“… they follow the Lamb …”
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 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. 3 And 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. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
(Revelation 14:1-5; NIV. Please read Revelation 14.)
Do not let the number concern you … in fact, if you really knew what the number meant – it would reassure you.
Read the description of those who are standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Did you notice that they were “purchased” for the Lamb? Have you read that before?
If you have been reading with us for very long at all … you read about the Church being “purchased” by the blood of Jesus in Acts 20 and Ephesians 1. There are other places to confirm it … but the truth is: If you have been bought with the blood of Jesus … then you are among those standing with Him as He prepares to face the enemies of God. We have but one responsibility … “follow the Lamb wherever He goes”.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Those standing with Jesus are described as “pure” … “without blemish”. I can make no claim on my own to have such qualities … but because of Jesus, I will stand with Him and before the Father just that way. (Check out: Colossians 1 and Jude 24.)
November 12, 2008 at 9:58 am
I love that they are singing a new song. They are the only ones that can learn it. I like to believe that there’s a song that we will be able to sing once we are with God that we cannot even have words for right now. It’s like that song, “I can only imagine” … we have no idea what it will be like. Once we get there and stand by Him, with Him. Our hearts will be filled with words that will come from a different perspective. We will not have that shadow of fear, worry, doubt, or shame. We will not have to wonder anymore, or speculate about things. I can sing about things I hope for, but I can’t sing about what IS until it really IS. I can’t wait to learn that new song.
I also love the idea of following Him wherever He goes. And not just following His example or trying to be like Him … but actually standing with Him following Him. To actually be in His presence is so far beyond my comprehension … I can’t wait to change that. To have that be my daily experience … my only memory.
And the fact that I have a chance to learn the song and follow the Lamb is all because of Jesus. My words of thank you can never be enough, never express it right … I want my life to show it. I must do better at showing Him instead of just talking about it.
Thanks for these words today Rex … I needed this encouragement.
November 12, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I was encouraged by v.12-14 where it talks about those who obey God and remain faithful to Jesus. Those of us who die in the Lord will rest from the toil of this life. Rest sounds so good to me…..even more so when I am resting in the presence of the one who purchased me. I can’t imagine anything more inviting!
November 12, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Can you imagine singing from such a crowd? Would it be like a roar of rushing waters and a loud peal of thunder? Wouldn’t the sound of all of the people that belong to the Lamb singing be just so amazing?? The thought makes my heart swell.
The thought that I appear blameless before God and the Lamb is very humbling. I have a hard time believing it because I know what I’ve done and I know how I am. I know my thoughts and my failings and my weaknesses. But when God looks at me, He sees His Son, for we are clothed with Christ are we not? And the Son is blameless and pure.
Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice that makes it possible for me to have hope for eternity. I so want to live worthy.