fine linen

In John’s vision, Babylon has fallen, and all heaven rejoices. There are three hallelujahs recorded in Revelation 19. Here’s the third, from Revelation 19:6-8: 

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

‘Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and be glad

and give him glory!

For the wedding of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready.

Fine linen, bright and clean,

was given her to wear.’

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)”

I never thought to wonder how God would celebrate, but in this vision he celebrates with a wedding, and the church is his bride. She’s a beautiful bride, dressed, scripture says, in “fine linen, bright and clean.”

This morning, that phrase strikes me as a beautiful metaphor for the relationship between God and his redeemed. As saints who still struggle with sin, we are capable of doing righteous deeds, which is what the fine linen signifies. But our works are still tainted; the bride’s dress is dirty. To get his church ready for the wedding, Jesus himself washes her dress. At the ceremony, this fine linen is bright and clean.

We are washed in the blood of the lamb. I’m not sure we appreciate what that really means. 

It puts our works, done in obedience and out of gratitude, in a new light. If we want fine linen to wear at that celebration, there needs to be works of righteousness done by God’s holy people.