Revelation 12-15: The Fifth Facet

Week 7, Thursday: The redeemed of the Lord
While all this horror is unfolding before us on earth – strictly according to what is written in the Lamb’s book – the redeemed of the Lord pursue their Kingdom course with patient endurance.

Read Revelation 14

Meditate on Revelation 14.1-5
1.      How do we know that this part of John’s vision takes place “on earth”? What does Mt. Zion stand for here (cf. Heb. 12.18-23)? How can we see that there is a strong unity between these people on earth and those in heaven?

2.      The “144,000” are the same we saw in Revelation 7.1-9. How would you describe their basic orientation to life? Should we expect the worship they display to affect the way they live on earth, like the “worship” given to the beast out of the sea? In what ways?

3.      Verse 4 uses a common referent – defilement with women – to describe the general moral character of the redeemed of the Lord. Why is this a particularly apt referent? The implication here – taking in also verse 5 – ties back to the description of the offspring of the woman in Revelation 12.17. More specifically, how could we describe the moral character of those who are among the redeemed of the Lord?

4.      The redeemed of the Lord sing a “new song” only they have truly learned. What do you suppose that “song” might be (think of all the songs we’ve seen thus far in Revelation)? Why are they the only ones who sing it?

5.      So, while all around them wars, economic uncertainty, environmental contamination, lawlessness, oppression, political power-mongering, and false religion abound, what are the redeemed of the Lord doing? How does this harmonize with what we learned in chapter 11?

My Reflection
What forms does that “new song” take in your life? How many different ways do you “sing” that “song”?

The Glory of God
How does it glorify God that a people such as the redeemed of the Lord should continue to exist and bear witness during such times as we see unfolding on earth around us? What role does the believer’s “song” have in making God’s glory known?

Glory to Glory
Have you ever had a song or a melody get stuck in your brain for days on end? Have you ever been deeply moved by a song or concert of people singing? Do you have a favorite hymn or song that you just never seem to tire of hearing or singing? What does this suggest about the power of song? And what does the image of a “new song” suggest about the uniqueness of the Christian life during these last days? Does your life as a believer come to the world as “new song”? In what ways?

Memorize
Recite Revelation 12.10, 11. As you recite these verses, think about how you might put them into a song, perhaps using a familiar hymn tune or praise melody. Practice singing your song throughout the day.

Closing Prayer
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised…

Psalm 96.1-4a

T. M. Moore

The book of Revelation is the culminating episode in the story of God’s covenant. To learn more about that covenant, and to discover the way it integrates all of Scripture into the Gospel of Jesus Christ, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, by clicking here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.