SECTION TWO THE SAINTS' SUCCESS Revelation 14:1-20 1. THE Revelation 14:1-5 Note: The leading purpose of chapter 12 was to present Satan, symbolically described as a dragon, as the real enemy of the true church. As the author of evil he would naturally be the source of all opposition to the truth. Those through whom the opposition is manifested are but the agents through whom he works. In chapter 13 we have pictured, under the symbols of two beasts, the political and religious earthly agents that were to be the outstanding mediums for Satan's efforts. These were found to be the Roman Empire--pagan and "Christianized"--and the apostate church--the Catholic hierarchy. With such deadly struggles forecast, the saints would have been overcome with fear, if the symbolic story had ended at this point. Evidently the purpose of the present chapter was to encourage the Christians to faithfulness under all conditions by assurance that the truth would ultimately prevail, and the persevering be saved. While this was de-signed to benefit especially those who met the persecutions during the 1,260-year period, it will have the same effect in helping all Christians to endure to the end of life. 1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion,--We should be continually remindful that what John saw in the vision was the symbol; what it represents is a different matter. The two should not be confused. "I saw" means that another vision appeared. "The Lamb" refers to Christ (Revelation 5:6; Revelation 12:11); it is here contrasted with the beast (Revelation 13:11) that had horns like a lamb, but spake as a dragon. The expression "mount Zion" is used only here and Hebrews 12:22. Jerusalem, because partly builded upon the literal mount Zion, is also referred to as mount Zion. It was the seat of government and place of worship for the old covenant, and typical of the church. (Galatians 4:26.) Verses 2 and 3 strongly indicate that this scene was in heaven. If so, Mount Zion is used typically to represent the saint's final abode. Compare 4:2, 3. and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.--The names of the Lamb and of the Father writ-ten upon their foreheads show that they were acceptable to both Christ and God. This and the place where they were standing clearly indicate that they were redeemed and had gained the ultimate victory--were safe from any further attacks from either beast. See notes on Revelation 13:16 regarding mark of beast on forehead. In Revelation 7:4-9 is also mentioned the same number as having been "sealed" from the twelve tribe, after which is mentioned a numberless multitude from all peoples--and Gentiles. In our present text only the 144,000 are mentioned. Whether they are the same that are mentioned in the seventh chapter or not is immaterial, for in both places the purpose is to encourage faithfulness by foretelling the final success true saints will have. The number is doubtless symbolical and means an incalculably large multitude. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder:--Whether or not the whole vision was seen in heaven, "Zion" being used typically, the voice John heard came from heaven. From verse 3 the natural conclusion is that the voice was singing the new song before the throne. The language shows that it was a song of sublime powers. It filled the air as the roaring of mighty waters or the waves of the ocean. The sound was not the roaring of waters, but "as" or similar to such sound. Its majesty was also indicated by saying it was "as" the voice of a great thunder. Reverberating through the heavens like the peals of loud thunder. and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps:--The King James Version represents John as saying he heard the harpers harping, but the Revised says the voice he heard was "as" harpers harping. This must be correct, for all three clauses are in the same gram-matical construction, the word "as" being in all of them. John then said nothing about hearing harps, but only that the voice he heard was like the harping--possibly meaning that it was both grand and melodious. This passage gives no support for the use of mechanical music in worship for the following rea-sons: (1) What John heard was in heaven, not on earth. There is no proof that we are privileged to have everything in the church that will be in heaven. (2) There is nothing said about the 144,000 redeemed harping on harps. The word "as" settles that. (3) The plural number of the word "harps" shows that many harps were .used, which would mean each had a harp, if it referred to the redeemed playing harps in heaven. In a con-gregation one instrument is used for all. There simply is not anything here to give the least support to mechanical music in church worship. 3 and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders:--For comments on the four living creatures and the elders see notes on Revelation 4:4-7. "Before the throne" indicates that they were in the presence of God and the Lamb, which means that they were a part of the saved. This final glory of the redeemed is here pictured to encourage struggling saints; it is an assurance that their labors will not be in vain and that the righteous will ultimately win the victory. With the 1,260 years of terrible struggle between the church and her enemies, such encouragement was of the greatest importance. It is of great value to faithful Christians in all times; without such promises to strengthen us few would endure to the end. and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth.--This means that none except the redeemed can fully appreciate the joys of salvation, and certainly we will not understand what heaven means until we reach it. We rejoice in pardon of sins and are made exceedingly happy in the anticipation of eternal life, but will have to wait for its realization till we meet our Redeemer over there. Only those who have passed through a great sorrow can fully know what relief means; so only those who have been saved from a terrible misfortune can appreciate the blessing. Of course, nothing can approximate the sublime and transporting joy to be experienced by those who will be permitted to stand on the eternal Zion and dwell in the celestial city. A song of praise for such a blessing can only be sung by those who have been purchased from sin by Christ's blood. For this reason what John heard seemed to be a song, but a new one which even saints on earth could not understand. 4 These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.--That the saved in heaven will be those who have lived clean and chaste lives is certain from the general teaching of the Scriptures. But in view of the fact that the lessons in Revelation are mainly expressed in symbols, it is more reasonable to conclude that the impurity mentioned here is to be understood figuratively. In the Old Testament the abominable sin of literal adultery is made the figurative term by which idolatry is described. This use of the word is found in Jeremiah 3:1-10. The Greek word for "virgins," though feminine in form, evidently has a masculine sense in this text; hence, it should be taken spiritually to indicate moral and spiritual purity. As the word "man" is often used to mean mankind, so the word "purity" with a masculine sense includes both men and women. It is doubtless the purpose of this verse to contrast true saints with those who follow the "Mother of HarRev 17:5." (17:5; compare 2 Corinthians 11:2.) These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb.--Jesus is represented as a good shepherd, and his disciples as sheep to follow him. (John 10:11-15; compare Psalms 23.) Those finally saved will be the ones who have followed him, which can only mean those who have obeyed his commands. This truth is sustained by many texts of scripture. "Whithersoever he goeth" means doing any and all things he commands. They were purchased or redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, as all the saved must be, but the 144,000 are represented as "firstfruits" unto God. They were not said to be redeemed because of their rank or station in life, but by the merits of Christ's blood. The Jews offered the first fruits of the harvests to the Lord. As the first fruits were also a guarantee of the full harvest later, so the great number that John saw were those who, as martyrs and other faithful ones, had been true to the Lord during the period when the saints were struggling against the two beasts mentioned in chapter 13, and their condition was a guarantee that all faithful followers of Christ will be saved finally. 5 And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.--Liars in heaven, of course, would be an intolerable thought. In Revelation 21:8 we are informed that "all liars," along with other abominable characters, will have their part in the "lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." The Jews were not allowed to offer blemished animals in sacrifice to the Lord neither can guilty sinners spend eternity in worshiping God in heaven. The redeemed in heaven will be without blemish. This, however, does not mean that they have never been wicked, for the very fact that they were redeemed implies that they had been sinners. In Revelation 7:14 it is said, "They washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Because of this and the fact that they came "out of the great tribulation" successfully, they are before the throne where they serve God day and night. (Revelation 7:15.) This is a symbolic scene indicating the way the saved will pass the time in eternity. It does not mean that the eternal age is yet begun, though the righteous dead are now in a state of happiness. This is the clear teaching of Jesus. (Luke 16:19-31.)