Revelation 19:8
 
Revelation 19:8
(KJV) 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.
(1611 KJV) And to her was granted, that she should bee arayed in fine linnen, cleane and white: for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints.
(1526 Tyndale) And to her was graunted that she shulde be arayed with pure and goodly raynes. For the raynes is the ryghtewesnes of saynctes.
(1382 Wycliffe) And it is youun to hir, that sche kyuere hir with white bissyn schynynge; for whi bissyn is iustifiyngis of seyntis.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
(NIV) Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
(NASV) It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
(NLT) She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
(ESV) it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
(CEV) She will be given a wedding dress made of pure and shining linen. This linen stands for the good things God's people have done."
(NKJV) 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.
(1901 ASV) And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
(HCSB) She was permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.
(NCV) Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear." (The fine linen means the good things done by God's holy people.)
(RSV) it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" -- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) She was allowed to wear a bright, clean linen garment." (The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.)
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) Yes, it has been granted to her to be arrayed in bright, clean, fine linen, for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones.”
 
Textus Receptus
- Traditional Text
kai edoqh auth ina peribalhtai bussinon kaqaron kai lampron to gar bussinon ta dikaiwmata estin twn agiwn
 
Hort-Westcott
  - Critical text
kai edoqh auth ina peribalhtai bussinon lampron kaqaron to gar bussinon ta dikaiwmata twn agiwn estin
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
None
 
Affected Teaching
This week’s post is similar in nature to last week’s post. The Greek text is the same but the English wording has created a wrong picture in the modern versions. The word “dikaioma” may be translated as “righteous or equitable deed, commandment, and the act of justification brought about in and for the sinner” but must be translated according to the context. Now all the modern versions translated this word as “righteous act or deed.” What must be understood is how the word is to be translated in Revelation 19:8:
 
(Rev 19:8 KJV) 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.
 
Revelation 19:8 speaks of fine linen, which is clean and white and this linen is the righteousness of the Saints. Isaiah 61:10 gives us a good understanding of what that fine linen is.
 
(Isa 61:10 KJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
 
In Isaiah 61:10, we read that God has covered us in the robe of righteousness which is the garment of salvation. Now you will notice what is missing and that is any type of works which the believer does to gain salvation. The believer is totally passive in this verse because it is God doing all the action. The body of believers is referred to as the “bride of Christ” and we are seeing this clearly in this verse. The fine linen in Revelation 19:8, is not referring to any works the believer does simply because it is speaking of the imputed righteousness of Christ to His children. No work can ever gain the righteousness needed to become saved. There is a passage in Revelation which speaks of the works of the believers, not those working for salvation.
 
(Rev 14:13 KJV) And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
 
If you notice in this verse, the works which are spoken of are those of the believers on earth and there is no mention of any of those works causing a Christian to be righteous. The works we do on earth are those that the Lord has commanded us to do. (Luke 17:10 KJV) So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. The key to understanding Revelation 19:8 is found in Romans 5:16-18:
 
(Rom 5:16-18 KJV) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. {17} For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) {18} Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
 
If you will notice that the term “righteousness” is used two times and that is the same word in the Greek that is found in Revelation 19:8. You will notice in verse 17, that the gift of righteousness comes by Jesus Christ and not by any type of works that we do. It states that righteousness came by “one” and that one is the Lord Jesus Christ apart from any works. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for any type of works to be equated with the righteousness of Christ.
 
Righteousness is not something that is earned but something that is bestowed upon the believer upon the moment of their salvation. The Roman Catholic church and many apostate Protestant churches teach that works are a necessary part of a person’s salvation. However, we cannot find one verse in Scripture which teaches that works are needed for salvation, all we find is that works are a result of salvation and this is why the translation in the modern versions of that word is welcome. People may think they are working for salvation but the true Bible teaches the opposite. This creates a fearful situation in telling people that their righteousness is based upon their works. This is fallacious as stated in Isaiah 64:6: (Isa 64:6 KJV) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
 
Yet the Bible is replete with the proclamation of the righteousness of the true believer. (Psa 132:9 KJV) Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. The believers are a nation of Priests and would be clothed with the righteousness of God causing joy in the believers.
 
(Ezek 14:14 KJV) Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
 
When the Lord was speaking about the coming destruction of Judah, He makes a statement that if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, then they would be delivered by their own righteousness. How could that be? It is because they have the imputed righteousness of Christ and that is how the saved are delivered among an evil generation.
 
So the word in Revelation 19:8 should not have “acts or deeds” added on because it contradicts the entire Bible by making people believe that their works can gain enough righteousness to get them into Heaven. Those works can never equate to the righteousness that the Lord Jesus Christ bestows upon a true believer. Once again the modern versions give us a teaching which has eternal consequences for those who follow them. The King James gives us the true teaching. Revelation 19:8 in the modern versions is probably one of the most subtlest changes the translators have ever made.

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