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White Linen
A Poetic Tribute to Revelation 19:6-9
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Introduction
In the Bible, the Creation story begins with a physical marriage in the Book of Genesis between Adam and Eve, the first man and woman.
It ends in the Book of Revelation with a spiritual marriage between Jesus Christ (also referred to as The Lamb) and His Bride, the Church (the collective body of His faithful followers – those who put their faith and trust in Him alone for Salvation).
The great celebration of this marriage in Heaven is known as the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. As the Bride of Christ, we eagerly anticipate this long-awaited day – knowing the pain, sorrows, and afflictions of this present life will be forever gone…when we will finally be Home in the presence of God, united with our Bridegroom forever.
White Linen is an allegorical poetic tribute to this most anticipated of celebrations, which is described in Revelation 19:6-9.
Part I - The Dark City
.jpeg&height=566.857 "PartI - The Dark City")
.jpeg&height=566.857 "hopeless")
1. Fiercely cold, the bitter wind blew, relentless in its consuming lust –The thoroughfare was dark and bare, save for the blinding, choking dust;Yet above the mournful, wailing gust and swirling haze, one could hearA metal chain, a shriek of pain, and voices crying out in fear…
In the City of the Cursed.
2. Enclosed within these city walls, far heavier than lack of light –A stifling gloom, the weight of doom, the ever-present realm of Night;For the Ruler of this dark domain sat upon a throne of hate,Where countless slaves in open graves obeyed his will and sealed their fate,
In the City of the Dead.
3. Clothed in tattered, threadbare rags, her seductive dress was fringed with lace;As cold as stone, she stood alone on the corner near the marketplace.Her lonely way of life was one of desperate loss and hard disdain –For many years, unnumbered tears reflected her embittered pain
In the Crowded City, all alone.
4. As she shivered at her post against the clutching grip of numbing cold,She longed for love, the symbol of a life of hope worth more than gold;Yet deep within her withered heart, she knew that she could never quellUnanswered prayer, the empty stare of harsh abuse preceding hell,
In the City of Despair.
5. The empty life which Leah lived (for so the men would call her name)Held nothing true, although she knew her many sisters fared the same.For the Ruler of the City had appointed Cruel Men to holdThe slaves for hire, his dark desire, and thus their souls were cheaply sold,
In the City of the Damned.
6. Now the passing men who eyed the slaves, and oft approached for service posedAs honest guys in sweet disguise, but always left their hearts exposed –For once the girls were off their guard, and hope was kindled to a spark,With cruel strength, the men at length would leave them crying in the dark,
In the City of Abuse.
In the City of the Cursed.
2. Enclosed within these city walls, far heavier than lack of light –A stifling gloom, the weight of doom, the ever-present realm of Night;For the Ruler of this dark domain sat upon a throne of hate,Where countless slaves in open graves obeyed his will and sealed their fate,
In the City of the Dead.
3. Clothed in tattered, threadbare rags, her seductive dress was fringed with lace;As cold as stone, she stood alone on the corner near the marketplace.Her lonely way of life was one of desperate loss and hard disdain –For many years, unnumbered tears reflected her embittered pain
In the Crowded City, all alone.
4. As she shivered at her post against the clutching grip of numbing cold,She longed for love, the symbol of a life of hope worth more than gold;Yet deep within her withered heart, she knew that she could never quellUnanswered prayer, the empty stare of harsh abuse preceding hell,
In the City of Despair.
5. The empty life which Leah lived (for so the men would call her name)Held nothing true, although she knew her many sisters fared the same.For the Ruler of the City had appointed Cruel Men to holdThe slaves for hire, his dark desire, and thus their souls were cheaply sold,
In the City of the Damned.
6. Now the passing men who eyed the slaves, and oft approached for service posedAs honest guys in sweet disguise, but always left their hearts exposed –For once the girls were off their guard, and hope was kindled to a spark,With cruel strength, the men at length would leave them crying in the dark,
In the City of Abuse.
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Part II - The Proposal
.jpeg&height=347&width=567&scale=0.352&x=67.523&y=62.09 "The Proposal")
7. Then one night a Man drew near, but when He spoke, His voice was warm –His tender eyes, to her surprise, did not appraise her showcased form;For unlike the frenzied mob who had abused her time and time again,She could not place His loving face as ever seen among the men,
In the City full of Sin.
8. He held her gaze, unwavering, with eyes which pierced her inner heart…Her shame, her fears, her sinful years – were all laid bare to pick apart.She felt her pulse accelerate; her panic-stricken guilt increased –Her knees grew weak, she tried to speak – but futile words went unreleased,
In the City without a voice.
9. She turned away, too scared to face this Man of Love Whose purityWould surely see the great degree to which she’d lived in agony;She turned to run away, but felt a gentle Hand upon her arm –At last He spoke, with words that broke the fear and doubt and all alarm,
In a heart which longed for love.
10. “Who are You?” she whispered then, still startled by His loving tone –Yet closer drawn, with eyes upon this Man whose Voice seemed not unknown.“I have many Names,” said He, “Yet there are few who know Me here.But I chose you, and will pursue your heart with Truth to vanquish fear,
If you will choose to trust.”
11. The blissful days which followed were like nothing she had ever known –Hand in hand, they walked the land, and never once was she alone;He told her of the power of Truth, enough to set the captive free – And strong enough to full rebuff the curse fulfilled upon a Tree,
When Love will conquer death.
12. And so He told her of the Love He’d borne for her since time began –A priceless Love, consisting of, the ultimate Redemption plan;And in a gentle, quiet voice, which sounded still and small to her,Implored her hand with wedding band – and so her soul began to stir…
With a longing to belong.
13. And then He told her He must go, but would return a few days henceTo press His suit, the resolute decision made in her defense –“To fully know My quenching Love and Faithfulness,” He said at length,“You must discard your high regard for meaning found in earthly strength,
Where nothing satisfies.”
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Part III - The Debt
.jpeg&height=292&width=567&scale=0.455&x=187.894&y=103.371 "debt of sin")
.jpeg&height=378&width=567&scale=0.283&x=0.005&y=315.913 "sin struggle")
14. As soon as He had gone to offer Truth to all Captivity,Her pleasure fled, and turned to dread – returning her proclivity;For suddenly a shadow fell – and with it, Fear personified –And now alone, his cruel tone was like a death knell amplified…
…the Voice within her soul.
15. “Leah, thou ungrateful whore, hast thou forgotten this, thy lot?And dare to scorn, thou foul baseborn, my kindness as an afterthought?If thou would choose to go with Him, this Son who hast bewitched thy heart,Then will thy blood in bondage flood, until thy bitter soul depart
To everlasting flame.”
16. And so she hearkened to his Voice – The Ruler who possessed her soul,Who oftentimes replayed her crimes, reminding her of his control.Continued he, “The Debt of thy unfaithfulness is paid in death –Embodied shrine, thy soul is mine – required at thy final breath…
…Awaiting punishment.”
17. When He returned to seek her heart, the Son was grieved by what He learned –The object of His faithful Love, to harlotry again returned;Overwhelmed in utter shame, she dared not meet His loving face –Afraid that He would only see the magnitude of her disgrace,
Renouncing His pursuit.
18. But to her shock and disbelief, the Son bent down to take her hand –So was her blame, and gathered shame, diminished by His bid to stand;He told her of their future Home, beyond the shadows of this life,Of endless mirth beyond the earth – her future as Beloved wife,
If she would acquiesce.
19. Overwhelmed by sheer delight, her trembling lips began to part –But suddenly, she turned to see His face betray a troubled heart;The Ruler’s men were closing in, with mocking eyes and naked steel – His only plea, “Remain with me, until the end of My ordeal,
For I must face My foe.”
20. Confused and shaken by His words, her anguish waxed at what ensued –Her only Friend did not contend as He was ruthlessly subdued;Amid the jeering, raucous din, lit by the torches flaming lightShe caught His eye, her mouth went dry…and Leah fled into the night,
As He was bound in chains.
21. The Ruler sat upon his throne and gazed with eyes of ridiculeUpon the Son, the only One Who threatened his oppressive rule;“What is thy intent, O Fool, in seeking Leah’s faithless soul?”The Son replied, “I will provide the Way to Life beyond Sheol,
And she will be My bride.”
22. “Misguided Fool,” the Ruler laughed, “Even if she would be free,Dost thou believe, to so achieve, remission of her Debt’s decree?”Then turning to his Cruel Men, said “Put this lunatic to death!”And standing clear, awash in fear, Leah watched with gasping breath,
As He was led away.
Part IV - Redemption
.jpeg&height=376 "Jesus rose from the dead")
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Part V - The Promise
.jpeg&height=567&width=756&scale=0.252&x=0&y=0 "God's promose")
.jpeg&height=567&width=830.769&scale=0.276&x=0&y=0 "heaven rapture")
27. With radiant love and perfect peace encompassing her soaring heart, She heard Him say, “Do not dismay – for though I must forthwith depart, I must prepare our palace, and the wedding feast to celebrate Our marriage bliss; remember this, then nevermore to separate,
As soon as I return.”
28. “Be filled with peace,” He reassured, “for you will not be left alone –Remaining here, you must not fear – for you shall make My freedom known; And though affliction and abuse will strive to quench the Word you speak, My Love and Peace shall never cease to fill you with the Hope you seek,
My Spirit as your guide.”
29. As the passing age unfolded, Zoe’s eyes remained uponThe Word of Truth learned in her youth, when she was saved from Babylon; Throughout the years of her sojourn she labored to proclaim His Love, Undaunted by the darkened sky, which soon must part the clouds above,
Awaiting His return.
Part VI - The Wedding Feast
.jpeg&height=567&width=850.712&scale=0.283&x=0&y=0 "wedding feast")
.jpeg&height=1063.125&width=850.5&scale=0.283&x=0&y=0 "The bride of christ")
.jpg&height=464&width=567&scale=1.197&x=93.856&y=94.179 "believe")
30. And then one day, the moment came – the air was filled with radiant Light –A trumpet blast ascribed the vast, majestic thrill of faith made sight; Enraptured by her Bridegroom from the gloomy realm of pain and loss, The Son who died took up His bride, and in His arms swept her across
The threshold of her Home.
31. Transfixed in wonder to behold the everlasting City’s Light, She turned to see the gift that He had wrapped for her in dazzling white; Eagerly she broke the seal, but wept at what she held at last –A wedding gown of pure renown, the righteous deeds which she amassed,
Replacing her old rags.
32. The Son bent down to wipe away the tears which sprang into her eyes, And said, “Rejoice! Lift up your voice! For you refused to compromise; My faithful Bride, you overcame. The former things have passed away – Enjoy at last the unsurpassed glory of our Wedding Day,
And let us celebrate.”
33. Rejoicing, she advanced to Him, in dazzling white beyond compare –The spotless Lamb of Abraham proclaimed the Feast and brought to bear The celebration of their Love amid the praise of paradise; And thus began the endless span of Life through Perfect sacrifice,
The Hope of the Redeemed.
© J. M. Hageman
`Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd
or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:
“Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him.For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself.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.And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added,
“These are true words that come from God.”
Revelation 19:6-9
