Ⅴ
The bride’s wedding garment is of “fine linen, bright and clean”—Rev. 19:7-8:
Ａ
Clean refers to the nature, and bright refers to the expression.
Ｂ
The fine linen with which the bride is clothed is “the righteousnesses of the saints”—v. 8:
１
Christ is the righteousness by which we have been justified by God so that we may be reborn in our spirit to receive the divine life—1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 8:10:
ａ
As our objective righteousness, Christ is the One in whom we are justified by God—3:24, 28; 5:1, 9; 4:25; 5:16, 18.
ｂ
As our subjective righteousness, Christ is the One dwelling in us to live for us a life that can be justified by God and that is always acceptable to God—Matt. 5:6, 20.
２
If we are to be found in Christ, we must fulfill the condition of not having our own righteousness but instead having a righteousness which is not our own—a righteousness which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is out of God and based on faith—Phil. 3:9.
３
Christ lived out of the saints as their subjective righteousness becomes their wedding garment—Rev. 19:8:
ａ
The righteousness we received for our salvation is objective and enables us to meet the requirement of the righteous God, whereas the righteousnesses of the overcoming saints are subjective and enable them to meet the requirement of the overcoming Christ—1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 3:9.
ｂ
The wedding garment in Matthew 22:11-13 signifies the Christ whom we live out and who is expressed through us in our daily living as our surpassing righteousness—5:20; Rev. 3:4-5, 18.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 19:8 And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.Phil. 3:9 And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is out of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is out of God and based on faith.
[In Revelation 19:8 the] word clean (or, pure) refers to the nature; whereas bright refers to the expression. The Greek word translated “righteousnesses” may also be rendered “righteous acts.” The righteousnesses do not refer to the righteousness (which is Christ) we receive for our salvation (1 Cor. 1:30). The righteousness we receive for our salvation is objective, that we may meet the requirement of the righteous God; whereas the righteousnesses of the overcoming saints here are subjective (Phil. 3:9), that they may meet the requirement of the overcoming Christ. Hence, the fine linen indicates our overcoming life, our overcoming living. It is the very Christ whom we live out of our being. (Life-study of Revelation, p. 626)
Today's Reading
According to the revelation of the whole Bible, we, the saved ones, need two garments—one for our salvation and one for our reward. For our salvation we need a robe to cover us. This robe is the robe put on the prodigal son in Luke 15. Upon his return, the prodigal son…thought himself unworthy to be in the presence of the father (Luke 15:21). But the father said to his servants, “Bring out quickly the best robe and put it on him” (Luke 15:22). This robe is Christ as our righteousness. It is for us to be justified by God in His presence.However, we also need the second garment, which is the wedding garment in Matthew 22:11 and 12. This garment is not for our salvation; rather, it is for our reward, qualifying us to attend the wedding feast of the Son of God. The first garment qualifies us to meet God for our salvation. The second garment qualifies us to meet Christ for our reward. The second garment is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. It is actually the very Christ by whom we live and whom we live out. It is the Christ expressed through us in our daily living. This is the righteousnesses of the saints in Revelation 19:8.
The second garment is also the righteousness spoken of in Matthew 5:20. In this verse the Lord Jesus said, "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens.”…This verse clearly indicates that we must have a righteousness that surpasses the righteousness of the Pharisees. This righteousness is not the objective Christ we receive as our robe for our justification. Rather, it is the subjective Christ whom we live out as our daily living. It is not the justifying robe; it is the garment that qualifies us to receive the reward.
The wedding garment in Matthew 22:11 and 12 illustrates this. In this parable the Lord speaks of a man who comes into the wedding feast without a wedding garment. When the king sees him, the king says, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?" [v. 12]. The guest is speechless. Then the king says to his servants, “Bind his feet and hands, and cast him out into the outer darkness….There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:13). The wedding garment is not the justifying garment; it is a very special garment. According to the custom of the ancient Jews, no one could attend a wedding feast without a special wedding garment. If we would be in the wedding feast of the Lamb, we must be clothed with such a garment. If you would be qualified to attend the wedding feast of Christ, you need to live by Christ and to live Him out in your daily living. This Christ, the subjective Christ, will be the wedding garment to qualify you to be admitted into the wedding feast. Therefore, we need both the justifying garment and the wedding garment. (Life-study of Revelation, pp. 626-628)
Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 34, "The Glorious Church," ch. 3