393. The New Song

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” Rev. 14:1.

Mount Zion is the city of the living God—a spiritual mountain and a spiritual city. It lies behind the veil. The entrance is difficult and the gate narrow. An innumerable company of angels, God the Judge of all, Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new covenant, and the spirits of just men made perfect all live in this city.

It was on this Mount Zion that John saw the Lamb and the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had His name and His Father’s name on their foreheads. This means that during their days here on earth they kept Jesus’ commandments, and the Father and the Son abode in them. Therefore they had received the seal of the Father and the Son on their foreheads, and they will keep this seal of honor for all eternity.

“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 one hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” Verses 2-3.

This is a song of homage from the Lamb and the bridal host to God on His throne, to the four living creatures, and to the elders. The song sounded like the voice of many waters and the voice of loud thunder. This shows that the host who sang experienced what is written in Revelation 4:5 where it says: “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” This was the wrath of God over sin, and the one hundred and forty-four thousand had judged themselves in this lightning and thunder. They had been enlightened by the seven lamps of fire, which are the seven Spirits of God. Therefore now, after the trial of fire and after having been trained by the seven Spirits of God, they could stand before the throne of God with the Lamb at their side and sing the most glorious song that has ever been sung.

“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 firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” Verse 4.

They were as virgins for their bridegroom. They had always allowed themselves be led by the Holy Spirit. They followed the Lamb wherever He went, through all sorts of different sufferings and trials and into glory. When the ungodly sing, they do it for their own honor, and it sounds pitiful to a spiritual ear. But these one hundred and forty-four thousand had learned to sing the song of the Lamb. Their voices and their hearts were cleansed by the sufferings and death of Christ, so they could sing to God’s honor and His praise.

This most amazing song is sung by the firstfruits of salvation, the ones who have been redeemed from among men. They are new creations, and their song brings great joy to God, the four living creatures, and the elders. No one can learn this song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand in whose mouths is found no deceit, for they are without fault.

What can we learn from this? We can learn that now in our life here on earth we must follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Jesus says, “Where I go you know and the way you know.” The way goes through the baptism of fire and the baptism of the Spirit; it goes into sanctification through obedience, through death and resurrection, through humiliation to glory. If we endure all this, we will be glorified with Him and reign with Him. No ravenous beasts can come onto the new and living way behind the veil, which acts as a sound barrier so those who are on the outside of the veil cannot hear the song of glory inside.

Let us determine to be together with the Lamb among the one hundred and forty-four thousand on Mount Zion, so that we too can praise God and the Lamb with the new song of the firstfruits.