VERSE 3 “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.”
AND THEY SANG A NEW SONG: Just as the prophecies (of the Old Testament, symbolized by the twenty-four elders, Rev 5:8, 9) could sing a “new song” when, at the first advent, the Lamb had fulfilled an important portion of their predictions, so now, the saints can sing a new song when ALL of the second advent prophecies have reached their climax. But this song is different in one special way. It is PERSONAL. It is the result of having endured and overcome.
(This is not the same song, the “song of Moses” as found in Rev 15:3 as even Moses knew that song, no this is a “new song”). It is something which no one else CAN know except those who went through the training (of the Gospel age, who went through the School of Christ. Not merely those who attended, but those who graduated, those who made their calling and election sure and were proven “faithful until death”).
BEFORE THE THRONE: This is NOT the position of the saints in most prophecy. But here it is the appropriate place to sing. It is to Him Who is on the throne that they owe all thanks and reverence for having been taught this song which no one else can sing. The saints place themselves forever willingly at God’s service (before the throne) even as Jesus himself wore the girdle of servitude willingly even after his glorification (Rev 1:13).
BEFORE THE FOUR LIVING ONES: How we can sing forever to the inter working qualities of God’s universally perfect balanced character!
AND THE ELDERS: The saints can, without reservation, sing praise to the help they had from the prophecies (the Old Testament Scriptures) — the very foundation of their standing (Rev 12:1).
Is this not the purpose Paul had in mind when he wrote Hebrews 11 and 12:1 — perhaps the whole book of Hebrews?
The tendency of modern Christianity (i.e., New Testament Christians) to dismiss the Old Testament writings is a testimony that they could not fit into this picture.
AND NO ONE COULD LEARN THE SONG EXCEPT THE 144,000: This song is THEIR testimony.
It is unlike anything any other human being has experienced. It cannot be sung until the other side because “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” Psa 137:1-4.
WHO HAD BEEN PURCHASED FROM THE EARTH: This phrase unites the first “new song” at the beginning of the age (Rev 5:9) with the second “new song” at the end of the age. The first song is sung as the prophecies acknowledge the beginning of the Church. The second song is sung as the completed Church acknowledges the end of the prophecies.
VERSE 4 “These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb.”
THESE ARE THE ONES: We now have a clear description of the history and character of the ones who are singing, the ones who have been purchased from the earth. They:
WHO HAVE NOT BEEN DEFILED WITH WOMEN: They have not let association with the “churches” of Christendom (Babylon) soil their robes.
FOR THEY HAVE KEPT THEMSELVES CHASTE: The implication is clear: the “WOMEN” (the great harlot and her daughter systems) have NOT kept themselves chaste. They have committed spiritual fornication by compromising themselves with the governments of this world and /or with the spirit of worldliness. (This may even suggest that the image — while not a church-state union — is a church-state cooperation, agreement, or compromise.)
WHO FOLLOW THE LAMB WHEREVER HE GOES: They have never lost sight of whom their head is; nor have they ever been reticent to follow his leadings, however strange the place may be in which they are led.
THESE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FROM AMONG MEN: Here is another clear reference to the sin-offering participation of the saints.
We know Jesus purchased the whole race. But this “purchased possession” (the race) must wait until this group of saints — recipients of the ransom merit EARLY — might have something to sacrifice jointly with their head. Men WERE purchased; but the saints are PURCHASED FROM AMONG MEN. The implications to the doctrine of the sin offering are inescapable!
AS FIRST FRUITS TO GOD AND TO THE LAMB: Another demonstration of the saints as part of the sin-offering process. The first fruits are an OFFERING, NOT a part of the general crop (the rest of mankind).
VERSE 5 “And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
NO LIE WAS FOUND IN THEIR MOUTHS: — Their COLLECTIVE mouth which represents their collective message. They, and they alone, were God’s mouthpiece during the age for the distribution of the TRUTH. No lie was in their message because they conscientiously sought God’s message and not to put forth their own ideas.
THEY ARE BLAMELESS: See Heb 9:14. God has justified them. Who will lay anything to their charge? Rom 8:33.
In our next post we will take another look at these first five verses of Chapter 14 this time as they are explained in The Keys of Revelation. The primary reason we present another view is because brethren often differ in their interpretations on certain issues especially those dealing in prophecies yet fulfilled, the other reason we present another view of the same scriptures is because sometimes one brother (or class) is able to explain the same thing in a somewhat different manner possibly helping someone who didn’t quite grasps it as it was presented in the first. Likewise, there may be some additional insights which might prove beneficial to all.
