And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean;
The BRIDE is permitted to be dressed in a bright and clean fine linen wedding dress. More than that, to be able to be the BRIDE, she must be dressed like this (Matthew 22:1-14). John confirms that she truly is dressed like this (Revelation 21:2).
This also signifies the priestly role that the BRIDE will play (Revelation 1:6 and Revelation 5:10). In the Old Testament, the priest's robe or ephod was made of fine twisted linen (Exodus 28:1-6-43). The material of the ephod is symbolic of:
Material |
our High Priest is |
Reference |
Gold |
God |
John
10:30 |
Blue |
Truth |
John 14:6 |
Purple |
King |
Luke 1:32-33 |
Scarlet |
the Lamb |
John 1:29 |
Linen |
Righteousness |
1 John 2:1 |
table from "An Exposition of The Revelation of Jesus Christ", Ella A. Rust, p. 317
Jesus Christ is both the GROOM and High Priest (Hebrews 9:11-14) and is dressed like this (Revelation 19:11-14). If the groom and BRIDE are to be a married couple, then she, too, must be pure and clean (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
for the fine linen is THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS of THE SAINTS.
What are the characteristics of these RIGHTEOUS ACTS?
There is a paradox here. We cannot be saved (or become the BRIDE) by works (RIGHTEOUS ACTS) (Ephesians 2:8-10). Salvation only happens by faith in Christ Jesus (GROOM). Yet here at the marriage feast, what we are wearing is what we did (RIGHTEOUS ACTS) after we accepted Christ by faith.