June 06 2022

Today, Monday June 06

“They Sang a New Song”

Revelation 14:2-3 “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.”

Today we are studying Revelation 14. In the first verses of this chapter we are talking about the 144,000 Jewish men who were marked by God and had a special protection so that during the entire course of the Seven Year Tribulation they could preach the Gospel to every tribe, kindred and nation. Under their preaching hundreds of thousands, millions of people would be saved who would refuse to take the mark of the beast (Rev. 13). Many of these new believers would be killed by the Antichrist but the 144,000 still couldn’t be killed.

Chapter 14 opens with John looking up! When John looks up, he sees a Lamb, who is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, standing in the heavenly Mount Zion. He also sees the 144,000 who have been sealed with their Father’s name, standing with Him! Remember this is a reminder to us that even during the times of persecution and tribulation they had a heavenly position standing with the Lamb, but also an assurance that at the end of it, they would also literally be standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion in Jerusalem! They would be protected to the end!

Not only are the 144,000 standing, but they are also singing (Rev. 14:2-3). Because of the special experiences they had during the Tribulation, they have a new song to sing that others cannot share. This reminds me of verses in the book of Psalms like Ps. 33:1-5; “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”

Psalm 40:1-5, might even be prophetic and be pointing to this very event in Revelation 14 when the 144,000 are singing their new song: “I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.”

And remember Psalm 96:1-6; “Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.”

Don’t these Psalms take on new meaning when you look at them in this context! As these 144,000 sing their “new song”, they are accompanied by heavenly harps and other heavenly voices. It is encouraging to know that one day our sorrows will be transformed into songs!

John also pointed out their separation (Rev. 14:3-5). The 144,000 did not belong to the earth because they had been redeemed out of the earth. They were not earth-dwellers, but citizens of heaven. Believers today do not belong to this very special group but, like them, we have been redeemed and are not part of this world system.

Today, in the midst of the darkness of our day we must also remember that, “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

God bless!