“And I looked, and lo a Lamb stood on Mount Zion and with Him an hundred and forty and four thousand having His Father’s name written in their foreheads,” Rev. 14:1-5.

“THE LIVING CREATURES AND THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS,”continued

“And they sang a new song BEFORE THE THRONE (OF GOD) and before the four living creatures and before the elders (of the heavenly Sanhedrin)…,” Rev. 14:3 AMP.

So as stated, just as we have the elders of the twelve tribes of Israel forming the court of the Sanhedrin, so also today we have the twelve Patriarchs and Apostles forming the new court of the heavenly Sanhedrin of twenty four Elders. This is the meaning of the symbols here.

And of course, we are not only told of our sitting together with Christ in heavenly places now (Eph. 2:6), but the Scriptures also make it clear that apart from the “…huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grand stands…” (Heb. 12:1), we have come right up onto Mount Zion (the Church, the very realm where the 144,000 are) the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (hence a heavenly Sanhedrin) and to the gathering of countless happy angels and to the church composed of all those registered in heaven (born again) and to God WHO IS THE JUDGE OF ALL (mankind) and to the Spirit of the redeemed (Saints of Old) in heaven, already made perfect…” Heb. 12:22-23 TLB.

On the other hand, you find that we have a twenty-four Priestly class in 1Chron. 24:1-9. The thrones, therefore, indicate that the elders are “Judges” in the New Israel, which is the redeemed world. The crowns are the sign that they share God’s glory and royal power as overcomers.

In casting down their crowns, it is symbolic of the fact that since the government of this world entrusted to them (1Cor. 6:2) comes from God, this power must also go back to God. In other words, it is an acknowledgement of the supremacy of God in creation.

Now let it be noted that the thrones of the ‘elders’ constitute the outer ring of the heavenly court, just as in the New Jerusalem of God, the bride of Christ – the Church (Rev. 21:8, 3+), the surrounding wall is made up of the twelve foundation stones of the Apostles. And the Twelve Gates (each with an elder) are the twelve tribes of Israel.

Again, we see the twenty-four elders, even as the Church is “…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone,” Eph. 2:20.

“THE NEW SONG OF THE REDEEMED”

“And they sang a new song before the throne (of God) and before the four living creatures and before the elders (of the heavenly Sanhedrin): NO ONE COULD LEARN (TO SING) THAT SONG except the hundred and forty-four thousand who has been ransomed (purchased, redeemed) from the earth,” Rev. 14:3 AMP.

We give God praise for what He is doing, what He has done and what He is yet to do. There is complete joy in redemption. And for those who have come into that realization, the new song is a revelation of their new state of being. It is a celebration of God’s people and that of a new order as introduced by the Lamb that was slain on behalf of God’s people for their redemption.

This is why ‘no man could learn that song.’

It is truly a known fact that a song is an expression of the heart. It is a revelation of that which is quickened to us by the Spirit. By this I mean as we are inspired by the Spirit indwelling in us to speak forth the praise and glory of God as we consider His goodness, mercies, deliverance, etc., on our behalf and towards us, it is the unveiling of that which we know in our minds and we are beholding in the presence of the Lord.

It is a NEW SONG because it is a song from the heart of the new creation man. “…He that is in Christ is a new creature,” 2Cor. 5:17. This is no longer the concept and influence of Adam. For he is dead with all its principles and forces of life. Joy is rising within the true temple of God, which you are, as you can meditate on the works of Christ as the glow of His glory shines forth on the faces of His redeemed from the shackles of Adam.

Therefore, singing has become the universal expression of love, the right voice for reverent adoration of our Saviour Jesus. For mourning, sorrows and tears are over. Why? Because God Himself is taking residence in His people by the Spirit (Eph. 2:20-22).

To be continued…