Revelation 14:3

3 The 144,000 people stood before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which only they could learn. Of the whole human race they are the only ones who have been redeemed.

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 was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; with him were 144,000 people who have his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven that sounded like a roaring waterfall, like a loud peal of thunder. It sounded like the music made by musicians playing their harps.

3 The 144,000 people stood before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which only they could learn. Of the whole human race they are the only ones who have been redeemed.

4 They are the men who have kept themselves pure by not having sexual relations with women; they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from the rest of the human race and are the first ones to be offered to God and to the Lamb.

5 They have never been known to tell lies; they are faultless.