Armeggedon - The Gathering Place - Rumor notes 172

 Revelation 16

16 He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo/Armeggedon. 17 The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came forth out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!"

He gathered them together into the place

I could be wrong, but in my simplistic view of the Greek from Strong’s concordance I see no word to be translated here as ‘he’. This could mean that this gathering is simply a fulfillment of verse 14.

for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 16:14)

Gathering people together into concentrated locations is what we know as cities. Throughout history in Scripture, the idea of cities is often linked to intensification of selfishness and sin. Cain the first murderer also built the first city. This was not merely coincidental, for the spiritual atmosphere of cities has usually degenerated over time into depravity, immorality, godless dissipation, wanton pleasure, pride, increased violence and tends to insulate people from experiencing the lessons of nature and its revelations about God.

Well-known examples of this problem that stand out in history are Sodom and its sister cities of the plain, and Babylon the great. These cities are repeatedly cited in Scripture as warnings of the consequences of living in cities and what they foster in the human psyche. Babylon figures prominently in prophecy as the epitome of pride while Sodom reveals the fruit of self-indulgence and rejection of God producing debauchery and distortion of God’s design through sexual perversion.

At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from you: (Daniel 4:29-31)

References throughout the book of Revelation to Babylon warn us of our urgent need to come out of it. Babylon symbolizes our crisis about where we get our identity that lies at the heart of this war. In John’s day, old Jerusalem had become like Babylon only with a different name.

God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." (Genesis 9:1)

This problem of concentrating people in cities is highlighted shortly after the flood when people chose to seek complete control over the people of the world in defiance of God’s direct instructions to Noah to disperse They concentrated themselves to build a city that could bring God down to their level so they could control what He did, and also to make a name for themselves. This is the very essence of the spirit exhibited by Lucifer in heaven. It revealed they were not unwilling to live according to God’s instructions or live by the identity He created them to be. Thus the tower of Babel involved not merely a significant building but was a reestablishment of the city mentality that had previously led to the rampant world-wide wickedness that existed before the flood.

The whole earth was of one language and of one speech. It happened, as they traveled east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there. They said one to another, "Come, let's make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let's make ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth."

Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. Come, let's go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city. (Genesis 11:1-8)

I see this push to gather the whole world together to war against God’s will is a reassertion of these previous examples of open rebellion against the authority of heaven on earth. Like the despots of cities and nations throughout history, the author of these concepts is determined to make a final push to concentrate his control over every human being on earth and eliminate the presence God entirely from this planet so as to establish his own kingdom as supreme. This has been his objective from the very outset of his rebellion in heaven, to perfect his design of social order through complete control of society and prove his plans can succeed, making himself the primary focus of worship as source of all authority.

There is another kind of gathering that is also found in Scripture, where people are assembled for the purpose of clarifying between right and wrong, making the truth so clear that everyone must choose which side they will openly align with and who they will obey and serve as their God.

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel. Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered him not a word. (1 Kings 18:19-21)

Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. (Psalms 94:20-21)

This verse highlights one of the main contrasts between the design of creation that reflects how God intended us to live in freedom that is found only in cooperation with His design principles, and the design of Satan’s kingdom rooted in manipulation and control by artificial law that relies on fear and violence to maintain control and domination over others. This parallels what we are looking at here in Revelation 16 and touches on the core issues that underly this war. From this perspective, the following words of Jesus take on new significance.

Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn." (Matthew 13:30)

Finally, the gathering together of the kings of the whole earth through this demonic activity is a repeat of what we studied in verse 14, a consolidation to create a coalition of forces arrayed against God and His people. This also fits well into the chiasm found here, making the alert seen in verse 15 of highest priority.

which is called in Hebrew

Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. (John 19:19-20)

They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon." (Revelation 9:11)

Megiddo/Armeggedon

Armeggedon or Har-Magedon. Har indicates there is a mountain in view. Magedon resists translation but may refer to Meggido, a plain where Israel's armies would trap enemy forces up against Mt. Carmel to destroy them. Mt. Carmel symbolizes judgment and polarization. It comes from a root word that means to assemble together. This is far more cosmic in scope than a location on earth. It reverberates from Lucifer's original intent to take over the Mount of the Assembly as recorded in Isaiah, so this push likely involves yet another attempt to accomplish his aspirations.

You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!" Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. (Isaiah 14:13-15)

Now it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them. (Job 1:6)

Again it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh. (Job 2:1)

poured out his bowl into the air

God said, "Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse sky. There was evening and there was morning, a second day. (Genesis 1:6-8)

Before sin there was no double-mindedness of spirit or divided allegiance. There were natural differences of roles and functions creating diversity. The distortions Lucifer introduced brought confusion about these natural distinctions, leading to dissonance and resulting in distrust. Satan’s allegations induced confusion about God’s integrity and love, and he initiated an alternative government of balance between good and evil using rewards and punishments. This pseudo separation was an amalgamation, a co-mingling of good and evil that are incompatible concepts. This co-mingling of incompatibilities was actually a hallmark of Babylonian philosophy and religious systems. This is also seen in the amalgamated beasts found in the prophecies of Daniel and John in particular.

Waters symbolically represents peoples collectively, but it also represents chaos and confusion that has marked the condition of the people of this world since the insertion of Satan’s control. The separation of the waters above from those put below is highly symbolic and has to do with clarifying the issues that have confused beings all over the universe because of the rebellion that was already in full effect by the time of this world’s creation. Each day of creation involved God addressing various issues causing doubt and confusion. Right after introducing light to dispel the darkness on the first day, the very thing God did was to separate what was true from above, away from what is not true below. This was a main purpose for this world’s creation, to introduce a clarifying atmosphere filled with air (think Ruach, Holy Spirit) to separate and bring clarity about what is authentic from what is not.

You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

The pervasive waters present at creation represented the condition of confusion caused by Lucifer’s revolt. God separated light and darkness and the waters above from waters beneath to limit the pervasiveness of confusion. It was these spiritual issues that were being addressed by the Creator in answer to the confusion and doubts introduced after the fall of Lucifer.

After capturing dominion over this planet by inducing humans to embrace his version of God, Satan claimed the title of prince of this world. His identity as prince of the powers of the air resonates with the idea that air also symbolizes one of the names of the Holy Spirit – Ruach which means breath. In effect, the spirit angel who initiated the revolt in heaven against God and His original design, counters the work of Ruach who separated the waters during creation week. This led to even more confusion and many more amalgamations and distortions about God’s true design.

When viewed from this perspective, it makes sense that this last and final outpouring of the contents of the bowls released against Satan’s empire would be aimed directly at this symbol he had usurped at the fall of Adam. It is in the atmosphere of this world that he operates, exercising his tyrannical mind manipulation and deceptions of humanity who are designed to reflect God’s glory.

As mentioned in a previous bowl study, the targets identified in each outpouring are not random but rather focus God’s power on various strongholds of darkness and Satan’s kingdom. Just as in a military assault on enemy strongholds, the outer defenses have to be targeted and overcome in order to get past the layers of resistance until the core command and control center can be directly attacked and defeated. Each bowl has exposed various aspects of Satan’s counterfeit system as being ineffectual to discredit the intense light of the glory of God being released by these angels. Each increased revelation of God’s goodness through the praises and prayers of the saints has proven to not only have fallen on deaf ears, but has only resulted in intense resistance, defiance and even violent allergic reactions in the lives of those rejecting a love of the truth.

The reactions to this last bowl outpouring we will study later, indicate this last target does involve the command center that has come under direct fire. The cumulative effects of each bowl culminating in this last assault finally weakens Satan’s power structure so effectively that from here to the end of the book, it is can be seen as the pivotal tipping point of the war. The ensuing chapters describe the resulting collapse of Satan’s empire of evil, though there continues to be desperate attempts to cling to control all the way to the bitter end.

This seventh bowl being poured out is heaven’s response to the gathering together of forces bent on maintaining control of this world that wars against the agents of light and love. The demonic spirits in verse 14 organize this counter-assault in desperation to stay in power despite much light and truth that has been poured out from the previous bowls. The pinnacle of this chiasm is verse 15 where heaven’s alert encourages God’s people to complete this final push all the way to its conclusion. This is the final showdown for which each side has been preparing meticulously for millennia.

A loud voice came forth out of the temple of heaven

It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him. (Joshua 6:5)

I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (Revelation 21:3)

from the throne

A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!" (Revelation 19:5)

It is done

This phrase is one word in the Greek – ginomai. It literally means to cause to be; to come into being, brought to pass; to be divided, ended, to fall, be fulfilled. In this chapter it involves a compelling pattern that is significant. This word is used 3 times in verses 2-4 to describe how the first three plagues come to be; 'it became...' It again appears 5 times in the next two verses that describe the reactions to this final outpouring. It lends support to the concept that these plagues are reactive rather than than being imposed by God. This fits with belief that the contents of these bowls being poured out is positive in nature. This corresponds with the true nature of judgment as defined by Jesus in John 3:19-21 that describes how people who love darkness react to light that unavoidably exposes what is lurking inside them. Finally it is used again in Revelation 21:6 where this axiom of reactive self-elimination find final fulfillment (Revelation 21:8,27; 22:11,15) eternally in all who despise the passionate love of heaven and have chosen irreversibly to reject mercy and living in God's presence.

This is the third of four significant 'finished.' This 'finished' initiates the final deliverance of God's people from domination by their enemies. It parallels the overcoming of the resistance of Pharaoh in Egypt, where plagues effectively broke his tyrannical control over God's chosen people.

The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their vast array. On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made. (Genesis 2:1-3)

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

The next two passages appear to be related to this event we are studying here.

The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:5-7)

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished. (Revelation 15:1)

He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6)

One part of what is finished here is the full maturation of character on both sides: the complete and irreversible hardening of heart from final rejection of God's covering protection on the part of the resistors of His mercy, and also the finalization of the sealing of all who have chosen to fixate on the Lamb alone. This permanent maturation of character by both sides authorizes the power of Satan to devastate the earth that has now spurned the inhibiting presence of God's Spirit that has been rejected by all its inhabitants except for the 144,000.

To summarize the nature of these 4 major finishes in the history of the war between truth and lies, we briefly review each one.

Creation of this world is finished, celebrated by the introduction of Sabbath rest. Freedom to choose.

For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:10) The main reason God rested in this first finishing was to respect the freedom of all the inhabitants of the watching universe to choose for themselves what to believe about God. This creation was in the context of a war that was in full force at that time, a war of slander against the credibility and integrity of the One on the throne of the universe. Lucifer’s insinuations, slanderous inferences and accusations were so subtle that it was impossible for lesser intelligent beings to fully discern the true nature of rebellion and the dangers involved in pursuing alternate ways to live outside trust and dependence on God. The creation of this world demonstrated God’s integrity rather than seeking to vindicate Himself verbally. Each day provided increasing evidence of God’s goodness that exposed and refuted Satan’s allegations against Him. Yet when enough evidence was available, it was necessary to cease presenting evidence in order to leave everyone free to decide for themselves with no pressure that could feel coercive to manipulate their choice.

Death of God’s Christ and our Christ. The ultimate reflection of God’s heart is finished.

When Christ cried out from the cross that it was finished, it again involved presenting even more evidence to refute the accusations and slander by God’s arch-enemy. Satan has asserted, and it is commonly believed by all the kingdoms of this world, that God is compelled by law to punish sin or in order to be respected as a God of justice. All humanity has been influenced by this lie, so God sent His Son to the very center of our reward/punishment system, taking upon Himself our weakness, even making Himself fully vulnerable to sinners to treat Him any way they chose. This exposed unequivocally the actual truth of God’s disposition towards sinners as well as revealing clearly how God would react if treated viciously and unfairly like we experience. The example of Jesus’ life demonstrated that nothing can separate anyone from God’s love, that His love is irrepressible and cannot be weakened in the slightest by even extreme attempts to disprove its authenticity.

This exposed the truly sinister character of Satan by contrast, for in orchestrating such a bold assault against the completely innocent Son of God, Satan’s duplicity and fraud was unmasked causing the loss of all lingering sympathies in the minds of the watching universe. He incriminated himself as the true villain, exposed by his own ‘justice’ system.

Re-demonstration by 144,000 who reflect the Lamb. The light is amplified exponentially.

This finish is identified both as the mystery of God (10:7) and as the wrath of God (15:1). We must understand the true nature of God’s wrath or this will be misinterpreted. When we also understand the nature of the contents of the bowls being poured out here, and that the angels pouring them out represents people reflecting the disposition of the Lamb, what has been a mystery since the inception of the war in heaven is demystified in the lives of these redeemed sinners who are motivated and transformed by the same Spirit that was in Christ.

As in the previous finished events, this provides even more compelling evidence that God’s government is based entirely on love and freedom alone and can maintain order, peace and coherence. This evidence corroborates the witness of the Lamb, but it goes further to refute Satan’s assertion that though it was possible for the Son of God to live in harmony with the law, it is still impossible for depraved sinners to be restored to living consistently in harmony with agape love. By repeating the reflection Jesus demonstrated, it now becomes clear that even sinners can be transformed into consistent saints and made safe to thrive in God’s fire with no fear or shame for all eternity, despite remaining free to always choose for themselves.

The war is finished and won by the Lamb and all who follow Him. Final finish!

"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. (21:6)

The war is done, finished, all in the past. The Son of God/Son of Man has exonerated the integrity and trustworthiness of His Father while consistently leaving everyone free at all times to choose for themselves what they will do with the evidence they have been given. The Son is seen as consistently revealing the truth of who God is, from before creation to all the variables caused by the war and emerging as victor in the end with no change or variation.

Jesus as always, is willing and eager to share without price the water of life to anyone who recognizes their need for this water and is willing to receive it. This refutes entirely the false concepts of trading that was part of the cause of the war originally. In God’s kingdom everything is free and available for the asking. Commerce is exposed as a cheap imitation and is discarded forever. The redeemed have believed and embraced their true identity in Christ, and the entire universe celebrates the true value of freedom now restored to perfect synchronization with the principles of life. This is the final outcome God has been passionately looking forward to throughout history, and that we are invited to enjoy with Him.

This last outpouring called a plague, parallels the final plague that came upon Egypt that resulting in breaking the stranglehold of resistance by Pharaoh. The death of his first-born son caused by his defiance against repeated warnings from God, led to the entire collapse of his empire as ultimately his own death in the Red Sea. This finish involved his own son.

God sent His only begotten Son to this world and allowed evil forces, both supernatural and human, to do with Him as they desired. All the venom of evil was unleashed on this perfect Man who had done nothing to deserve any of the vicious cruelty, humiliation and violence imposed on Him. Yet through this act of self-denying, willing sacrifice without resistance, the true nature of evil was unmasked as well as the true power of agape love. When Christ gave His mighty cry on the cross, ‘It is Finished,’ it reverberated throughout all the realms of the universe like an irresistible shockwave altering forever the disposition of beings there. It was this striking contrast between true goodness and the shocking horror of pure evil hidden in the heart of the once former bearer of God’s light, that permanently eliminated every lingering sympathy any of them had for Satan’s insinuations against God and His methods of relating to His creatures.

This final outpouring similarly establishes an everlasting testimony that seals every human being in their disposition towards God, reinforcing the testimony of the True Witness who solidified the allegiance of heavenly intelligences 2,000 years ago. Just as the final plague of Egypt effectively broke through the stubbornness of Pharaoh to let God’s people leave his control, so too this final plague unnerves the powers of darkness to their foundations. This finish in turn precipitates a sequence of events outlined in the next chapters that describe the progressive collapse of the all world systems that have enslaved God’s people in bondage just as the Israelites were held as slaves in Egypt.

A key difference in this instance is that because Jesus has already won the victory and secured our freedom by identifying with our sin in exchange for assigning us His own identity as overcomer, we are already free inside as we choose to believe this reality and live free from the power of sin. We are not to wait to live in victory, imagining that we have to put up with bondage to fear and sin in our lives until the return of Christ to take us to heaven. As we join Christ in His victory over the world already accomplished, we are to also celebrate His victory as our own presently. This means the power of sin inside us is defeated, regardless of any external circumstances we may experience around us.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish; to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

Why Clothes? - Rumor notes 171

 Revelation 16

15 "Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn't walk naked, and they see his shame."

16 He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo.

and keeps his clothes

Clothes prophetically have to do with character rather than physical covering. Throughout history people are often identified by the clothes they wear, the uniform they put on that indicates what group they identify with or belong to. Clothes can also denote relationships, disposition and often reflect the condition of the heart.

It is important to keep in mind the history of clothes as it relates to nakedness. Again, nakedness as it relates to our emotional and spiritual condition is not really about how much physical clothing we have on but rather involves our internal perceptions about our relation to others and to God, particularly our perception of worth and value. As humans we were created to live naked and unashamed. That feels foreign to most because shame is so universal, yet few consciously realize how much shame they really feel deep inside.

They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25)

The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" (Genesis 3:10-11)

These verses provide the critical key for us to appreciate Scripture in relation to nakedness and clothing. If we imagine that nakedness is a problem caused by sin, we remain deceived regarding the core issue of sin. Adam came to presume that nakedness was his problem. He felt afraid of God’s presence, forgetting he was created naked and had never experienced shame previously.

God gave Adam opportunity to perceive the true problem, asking him a direct question about how he had come to this condition. Yet the lies caused him so much shame and fear he refused to confess. Thus he missed the greatest opportunity in history that could have reversed the curse of sin before it went further. Stonewalling leads to disastrous results, yet God respected Adam’s choice to cling to lies that alienated their relationship. Yet this new condition of pervasive shame would contaminate the rest of human history. So God provided clothing to cover their nakedness because they no longer were willing to live transparently and vulnerably like they were designed to live.

Yahweh God made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

Clothing was not part of God’s creation design but rather an accommodation to provide a temporary sense of security until the real cause of the shame was fully resolved. This is crucial for understanding how Jesus differentiates between the issue of nakedness and the problem of shame. In His counsel to the last assembly called Laodicea in chapter 3, Jesus again addresses the problem that originated with the fall that spoiled God’s design for intimacy.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. (Revelation 3:18)

Note how Jesus does not identify nakedness as the problem but rather the shame we associate with nakedness. Because we live in a world that exploits nakedness and vulnerability, we must have clothing, both spiritual and physical, until all things are fully restored. But what kind of clothes?

It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:8)

Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:4-5)

One of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?" I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's blood. (Revelation 7:13-14)

All of these references to white garments are not about the color of literal clothing we wear. These are symbols of things far more important than what kind or color of physical clothes we have. This is about the condition of our mental and spiritual state internally that directly affects how we view God and His disposition towards us. These garments are portrayed as being white because white represents complete light, whole light, and light always originates from God.

This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3)

I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. Yahweh said to Satan, "Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn't this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?"

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, "Take the filthy garments off of him." To him he said, "Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing."

I said, "Let them set a clean turban on his head." So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the angel of Yahweh was standing by.

The angel of Yahweh protested to Joshua, saying, "Thus says Yahweh of Armies: 'If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by. (Zechariah 3:1-7)

When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. (Matthew 24:15-18)

But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate. (Luke 15:22-24)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27)

The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let's put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts. (Romans 13:12-14)

But you did not learn Christ that way; if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. (Ephesians 4:20-24)

Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, (Colossians 3:9-10)

Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:12-14)

But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21)

What does it mean to keep our clothes? The word keep here parallels the word watch. It means to guard, to keep an eye on, to hold fast. Keeping our clothes refers to the clothing given us of God, not our old filthy garments. Clothes represent identity and character. Character is formed through choices, and our choices are directed through what we imagine about our identity. In turn, our sense of identity is formed around what we believe God is like, where we arrive at the very root of the sin problem in all humanity, how it got infused into our psyche – our first parent’s choice to distrust God’s heart and believe a false messiah who led them toward ruin.

The clothes we need to hold fast to, to not lose sight of like our first parents did, is our true identity as God’s loved children. This is what the gospel is all about, how our true identity is not rooted in our actions or doctrinal systems or history or our feelings. Our true identity is re-anchored by the Father of the new human race, the second Adam who takes full responsibility from the first Adam and earned the right to re-identify every human being as belonging to Him and is assigned as His inheritance. Every human being has been justified in Christ. What is left is for us to embrace the benefits and privileges of adoption into the family of God and to embrace this identity by faith, choosing to believe who we are based on the Word of God alone separate from any works of our own.

The reason there is a need to keep our clothes with us so we don’t walk around vulnerable to believing any shame messages about us. We hold to our freedom and resist doubting this amazing truth. No one can change what Jesus did to redeem every one of us to adopt us into His family. Yet we remain free to continue believing The Lie inherited from the first Adam. We can spurn the gift of our new identity in Christ as beloved children of our heavenly Father. In other words we can throw away our new clothes or exploit and ruin them, turning them back into old clothes that feel more familiar. But if we do this we cannot escape the tragic consequences that will inevitably follow.

Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.' Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?' He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.' (Matthew 22:9-13)

This parallels the other story where the servant was apportioned with the hypocrites.

Summary of these passages in connection to keeping our clothes so others won’t see shame in us.

Adam and Eve began naked, like all of us do. Only they had no shame until after they sinned. Nakedness represents vulnerability, an essential element of heaven’s design for love.

The real first clothes for humans were made by Yahweh from skins in order to address the new problem of shame caused by humans believing lies about themselves and God.

Jesus counsels us to buy white garment clothing from Him to resolve our problem of shame.

The bride of Christ arrays herself in bright, fine, white linen representing righteous acts.

One who does not defile their garments but overcomes will walk with Jesus in white.

Those with white robes make them white by washing them in the Lamb’s blood.

God offers to exchange our spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise.

God has clothed us with garments of salvation, a robe of righteousness.

When our filthy garments are removed, our iniquity passes from us and we wear rich clothing.

If we don’t wear our provided wedding clothes when we attend the feast like everyone else there, the bouncers will haul us off to the outer darkness.

Jesus warns us to not go home to get our own clothes when it is time to flee in the crisis.

If we come back home to God, He puts the best robe on us in preparation for a big celebration.

Paul admonishes us to throw off works of darkness and put on robes of light, put on Jesus.

Put on God’s whole armor outfit to prepare to stand against the devil.

As baptized children of God we have put on Christ.

Put away our former old man way of life that grows corrupt; be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on our new identity that is in the likeness of God, created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Put off the old man; put on the new man renewed in knowledge of the image of our Creator.

Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance.

What does it mean to keep our clothes? Keep ourselves in the love of God

One cannot keep something that don’t already have. Based on all these explanations as to the real meaning of clothes according to God, we are to hang on to our true identity, not shrink back in shame.

so that he doesn't walk naked

Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. (Revelation 3:17-18)

The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:7-8)

Was their nakedness a problem hidden from them previously?

Is this eye-opening experience an advanced revelation toward deeper truths?

What kind of eyes were opened?

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23)

The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" (Genesis 3:10-11)

This is the history of how and when our true identity, our original clothing of light was exchanged for wretched clothing of shame. What feels initially like light and freedom is seductive and sinister. This happens when we choose to believe the father of lies who comes to steal, kill and destroy our freedom, happiness and intimacy with our loving heavenly Parents. Stripped of peace and awareness of God’s faithful love for us, we remain trapped in the darkness of delusion, imagining all sorts of terrifying scenarios and presumptions about God’s thoughts and intent towards us. The naked vulnerability we were created to thrive in suddenly is perceived as our greatest liability, a threat of shame rather than our greatest opportunity to experience joy.

Because you didn't serve Yahweh your God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things; therefore shall you serve your enemies whom Yahweh shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck, until he have destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:47-48)

This yoke that is impossible to escape is a matrix of lies that traps us in the prison of our own tortured conscience. It originates from the father of lies intent on defacing us because we are created in the image of God whom he hates fiercely. So long as we resist serving God in the spirit of the New Song, with joyfulness and gladness, we will feel conscripted to serve the enemy in selfish indulgence.

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

To sin willfully means to allow the old patterns of feelings about our worth and identity to regain control in our life, allowing our fears to dominate our thinking about God’s disposition towards us. This is what happens when we don’t keep our wedding clothes with us. We are out of sync with everyone enjoying the celebration. When we allow our old identity to assert control over our thinking and to hijack our heart after we have come to experience the healing truth of God’s love, and we have come to know our true identity in Christ, the only option left is to feel tormented far worse by lies that compel us to live in constant terror of the angry god we imagine is hell-bent on punishing all who offend him and who is compelled by law and his anger to devour his enemies.

When we cling to old lies about how God feels about us, and we choose to turn from the truth about Him and ourselves to find pleasure in other lovers, we follow the footsteps of people chosen by God in the past whose filthy lewdness surpassed even the wickedness of unbelievers. They refused to keep on their clothes gifted them by their loving Husband, the One who had rescued them, and chose instead to exploit His gifts as means to seduce others to gratify their prostitution. This reflects the condition of the intense emptiness of their heart resulting from spurning the one true Source of love.

Ezekiel 16 is an amazing account of how people may choose to exploit God’s gifts and favor to them, refusing to be thankful and instead seeking gratification from other sources. The entire chapter is a compelling testimony that is highly instructive. Here is a somewhat condensed version to help us appreciate what Jesus wants us to avoid doing and to learn from their evil choices.

Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord Yahweh, and you became mine.

Then washed I you with water; yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered work, and shod you with sealskin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and covered you with silk. I decked you with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck. I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.

Thus you were decked with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; you ate fine flour, and honey, and oil; and you were exceeding beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate. Your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you, says the Lord Yahweh.

But you did trust in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who passed by; his it was. You took of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. (Ezekiel 16:8-16)

Keeping our clothes with us means not exploiting the gifts and privileges given us by God, choosing to stay in loyal and appreciative relationship to the Source of all our gifts. As tragic as this account is, we can learn from it what not to do and accept it as a wakeup call.

Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you gave to them; therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you have hated; I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness. (Ezekiel 16:36-37)

So she uncovered her prostitution, and uncovered her nakedness: then my soul was alienated from her, like as my soul was alienated from her sister. (Ezekiel 23:18)

For thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will deliver you into the hand of them whom you hate, into the hand of them from whom your soul is alienated; and they shall deal with you in hatred, and shall take away all your labor, and shall leave you naked and bare; and the nakedness of your prostitution shall be uncovered, both your lewdness and your prostitution. (Ezekiel 23:28-29)

Notice how God links soul relationship with prostitution. When we seek intimacy in other sources than with the One who designed us to know Him fully, it causes distance between us, not from His offense but out of respect for us spurning His love and replacing Him with toxic relationships.

A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself, over his naked body. The young men grabbed him, but he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. (Mark 14:51-52)

For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked. (2 Corinthians 5:1-3)

What clues have we picked up from these verses relating to nakedness?

clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed

they knew that they were naked... The man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh

I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."

God said, "Who told you that you were naked?

Because you didn't serve Yahweh your God with joyfulness,

therefore shall you serve your enemies...in nakedness, and in want of all things

your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness

entered into a covenant with you, and you became mine

I clothed you...your beauty was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you

You took of your garments and played the prostitute

your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers

I will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness

she uncovered her prostitution, and uncovered her nakedness: then my soul was alienated from her

They shall leave you naked and bare

he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked

we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven

that being clothed we will not be found naked

they see his shame

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. (Revelation 3:18)

Note that Jesus is not saying the nakedness is our problem, but rather the shame. Shame is the real enemy, for God’s original design for us included complete nakedness while being completely free of any shame. Shame is what Jesus despised on the cross, not nakedness. The clothing of heaven addresses the shame problem rather than merely the nakedness.

Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn't see their father's nakedness. (Genesis 9:22-23)

As an aside, it is very possible that what really happened in this story was quite different from how it is recorded. Consider this explanation in light of what may have transpired with Ham.

The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:11)

If Ham actually went in and had sex with his mother while his father was drunk, then instead of this being about his father being naked, his curse makes far more sense if Noah addressing the offspring of this act which would have been Canaan, for he may well have been the outgrowth from incest.

Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. He said, "Canaan is cursed. He will be servant of servants to his brothers." (Genesis 9:24-25)

A few more incidental passages relating to shame and nakedness, some similar and others more nebulous but available for however the Spirit may use them to provide more insight.

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don't I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? (1 Samuel 20:30)

Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate. Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove your veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and will spare no man. (Isaiah 47:1-3)

"Behold, I am against you," says Yahweh of Armies, "and I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. (Nahum 3:5)

Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies! You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed! The cup of Yahweh's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. (Habakkuk 2:15-16)

Ham saw the nakedness of his father

Their faces were backwards, and they didn't see their father's nakedness

who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness

If Canaan was the offspring of incest with Noah’s wife, the shame would follow him.

Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink until they are drunk, you may gaze at their naked bodies! You are filled with shame

You will also drink, and be exposed and disgrace will cover your glory

Reflection

What kind of clothes do we need?

What kind of problem does is new clothing designed to resolve?

Can shame be eliminated and we still be free to be transparent, naked, vulnerable?

Why does the idea of restoration to nakedness greatly agitate so many people?

Is God willing to get naked?

Does God’s clothing eliminate nakedness, or does it enable it?

When is nakedness a problem?