Just as no one knew the name on the white stone, saving he that

received it, so no man could learn the new song sung by this company, but

such as had been 'redeemed from the earth'.  And lastly Revelation 2:17 links

these overcomers with the Lord, in His Coming, for He too 'had a name

written, that no man knew, but He Himself' (Rev. 19:12).  To the overcomer in

Sardis, the Lord promised that 'they shall walk with Me in white: for they

are worthy'.  'The same shall be clothed in white raiment' (Rev. 3:4,5).

How it can possibly be congruous to add to such, 'And I will not blot

out his name out of the book of life' is dealt with in the article entitled,

The Book of Life p. 96, which should be consulted.  We find that this links

up Revelation 20:6, where 'priests of God and of Christ' are assured that 'on

such' the second death hath no power, again a subject that has been discussed

in the article referred to above.  That this 'white raiment' (Rev. 3:5) is

not a symbol of salvation by grace through faith, is manifest by the terms of

the next reference:

'I counsel thee To Buy of me ... white raiment' (Rev. 3:18).

The gold that is offered also is that which has been 'tried in the

fire' which Peter associates with 'manifold temptations' but which will be

found unto praise and honour 'at the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ' (1 Pet.

1:7).  Moreover the purpose of Revelation 3:18 is expanded and explained in

verse 19, 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten'.  In Revelation 6:11,

'white robes' were given to the martyrs who had been slain for the word of

God, and for their testimony.  This is a plain indication as to what 'white

robes' and 'white raiment' symbolize in this Book.  The fellowservants who

were yet to suffer must include those described in Revelation 20:4.  The

wearers of the white robes in Revelation 7:13,14 are those that come out of

great tribulation 'and have washed their robes, and made them white in the

blood of the Lamb'.  No one can wash robes in blood to make them white.

These symbols of overcoming martyrdom, are linked with the Great

Overcomer, 'The Lamb as it had been slain' (Rev. 5:5,6), and the words of

Revelation 7:14 should never be used in an evangelical sense, or in a Gospel

hymn; such usage is a negation of the terms of the Gospel, and a beclouding

of the meaning of Revelation 7.  In like manner, these overcomers are linked

with 'the' armies of heaven which follow the Lamb upon 'white horses', who

are also clothed in fine linen 'white and clean'.

Judgment and War

The vision of the Son of Man upon a white cloud, having in His hand a

sharp sickle (Rev. 14:14) is no reference to a peaceful and happy harvesting

of the redeemed.  The grapes thus gathered were 'cast into

the great winepress of the wrath of God' (Rev. 14:19).  Finally, the Throne

of Judgment after the close of the Millennium, which is for 'the rest' of the

dead who were not counted worthy to be numbered with the 'first

resurrection', that throne is defined as being 'white', Revelation 20:11.

There are many references to a throne in the Revelation (thronos occurs

46 times), but no colour or description is given to forty -five of these

references.  The fact that the throne of Revelation 20:11 is defined as

'white' definitely links it with the 'rest of the dead' who failed to