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No.4.
WHITE, its usage in the Apocalypse.
pp. 104 - 107
The words of repentant David "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psa. 51: 7),
have seized the mind, and entered into the preaching of the gospel during all times. In
the book of the Revelation, the only gospel that is preached (so far as the record goes)
contains no reference to Christ, His finished work or to faith (Rev. 14: 6, 7), and if
preached to-day would merit the anathema of Gal. 1: 8.
The words translated
righteousness (dikaios, dikaiosuen, dikaios and dikaioma), refer either to judgment
(Rev. 15: 3,4; 16: 5, 7; 19: 2), war (Rev. 19: 11), or the personal righteousness of
saints (Rev. 19: 8; 22: 11). The evangelical concept of justification by faith is
nowhere seen or spoken of in the book of Revelation.
We have examined every reference to the phrase "the blood of the Lamb", and to the
shedding of blood generally, but out of all the references, the only one that speaks of
deliverance from sin is that of Rev. 1: 5 and this is discussed in an article yet to be
published . . . . . where its connexion is seen to be not with the average sinner but with a
peculiar company, "kings and priests", who play so important a part in the outworking of
its prophetic import. Two quotations call for insertion in this article:
"They made them WHITE in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7: 14).
"They OVERCAME him by the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 12: 11).
These two passages are related. Those who wash their robes and make them WHITE
are those who come out of great tribulation. Those who OVERCAME, do so by the same
blood of the Lamb, and under enormous pressure. Both companies are martyrs. When
this company is complete, it is likened to a Bride prepared for her husband:
"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" (Rev. 19: 8).
The usage of the word translated "arrayed" links the Bridal company with the
overcomers, as will be seen from the following list of occurrences of periballo:
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment" (Rev. 3: 5).
"I counsel thee to buy of Me . . . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed"
(Justification is by faith and cannot be "bought") (Rev. 3: 18).
"A great multitude . . . . . clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands"
(Rev. 7: 9).
"What are these which are arrayed in white robes?" (Rev. 7: 13).
"She should be arrayed fine linen, clean and white" (Rev. 19: 8).
"And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood" (Rev. 19: 13).
In the days of the outpouring of the vials, a blessing is pronounced upon him that
watcheth "and keepeth his garments" (Rev. 16: 15), a reference back to Rev. 3: 5 & 18.
The same Greek word himation is used of the Overcoming King of kings (Rev. xix.16)
and His Vesture also was "dipped in blood" even as were those of the suffering