Defending Modesty in Dressing Book Sampler

OLUSEYI E.
ODUNUGA
DEFENDING
MODESTY IN
DRESSING
OLUSEYI EMMANUEL ODUNUGA
ii
Published by
THE PLENIPOTENT COMPANY LIMITED
Ibadan, Nigeria.
Website: www.plenipotent.com.ng
Phone: +234 907 411 9062
Email: mail@plenipotent.com.ng
Copyright © 2018 Oluseyi E. Odunuga
To contact the author for Bible seminars or lectures in the areas of modesty, health,
righteousness by faith and Bible prophecy call +234 806 698 5614 or send an email
to immanuel1888@gmail.com
All rights reserved.
Under the International copyright law, no part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form whatsoever except for brief quotations in critical reviews
or articles, without the prior written consent of the author or the publisher.
ISBN-13: 978-1718621299
ISBN-10: 1718621299
COVER PICTURE
All around the world, mountains rise up out of the landscape,

reaching high into the sky. These mountains have always held an
irresistible attraction to the eyes. They symbolise impossible
challenges or insurmountable obstacles that we face daily. Men have
trained themselves to climb the highest mountains on earth for
worldly records and honour.
In like manner, Christ has placed a high Christian standard before

us which is as high as the mountain in this cover picture. We must
climb it by looking unto Jesus, our forerunner, who has climbed all
insurmountable mountains. Our reward is everlasting life.
In October 31, 1909, Mrs. Ellen G. White wrote in Review and

Herald: ―God‘s ideal for his children is higher than the highest human
thought can reach. ‗Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.‘ This command is a promise.‖
God desires His children to be perfect in all areas of their lives

which also include in the area of dressing in this perverse and corrupt
world. Let us climb, step by step, to attain the standard that God has
given to us in Christ Jesus.
DEFENDING MODESTY IN DRESSING
DEDICATION
This book is solely dedicated to my late mother, Odunuga Helen

Ufuoma.
I miss you Oni Seyi.
v
OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
CONTENTS
Foreword 6
Acknowledgement 8
Notes to the reader 9
1 Created for Glory 10
2 The Need for Dress Reform 22
3 Worldly Fashion Designer 32
4 The Garment of God‘s Children 42
5 Jesus, Our Pattern 51
6 Babylonian Garment 56
7 Wine of Babylon 68
8 Beholding Her Nakedness 78
9 You Are What You Wear 84
10 That Which Pertains to a Man (Part I) 93
11 That Which Pertains to a Man (Part II) 113
12 Shall I Wear Long Skirt? 124
13 Modesty or Immodesty 131
14 Strange Garments in the Church 157
15 Laodicea: The Naked Church 165
16 Health, Safety and Modesty 169
17 The Bride‘s Garment 176
About the Author 182
vi
FOREWORD
The level of provocative dressing in our 21st century world is simply

intriguing and alarming. On the television, the internet, the print
media, at weddings, at the various university campuses and even in
most churches, the sights are demoralising for some people. This has
elicited different reactions from a highly pluralised and secularised
society. To some of the adherents, it is a form of rebellion to the
mores and values cherished in some cultures. To many secularists,
no one should be bothered about the dressing of people because they
have the inalienable right to dress anyhow they want. Unfortunately,
this secular mindset has crept into most, if not all, churches in our
land. The argument of most of the churchmen and women who
dress indecently is usually that ‗how they dress‘ does not affect their
spiritual standing with God.
In this apologetic book, the author queries this ‗argument‘ and

‗response‘ of the disciples of indecent dressing and forcefully argues
that most of the time, the way a person dresses is an indication and a
reflection of what is happening inside the person. For instance, it
seems very incongruent for a young woman to wear bum shorts or
other transparent dresses and still claim that ‗her heart is right‘ with
God. That clearly tends towards self-deception. Some few times
though, one‘s dressing can be just a mask to deceive. Such a person
can dress decently on the outside but remain a devil inside and vice-
versa. But on the whole, it is more plausible to believe that the way
that someone dresses, often times, indicates or shows his or her type
of person.
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OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
The author uses the Bible adequately to show what should

characterise the dressing and comportment of those who profess His
name. Here, he makes some copious quotations from the Bible and
the Writings of Ellen G. White, among other sources, to establish
and validate his argument. Therefore, given his zeal and depth of
knowledge on issues bordering on godliness and holiness and his
well-organised and comprehensive work, readers will surely find this
volume very stimulating and challenging to their Christian profession.
I believe and hope that his overall interest in writing this book,
namely, that of seeing reforms in the dress worn by some Christians
will be realised as it is read.
Gaius A. Umahi, PhD

Professor of New Testament Studies and Gender Issues
Department of Religion and Philosophy
Taraba State University, Jalingo
8
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This book would not have come into existence if not for Him
through whom all things were created, that are in heaven and on
earth, He who is before all things and by Him all things consist, even
Jesus Christ the Creator of my life. Thank you for your everlasting
love.
Special thanks to Darrio Taylor, Jamel Sankey, Manuel Carrasco and

B. Howard, my teachers and mentors, your self-supporting ministry
have been a blessing to me for years. In fact your clear bible
teachings on practical godliness have greatly influenced my ability in
writing this book. I love you sirs.
I am greatly indebted to Dr. Gaius A. Umahi, past senior pastor at

Siloam Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church, Babcock University,
for reading through the manuscript and agreeing to write the
foreword. The good Lord will continue to use you for the glory of
His name.
Pastor Emeka Abaribe of Babcock University Chaplaincy, thanks for

your pastoral advice and taking your time to read a part of the
manuscript.
Akpa Emeka, my friend and brother, a writer in his own class who
alone knew my desire to discuss issues relating to modesty in
dressing. Thanks for your support and advice.
Oyekunle Mosope, thank you for prayers and for being there beside
me. I love you so much.
Finally, to my father, Odunuga Jacob Bayo, whose hand God has

used to mould my character and through whom the publishing of this
book was actualised. Thank you Papy J.
9
NOTES TO THE READER
1. Although some aspects of this book appear to address the
female gender as a matter of expediency, the core essence applies to
everyone – male and female.
2. The word ‗man‘ is used both in the generic sense to mean

humanity in general and in the specific sense to mean a male human
being. The appropriate sense will be clarified by the context.
3. When used to mean ―the body of Christ on earth‖, the word

―church‖ refers to both male and female.
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CHAPTER ONE
CREATED FOR GLORY
For what purpose were we created? The answer to this question

has puzzled philosophers and scientists for centuries – men and
women who do not believe in the authority of the Scripture but rely
on false science. But for us who believe in the authority of the
Scripture we need not grope in darkness for therein lies the answer to
this question. An understanding of this purpose will direct the mind
of the diligent Bible student to the source of life, even Christ, and not
to self. Though this book speaks more about defending modesty in
dressing, I would like to invite you to know why you need to practise
modesty not only in dressing but also in all endeavours of life. For we
are instructed: ―Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye
do [including dressing], do all to the glory of God‖ 1 Corinthians
10:31 (emphasis supplied). All should be done to the glory of God
whether in ―word or deed‖ we are admonished by the great Apostle
Paul to ―do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
and the Father by him.‖ Colossians. 3:17. This is the true definition
of modesty or temperance.
Created for Glory

Despite having innumerable host of holy angels doing His
bidding in heaven and unfallen beings resident in other worlds of His
heavenly kingdom, why would the Almighty God be in need of
another species of beings which He perfectly knew would later
transgress His Divine Law? We understand that, ―Human beings
were a new and distinct order‖1 in God‘s creative design. Man was
created ―a little lower than the angels,‖ crowned with glory and
honour and was made to have dominion over God‘s handiwork
(Psalms 8:5, 6; Hebrews 2:7). The plan to create man was determined
1
Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, Feb 11, 1902, par. 1.
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OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
from eternity past, even before time ever existed. Apostle Paul,
writing to the church in Ephesus, testifies about God‘s eternal
purpose for creating man:
―Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the
praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the
beloved.‖ Ephesians 1:3-6
Before the foundations of the world, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ had chosen us in Christ to be ―holy and without blame before
him in love‖ and also for ―the glory of his grace‖ according to His
own ―good pleasure and will.‖ From this text it is clear that man was
created for holiness even before the foundations of the world.
Holiness is God‘s innate character. Nothing unholy can proceed
from Him. God Himself commanded His church, ―Be ye holy; for I
am holy‖ (1 Peter 1:16). God is holy, righteous and perfect; thus man
was created to reflect His character in its fullness. The eternal
purpose of God in Christ Jesus was to reveal the manifold character
of the Godhead through humanity to both fallen and unfallen angels
and also to both fallen and unfallen worlds. As it is also written:
―To make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,

which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ
Jesus our Lord.‖ Ephesians 3:9-11 (NIV)
Man was also created for the ―praise of the glory of his [God‘s]
12
grace‖ (See Ephesians 1:6, 12). The Lord God reaffirms this fact:
―Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for
my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.‖ Isaiah. 43:7.
―Many misunderstand the object for which they were created. It

was to bless humanity and glorify God, rather than to enjoy and
glorify self.‖2
―When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore, in his

physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. ―God
created man in His own image‖ (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose
that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image— the more
fully reflect the glory of the Creator.‖3
Mrs. White rightly wrote above that many have a

misunderstanding of the purpose for which they were created.
Whosoever is born into this world is born for God‘s glory, not to
enjoy and glorify self. We were also created to bless humanity with all
our substance. One of the mediums by which we are to glorify God
and to bless humanity is through our outward look. How we dress
can bless others and glorify God or lead others to sin and bring
dishonour to the God we profess to serve. ―To give glory to God is
to reveal His character in our own, and thus make Him known. And
in whatever way we make known the Father or the Son, we glorify
God.‖4 We are what we wear, just as much as we are what we eat.
The outer man is in a greater degree a reflection of our inner man.
What we wear reflects our character. As followers of Christ we are to
reflect the character of Christ in every sphere of our lives. How we
eat, dress, talk, walk etc. must reflect the character of Jesus. You
would bear me witness that in our world today followers of Christ
have so mixed up with the world that you hardly can differentiate
2
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 354. par.2.
3
Ellen G. White, Education, p. 15. par. 1.
4
Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, October 17, 1892. par.3.
13
OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
followers of Christ from everyone else. The distinct demarcation

between followers of Christ and followers of Satan is not seen in the
church, at the workplace or in the home.
Garment for Glory and Beauty

When God commanded Moses to make Aaron a garment, He
gave him the following instruction:
―And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for
glory and for beauty‖ Exodus 28:2.
―And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make
for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and
for beauty‖ Exodus 28:40.
Why make garments for Aaron and his sons? The answer is not
farfetched. Their garments were made for glory and for beauty. The
glory and beauty of God should be reflected in the cloths we wear
both privately and publicly but most especially publicly. Our God is a
God of perfect character and perfect beauty. Christ asked us to
―Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither
do they spin,‖ he went on to say, ―And yet I say unto you, that even
Solomon in all his glory [and beauty] was not arrayed like one of
these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today
is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe
you, O ye of little faith?‖ (Matthew 6:28-30, emphasis supplied). God is
the God of glory, beauty and varieties. He wants us to look beautiful
when we clothe ourselves and to reflect His glory to the world better
than the lilies of the field. God is not against fashion. He is a God of
fashion. But he is against fashion that glorifies self and Satan. Mrs.
White warned against unhealthful and immodest fashion which
displeases the Lord. ―The Lord is displeased with the pride
manifested among His professed people. He is dishonoured by their
conformity to the unhealthful, immodest, and expensive fashions of
14
this degenerate age.‖5 She also warned against those who are being
fanatical and see no good in fashion. She wrote against the extremes
in practising dress reform:
―We as a people do not believe it our duty to go out of the world

to be out of the fashion. If we have a neat, plain, modest, and
comfortable plan of dress, and worldlings choose to dress as we do,
shall we change this mode of dress in order to be different from the
world? No, we should not be odd or singular in our dress for the sake
of differing from the world, lest they despise us for so doing.
Christians are the light of the world, the salt of the earth. Their dress
should be neat and modest, their conversation chaste and heavenly,
and their deportment blameless.‖6
God desires that His glory [character] will be seen among nations,
tongues and tribes and will be declared among the Gentiles (Isaiah
60:1-7; 66:18, 19). But ―my people‖ saith the Lord, ―have changed
their glory [character] for that which doth not profit‖ Jeremiah 2:11.
The name of the Lord has been polluted by the manner of dress
worn by professed Christians either to the house of God [The church
or congregational worship] or to other social gatherings. They have
exchanged the glory of God for vanity and pride. The Lord is a
jealous God and He is jealous over us. The blood of Christ, His Son,
is precious in His sight and with this precious blood He redeemed
humanity from sin, Satan and the world. We are His, both by creation
and by redemption, therefore when we reflect the character of Satan
and the world we are rejecting Him and sharing His glory with Satan
and the world. For it is written: ―I am the LORD: that is my name:
and my glory [character] will I not give to another, neither my praise
to graven images‖ (Isaiah 42:8).
Satan Challenged God in Heaven

5 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 634, par. 1
6
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 424, par. 2
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OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
When God created man as a new order of being, man was

appointed to be his instrument to answer Satan‘s challenge. Lucifer,
prior to the creation of man, challenged God concerning His
character and His Law. He became Satan as a result of his
disobedience to God. He openly rebelled against God‘s government
and sought to get rid of God in order to be the centre of influence.
His desire was to live independent of God. His belief was that the
Law of God – the Law of love – was not needed and that holy angels
could do just fine without God‘s help. But Lucifer forgot that no
created being has innate, self-originated holiness or the ability to do
right in himself. All living creatures are solely dependent on God to
keep His law and to live holy. ―I am the vine, ye are the branches: He
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.‖ (John 15:5). This statement is
also applicable to holy angels in heaven. No more can holy angels
bear fruit outside of Christ than the branch of a vine bear fruit on
their own. Sin originated with Lucifer. He was determined to have his
own way and to receive homage from angels. He was filled with a
self-seeking spirit and the spirit of deicide (deicide means the act of
killing God). He wanted to get rid of God in order to be the centre of
influence and to be the leader in heaven. I want us to read carefully
the following insightful revelation of how this rebellion started in
heaven and why he was cast out to earth:
―None of us liveth to himself.‘ (Romans 14:7). This is a law of

God in heaven and on earth. God is the great centre. From Him all
life proceeds. To Him all service, homage, and allegiance belong. For
all created beings there is the one great principle of life — dependence upon and
co-operation with God. The relationship existing in the pure family of
God in heaven was to exist in the family of God on earth. Under
God, Adam was to stand at the head of the earthly family to maintain
the principles of the heavenly family. This would have brought peace
and happiness. But the law that none ‗liveth to himself‘ Satan was
determined to oppose. He desired to live for self. He sought to make
16
himself a centre of influence. It was this that incited rebellion in

heaven, and it was man's acceptance of this principle that brought sin
on earth.‖7
The above quote is a clear explanation of Isaiah 14:12-14 which is

a perfect description of how Lucifer rebelled against the Most High:
―How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the
nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I
will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.‖ (Isaiah
14:12-14)
Satan had the ―I‖ syndrome. God didn‘t create him with this ―I‖
syndrome but God created him with the power of choice. This
syndrome originated in self-seeking, thus sin originated in self-
seeking and self-seeking originated with Lucifer who said in his heart
that he would usurp God‘s government and exalt himself and his
throne above the stars (angels) of God. In order to accomplish his
mission, he sought to kill God because none could actually take the
place of a king without getting rid of him. For this reason, Christ said
to the Jews, ―Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode
not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.‖ (John
8:44). The devil was a murderer from the beginning! How could that
be? I have always asked myself, ―How was Satan a murderer from the
beginning?‖ Now I understand. He was filled with the spirit of
deicide. He hated God. He hated all that God reflected; he hated His
glory and beauty. To hate someone is tantamount to killing the
person. Apostle John said, ―Whosoever hateth his brother is a
7
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 236, par. 1.
17
OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
murderer.‖ (1 John 3:15). You need not kill your brother with a knife
or with a gun, all you have to do to be found guilty of murder is to
hate him. It was at the cross that the spirit of deicide was fully
revealed in its hideousness to the whole universe. The crucifixion of
the son of God, to the unfallen world and to humanity, revealed the
incurable hatred Satan nurtured from the beginning. The cross is the
culmination of his hatred for the Father and His Son.
―At the cross of Calvary, love and selfishness stood face to face.
Here was their crowning manifestation. Christ had lived only to
comfort and bless, and in putting Him to death, Satan manifested the
malignity of his hatred against God. He made it evident that the real
purpose of his rebellion was to dethrone God, and to destroy Him
through whom the love of God was shown.‖8
―Satan saw that his disguise was torn away [at the cross]. His
administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before
the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By
shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself
from the sympathies of the heavenly beings.‖9
―It was Satan that prompted the world's rejection of Christ. The
prince of evil exerted all his power and cunning to destroy Jesus; for
he saw that the Saviour's mercy and love, His compassion and pitying
tenderness, were representing to the world the character of God.
Satan contested every claim put forth by the Son of God and
employed men as his agents to fill the Saviour's life with suffering
and sorrow. The sophistry and falsehood by which he had sought to
hinder the work of Jesus, the hatred manifested through the children
of disobedience, his cruel accusations against Him whose life was one
of unexampled goodness, all sprang from deep-seated revenge. The
pent-up fires of envy and malice, hatred and revenge, burst forth on Calvary
8
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 57. par. 2.
9
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 761. par. 2. (emphasis supplied)
18
against the Son of God, while all heaven gazed upon the scene in silent horror.‖10
With silent horror, all heaven gazed upon Calvary to view the
abysmal shame that came upon the Prince of Peace. It is imperative
to know that there is one other reason that led Lucifer to openly
rebel against the Father and His Son. Before his rebellion against the
Law and government of God, Satan became jealous for not being
invited into the council of God in the creation of man. An
announcement was made to create man. The Father neither
consulted Satan nor invited him into the divine council of the
Godhead. It was for this reason that he hated Christ the more.
―But when God said to His Son, "Let us make man in our image,"
Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of
man, and because he was not, he was filled with envy, jealousy, and
hatred. He desired to receive the highest honours in heaven next to
God.‖11
When war broke out in heaven, Satan was cast out of heaven with
his sympathisers. At once the Godhead carried into effect the plan of
creating man for glory and to inhabit the new world. We must
understand that Satan was not cast out of heaven to earth
immediately during the war that took place in heaven, as depicted in
Revelation 12, because the earth or man was not in existence when
he was cast out of heaven. It was after Satan was cast out of heaven
that man was created. Therefore the earth was either not in existence
before Satan was cast out or the earth was in existence but man was
not yet created. Either way, Satan must have been cast out to another
world before he later found his way into this new world that was
created by God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. In support
of this fact Mrs. White wrote:
10
Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 501. par. 2.
11
Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 145. par. 1.
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OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
―Then there was war in heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of
heaven, and His loyal angels engaged in conflict with the archrebel
and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels
prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from heaven. All the
heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a
taint of rebellion was left in heaven. All was again peaceful and
harmonious as before. Angels in heaven mourned the fate of those
who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss
was felt in heaven.
The Father consulted His Son in regard to at once carrying out their purpose
to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place man upon probation to
test his loyalty before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he
endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should
eventually be equal with the angels. He was to have the favour of
God, and he was to converse with angels, and they with him. He did
not see fit to place them beyond the power of disobedience.‖12
It can be seen from the above quotation that the Father consulted
the Son in regard to the creation of man after the expulsion of Satan.
Therefore man was created after the expulsion of Satan.
God’s Instrument
The creation of man was appointed of God as an instrument to
answer the challenge of Satan and to eradicate or end Sin. Man was
created to vindicate and defend God‘s character and government
before the angels and unfallen world. By the means of His Church,
the manifold wisdom of God was to be revealed to all men, powers
and principalities in heavenly places. God has appointed man to be a
partaker of His divine nature and to share His throne of glory with
Him. Adam was created to be king over all His creation. ―He raiseth
up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the
12
Ellen G. White, The Story of Redemption, p. 19. par. 1-2.
20
dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne
of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set
the world upon them.‖ (1 Samuel 2:8). Even after Adam fell in Eden,
the fall of Adam changed God‘s divine relationship with man but did
not change His eternal purpose in creating him. The promise was given
by Christ to man, that 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.‖ (Revelation 3:21). Through Christ and His
saints, the eternal purpose of God, hidden from eternity must be
accomplished to the fullest and this purpose is for man to fully reflect
God‘s glory, even His character by living an overcoming Christian
life. Moses begged the Lord, ―shew me thy glory,‖ but the Lord
replied, ―I will make all my goodness [character] pass before thee, and
I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be
gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I
will shew mercy.‖ (Exodus 33:18, 19, emphasis supplied). A little while
later in the next chapter, when the Lord was about to reveal His glory
to Moses, He began to proclaim the various traits of character. (See
Exodus 34:5-7). In this cosmic warfare between good and evil,
Satan‘s challenge must be met only through the life of Christ, for He
is the only Strong man who can defeat him. It is true that Christ is
the only means through which the great controversy will be won. But
one may end up asking, ―What then is the role of fallen man since
Christ is the means through which God will end sin?‖ The role of
man is this: Christ is glorified and honoured through the perfect
reflection of His character and beauty in man. If and only if man will
allow Him to dwell in his heart in fullness, then the image of God
shall be reproduced in him perfectly. It is only as Christ lives in man
will man be able to reflect the character and glory of God in its
fullness. Man can then become God‘s instrument to vindicate His
character in the great controversy between good and evil. All born
into this world are born to glorify and honour God through the
perfection of their character in all areas of life. This high standard can
only be accomplished through the power of Christ. What we say,
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OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
what we eat, what we wear, the vocation we do, what we listen to,
what we behold with our eyes, what we meditate upon, how we relate
with our environment – all of these and many more must reflect the
character of Christ and glorify His holy name. For it is written:
The Saviour came to glorify the Father by the demonstration of

His love; so the Spirit was to glorify Christ by revealing His grace to
the world. The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honour
of God, the honour of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His
people.13
.
13
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671, par. 3.
22
CHAPTER TWO
THE NEED FOR DRESS REFORM
The previous chapter opened our understanding to the purpose

for which we were created. We saw that man was created to reflect
the character of God which must be seen both by men and angels
that they may give Him glory and praise. This reflection of Christ‘s
character can only be achieved through the grace of Christ as He
dwells in us through His Holy Spirit; who will so mould our inner
man to be conformed to the image of Christ. The result of this new
man will be reflected in our lifestyle, especially in what we wear and it
will prove to the world that we are truly converted and are dead to
the world. In this chapter, I will begin by asking you this question:
―Who was the first worldly fashion designer?‖ I am very sure many
will get the answer wrong. You need not look up the internet for an
answer; it has been revealed to us in the Holy Scripture. I will not tell
you who I think it is but we will allow the Bible to speak for itself as
we proceed in our journey. The answer will be supplied in the next
chapter.
The Scripture is the revelation of God to mankind and it is ―given

by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.‖ (2
Timothy 3:16-17). Our Lord Jesus Christ also instructs us to ―search
the scriptures‖ for in them we shall have life because they testify of
Him (John 5:39). The wise man, Solomon, said ―Have not I written
to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might
make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest
answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?‖ (Proverbs 22:20-21).
As Christians, we are often bombarded with many questions in
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regard to our faith. Those around us sometimes ask questions about

the Sabbath, the State of the dead, Christ Sanctuary Ministry,
Righteousness by Faith, the Law, the Godhead, the Second coming
of Jesus Christ and many more and we are often quick to give an
answer to them that ask us these questions. Glory be to God for this
ability! But the issue of Christian standard or Christian lifestyle is
where the rubber hits the road. It is written of professed Christians
that ―there is an alarming amount of indifference, pride, love of the
world, and cold formality existing among them.‖14 People of the
world see most of us who profess to be Christians as hypocrites
because we have failed to practise what we profess, teach and preach
to others. Our religion is seen as a religion of formality without
power. We have a form of godliness but deny the power that gives
godliness (2 Timothy 3:5). We become weak, ashamed and fearful to
defend what we believe when we find ourselves among the mixed
multitude of our unbelieving friends. The present truth we profess to
believe is not acted out in our lives because it has not taken root in
the heart. For this reason, the world finds it difficult to differentiate a
Christian brother or sister from a non-Christian man or woman. The
light of Christ which we claim to have is hidden under the basket of
indifference and compromise (Matthew 5:15, 16). We now act like
the world; we eat what they eat and drink what they drink. We dress
like the world and entertain ourselves and our families with worldly
entertainment. As we indulge in these worldly practices the seed of
Christ‘s word that we received from Him becomes choked up by the
thorns of worldliness, resulting in unfruitfulness (Matthew 13:7, 22).
When it comes to the issue of modesty in the twenty-first century

it is evident that the fashion of the world has infiltrated the ranks of
God‘s children, seated like a queen, commanding absolute authority
in the church among professed Christian men and women. Like the
man of sin who is seated in the temple of God, worldly fashion and
lifestyle is also now seated in the temple of God (2 Thessalonians 2:2-
14
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 403, par. 2.
24
4). The world no longer differentiates between professing Christian

women and men of our ranks from the worldlings of their own
ranks. Please note that our dress counts for nothing if the heart is full
of dead dry bones. It is not our dress that makes us peculiar. The
dress is only an index of what is in the heart. We are peculiar because
Christ has given us His holy character. We are being transformed into
the image of Christ and this is to be reflected by our lifestyle.
Those who claim to know the truth and understand the great
work to be done for this time are to consecrate themselves to God,
soul, body, and spirit. In heart, in dress, in language, in every respect, they are
to be separate from the fashions and practices of the world. They are to be a
peculiar and holy people. It is not their dress that makes them
peculiar; but because they are a peculiar and holy people, they cannot
carry the marks of likeness to the world.15
―The dress and its arrangement upon the person is generally
found to be the index of the man or the woman.
We judge of a person's character by the style of dress worn. A modest, godly

woman will dress modestly. A refined taste, a cultivated mind, will be
revealed in the choice of a simple, appropriate attire. . . .The one who
is simple and unpretending in her dress and in her manners shows
that she understands that a true woman is characterized by moral
worth. How charming, how interesting, is simplicity in dress, which
in comeliness can be compared with the flowers of the field.‖16
Let us imagine for a moment this simple scenario of the Nigerian

army going to war against a certain terrorist group. If the terrorists
and the Nigerian army are dressed alike, what do you think will
happen on the war front? There will be great confusion and the
chances that either the Nigerian army or the terrorist group will gain
the victory would be greatly jeopardised as a result of the similarity in
15 Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 167, par. 2.

16
Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, Bk. 3, p. 243, par. 1-2.
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the uniform worn by both groups. Such is applicable in our Christian

life. The battlefield is the earth and our opponent is Satan, his fallen
angels and those humans who have taken sides with him. Paul said
clearly that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against evil
spirits in high places (Ephesians 6:12). God has pronounced woe
upon the inhabitants of the earth and the sea because the devil has
come to us with great wrath because he knows that his time is short
(Revelation 12:12). Satan will be greatly glad to see God‘s followers
or armies clothed in the same spiritual and physical garments as his
followers or armies. Christian women worldwide now pattern their
dress like that of the world. They even come to church in their
seemingly innocent traditional attires that are tight fitting,
transparent, exposing their cleavages as a result of low necklines,
exposing their backs, exposing the navel, exposing the thighs and
midriff, and with haughty heart and stretched forth necks, walking in
their high heeled shoes as they go through the midst of the
congregation of the saints to be seen by all. This seemingly innocuous
act is just the way Satan wants it. He seeks to make the pastors,
elders, church leaders, church members and other watchmen more
vulnerable to sin.
These dress patterns are highly seductive. Some may wear them
ignorantly without the intention to offend or lead to temptation, but
unknown to them, they are leading weaker souls to lust after strange
flesh. They are pulling them down the road of fornication, adultery
and all manner of sensual sins. They do all of these in the name of
looking good. ―Shouldn‘t I look good?‖ is the song we hear when
some are boldly confronted. They want to look good, fashionable
and presentable in the eyes of men and not in the eyes of Christ.
They want to be associated with the name of Christ but not with His
character. There is nothing bad in looking good, presentable and
fashionable so far the dress is worn with the mind of Christ and with
the principle of heaven. In this Christian warfare, I wish many could
see how they are populating the camp of Satan. Satan is exultant in
26
his victory to ruin the people of God and hinder them from entering
into the heavenly Canaan. He hindered many of the ancient Israelites
from entering into the earthly Canaan. In the same manner, he is also
marshaling his armies against the remnant of God, the Spiritual
Israel. In these last days, it is written:
―Satan's snares are laid for us as verily as they were laid for the
children of Israel just prior to their entrance into the land of Canaan.
We are repeating the history of that people. Lightness, vanity, love of ease and
pleasure, selfishness, and impurity are increasing among us. There is need now
of men who are firm and fearless in declaring the whole counsel of
God; men who will not sleep as do others, but watch and be sober.
Knowing as I do the great lack of holiness and power with our
ministers, I am deeply pained to see the efforts for self-exaltation.‖17
Satan also seeks to make us feel good and relax as we sit on the
pews ignorantly listening to some false gospel directly from the pits
of hell and from the lips of unsanctified and corrupt ministers. Satan
wants us to listen to ‗popular gospel‘ that does not transform our
character or require reformation in the way we dress. Our young and
old men are not exempted from this cankerworm that is eating up the
church of God. Many dress shabbily to church without an iota of
respect for the Almighty and Eternal God. They wear their casual
clothes on their bathroom slippers to meet a holy God. I used to be
guilty of this, wearing my casual attires to church gatherings not
knowing the effect it might have on those who see me as their role
model. The way we dress sends messages to those around us. The
message may either be to the glory of God or to the glory of self.
This especially affects new converts who are expecting more from
those who profess to be Christians than from worldlings. It is true
some of us may not necessarily come to church from home; some
may come to church from school, from their work place or from the
17 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 160. 2
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market. For this reason they may not readily be prepared to dress in
their best clothes, but most of us, coming from the house often dress
with a nonchalant attitude as if God is one of our buddies we can just
mess around with. We easily forget that, ―the house of God, which is
the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth,‖ is a
place that demands our reverence because His presence dwells
among His people. ―Ye shall . . . reverence my sanctuary: I am the
LORD.‖ (1Timothy 3:15; Leviticus 19:30).
Both male and female are guilty. But the truth of the matter is this:
our women are more susceptible to this wrong lifestyle than the men.
Worldly fashion has practically become a god to many of our
professed Christian women – both young and old. In fact, the Bible
speaks more negatively on women‘s dressing standard than it speaks
of men.
As the militant church preparing to become the triumphant

church, we are at risk of being beguiled by the enemies of our soul,
Satan and his emissaries, who want to leave us vulnerable to his
attack. Various churches have also opened their doors to unclean
spirits and false teachers by accepting worldly fashion. When asked
about the faith that lies within us, we often find it difficult to give an
answer because of this vulnerability which Satan has created. In my
personal Christian experience, I have often found it very difficult to
tell others about my Christian faith from the Bible when I
compromise Biblical standards. As a result of my consistent
compromise of Christ‘s standard, my words have often fallen on deaf
ears when I seek to share the three angels‘ messages of Revelation 14
to those I am acquainted with. This is exactly how Satan wants it.
The enemy of souls is busy deceiving our women and men in
believing that it does not matter what they wear provided they love
Jesus and their baptismal name and certificate are intact in the church
books. What a deception! In a prophetic vision, Isaiah spoke in
regard to this deception occurring in the last days: ―And in that day
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seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, we will eat our own
bread, and wear our own apparel (cloth): only let us be called by thy
name, to take away our reproach‖ (Isaiah 4:1 emphasis supplied). This
verse has many interpretations and applications, but one application
to this text is that many of our professed Christian women are like
these seven women spoken of by Isaiah – I call them the seven
foolish women – who also represent the church. They want to
associate themselves with this ―one man‖ called Jesus but at the same
time want to keep to themselves their own bread (their doctrine or
false teachings) not the man‘s bread (Jesus true doctrine). They also
want to keep their apparel or cloth (the way they dress or their
garment of self-righteousness). They want to be called by the name
of Jesus Christ, that is, they want the world to call them Christians
while they partake in what this evil world partakes in. To this set of
people, Christ is saying: ―No man [or woman] can serve two masters:
for either he [or she] will hate the one, and love the other; or else he
[or she] will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon.‖ (Matthew 6:24, emphasis supplied). You cannot
serve God and still desire to hold on to the world‘s standard of
dressing or fashion that is noncompliant with purity, health, modesty
and good taste. It is true that God desires the daughters of Zion to be
―beautiful and glorious,‖ but the daughters of Zion must allow the
Lord to ―wash away the filth‖ in their heart ―by spirit of judgement,
and by the spirit of burning‖ in order for them to experience this true
beauty within and without. (Isaiah 4:2, 4).
I can‘t be more emphatic in my explanation than the word of God

itself lest you call me a ―Holier than thou‖ Christian, who is sticking
his nose in such issue relating to women. James says, ―Ye adulterers
and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is
enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy of God.‖ (James 4:4). John the beloved also reiterates
this same point when he writes, ―Love not the world, neither the
things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
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the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.‖ (1 John
2:15-17).
As Christian men and women, professing godliness, claiming to be

light and guide to the blind, we must be ―ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear.‖ (1 Peter 3:15). Not only with the use of
the Bible should we give a reason of the hope that is in us, for many
are not ready to read the Bible and will not read the Bible, but we are
to give the reason of the hope that is in us by our conversation or
lifestyle which include the way we dress and live among unbelievers.
Our dress can validate or invalidate the power of the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
―Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,

whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good
works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.‖
1 Peter 2:12.
Conversation here refers to one‘s good works. Gentiles or

unbelievers must see our good works and glorify the Lord for this. It
is interesting to note that Peter also emphasises the importance of
this truth when he counsels that wives should live a life
commensurate with what they profess and by doing this they ―may
without the word,‖ that is, without the use of the Bible, win their
unbelieving husband (See 1 Peter 3:1-4). If this is possible in the
context of marriage, how mighty will be the effect when professed
Christians live their lives in relation to what they believe and profess
and without the Bible lead souls to Jesus! It is for this reason, I have
taken up the task to search the Scriptures and to ―write the vision,
and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.‖
30
(Habakkuk. 2:2.)
My greatest desire is to awake our beautiful women, all who

profess godliness worldwide, from their deep spiritual lethargy, to
search the Scriptures for themselves to know what God requires of
them in regard to dressing for the glory of God. There is a great
dearth of dress reform among both young and old women in our
ranks. There is a great need to instruct them on how to defend the
gospel of Christ in their modest attire. The world wants to see
something different in us. They want to see the Gospel of Jesus being
validated in our lives. We are God‘s epistle ―known and read of all
men . . . written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.‖
(2Corinthians 3:2, 3). The whole world ―waits in eager expectation
for the children of God to be revealed.‖ (Romans 8:19, NIV). The
world is waiting and watching to see if those who are called by the
name of God are truly different as they profess to be. How are we
defending and validating the gospel in the way we dress? Is our dress
glorifying God or glorifying Satan? Are we casting our votes for
Christ or Satan? Are we decongesting the camp of Satan and
populating Christ‘s camp or are we doing the opposite?
―Reform, continual reform, must be kept before the people, and

by our example we must enforce our teaching. . . God desires His light
bearers ever to keep a high standard before them. By precept and
example they must hold their perfect standard high above Satan's
false standard, which, if followed, will lead to misery, degradation,
disease, and death for both body and soul. Let those who have obtained a
knowledge of how to . . . dress so as to preserve health, impart this knowledge to
others. Let the poor have the gospel . . . preached unto them from a
practical point of view, that they may know how to care properly for
the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.‖18
In light of the above counsel, I was motivated to search the
18 Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health (1923), p. 481.
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Scripture for practical truths on how we are to dress for God‘s glory,
but specifically this was written for our beautiful women. The gospel
of Jesus is not a lifeless theory but a practical way of life that can be
revealed through our dressing. A time will come when Michael [Jesus
Christ the Lord of Host]19 shall stand up, ―the great prince which
standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of
trouble.‖ (Daniel 12:1). When this happens His role as the High
priest will be finished, all sins would have been blotted out, the seven
last plagues would be poured out and He will put on His garment of
vengeance and He shall proclaim these heart rending words: ―He that
is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be
filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he
that is holy, let him be holy still‖ ―And there shall in no wise enter
into it [God‘s kingdom] anything that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in
the Lamb's book of life‖ and only those who have reflected fully the
image of Christ, those who are accounted to be the 144000, shall
stand and go through these ordeal without an intercessor because
they had received the seal of the living God. (Revelation 22:11,
Revelation 21:27). We shall have more to say about these points at
the end of the book. Let us now move to the next chapter to answer
the question that was asked at the beginning of this chapter: ―Who
was the first worldly fashion designer?‖.
19Michael is the pre-incarnate name of Christ. In Hebrew, the word

translated in English as Michael literally means, “He who is like God” or
“who is like God?” Jesus Christ is called the Archangel because He is the
commander of the angelic host. Arch means chief, first or principal. The
following Bible texts show that Michael is not just a mere angel that was
created but Christ Himself: Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation
12:7; 1Thessalonias 4:16; John 5:28, 29.
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CHAPTER THREE
WORLDLY FASHION DESIGNER
A question was asked at the beginning of the second chapter:

―Who is the first worldly fashion designer?‖ By now you would be
wondering who this could be. As much as possible, I will use the
Bible, quotations from books, Bible commentaries and articles to
answer some questions I would be posing to you in this book. Two
sources are of more importance to me in answering most of the
questions in this book: the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Ellen
Gould White. To answer our first question, it would be imperative to
know what God‘s plan actually was in the beginning at Eden.
In the Beginning
Every topic in the Bible has a Genesis, that is, a beginning. Thus
we would like to take off by going to Eden to seek an answer to our
question. God, in the beginning, ―created man in his own image, in
the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.‖
(Genesis 1:27). The Bible is so clear in regarding the distinctiveness
of Adam and Eve. God made a distinct sex of male and female. Not
male and male or female and female as LGBTs20 will want us to
believe. God did not create Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve. The
newly created couple were created in the image and likeness of God.
We understand from the Bible that they ―were both naked . . . and
were not ashamed.‖ (Genesis 2:25). This raises another question:
How could they be naked and not be ashamed?
20LGBT or GLBT are acrostics that stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender.
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When Moses wrote the Creation account, he wrote it under the

inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit,
he saw Adam and Eve being naked, naked in the sense that they wore
no artificial garments (or clothes) as we presently wear them. It is
imperative to note at this juncture that the word ―naked‖ means ―not
covered; bare; having no clothes on; as a naked body or a naked limb.‖21
This means that Adam and Eve wore no artificial clothes. Even
though they were without artificial garments the Lord did not leave
them without a spiritual covering. They were covered with the same
covering similar to that of God. We were previously told that they
were made in God‘s image and likeness or similitude. The Scripture
gives some hints as to the kind of covering they wore in their pre-
fallen state. The Psalmist says:
―Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very

great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light
as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain‖ Psalms
104:1-2.
It should be noted that God is clothed with ―honour and majesty‖

and He covers Himself with ―light as with a garment.‖ Therefore,
since God is clothed with honour, majesty, and light, and man was
created in His image and likeness, then it follows that Adam and Eve
were covered with honour, majesty, light and glory and not with the
artificial garments as we have it today. The garments worn by Adam
and Eve in their pre-fallen state were of the same nature as that of
God and Holy Angels. Adam and Eve were sinless, perfect, and
beautiful. They had a nature that is different from ours; a nature that
we regard as unfallen and untainted with sin. God needed no artificial
garments, jewelries and make-ups to perfect their beauty. As Mrs.
White rightly puts it:
―Man was to bear God's image, both in outward resemblance and in
21
Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary
34
character. Christ alone is ―the express image‖ (Hebrews 1:3) of the

Father; but man was formed in the likeness of God . . . His
countenance bore the ruddy tint of health and glowed with the light
of life and joy. Adam's height was much greater than that of men
who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature; yet her
form was noble, and full of beauty. The sinless pair wore no artificial
garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory, such as the angels
wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light
continued to enshroud them.‖22
In some other places, she called the garment they wore ―the white
robe of innocence . . . robe of light . . . spiritual garment of heavenly
innocence.‖23 If as earthly parents, we have been given the
responsibility to clothe both our newly born children or our grown
up children with the same garment we put on, don‘t you think God,
being our heavenly Father, who cares better than any earthly father,
also has the responsibility to clothe Adam and Eve with the same
garment with which He is clothed as it is revealed in Psalm 104:1-2?
Nature should be able to teach us some things about God. ―For the
invisible things of him [God] from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.‖
(Romans 1:20). We are without excuse if through nature we refuse to
learn how God deals with His creatures. Although Nature is not God
and it has so much imperfection, but God can still be seen operating
and working in all that He has created.
Eyes Opened to Evil

But something happened in Eden that altered God‘s order. If we
read again the last sentence of the above quote, we will get a glimpse
of what led to the alteration in the life of Adam and Eve. Mrs White
says, ―so long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to
22
Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 45.
23
Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 310, 311.
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enshroud them.‖ Adam and Eve disobeyed God‘s Law of Love. He had
commanded them earlier not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of
Good and Evil, for the day they ate of it they would surely die.
(Genesis 2:17). The holy pair disregarded the commandment of God
and allowed the serpent, Satan, to deceive them. ―And when the
woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant
to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her;
and he did eat.‖ (Genesis 3:6). The Bible says the moment Adam and
Eve transgressed the Law of God, ―the eyes of them both were
opened.‖ (vs. 7) ―Opened to what? Were they previously blind?‖ One
may wonder. It is evident that their physical eyes were opened all the
time but their spiritual eyes were blinded to sin and evil. Thus, when
they ate the fruit forbidden of God, their eyes were opened to sin and
evil. God never wanted man to know sin or evil.
―After his transgression Adam at first imagined himself entering

upon a higher state of existence. But soon the thought of his sin filled
him with terror. The air, which had hitherto been of a mild and uniform
temperature, seemed to chill the guilty pair. The love and peace which had
been theirs was gone, and in its place they felt a sense of sin, a dread
of the future, a nakedness of soul. The robe of light which had enshrouded
them, now disappeared, and to supply its place they endeavored to fashion for
themselves a covering; for they could not, while unclothed, meet the eye
of God and holy angels.‖24
The air that was once ‗mild and uniform in temperature‘ now
became ‗chill.‘ Sin altered everything that God created. Sin took away
the robe of light and opened their eyes to nakedness. Sin and
nakedness are connected with each other. Satan wants us to be both
physically naked and spiritually naked before God. It is written that
24
36
―They felt a sense of sin . . . a nakedness of soul.‖ This is Satan‘s first

agenda; to make bare the soul, to undress it and place us in the state
of shame and guilt when we sin. This first step will lead us to undress
our body i.e. take off our clothes, making us physically naked. Adam
was ashamed of himself; not only for the sin committed but also for
his physical nakedness even though he was in Eden alone with his
wife. For this reason he hid from God his maker and from holy
angels. Their sin brought in fear, shame, guilt and nakedness of the
soul.
The Fashion Designer

When man transgressed God‘s Law his mind became the mind of
sin. The mind of God that was previously in him knew nothing like
nakedness, guilt or shame. But when sin came in, his mind became
polluted and he could not reason rightly but contrary to the will of
God. When Satan saw that he had successfully deceived our first
parents, he began to work on their minds to invent his own kind of
fashion, which I term ―Satan‘s fashion,‖ ―worldly fashion‖ or
―strange garment.‖ With this, Adam and Eve became the first worldly
fashion designers in the history of humanity under the auspices of their
new master, Satan. ―And the eyes of them both were opened, and
they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together,
and made themselves aprons.‖ (Genesis 3:7). They sewed for themselves
fig leaves to make an apron without the consent of their Creator.
―They endeavoured to fashion for themselves a covering‖ in place of
God‘s covering. Satan influenced Adam to make a covering that
would partially cover his nakedness. Satan‘s fashion, which is now
known as worldly fashion, does not seek to promote modesty,
simplicity, spirituality and health; rather it promotes sex, fornication,
licentiousness, adultery, nudity, sickness, pride and every work of the
flesh. Satan‘s dress reform invalidates the gospel of Salvation.
Sin altered God‘s original plans for Adam and Eve. In the same
way, Sin can alter God‘s plan for our lives. Not that God desires the
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original plan to be altered, but because we desire it to be so. Unless

we come to Him with a repentant heart and a broken spirit, we shall
remain in a lost condition. Sin separates us from God and makes us
spiritually naked before Him. Isaiah writes, ―Behold, the LORD'S
hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that
it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and
your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not
hear.‖ (Isaiah 59:1-2). Even though it was Adam and Eve who sewed
the fig leaves as apron to cover their nakedness, the man behind the
scene is none other than Satan. In our world today, many people fail
to ask: ―Who are those designing or making the clothes worn by
worldlings?‖ Many, I don‘t mean all, of the designers, that dictate the
fashion trends in the entertainment industry are being influenced by
Satan. One example of a well-known fashion designer is Giorgio
Armani who is said to be ―an intensely private man, but has publicly
identified as bisexual. He had a longstanding relationship with architect Sergio
Galeotti, who died of AIDS-related complications in 1985.‖25 Another
fashion designer and model called Kate Moss is regarded as a
Satanist.26 There are many more.
Even in the church of God, amidst the professed followers of

Christ, especially those that call themselves the remnant of God,
these worldly seductive clothes are worn freely without the shepherds
giving the trumpet a clear sound of warning to save these poor souls
from destruction. We need to carefully and prayerfully choose those
who make or design our garments through the help of God. And we
must never pattern our dress after the world. I am not removing the
presence of many other good fashion styles and designs that are
25
Giorgio Armani. (2016, June 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Retrieved 08:04, June 27, 2016,
from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Giorgio_Armani&oldid=72628
6953
26
YOY50, https://yoy50.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/the-satanic-fashion-
industry-kate-moss-sold-her-soul-a-long-time-ago/ (see also:
https://vigilantcitizen.com/pics-of-the-month/symbolic-pics-of-the-month-
0312/)
38
conformable to God‘s standard; we are to avail ourselves of these.

God expect us who are called by His name to be as distinct as
possible in a world where worldly fashion is now regarded as a god.
Aprons or Coats
What does the Bible say Adam and Eve sewed for their coverings?
The Bible says ―they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves
aprons.‖ (Genesis 3:7). Hmm! Isn‘t it interesting to note that the
word translated as apron in the Hebrew is called ―chagowr‖ which
literally means ‗a belt for the waist‘? That is ridiculous of our first
parents! As intelligent as Adam and Eve were – at least they were far
superior in strength and wisdom than the brightest scientists of our
time – what they could come up with, as their best clothing
invention, was a form of covering that only covered their private
parts. This reveals that sin has the ability to blur one‘s intelligence.
When we trifle with it, we are held by its cord. You will bear me
witness that sin is very dangerous to play with. About the wicked, the
wise man says, ―his own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and
he shall be held with the cords of his sins.‖ (Proverbs 5:22). When
you go near the doorstep of sin, trusting in your feeble strength to
save you, then you can be assured that you shall be held with the
cords of sin; for Satan will fasten his cord upon you and place you
under his bondage. The mind of sin cannot invent anything good, for
it is in enmity with God. We don‘t even need a dictionary to define
for us what apron is or how apron looks like. We know that an apron
is very short – always above the knees. It exposes the back, the chest,
cleavages, armpits, sides of the breasts and the limbs. These features
are contrary to God‘s order. When worn by female believers and
unbelievers, clothes with these characteristics will certainly ignite and
incite the debased passion dwelling in man‘s sinful nature. The
various parts that are exposed are very titillating and sensual to the
eyes of men. Satan who is over 6000 years older than man knows this
so well and he wants us to gratify our fleshly lust.
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This type of apron-like clothing is now prevalent among our

female children, youths and adults. They no longer wear them as
underwears but as outer garments to expose their nakedness if not
fully, but partially. Just go to any clothing store and compare some of
the clothes sold there with what an apron is characterised to be; you
will be surprised that many of these garments are definitely contrary
to that which Christ expects us to put on. Many of these clothes
worn by our ladies and guys publicly are in apron forms. These
garments worn expose, for example, the back, the cleavage, and the
neckline so low that men‘s eyes are tempted to linger on those areas.
They also reveal the armpits, thighs, midriff, limbs and other sensitive
parts of their body. This behaviour is immodest to begin with. We
need to search the Bible to know how God‘s people dress and how
God expects us, in these last days, when sexual sin is on the rise, to
dress modestly.
―Satan invented the fashions which leave the limbs exposed . . . Those
parents who follow fashion instead of reason will have an account to
render to God for thus robbing their children of health. Even life
itself is frequently sacrificed to the god of fashion.‖27
God, the best fashion designer, came in to correct the disorder in

Eden. He was not comfortable with our first parents‘ form of
clothing. He saw the need in Eden to introduce the first ―Dress
Reform‖ known to humanity. God is both a revivalist and a reformer.
Wherever there is deliverance (revival) from the power and dominion
of sin, there is always a change (reform) in habit and lifestyle. It is
revival that leads to reformation and not the other way round. If
there is no reformation when you have been spiritually revived then
your revival was not genuine. God was teaching Adam salvation
process in the Garden of Eden. Wherever God is, there is order. He
is a God of order. ―For God is not the author of confusion‖ but of
order (1 Corinthians 14:33). God provided a lamb, which biblically,
27
Ellen G. White (1954), Child Guidance, p.427.
40
symbolises Jesus Christ dying for the remission of our sins. Jesus
Christ is the ―Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.‖
(John 1:29). And this Lamb was the ―Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world.‖ (Revelation 13:8). What a marvelous grace! God gave
man another opportunity to live; an opportunity for him to perfect
his character through faith in the Son of God if he was to regain the
robe of light that was lost.
This is what the transgressors of God's law have done ever since
the day of Adam and Eve's disobedience. They have sewed together
fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have
worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have
tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.
But this they can never do. Nothing can man devise to supply the
place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly
citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and
angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb.28
But for what other purpose, apart from Salvation, was the Lamb
given? ―The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of
the field.‖ (Proverbs 27:26). Therefore the lamb that was killed by
Adam was to clothe Adam and Eve. ―Unto Adam also and to his
wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.‖
(Genesis 3:21). It is imperative to note that the root word for coats is
―to cover‖ in the Hebrew. The Hebrew word for ―coats‖ in the
Strong‘s Concordance is ―kuttoneth‖ meaning ―garment, robe, shirt or
a coat.‖ These are words that signify that the garment that God
designed to cover our first parent‘s nakedness did not expose their
thigh, back, arms, chest or any other sensitive parts of their body.
Why do I say so? Just check up the word coat in our English
dictionary; you will see that it often indicates a proper covering of the
body. Even though in modern times, the word ‗coat‘ is often applied
28
Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p.311.
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to men‘s attire, that is not the case with God in the text we just read.
The Bible says God made coats of skin for Adam and Eve to cover
their nakedness and I believe the coat here in principle means a
covering that covers both the male and female properly without
exposing any sensitive part of their body. Ask yourself this question:
If the coat invented by God was not unique and modest, why would
He regard Adam‘s apron as immodest? He wouldn‘t waste His time
making them another garment since their garment was already
suitable for them.
From the beginning of time, we can clearly see that Satan has his
own fashion, pattern and style of garment and God also has His own
fashion, pattern and style of garment. One is regarded as the work of
the flesh, while the other is regarded as the work of the Spirit of God.
One promotes nudity, sex, licentiousness, fornication, adultery, pride,
murder and finally leading to eternal damnation. The other promotes
simplicity, modesty, spirituality, health, righteousness and finally
leading to eternal life. Which one will you go for? Will you choose
God‘s fashion or Satan‘s fashion? I plead that you go for God‘s
fashion. ―And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose
you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers
served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we
will serve the LORD‖ Joshua 24:15. Do not serve the god of the
fashion of this world which will lead to damnation. Choose and serve
the God of the fashion of heaven and you will be counted among
those who will be given the garments of light that Adam and Eve lost
in their innocence, if you remain faithful unto the end.
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CHAPTER FOUR
THE GARMENT OF GOD’S CHILDREN
We were able to identify in the previous chapter that the LORD

God clothed Adam and Eve with a modest garment that covered
their nakedness. The Bible identifies this garment as coat of skin. In
this chapter we will identify from the Scripture if God‘s saints, in
Bible times, also wore this modest garment called coat. Please note
that I am not advising you to go about wearing coat in order to look
modest. In these last days, we are to follow Biblical principles in
relation to how we are to clothe our nakedness in a proper fashion
whenever we are in a public gathering, among brethren of the same
faith and during worship hours.
In the Old Testament

―For whatsoever things [in the Old Testament and New
Testament] were written aforetime were written for our learning, that
we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope‖
for ―all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are
come.‖ (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11, emphasis supplied). We can
see from these texts that all that is written in the Holy Scriptures is
written for our admonition in order for us, at this end time, to be
established forever. It is also written for our sake that, ―One witness
shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any
sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of
three witnesses, shall the matter be established.‖ (Deuteronomy
19:15). The Bible has given us a principle that at the mouth of two or
three witnesses shall we establish a matter of discourse. Our
witnesses in relation to Biblical principles of dressing modestly are
the saints of old. We shall see, from the Bible whether the saints of
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old wore what was in conformity with worldly pattern or godly

pattern.
Joseph
Let us begin with Joseph. What does the Bible record about
garment of Joseph? ―Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than all
his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him
a coat of many colours.‖ (Genesis 37:3). Just think about this for a
minute. Why would the Holy Spirit allow Moses to record such an
insignificant account if it were not important for us who are living in
these last days? Well, I believe God wanted us to know how His
faithful saint was clothed in order for us to follow the same principle
today.
Aaron and the Priests:

―And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory
and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted,
whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make
Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the
priest's office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a
breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and
a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and
his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.‖
(Exodus 28:2-4). Whenever you tend to show some Christians these
Bible texts in regard to how the Lord expects us to dress, they rashly
respond by saying, ―We are no more under the Mosaic Law but
under the dispensation of grace.‖ And that is true. We are under the
dispensation of grace. But if I may ask: ―Does the LORD regard us,
who have accepted Jesus Christ as our lord and saviour, as priests?‖
Yes, He does regard us as royal priests. Read the words of Peter,
under the influence of the Holy Spirit: ―But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light.‖ (1 Peter 2:9).
44
Apostle Peter says we are ―a royal priesthood.‖ Therefore, in

principle, we are to make garments not necessarily like the literal
Aaronic priesthood, but garments ―for glory and for beauty.‖ Remember
what we discussed in chapter one. We were created from the
beginning, before sin entered the world, for glory and beauty. Christ
also desires to recreate us for glory and beauty. When we are
recreated, he expects us to dress for glory, beauty and honour and
not for self. The Lord told Moses to make Aaron‘s garment for glory
and for beauty. We would do well to also note that those who
fashioned these clothes were inspired by the Spirit of God not by
Satan as Adam was inspired. The Lord said: He had ―filled with the
spirit of wisdom‖ those that would make the garments. When the
Spirit of God inspires us to design clothes, He will inspire us to make
clothes that will cover us, our family and our customers properly and
that will bring glory to God. We also see that Aaron and his sons
wore coats just as Joseph and Adam did. (Also see Exodus 40:13, 14)
Samuel
―Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him
from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the
yearly sacrifice.‖ (1 Samuel 2:19). Samuel also wore coat that covered
his nakedness properly. With the principle in Deuteronomy 19:15, we
can say that we have established from the scriptures that God‘s
people wore modest garment that properly covered their nakedness
and was designed to glorify the Lord. But we will search further into
the scriptures to see if we have other saints who lived by the
principles of God‘s word.
Elijah
―And he saith unto them, ‗What is the fashion of the man who
hath come up to meet you, and speaketh unto you these words?‘ And
they say unto him, ‗A man — hairy, and a girdle of skin girt about his
loins;‘ and he saith, ‗He is Elijah the Tishbite.‘ ‖ (2 Kings 1:7-8).
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According to one Bible scholar commenting on 2 kings 1:7-8, ―he

wore a rough garment, either made of camel‘s hair, as his successor
John Baptist's was, or he wore a skin dressed with the hair on. Some
think that the meaning is, he had very long hair and a long beard. The
ancient prophets all wore rough garments, or upper coats made of the skins of
beasts: They wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, says the
apostle, Hebrews 11:37.‖29 ―The prophet . . . [was] clad in the coarse
garments usually worn by the prophets of that time . . .‖30 The garment
worn by Elijah was the type which is being worn by the prophets of
his time. Zechariah gives us some insight into how the prophets of
his time were dressed. He says, ―And it shall come to pass in that day,
that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he
hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive.‖
(Zechariah 13:4). This agrees with Adam Clark‘s comment above that
these rough garments worn by the prophets of old were either made
of camel‘s skin or skin dressed with the hair on. John the Baptist
whom the Lord Jesus pointed to as one who came in the spirit of
Elijah, also wore such garments.
Job
―By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it
bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.‖ (Job 30:18). It is evident
that righteous Job also wore a well-covered attire or a coat-like-
garment.
Three Hebrew boys

―Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their
hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace. . . And the princes, governors, and captains,
and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men,
upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their
29
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on 2 Kings 1:4". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/2-kings-1.html. 1832.
30
Ellen G. White, Prophets and King, p. 121.
46
head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had
passed on them.‖ (Daniel 3:21, 27). Babylon is located in present day
Iraq. Iraq has two seasons: a long, hot, and dry summer, lasting from
May to or through October; and a relatively short, cool, and
occasionally cold winter, lasting from December through March.31
Therefore for most times the country is hot. Why would these three
Hebrew boys clothe themselves with hats, hosen (trouser especially
worn by men), garments, and coats in an environment that is mostly
hot? It is because the God of the Hebrew boys has given the Jewish
nation a distinctive pattern in clothing themselves and these three
Hebrew boys took this God-given dress pattern to the licentious land
of Babylon.
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
John the Baptist

As previously pointed out, John the Baptist was the forerunner of
Jesus Christ and a reformer who came in the spirit and power of
Elijah. About John the Baptist, the Gospel of Matthew has this to
say: ―For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
'A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
Lord, straight make ye His paths.' And this John had his clothing of
camel's hair, and a girdle of skin round his loins, and his nourishment was
locusts and honey of the field.‖ (Matthew 3:3-4). In Christian
Temperance and Bible Hygiene, Ellen G. White tells us that John‘s dress
was a rebuke to the priests of the Jewish nation.
John separated himself from his friends, and from the luxuries of
life, dwelling alone in the wilderness, and subsisting upon a purely
vegetable diet. The simplicity of his dress — a garment woven of camel's hair
— was a rebuke to the extravagance and display of the people of his generation,
31
http://www.ancient.eu/babylon/
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especially of the Jewish priests.32
Remember that angel Gabriel had already given John the Baptist‘s
parents the message of health reform before he was conceived. John
was to be filled with the Holy Spirit ―even from his mother‘s womb‖
(Luke 1:15). Therefore, it was necessary for John to separate himself
from the fashion of this world and allow God to lead him in dress
reform. He had a specific mission to herald the message of God to
the world in preparation for the first coming of Jesus Christ. In fact
Christ spoke of John the Baptist, when He asked the Jews who they
went into the wilderness to see, He asked: ―What did you go out into
the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did
you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear
expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in the palaces.‖ (Luke 7:24,
25 NIV). Christ said John did not wear expensive clothes but simple
dress that reveals his mission on earth. How is our dress revealing
who we serve and our mission? Our mission is to tell the world of
the second coming of Jesus Christ through the preaching of the word
and the way we dress just in the same manner John‘s dress was a
rebuke to the extravagant lifestyle of those in his generation.
The Disciples of Jesus Christ

―Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor
yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat‖ (Matthew 10:10).
Some Christians might take this text out of context to mean Christ
wants His disciples to go for evangelism with just a bag, a coat,
without putting on shoes and without a stave etc. This is not what
Christ meant. Commenting on this first door to door witnessing,
Ellen White writes the following:
―On this first tour the disciples were to go only where Jesus had
been before them, and had made friends. Their preparation for the
journey was to be of the simplest kind. Nothing must be allowed to
32
Ellen G. White, Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 38.
48
divert their minds from their great work, or in any way excite
opposition and close the door for further labor. They were not to adopt
the dress of the religious teachers, nor use any guise in apparel to distinguish them
from the humble peasants.‖33
It can be seen that the disciples wore coats that covered them
properly and their apparel was to distinguish them from the religious
teachers of their day. In our present day, the religion of Christ should
permeate the way we dress and distinguish us from other professed
Christians that claim to be part of Christ but do not reflect Christ‘s
righteousness in the way they dress. Christ also instructed those who
were willing to following Him to give out one of their coats if they
had two. He said unto them, ―He that hath two coats, let him impart
to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.‖
(Luke 3:11). Peter also wore coats. ―Therefore that disciple whom
Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter
heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he
was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.‖ (John 21:7). Peter was
probably fishing naked, not naked in the sense that he was bare
naked with all of his private parts exposed, but he was naked in the
sense that he was not wearing his coat, the upper garment. As Adam
Clark points out:
―He was only in his vest. Naked, is often used to signify the absence of
this upper garment only. In 1 Samuel 19:24, when Saul had put off his
upper garments, he is said to have been naked; and David, when
girded only with a linen ephod, is said to have been uncovered, in 2
Samuel 16:14, 20.‖34
Naked, according to the word of the Lord means not covering our
body properly with the right garment. But when Peter was about to
33
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, 151.
34
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on John 21:4". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/john-21.html. 1832.
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approach Christ, he recognised that he needed to be properly

clothed. Many people will not consider this to be relevant in our day
but the disciples knew that it was not right to meet their risen Saviour
without being properly dressed.
Dorcas
Dorcas was a godly fashion designer who made clothes for the
less privileged for free. Unfortunately she died. However this was to
reveal God‘s power through His servant, Apostle Peter. The widows
that benefited from her kindness showed Peter the coats she had
made for them. ―Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was
come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows
stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which
Dorcas made, while she was with them.‖ (Acts 9:39). This is another
biblical evidence that the women that followed the Apostles wore
coats and garments that covered their nakedness properly. They
didn‘t wear apron-like dresses that would expose their nakedness and
sexually entice men of God. They didn‘t say: ―We are under the new
dispensation of grace. We are at liberty to do whatever we like.
Moreover it is our life and Jesus will accept us the way we are.‖
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the redeemed or

saints of God wore garments that properly covered their nakedness.
The Bible tells us that ―all these things happened unto them for
ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the
ends of the world are come.‖ (Romans 15:4). The children of God
never patterned their garments after the garments of those that were
being influenced by demons because it was an abomination to the
LORD. The Bible has warned that in the last days many will be
lovers of the world than lovers of God. We are to search the
scriptures to pattern our garments in accordance to the will of God.
What about Jesus? Does the Bible give us any hints on what He
wore and how He dressed? Is there any link of spirituality with the
50
way we dress? Does our dress reflect our personality? In the chapters
ahead, we will see more on what the Bible says regarding these
questions. Please note, as we read ahead, that we are looking at biblical
principles of how we are to dress as God‘s Children. You will do well
to read the following rules of Bible interpretation given by William
Miller and later endorsed by Mrs. White before proceeding further:
―1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject
presented in the Bible; 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood
by diligent application and study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or
will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering; 4. To
understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject
you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and
if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in
error; 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself.
If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its
meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or
to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my
rule, and not the Bible.‖35
35
E. G. White, The Review and Herald, 25/11/1884.
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CHAPTER FIVE
JESUS, OUR PATTERN
Christ had just been sentenced to death by crucifixion for a crime

He did not commit, ―then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus,
took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also
his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top
throughout.‖ (John 19:23). We know from this verse that Christ wore
garments and a coat to cover Himself properly. It is not surprising
that He wore a coat. Wasn‘t He the one who instituted the first dress
reform in the Garden of Eden? Wasn‘t He the one who instructed
Moses on how Aaron and his sons were to dress for beauty and
glory? Wasn‘t He the one who commanded the angel to clothe
Joshua the high priest with the garment of His righteousness?
Therefore, I am not surprised to see Him covered properly with a
coat, giving us a pattern on how His followers are to dress in these
last days of earth‘s history.
We Are Soldiers of Christ

Have you ever seen a soldier on the war front dressed in civilian
attire? I‘m sure you haven‘t. Neither have I. Do you know we are in a
spiritual battle with the Dragon (Satan) and his angels? Many
professed Christians live their lives not realising these biblical facts.
The enemy of our souls is angry with those who profess to believe in
Jesus Christ. The word of God clearly warns us with the following
strong words: ―Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in
them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil
is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that
he hath but a short time. . . And the dragon was wroth with the
woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which
keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
52
Christ.‖ (Revelation 12:12, 17). The dragon is angry with all living on
earth and he is willing to destroy everyone if given the opportunity to
do so. When writing to Timothy, Paul said: ―This charge I commit
unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went
before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.‖ (1
Timothy 1:18). We are at war! For this reason we all need to be at
alert in our Christian walk. Our Lord Jesus says, ―The thief cometh
not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.‖ (John
10:10). Apostle Peter wrote, ―Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he
may devour.‖ (1 Peter 5:8). All these texts reveal the seriousness of
the battle we have found ourselves in. All we need is a Captain to
lead us through this warfare. We need the Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces over the powers in the heavens, on earth and even
under the earth. We need a Saviour. Are you wondering who this
could be?
Christ Our Captain

Praise be to God! We have the strongest Captain in our camp! His
name is Jesus ―for He shall save His people from their sins.‖
(Matthew 1:21). ―For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by
whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.‖ (Hebrews 2:10).
Jesus is the Captain of our salvation. I have not for once seen a
captain without a battle uniform to identify who he is and which
camp he belongs. Since we know that Christ is our Captain in this
warfare against the forces of evil in this world, then it is imperative
for Christ to have a uniform for this warfare and His followers or
soldiers will need to pattern their lives in accordance with the
Master‘s uniform. We know that this warfare is a spiritual warfare, as
stated by Paul in the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Church of
Ephesus. As much as the Master has a spiritual uniform which is
―Christ‘s robe of Righteousness‖, He also must have a physical
53
OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
uniform which He expects His followers to put on wherever they go

in this world of sin. This uniform will distinguish them from other
people. The army uniform of any nation is always distinct from
civilian attire. This principle is seen in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 where Paul
writes to Timothy that he should endure hardness ―as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life [civil life]; that he may please him who hath chosen
him to be a soldier.‖ Christ has enlisted us into His camp of
righteousness and it is expected of us not to entangle ourselves with
the affairs of this world. He expects us to do everything that will
please Him who has called us from darkness into His own marvellous
light. This warfare is both spiritual and physical. Christians generally
agree that the devil is attacking us spiritually but many are ignorant of
his physical attacks through what we put on. Many souls have been
led into perdition and destruction as a result of someone else‘s
indecent dressing, especially in the case of women‘s attire.
Christ expects us to follow His pattern. He wants us to wear His

uniform inwardly and outwardly. The principle of the inward uniform
will manifest outwardly. Our outward manifestation will mean
nothing if Christ‘s righteousness is not dwelling in us. All our
righteousness will be like a filthy rag if we refuse to be renewed in
our mind. Paul admonishes that we should not be ―conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God.‖ (Romans 12:2). Before the fall, Adam and Eve had both
inward and outward garments. They had an inward garment of peace,
purity, selflessness, righteousness with God and they were covered
with the outward garment of glory, honour, and light as we saw in
chapter two. But when sin entered, the inward garment of peace was
turned into fear, selfishness, impurity and the outward garment of
light, beauty, glory, and honour was turned to the garment that Satan
inspired them to make. If we have the mind of Christ, we will surely
have peace with Him and our outward garment will cover our
54
nakedness properly and it will bring glory and honour to Him even in
the sight of men.
Heavenly Pattern
We have seen that Christ our Captain wore a well-covered
artificial garment. In the book of Revelation, Christ appeared to John
in vision and the Apostle wrote that, ―The Son of man‖ was ―clothed
with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a
golden girdle.‖ (Revelation 1:13). The garment of Christ reached
down to his foot. There is a principle here for us who profess to be
Christ‘s followers or soldiers. If Christ our master would wear a
garment reaching to the foot, I see no reason why we should publicly
wear clothes that expose our bodies, especially our women in this
age. Please note that I am dealing with public appearance not
bedroom appearance between husband and wife. The devil is
inspiring those in the fashion world to design clothes that will expose
the sensitive and sensual parts of their bodies, such as the thigh,
arms, chest, cleavages, midriff and the back.
When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome

came to anoint the body of Christ very early the first day of the week,
an angel appeared to them to inform them about Christ‘s
resurrection. We are informed in the word of God that this angel was
―clothed in a long white garment‖ (Mark 16:5). Even angels, when
permitted by God to be seen by men, are always seen clothed in long
loose garments that will never expose their nakedness. For this
reason Ellen White writes that Adam and Eve ―could not, while
unclothed, meet . . . holy angels‖36 because the holy angels wore
garments that covered their bodies properly, they would regard it
foreign seeing Adam and Eve.
No wonder the originator of miniskirt, Mrs. Mary Quart, said:

―Mini-clothes are symbolic of those girls who want to seduce a man"
36
55
OLUSEYI E. ODUNUGA
into sexual sin .37 We will have more to say about immodest dressing
and its result. But what actually does the garment of the world look
like from the scripture? How can we use this principle to identify
them in our time?
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56
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Oluseyi Emmanuel Odunuga had his academic training in the field

of Economics at Babcock University (2012) and Olabisi Onabanjo
University (2017) respectively. He is the director of Keep You From
Falling Ministry, a self-supporting ministry whose main focus is to
prepare souls to meet with Christ at His second advent. He is also a
blogger for keepyoufromfalling.com.
His area of interest when he writes or lectures outside the field of

Economics is on Christian standards such as Health/diet reform,
Dress Reform, Christian Recreation and Entertainment;
Righteousness by Faith and Bible Prophecy such as Daniel 11:40-45,
the Three Angels‘ messages of Revelation 14, Early and Latter Rain,
Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, Islam in Bible Prophecy,
Ezekiel 2-9 and Close of Probation. He welcomes speaking and
teaching opportunities on these subjects and can be reached on +234
806 698 5614 or by email: immanuel1888@gmail.com.
Defending Modesty in Dressing is his first published book in the area

of Christian standards although he has written a small unpublished
pamphlet – The Spirit Behind Competitive Sports – which is available as a
PDF eBook on the Keep You From Falling blog.
57

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OLUSEYI E.

OLUSEYI EMMANUEL ODUNUGA

Copyright © 2018 Oluseyi E. Odunuga

All rights reserved.

All around the world, mountains rise up out of the landscape,

In like manner, Christ has placed a high Christian standard before

In October 31, 1909, Mrs. Ellen G. White wrote in Review and

God desires His children to be perfect in all areas of their lives

This book is solely dedicated to my late mother, Odunuga Helen

Notes to the reader 9

1 Created for Glory 10

2 The Need for Dress Reform 22

3 Worldly Fashion Designer 32

4 The Garment of God‘s Children 42

5 Jesus, Our Pattern 51

8 Beholding Her Nakedness 78

9 You Are What You Wear 84

10 That Which Pertains to a Man (Part I) 93

11 That Which Pertains to a Man (Part II) 113

12 Shall I Wear Long Skirt? 124

13 Modesty or Immodesty 131

14 Strange Garments in the Church 157

15 Laodicea: The Naked Church 165

16 Health, Safety and Modesty 169

17 The Bride‘s Garment 176

About the Author 182

The level of provocative dressing in our 21st century world is simply

In this apologetic book, the author queries this ‗argument‘ and

The author uses the Bible adequately to show what should

Gaius A. Umahi, PhD

Special thanks to Darrio Taylor, Jamel Sankey, Manuel Carrasco and

I am greatly indebted to Dr. Gaius A. Umahi, past senior pastor at

Pastor Emeka Abaribe of Babcock University Chaplaincy, thanks for

Finally, to my father, Odunuga Jacob Bayo, whose hand God has

2. The word ‗man‘ is used both in the generic sense to mean

3. When used to mean ―the body of Christ on earth‖, the word

For what purpose were we created? The answer to this question

Created for Glory

―To make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,

―Many misunderstand the object for which they were created. It

―When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore, in his

Mrs. White rightly wrote above that many have a

followers of Christ from everyone else. The distinct demarcation

Garment for Glory and Beauty

―We as a people do not believe it our duty to go out of the world

Satan Challenged God in Heaven

When God created man as a new order of being, man was

―None of us liveth to himself.‘ (Romans 14:7). This is a law of

himself a centre of influence. It was this that incited rebellion in

The above quote is a clear explanation of Isaiah 14:12-14 which is

The Saviour came to glorify the Father by the demonstration of

The previous chapter opened our understanding to the purpose

The Scripture is the revelation of God to mankind and it is ―given

regard to our faith. Those around us sometimes ask questions about

When it comes to the issue of modesty in the twenty-first century

4). The world no longer differentiates between professing Christian

We judge of a person's character by the style of dress worn. A modest, godly

Let us imagine for a moment this simple scenario of the Nigerian

15 Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 167, par. 2.

the uniform worn by both groups. Such is applicable in our Christian

17 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 160. 2

As the militant church preparing to become the triumphant

I can‘t be more emphatic in my explanation than the word of God

As Christian men and women, professing godliness, claiming to be

―Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,

Conversation here refers to one‘s good works. Gentiles or

My greatest desire is to awake our beautiful women, all who