First Fruits Analysis - Rumor notes 127

 

Revelation 14

3 They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

the first fruits to God and to the Lamb

First fruits imply there is a harvest beginning due to the ripening process, and that the rest will be of a similar nature. This is symbolic of spiritual realities laid out in the economy of the Old Testament system given by God to His people Israel to be observed and understood. It can be easy to imagine the symbols are more important than the realities they were designed to represent. Let's review what this harvest is actually about, what needs ripening, the nature of the fruit that needs harvesting as well as who is assigned to do the harvesting. Instead of obsessing over whether or not we are supposed to perpetuate symbolic rituals given to God's people in the past, what is important is for us to experience in our own lives what might be gleaned through a closer examination of these symbols in relation to what may need to be ripened in our lives now.

Later in this chapter we will learn about two different harvests that will happen, for being harvested is unavoidable. The first harvest has the hallmarks of being carried out by the Hero of this book who is followed by this group of people we are learning about here. The second harvest appears to be related to those who are left when the first harvest is completed. We will look at this much close when we study these two harvests, what makes them different and even what is meant by being harvested. For now it is useful to have this context perspective as a backdrop to help make sense out of what this first fruits metaphor entails.

I heard the voice from heaven saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them." I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!" He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:13-16)

This harvest of souls in my opinion is already beginning. It is crucial we understand how our choices affect which harvest we will experience and in what way we are to participate in God's desire for us to be part of the first harvest rather than the last.

Let's take a look at this symbol of first fruits to find what the context might reveal about what God considers important as to the kind of fruit He wants to harvest. Keep in mind that all these things are recorded for our instruction and relate directly to our spiritual condition that shapes our own future in very real ways.

But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?" (1 Peter 4:16-18)

The fruits being examined here have to do with the condition of our character, not literal food. This is why it is so important to not get so distracted by symbols that they eclipse the substance of what the symbols are meant to instruct us as to the condition of our spirit, the way we think, what defines how we react in various situations, provocations and encounters with others around us, particularly during times of intense crisis. In other words, because we are human reflectors by design, what source are we fixating on, what internal picture of God determines our disposition witnessed by others coming out of our spirit mirror in our interactions with them?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8-10)

This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

These verses make it quite clear that the fruit involved in these harvests have to do with the nature of our spirit, not merely our profession or traditions or opinions or even our behavior. Our actions however will reflect what we believe deep in our heart about the Source of our design for life, for it is impossible not to image – to act out – whatever our gut-level feelings are about the God we believe is in charge of our lives. Thus the maturing of the fruit reveals more and more clearly the nature of the seed that has been allowed to take root in the soil of our imagination until it becomes a permanent part of our character that will be harvested.

He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?' "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?' "But he said, 'No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (Matthew 13:24-30)

Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field." He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:36-43)

This parable makes it very clear there are two distinctly different harvests but they are both conducted at the same time. It is the nature of the seed put into the ground that determines the destiny of the plants producing the fruit. It is also made clear here that it is the job of angels to do the reaping and sorting, not the job of the servants working in the field. The servants here clearly were not commissioned to do the reaping but to simply follow the instructions of the owner of the farm.

Let's go back and see what we might learn about the nature of the spiritual seed the Owner originally planted that would produce the kind of fruit He wants harvest.

Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the alien may be refreshed. [The Sabbath rest is not merely one day a week we are to cease our work on, but far more importantly it is about our perception and disposition towards God in our spirit. This is clarified more in Hebrews 3-4. This Sabbath rest is really about ceasing to try to change God's mind about us and instead, choosing to rest in complete confidence of His good will towards us like the angels announced at the birth of His Son. This will produce the fruit of peace, gentleness and faith in place of striving in fear that we are not good enough for God to love us or be willing to save us. This rest is to refresh not only us but those around us to are influenced by our spirit and the ways we interact with them as it says here.]

Be careful to do all things that I have said to you; and don't invoke the name of other gods, neither let them be heard out of your mouth. [God's instructions are not demands with implied threats lurking behind them. Rather God's words and instructions to us are descriptions of how we are designed to live in harmony with the principles of life and love in His great circuit that provides power and in which all our needs will be supplied. All other versions of God will enslave us, darken our hearts with fear and distort our thinking causing us to malfunction as humans. Jesus said that what comes out of our mouth originates in our heart. But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man. (Matthew 15:18-20) Our imagination is synonymous with faith, so what circulates in our imagination needs to be our focus, for whatever circulates in our imagination affects our thinking, our heart condition and results in what comes out of our mouth. The fruit observed in our words and actions is what comes out of us, in contrast to food which goes the other direction, into our mouth and into our stomach. There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. (Mark 7:15)]

You shall observe a feast to me three times a year. [Three is a key number in Scripture associated with God. This is one reason I believe the Godhead is composed of three entities that are united as one, yet individual enough to circulate agape love which requires a minimum of three to function.]

You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib (for in it you came out from Egypt), and no one shall appear before me empty. [This first celebration in God's presence represented the very first human to fully mature Spirit fruit into a complete reflection of God's likeness. The Son of God became also the Son of Man in order to recapture the position of representative of humanity, removing it from the usurper who had stolen it from Adam. Unleavened bread symbolizes that this Son of Man was untainted by any distrust of God or resistance to living in harmony with the principles that govern all creation, the principles of agape love. This principle of other-centered love is the core principle encompassing all others, which is why it is noted here that no one shall appear in the presence of Yahweh empty. This is not a command with an implied threat of punishment for noncompliance, but rather a reality check that to participate in God's design we must align with the principle of living outward-focused instead of always seeking what we can get for ourselves.]

And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you sow in the field: [This is the second celebration time to enjoy in God's presence and represents what we are studying here in Revelation 14 in reference to the 144,000 who are identified as first fruits similar to the first fruit which was Christ.]

and the feast of harvest, at the end of the year, when you gather in your labors out of the field. [This third celebration involves the concluding harvest of all who have allowed God to reproduce His likeness in their lives by allowing His Spirit to reshape and reform them so their reflection is only of His light with no darkness at all just like Jesus. This corresponds to the great multitude mentioned toward the end of chapter 7 that follows the first part introducing the 144,000 first fruits.]

Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord Yahweh.

You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread, neither shall the fat of my feast remain all night until the morning. [Leaven usually represents sin because of the way it quickly infiltrates bread dough and causes it to swell up through the process of fermentation. This parallels the action of decomposition that would occur should the fat from sacrificed animals be allowed to sit out all night unprotected by refrigeration or dehydration. This symbolizes the importance of living in relationship to God and reminds us that if we want to be part of this harvest, we must be willing to be cleansed of all distrust of God and the spirit of rebellion and not allow anything that would cause infection or fermentation of our spirit like bitterness to remain to take root in our heart.]

Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; (Hebrews 12:14-15)

For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. (Ephesians 4:21-27 NRSV)

The blood along with the unleavened bread represents the very first fruit which was Christ.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)]

The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk. [This goes back to reference again the second celebration, reminding us to bring the fruit of our lives into the presence of Yahweh our God where we can see more clearly the nature of the fruit growing within our own spirit.

But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God. (John 3:21)

For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:4-5 NRSV)]

Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don't provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him. But if you indeed listen to his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries. For my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I will cut them off. [Notice the emphasis here. Yahweh says He will accomplish the evacuation to clean out the obstacles in the land, and will work through His chosen messenger to communicate instructions that need to be listened to and cooperated with. The one referred to as the angel of the Lord in their time was in the cloud that led them all through the wilderness every day. He was also represented as a rock that supplied them with water. Paul indicates this was in fact, the same entity that centuries later came to be known as the human Jesus Christ.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall. No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 11-14)

...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputes, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:12-15)]

You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them and demolish their pillars. You shall serve Yahweh your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from your midst. No one will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days. [To bow involves worship, choosing a source to admire, to be in awe of, to define who we are, our identity and purpose and model to us how we will act like. We are surrounded by gods promising pleasure, peace, comfort or power. We are warned to not become contaminated by any of them or be sucked into being their slaves (addicts) or infected by their ways of living and thinking. We are to demolish their symbols in our lives to reduce the power of their temptations to allure us away from total loyalty to the God who created us for His love alone. As we choose to remain loyal to Him, the results is blessings inherently released by our cooperation with the principles that govern life and are designed to amplify our joy and peace.]

I will send my terror before you, and will confuse all the people to whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. I will send the hornet before you, which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the animals of the field multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and inherit the land. [Keep in mind that what is being described here as promises made in relation to the physical land Israel was to inherit from God, symbolize the conquering and cleanup of our own internal landscape filled with triggers, wounds, resistance to love and all sorts of strongholds that resist truth and grace and a true knowledge of God.

For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

What is meant or symbolized by God sending hornets to drive out enemies? Why would God send terror and confusion to people?

Here are promises that if we will trust in His power to care for us, instead of us attempting to get our act together by cleaning up our own lives through battles involving force, shame, fear or any other technique of the enemy, God promises to accomplish the victory in our hearts and lives through means provided by heaven, even though it will require time to bring this victory inside of us to full conclusion. But when we cooperate with God and allow His beauty to be reflecting increasingly through us, the resistance we will encounter will be because what is happening in our hearts is seen as a terror to those who prefer selfishness, pride and lust to define their lives.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. (John 3:19-20)

This was God's original plan presented to His people before they ever approached the land of Canaan. They were never to think they had to fight their own way into like all the other nations do. They were to trust in God's provisions, protection and rely on His methods and motives alone. Had they done this history would have been dramatically different. Yet we today have the opportunity to choose a different path so that God's name can be glorified more clearly from how they related to Him.]

I will set your border from the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. [Again, the emphasis here is that Yahweh is the one who accomplishes what needs to happen to bring to completion the preparation of the ground of our heart so it can produce a harvest of fruit corresponding to the Spirit He has implanted within us. He is the one who knows how to place borders around our heart and mind to protect us from infection by enemies of our soul and spirit.

Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country. (Matthew 21:33)

Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (Job 1:9-10)

If God planned to drive out the enemies ahead of them, why did He say here they were to drive them out? They were to participate by learning how to join with God by practicing His ways of expelling evil so they could learn to know His heart instead of relying on their own distorted perspective of how to defeat enemies. The story of Jehoshaphat is a prime example of how they could have taken over the land of Canaan that would have brought true glory to God's reputation far better than all the violence they ended up using in the name of God.]

You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you." [This is a clear warning against any compromise when it comes to other sources of life, love, truth and provision for our spiritual life. To allow ourselves to indulge in ways that violate our relationship with the true God who created us is to invite invasion of dark spirits that will entangle us again with the very sins and weaknesses God is seeking to liberate us from. These covenant bonds turn into chains that enslave us, not contracts that will benefit us as they falsely present themselves to be.

Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness? What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people." Therefore, "'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) This separation is not cumbersome to true children but rather liberation from the lies and darkness and fears that are suffocating life out of us and that destroy our very capacity to enjoy living in the light of the presence of love's power.

This entire passage is a description of the liberation of our hearts, minds, bodies and spirit from all the evil and darkness and misapprehensions about God that hold us in bondage to sin through distrust of God's heart. Salvation involves God's plan to liberate our land over time so that our condition of mind and spirit can be realigned to function and thrive in close alliance with His love and not experience torment in His presence. (Exodus 23:12-33)

This process symbolized by the cleansing of the land by means God promised to provide if His people would have only trusted and cooperated with Him, is the same means that will cleanse our hearts so that the seed of God can thrive within the protection He puts in place. What is needed today is belief and trust to allow God to fight our battles instead of taking things into our own hands as they too often did.

Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother. For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; (1 John 3:9-11)

The group we have been looking at here in Revelation 14 are identified as those who are the earliest to mature their characters to full completion to reflect the image of God. They are first fruits, meaning that the rest of this harvest will be more extensive, yet will have similar attributes to what are found in the first part of the harvest. This is what I believe is inferred in chapter 7 where this group called 144,000 is first introduced. They are the first fruits sealed in the character of the Lamb they follow because they have allowed God to cultivate His seed of truth and love in them until their lives reflect the same glory of God's heart just as Jesus did who is the very first fruit of all. Then following the presentation of the first fruits at the beginning of the harvest, the rest of the harvest is represented in chapter 7 as a great multitude that no one could number.

The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, shall be for the priest: you shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. (Ezekiel 44:30)

For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:22-23)

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)

Recovered Virginity - Rumor notes 126

 Revelation 14

3 They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

those who were not defiled with women

Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality." He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. (Revelation 17:1-6)

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit of it, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)

To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:17)

Sarai said to Abram, "See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her." Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. Sarai said to Abram, "This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you." (Genesis 16:2-5)

These last two passages involve problems created by men listening more to the suggestions of their wives than paying attention to what God had said. Many try to use this to prop up support for male domination, but that is not the point of these stories. Rather it is about following feelings more than trusting in the word of God without knowing all the answers ahead of time. The result of these choices was defilement, something we would do well to unpack as to is real meaning instead of our gut-level reaction that often leads to misapplication and misinterpretations. Defilement is similar to impurity, which means something or someone is outside defined boundaries for containment.

This is taken from Strong's definition of the word impurity in the Hebrew: to be foul, especially in a ceremonial or moral sense (contaminated): defile (self), pollute (self), be or make unclean.

Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God. (Leviticus 19:31)

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. (1 Chronicles 5:1)

Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds. (Psalms 106:37-39)

You have despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths. Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood; and in you they have eaten on the mountains: in the midst of you they have committed lewdness. In you have they uncovered their fathers' nakedness; in you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity. One has committed abomination with his neighbor's wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in you has humbled his sister, his father's daughter. In you have they taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me, says the Lord Yahweh. (Ezekiel 22:8-12)

He said to me, Son of man, this is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. The house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their prostitution, and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places; in their setting of their threshold by my threshold, and their doorpost beside my doorpost, and there was but the wall between me and them; and they have defiled my holy name by their abominations which they have committed: therefore I have consumed them in my anger. (Ezekiel 43:7-8)

He said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Mark 7:20-23)

To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. (Titus 1:15)

Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat meat. For I didn't speak to your fathers, nor command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: but this thing I commanded them, saying, Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk you in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you. But they didn't listen nor turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: yet they didn't listen to me, nor inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff: they did worse than their fathers. You shall speak all these words to them; but they will not listen to you: you shall also call to them; but they will not answer you. You shall tell them, This is the nation that has not listened to the voice of Yahweh their God, nor received instruction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. Cut off your hair, Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; for Yahweh has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath. For the children of Judah have done that which is evil in my sight, says Yahweh: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it. (Jeremiah 7:21-30)

they are virgins

It is important to understand the meaning of this word to avoid confusion about its symbolism in this context. In the Hebrew this word comes from a root word meaning to separate, and it can also mean a bride. In the Greek it means a maiden or an unmarried daughter. In prophecy a woman very often represents the spiritual condition of a group of people. God's chosen people throughout history have been referred to as His bride or wife. When they went after other gods, meaning they sought out satisfaction, identity, protection and provision from other sources instead of trusting wholly in the God who had chosen them to be His people, they were called an adulterer playing the whore.

Previously in Revelation 12 we examined a symbolic woman clothed with the sun standing on the moon with stars around her head that represented the body of early believers whose devotion to Jesus launched the Christian movement. She was threatened by the great dragon and fled into the wilderness for protection. Later we will find another symbolic description of a woman in the wilderness, only this time her condition is clearly that of not just an adulterer but is called the Mother of all Whores and a determined enemy to all who cling to their loyalty to heaven. The inference seems clear that this is likely the same woman who morphed into quite the opposite of her condition when she first went into the wilderness, not unlike the history of Israel transforming into what God called whores worse than even the pagans around them.

This virginity is not about physical sex or abstinence from sex but rather the nature of devotion and loyalty of the heart in relation to who is relied on to define who we are and what God we reflect. The 144,000 represent a group of people in the end who are so transformed by beholding and following the Lamb obsessively that they become His groupies, intimate with Him alone, transformed to think and act and love even their enemies just as He loved with a tenacity stronger than death.

This is what separates them from all others claiming to believe in God but who cling to mixed views of Him as being more like the beast and the dragon rather than only like the pure reflection seen in the life of the Lamb. This is the nature of their virginity, for it is a spiritual virginity, a condition of the purified heart that is sanctified, set apart by devotion aroused from dwelling on the revelation of glory seen in the Lamb until they become transformed into that same image from glory to glory. This is what constitutes the preparation of their hearts and lives to become the final bride ready for marriage to the Lamb. Their hearts and the outward fruit of the indwelling Spirit within them is matured to the point of being in full alignment with the same fruit witnessed in the life of Christ when His character as a human was perfected while on earth. They have come into full agreement with the disposition and perspective of the Lamb's heart in full sympathy with God's heart. This is what elicits the fruit of righteousness in their lives, the result of freely receiving and soaking in the love coming from the Lamb in order to freely give it to all around them.

Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready." It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7-8)

Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you. (Psalms 45:13-14)

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine. Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, therefore the virgins love you. (Song of Solomon 1:2-3)

Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (Matthew 25:1-4)

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2)

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

who follow the Lamb wherever he goes

Following a literal lamb would be extremely difficult as it is not a leader and never attempts to get others to follow it. A lamb represents attributes of gentleness, humility and sweetness, and this symbol is intentionally in contrast to the intimidating and forceful characteristics of the beast compelling all the world to wonder after and worship it, just as does the second beast and its image who all reflect the dragon who is behind all of them, relying on coercive control to maintain their power over all who dwell on the earth.

Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)

Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7:15-17)

These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful." (Revelation 17:14)

The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. (Revelation 19:14)

A curious thought occurred to me while exploring this. Might it be possible that the cloud that the Children of Israel followed in the desert may have at times had an appearance like a woolly lamb?

Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn't depart from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)

On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony: and at evening it was over the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped. At the commandment of Yahweh, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of Yahweh they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped. When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of Yahweh, and didn't travel. Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Yahweh they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Yahweh they traveled. Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled: or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn't travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. At the commandment of Yahweh they encamped, and at the commandment of Yahweh they traveled. They kept the charge of Yahweh, at the commandment of Yahweh by Moses. (Numbers 9:15-23)

Notice how Yahweh's commands were conveyed, not verbally but through observation of the cloud.

Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt, and had committed awful blasphemies; yet you in your manifold mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud didn't depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. (Nehemiah 9:18-19)

A scribe came, and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Matthew 8:19-20)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28)

As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God."

Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:57-62)

She said, Behold, your sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and to her god: return you after your sister-in-law. Ruth said, "Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me." When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her. (Ruth 1:15-18)

This is the kind of tenacity needed to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, regardless of the cost of suffering, shame or persecution or the level of enticements of potential glory. Following the Lamb has to become an obsession of a heart connection that is at last liberated from all motives of fear or desire for honor or advantage. This is what it looks like to be drawn by cords of love.

Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. (John 1:35-39)

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:27-30)

Peter said to him, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won't crow until you have denied me three times. (John 13:37-38)

So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15)

redeemed by Jesus from among men

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, (Revelation 5:9)

Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance; Mount Zion, in which you have lived. (Psalms 74:2)

Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel. (Isaiah 44:23)

Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:27-28)

But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)

giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; (Colossians 1:12-14)

looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:13-14)

knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ; (1 Peter 1:18-19)

How does the blood of the Lamb redeem us? What is the true meaning of His blood? Pay close attention to what we are redeemed from as well as what we are redeemed to.

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

New Song, Location and Capacity - Rumor Notes 125

 

Revelation 14

3 They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth.

before the throne

John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; (Revelation 1:4)

Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. (Revelation 4:5-6)

the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!" (Revelation 4:10-11)

All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God, (Revelation 7:11)

One of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?" I told him, "My lord, you know." He said to me, "These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb's blood. Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. (Revelation 7:13-15)

Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. (Revelation 8:3)

I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)

before the four living creatures and the elders

Keep in mind that these locations being listed, before the throne, before the creatures and elders, set the atmosphere for what is transpiring here. A New Song is being sung, one that no one else can learn, not because it is impossible to memorize, but rather because it is unique to the experience of people who have been transcended beyond the narrow, dark opinions about what God is like, that are promoted by those who view Him as being like the beast and the dragon.

But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. (John 3:21 NRSV)

In other words, they face the origin of light directly so the truth about its Source becomes unavoidably clear to everyone by its reflection in their lives.

To explore more about what these creatures and elders represent, review what we studied in chapter 4 where they are first introduced.

No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)

The question here is, why can no one else learn this song? What is it about this song that makes it impossible to learn except those who make up the 144,000?

One reason is that it is not referring to music composed of tones and lyrics like we think of music. This is about a unique, deeply intimate, internal emotional and spiritual experience in lives that reflect God's glory, particularly in the midst of wicked and perverse contexts.

So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputes, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, holding up the word of life.... (Philippians 2:12-16)

Those who continue to resist allowing God full access to cure their hearts of selfishness and dark notions about God, who cling to staying in control of their lives, cannot have this New Song experience. They fail to enter into the rest of believing that God's heart is worthy of their trust. Their hearts are locked and do not reflect the beauty praised in this Song, for it only experienced by those who have embraced their New Name, their true identity implanted in them by Jesus.

Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard. For we who have believed do enter into that rest.... (Hebrews 4:1-3)

The New Song is learned through daily, intentional resting and soaking and absorbing the love of the Father directly through exposure to His presence in the secret place. I like to refer to this as marinating, for that conveys how the flavor and essence of something can come to completely saturate my entire experience. By marinating in the presence of pure love, choosing to believe it is not only true but meant personally for me, and that the Lover is worthy of all my trust and affection and the Source is completely reliable, my life can be transformed through the renewing of my mind and heart until like Jesus who first fully reflected that same love, when people see me and feel the influence of my spirit saturated with God's Spirit, they only see and experience the love of the Father for them reflected through me.

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." (Psalms 91:1-2 NRSV)

This New Song is tightly linked to the truth about our identity as found in Jesus Christ, the new and everlasting Father of the human race, who alone has received full authority to define who we are and what it looks like to act like ourselves. This New Song is experienced and expressed as a result of opening the heart to the same glory of the Father that was mirrored by the Son of Man. He is the one who brings to us the authentic truth about God's heart, and He lived it out in the midst of His own perverse and crooked generation. This is the example He has given for us to follow.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it. (John 1:4-5)

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light..... (John 12:36)

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The theme being described here is developed throughout this book. It is the refining of a group of people who are matured into the likeness of the Son of God until their reflection of God's character comes to completely reflect the same as witnessed in the life of Christ. Yet they do so, not by striving to keep God's rules or trusting in external merits from somewhere to supplement their own merits to earn God's favor. No, these ones reflect the truth about God in their lives because they take seriously the words and example of Jesus who shows us how to live as human reflectors of God as we were created to do – through saturation of our mind, heart and imagination with the glory of God so much that we are transformed into the same image as was reflected by His Son. This will become even more clear in our study in the next chapter.

Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and speak to him, saying, 'Thus says Yahweh of Armies, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Yahweh; even he shall build the temple of Yahweh; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:11-13)

So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

...no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:1-5)

You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 1 John (2 Peter 3:17-18)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: (1 Peter 2:9)

This last verse zeroes in on the very essence of what this New Song is all about. It is the testimony of people in both words and how they relate to others, of the power of God's love to so transform sinners into passionate lovers of God that their witness cannot be controverted, for it is obvious they have been with Jesus.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

What must be developed in order for final events to be brought to a close at the second coming of Christ, is a faithful witness of God's character through human exhibition on earth, a witness so clear that all the wiles of the enemy become exposed in the light of the true glory of God, reflected in the lives of those remaining loyal and faithful to the Lamb who is their hero, idol and trusted Savior.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God." (John 3:19-21)

(An excellent resource for exploring this secret place experience is a book titled The Path of Prayer.)

What we are studying here is the beginning of a linear description extending to the end of chapter 16 where we discover a pinnacle of intensity as God's reflected glory is released through this group of people. This activity finally cracks the very foundation of the entire empire of evil. From there on we watch the spectacular collapse of Satan's whole system as the complicated matrix of his kingdom crumbles to the earth from the sheer weight of its own internal corruption. But keep in mind that the only weapons relied on by these Lamb-followers are intercessions and praises to God through the songs of their own lives reflective of the same glory as seen in the testimony of the Lamb.

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

It is the power inherent in this glory and released through the prayers and praises of the special ops forces of the Lamb – their revelations of the truth about what God is really like, His disposition, His character of love, the truth that there is no darkness in Him whatsoever – it is this power alone that will effectively disarm all the powers of darkness, evil, deception and wickedness. Force has no place in God's kingdom of love, but a revelation of the truth of God's goodness, kindness, graciousness and willing humility re-presented in the lives of those fully united and synchronized with His passionate heart of love and forgiveness, is more than a match to defeat all the slander, lies and accusations brought against Him by the accuser of the brethren, all the demons of hell or any other agent of evil.

those who had been redeemed out of the earth

They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; (Revelation 5:9 NRSV)

Here the New Song is directly linked with the redemption of all who are willing to be transformed by the revelation of truth from God's heart as most explicitly revealed in the evidence of the blood of the slaughtered Lamb of God. This blood must be unlinked from any notion of appeasing an offended deity who is bent on punishing offenders unless payment sufficiently valuable purchases his willingness to forgive. That is pure paganism and blasphemy against our loving Father in whom is no shadow or hint of darkness. This redemption/ransom was not paid to God but was paid by God, and that is a huge paradigm shift for many. Yet those who learn this New Song appreciate this, so their lives glow with gratitude, joy, thanksgiving and praise as they intercede with prayers for the salvation of their enemies. This is true power, and this disposition can be found in its pure form in the testimony of the Lamb-followers who reflect how the Lamb related to His enemies while they unleashed all hell against Him after He came to live on this world the first time.

But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:13-19)

For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh. Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice: a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have dealt corruptly with him, they are not his children, it is their blemish. They are a perverse and crooked generation. Do you thus requite Yahweh, foolish people and unwise? Isn't he your father who has bought you? He has made you, and established you. (Deuteronomy 32:3-6)

The New Song runs like a hidden river all throughout history, though very often blurred in the witness of those chosen by God to reveal Him to the world. This New Song amplifies the truth about God's character of love, His name absorbed internally rather than superficially. Notice this does not mention anything about God being offended by our foolishness, but how we are foolish in how we respond to God despite His goodness, faithfulness, greatness and having been purchased by Him.

But Jesus summoned them, and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28)

This ransom payment comes from God, not something paid to God. God so loved that He gave His beloved Son to save us. Anything less than this perspective is a terrible insult to His reputation.

But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)

Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Making God's salvation and the truth about His character of love preeminent in our priorities is the essence of this New Song. Choosing to saturate our imagination with praise and gratitude for God's goodness and faithfulness is the most powerful antidote to worry, fear and anxiety. It arouses trust and peace in us by re-framing our perspective, making problems opportunities for God to display His glory in our lives rather than rehearsing doubts that only increase our unbelief.

He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

The real truth about this ransom paid by God is the incentive for the redeemed to glorify their Father both in body and in spirit. We need to be aware of what it means to glorify God, for this is what the New Song is about. It is combining petitions and praises that transforms our perspective of how completely God loves and cares for us. This is how we follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:9-15)

looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:13-14)

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

Sin at its core is distrust of God's motives towards us, believing God is a mixture of light and dark, using love and fear to manipulate us. When the true gospel conveyed through the evidence of the blood of Jesus Christ who reveals the true heart of the Father that sent Him to reveal this, becomes clear in our hearts, that truth sets us free to love with His love, trust God with the faith of Jesus and this is how we are cleansed from all distrust – sin. This is how we are reconciled to God – coming to agree with and embrace God's passionate love for us. This is the true meaning of atonement – not appeasement but being brought into oneness with our Father, at-one-ment by believing His reflection as witnessed by His Son. This is the true meaning and purpose for the blood of the Lamb.

My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)