14:2,3
John then heard a sound from heaven. It was like the sound of rushing waters, and a loud peal of thunder, but it was also like harpists playing their harps. So the sound is both powerful and beautiful. “They sang a new song”. There are several Psalms where the Psalmist sings a new song: 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9 and 149:1. Isaiah 42:10 also speaks of singing a new song. Our God is a God of transformation. He transforms people and He transforms situations. “No-one could learn the song except ....” We need to appreciate that the world cannot understand the song of salvation, only those who have their eyes opened by the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that we retreat into hiding, but that we understand why the world often seems so blind and deaf. A person needs to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.
14:4,5
“These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins”. This is a rather strange comment, for while the Bible does commend forgoing marriage for the sake of the kingdom (Matt 19:12; 1 Cor 7:32-35), it does not forbid marriage and severely criticises those who do (1 Tim 4:1-5). Sexual immorality was rife in the world of the time (so not that much different from today!), it is possibly best to take it as figurative. Or I suppose it could be referring to those who remained virgins before marriage, which would be as unusual as it is today. Whatever the case, the key thing is that “they follow the Lamb wherever He goes”. It is our dedication to the Lamb that matters above all else. They were purchased from among mankind. We belong to Christ, for we were bought at a price (1 Cor 6:20), we are not our own! This runs counter to the way the world thinks, but it is a fact that we need to appreciate. We have been chosen to be dedicated to Christ.
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