by H. A.
Ironside

"The marriage of the Lamb is
come and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she
should be arrayed in fine linen … the righteousness of saints" (Rev.
19:7,8).

In the original text, the word
"righteousness" in verse 8 is plural and should therefore be
translated "righteousnesses" or "righteous acts." It is not
imputed righteousness that is here in view, nor the believer being made the
righteousness of God in Christ. The fine linen sets forth the righteous acts of
the saints themselves while here on earth, which the judgment seat of Christ
will make manifest, and which will form the wedding garment of the bride on her
wedding day.

In the light of this scripture we
may well be exercised as to our own ways. Are you, dear fellow-believer,
preparing any fine linen for that coming day? You are familiar with the thought
of the prospective bride’s hope-chest. The engaged young woman prepares
beautiful articles of wearing apparel in view of her wedding day. May I say
that we too have a spiritual hope-chest to fill. Everything that is really done
for Christ is something added to that bridal chest. Some of us, I am afraid,
will have rather a poor supply. The wedding garments are to be prepared here on
earth, as the Spirit of God Himself works in us to will and to do of His good
pleasure. Let us not be neglectful of this, for the time is short, and the
night is coming when no man can work. It is true that even our very best deeds,
our most devoted service, all need to be washed and made "white in the
blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14); but He will not fail to value aright and
to richly reward everything that was for His own glory in our poor straitened
lives. All that is done for self, all that springs from unholy motives, will
disappear in that day; while that which was the result of His Spirit working
within us will abide forever to His praise and glory, and for our own eternal
joy, as we see what pleasure we have given Him.

(From Lectures on the Book of
Revelation, used by permission of Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, NJ 07756.)