From sight to sound, the lamb to a song
2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:2-3–ESV)
So the word voice here can also be translated sound or a noise, and I think that better fits these notices John made. Part of the arrival of Jesus Christ to the 144,000 who were being protected from Satan and his machinations was sound. The sound was from heaven tying the great events of God’s sphere to the great events of man’s sphere together. God made man’s sphere and he was infusing it with the pure sounds of heaven.
It would seem as if a concert that had begun in heaven was beginning to spill across the expanse of the heavens. From God’s domain to man’s domain sounds were coming. The Lamb had come and now the great noise, great music, and eventually his great song will pass through the veil that has separated man from God.
Do you think the rest of the world could hear what John did? I think that the world could some even trying to learn the song that was heard (next section). The great sound probably worked to cause eyes to turn, awareness to be drawn again to what the world would consider a sore spot. Maybe the “problem of the 144,000” had come to a point where it was less prominent on a day in day out basis, but like a sore tooth or worrisome lump in your body somewhere was never too far from the conscience.
When the Lamb arrived on earth, the same lamb the great and small had called the rocks to cover them trouble flared anew for the followers, worshipers of the Dragon and Beast One. Thunder and loud waters vibrate the ground and music of the harps may vibrate the soul. Attention from far and wide was again drawn to Zion, God’s holy hill from which his light shines forth.
A new song
Verse 3 tells us that there was also a song. It was not just the pounding of feet like an approaching army. The sound that was heard and felt was not just like the drone of an army or a fleet of self-operating drones out to do somethings bidding. It also was accompanied by a song.
In essence what John is reporting is a concert that begins in heaven and reaches to the earth. There is singing originating in heaven, but not from the living creatures, not from the throne, nor from the elders. It must have been originating from the multitude of Christ followers who were already resting and praising in heaven. Remember that those in heaven were being derided, mocked by those on earth. Now those mocked are the source of a song. That song reaches out to earth and the 144,000 learn it.
Will that not be an amazing thing to have heaven and earth joined together in song? That day will be far greater than an eclipse for Jesus Christ, the lamb standing in Zion, will eclipse all together and a multitude from heaven to earth will join together the former teaching the later a greater way to sing praises to God on his throne and Jesus Christ the lamb.
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