The New Song

 

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1-5 ESV).

 

Today we begin a new section in our study. We have already seen the People who devote their lives to the worship of false gods, whether the Roman emperor or any other false claimant to deity, are marked with the sign of the beast (cf. Revelation 13). But there is another group of people in the book of Revelation who receive a mark. These are the 144,000 who receive the seal of the Lord (cf. Revelation 7:1–8). John’s record of his visions takes us back to this group in today’s reading.

 

The mark of the beast was the name of the beast, designating his ownership of the enemies of God’s people (13:16–18). The mark on the 144,000, however, is the name of the Son and the Father, identifying them as belonging to God (14:1). But of course, the mark on the 144,000 designates more than just ownership. Their mark is a seal, which also signifies security and protection. The followers of the beast worshiped him to be marked off for participation in the economy, to be protected by being able to buy and sell goods and services. Yet this is not a seal, so the beast cannot provide the security he promises to his followers, making their decision to obey him even more foolish. God gives His people a seal, however, for He can finally protect them and establish them secure in a new creation. The great hope of the Aaronic blessing for God’s name to be on God’s people is fulfilled as we receive God’s name and protection through faith in Christ (cf. Numbers 6:22–27; John 16:23).

 

God’s people in Revelation 14 sing a song of victory because the Lamb has triumphed over sin and evil. One of the purposes of our singing as Christians is to celebrate the victory that Jesus has won and that we get to share in by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. He has conquered the enemy and won a victory worth celebrating more than any other. This is the New Song. There is none like it and it is being finally sung as eternity changes to the ultimate King of all kings!