genesis 1:16-17 KJV)

Consider the full range of the term "heaven" as it is actually used in the Holy Scriptures:

"1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." (Genesis 1:20 KJV)

"55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater" (Isaiah 55:10 KJV)

"1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:14-18 KJV; see also What Can You See In The Firmament Of The Heavens?)

Many people mistakenly believe that they are "going to heaven" when they die - even though Earth, that was created as Paradise (see Will You Return To The Tree Of Life?), is already itself in the Bible's own definition of heaven as it orbits the star that is called the "Sun." But only the Messiah has ascended to God in the highest heaven where the Throne of God is located, for now (see also What Happened When The Messiah Arrived In Heaven?).

"3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." (John 3:13 KJV)

People don't "go to heaven" when they die. The dead are dead, awaiting their resurrection on Earth after the Messiah returns (see The Harvest Prophecies). That is the very basis of the true Gospel - "the Gospel of the Kingdom of God" that is coming to Earth (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?). God, and with Him the highest "Heaven," is coming to Earth:

"21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4 KJV)

The third chapter (keeping in mind that there were no chapters in the Holy Scriptures as they were originally written) continues the opening address of the letter to the seven church congregations (see Why Were The Seven Churches Listed In That Order?).

Notice that the LORD reveals, in His general statement to the Christians in Sardis, that "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" (verse 5 below). That "fine linen" is how those who are Judged worthy of eternal life will be clothed - the marriage of the Messiah to the "bride of Christ," the true Church of God "19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 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." (Revelation 19:7-8 KJV; see also Eve Was Created From Adam; What Woman Was Created From Jesus Christ?)

Sardis (also spelled Sardes), was, in the 7th century B.C,. the capital city of the Kingdom of Lydia. Sardis was known for its crafts and artistry, and as the first city where silver and gold coins were minted. Sardis was taken by the Persians about 546 B.C., and then later in turn by the Athenians, Seleucids and the Attalids. When the Romans took it in 133 B.C., it became the capital of the Roman province of Lydia. The city was severely damaged by an earthquake in 17 A.D., and although the Romans reportedly spent 10,000,000 sesterces for damage repair, the city never fully recovered its former glory.

"3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;

These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 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. 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:1-6 KJV)

Philadelphia, also known as Alasehir, was a Lydian city founded between 159-138 B.C. by Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum. In commemoration of the king's love and loyalty for his brother Eumenes II, the city was called Philadelphia, which in Greek meant "city of brotherly love". Built on an elevated terrace, the city overlooked the nearby Hermus Valley, in which ran a Persian Royal Road. The area is very susceptible to earthquakes, and in 17 A.D. the city was completely devastated. Apparently right above the fault line, the city continued to be severely shaken by periodic aftershocks for another 20 years after the great quake.

"3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;

These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:7-13 KJV)

Laodicea was situated on one of the major regional trade routes that made it a prosperous commercial and banking center of the time. The Christians at Laodicea have long been used as a timeless example (see Where Are The Seven Churches Of Revelation Today?) of those whose faith became "luke warm" because they put as much trust and faith in their financial wealth as they had in God (see The Mammon Of Past And Present and What Does The Bible Say About Lucre?). They sought temporary worldly wealth, while largely forsaking true eternal riches.

"3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;

These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 3:17 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: 3:18 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.

3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 3:20 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.

3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3:14-22 KJV)

Fact Finder: How was linen used in the Bible?
See Linen In History And Prophecy