Revelation 18 is an interesting and revealing chapter that describes a cargo of fine linen and purple and is also arrayed in fine linen and purple:
Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon
4016. periballo from 4012 and 906;
to throw all around, i.e. invest (with a palisade or with clothing):--array, cast about, clothe(-d me), put on.
Revelation 18:
11 And
the Merchants of the land are lamenting<2799> and mourning<3996> over
Her, that their cargo<1117> no one is buying anymore.
12
Cargo of gold and silver, and precious stone and pearl and
fine linen and purple, and silk, and scarlet...................
15
The Merchants of these, those being rich from
Her, from afar<3113> shall be standing, because of the fear of
Her torment<929>, weeping<2799> and mourning<3996>, 16 and saying,
Woe! Woe! the great City, that was having been
arrayed<4016> fine linen and purple and scarlet and have been gilded in gold and precious stone and pearls.
That to one hour was desolated<2049> the so much riches.
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One thing that led me to do a more in depth study on those particular passages was because of my deep study on the covenantle parable/story of the Rich Man and Lazarus[poor beggar] where fine linen and purple are also mentioned. [
Abraham and Moses are also mentioned]
Lazarus and the Rich Man - Here a little, there a little - Commentary
1737.
endidusko a prolonged form of 1746;
to invest (with a garment):--clothe in, wear.
Luke 16:19
A certain Man was rich and clothed<1737> in purple and fine linen making-merry down to a-day, shiningly<2988> [Matt 22:11]
We begin by scrutinizing the description Yeshua gives us of the rich man. First, he tells us that this man was clothed in purple and fine linen. This type of clothing would not have been out of the ordinary for one of considerable wealth during this time period. However, this attire also has symbolic meaning.
The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary says: "The wearing of purple was associated particularly with royalty . . ." (p. 863, "Purple"). In addition, the
New Bible Dictionary tells us: "The use of linen in OT times was prescribed for priests (Ex. 28:39). The coat, turban and girdle must be of fine linen." (p. 702, "Linen").
So we see that the garments worn by this rich man were symbolic of royalty and the priesthood. With that in mind, let's see what God told Moses just before giving the Israelites the Law on Mount Sinai:
The clothing of the rich man identifies him symbolically with the people of Israel, chosen by God to be His special people. They were called to be a witness to the nations surrounding them, confirming the blessings available to those who would obey God and keep His laws. Unfortunately, they frequently did not live up to the high calling given to them by God. Eventually He sent them into captivity for their refusal to honor their part of the covenant ratified at Mount Sinai. At the time of Yeshua, only the House of Judah continued to have a covenant relationship with God. The rich man in this parable represents the religious Jews of Yeshua's day, exemplified by their teachers, the Pharisees and scribes.
Verse 19 also tells us that the rich man "fared sumptuously every day." Figuratively, this represents the magnificent spiritual feast available only to the Jews, who were the sole remaining part of God's called people, Israel. In
the 1st century CE, they were the only people on earth who had the true religion. Indeed, Paul recounts the glorious station of the House of Judah in Romans 9:
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Purple and fine linen occur together in only 3 verses of the NT
Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)
Luk 16:19
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
Rev 18:12
“merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;
Rev 18:16
“and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
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