Righteousness of the Saints

 Revelation 19 provides another glimpse at the different groups of believers, Revelation 19:5-6.

⁵And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. ⁶And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Hallelu Yah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

The Great Multitude is praising God.  However, where is this occurring?  Revelation 19:1.

¹And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Hallelu Yah; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

The Great Multitude are in heaven praising God.  As such, the Great Multitude must be believers, Revelation 19:7.

⁷Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

If the Great Multitude is declaring that the Bride has made itself ready, than the Great Multitude and the Bride are two different groups.  If there are two different groups; therefore, not all believers are in the Bride, Revelation 19:8

⁸And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The Bride is arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.  When a Bride comes to a marriage, she does not wash her dress.  It is prepared for her.  Remember for the Great Multitude in Revelation 7:14:

¹⁴And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Great Multitude washed their robes in heaven.  The Bride’s was washed too; however, she was given a wedding garment, Revelation 19:8.

⁸And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Why is it, the righteousness of the saints and not Messiah?  James 2:21-24

²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? ²²Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  ²³And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,  Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ²⁴Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

James is referring to works righteousness.  Salvation is by grace, it is a free gift.  Rewards are based on works.  Do not ever think that your works have no meaning.  There is a work that we should all be doing, Matthew 16:27.

²⁷For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Our works are beyond salvation, it brings the rewards.  And we should all be striving for the highest reward, to be among the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

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