Linen clothing, which is associated with ancient temples and temple worship, could be interpreted as the righteousness of women and men: “For the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Rev. 19:8).
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest wore linen garments, consisting of a tunic, undergarments, sash, and headpiece. Wearing linen clothing was an essential part of the work of the atonement: the high priest “shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments” (Lev. 16:32; see also v. 23). Note, too, that priests wore linen garments (see Lev. 6:10; 16:4).
Levitical musicians wore white linen in the temple when they sang and played their musical instruments, comprised of cymbals, harps, and lyres (see 2 Chr. 5:12).
The seven angels in the temple in heaven were “clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles” (Rev. 15:6). The high rank of the angels is deduced from the golden girdles (or sashes) they wear, which are like that worn by Christ Himself (see Rev. 1:13). In addition, Daniel saw a heavenly “man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz” (Dan. 10:5).
In the great scene that is revealed in Revelation 19, two different entities are clothed in “fine linen.” The Lamb’s bride (which is the Church) is “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white” (Rev. 19:8), and the armies in heaven that follow Jesus Christ while riding on white horses are “clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Rev. 19:14).