Revelation 14:1-20The Judgment of the Nations
Revelation 14:1-20
American Journal of Biblical Theology
And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
As John again brings our focus back to the throne of grace, we see the faithful taking part in a great song of praise. Rather than sounding like a great celestial choir, John hears a roar like the rushing of a mighty waterfall with the clear sounds of music mixed into it. One gets the impression that John is hearing the shouts of praise and songs of joy being loudly proclaimed by the millions who are there. The singing is being done by those faithful, and this image, combined with those other portrayals of the heavenly throne indicate that the scene is populated with all of the redeemed for all ages. The depictions of heaven never seem to move far away from this vision of the throne and the presence of the Trinity and the Christian church. As John writes, the first century church can be encouraged to know that they are among this number.
The song they are singing is the praise of the LORD. Only the redeemed know the LORD, so only the redeemed can “sing” this song. The message that John is bringing to us is clear: all of those who have placed their faith and trust in God are present at the throne of God, and only those who have placed their faith and trust in God. As they observe the wickedness in their world, as we also do today, we can be assured that the salvation of the elect is a promise of God’s grace, and the judgment of the wicked includes their separation from God and from the faithful. The wicked have no more influence over the saved. Unlike the worship we experience in today’s sin-infested world, the joyful sounds of praise that are being lifted up at the throne are not impeded by sin, by the wicked, or by the deceiver, Satan. This is, indeed, a new and wonderful song.