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Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. (Zec. [[3:3-5|bible.38.3.3-38.3.5]])
These are those whose sin has been atoned by the blood of Jesus, who "wash their garments in the blood of the Lamb." Those at Sardis in John's day are to be followed by a constant stream of faithful throughout history culminating in those who stand firm to obtain the crown of life during the Great Tribulation (Rev. [[7:9-17|bible.87.7.9-87.7.17]]+). Those slain for the word of God and for the testimony they held are given white robes to wear (Rev. [[6:9-11|bible.87.6.9-87.6.11]]+). The white color speaks of the righteousness of Christ, but also of the marriage garments worn by His bride and those who attend the wedding feast who are found to be "spotless and without blemish" and "white and clean":But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. (Mtt. [[22:11|bible.61.22.11]])
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. . . . And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. (Rev. [[19:7-14|bible.87.19.7-87.19.14]]+)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Eph [[5:25-27|bible.70.5.25-70.5.27]])
they are worthyGod's Word does not refuse to ascribe a worthiness to men (Mtt. [[10:10-11|bible.61.10.10-61.10.11]]; [[22:8|bible.61.22.8]]; Luke [[20:35|bible.63.20.35]]; [[21:36|bible.63.21.36]]; 2Th. [[1:5|bible.74.1.5]], [[11|bible.74.1.11]]); although this worthiness must ever be contemplated as relative and not absolute; as resting on God's free acceptance of an obedience which would fain be perfect, even while it actually is most imperfect, and on this his acceptance and allowance of it alone.1
Notes
1 Richard Chenevix Trench, Commentary on the Epistles to the Seven Churches in Asia (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1861), 164.
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