Revelation 14:3

3 They sang^[a] a new song^[b] before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders,^[c] but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed^[d] from the earth.

Revelation 14:3 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 14:3

And they sung as it were a new song
The song of redeeming grace; the same with that in ( Revelation 5:9 ) ; see the note there: this is to be understood of the 144,000, who sung it

before the throne, and before the four beasts and the elders;
that is, publicly in the church, the ministers and members being present; of these; (See Gill on Revelation 4:4); (See Gill on Revelation 4:6);

and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and]
four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth;
out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation; from among the men of the earth, and out of the apostate church, called the earth, in opposition to the pure church, which so often goes by the name of heaven in this book; and these, in consequence of being redeemed by the blood of Christ, were called by grace out of the world; and such only can sing the song of redemption with application to themselves; and say he has redeemed us, and loved us, and washed us from our sins in his blood; to none but these is it given to know spiritually and experimentally the mysteries of electing and redeeming grace; the natural and carnal man neither knows nor receives the things of the Spirit of God; nor can he learn them by hearing, reading, study, and conversation, unless it be only in a notional and speculative way. The Jews speak of a new song, which the angels have never used {m};

``it is said, ( Psalms 98:1 ) ; "sing unto the Lord a new song"; a new song, for there is an old song; but this song is what the angels never praised him with, and therefore it is new;''

and indeed the song of redeeming love is peculiar to men.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 Zohar in Numb. fol. 70. 4.

Revelation 14:3 In-Context

1 Then I looked, and there on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father's name written on their foreheads.

2 I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was also like harpists playing on their harps.

3 They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

4 These are the ones not defiled with women, for they have kept their virginity. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from the human race as the firstfruits for God and the Lamb.

5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Footnotes

• [a]. Other mss add as it were
• [b]. Rv 5:9
• [c]. Rv 4:4,6
• [d]. Or purchased