And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Granted. Though in one sense she 'made herself ready,' by the Spirit's work in her, putting on "the wedding garment," yet, in the fullest sense, not she, but her Lord, makes her ready, by 'granting to her that she be arrayed in short linen.' It is He who, by giving Himself for her, presents her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, but holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:5-27). He sanctifies her, naturally vile and without beauty, with the washing of water by the Word, and puts His own comeliness on her.
Clean and white. So Andreas: but 'Aleph (') A B transpose, 'bright and pure:' brilliantly splendid and spotless as the Bride herself.
Righteousness - `righteousnesses:' distributively. Each saint must have righteousness; not merely be justified, as if it belonged to the Church in the aggregate. The saints together have righteousness: Christ is accounted "the Lord our righteousness" to each on believing, the robe being made white in the blood of the Lamb. The righteousness of the saint is not inherent, but imputed. If it were otherwise, Christ would be merely enabling the sinner to justify himself. Romans 5:18-19, is decisive. Compare Article XI, Church of England. The justification already given in title and unseen possession, is now GIVEN the saints in manifestation-they openly walk with Christ in white. This, rather than their primary justification on earth, is the reference here. Their justification before the world, which persecuted them, contrasts with the judgment on the harlot. 'Now that the harlot has fallen, the woman triumphs' (Auberlen). Contrast with the Bride's х bussinon (G1039), not the linon (G3043) of the angels, Revelation 15:6] pure fine linen (indicating simplicity and purity), the harlot's (Revelation 17:4; Revelation 18:16) tawdry ornamentation. Babylon, the apostate church, is antithesis to new Jerusalem, the transfigured Church. The woman (Revelation 12:1-17), the harlot (Revelation 17:1-18), the Bride (Revelation 19:1-21), are the Church's three aspects.