THE NEW SONG IN GLORY
"And they sang a new song." Revelation 5:9
The redeeming love of Christ will be celebrated through eternity. In heaven,
redemption by Christ will be the grand theme, the sweet song of the family
of God. It is that "New Song" which all the redeemed sing in glory. It will
have no dying cadence through the revolving ages of a blessed eternity. It
will be always new; yes, when ages countless as the drops of the ocean shall
have rolled away, the song of redemption will be as new to the redeemed as
when the celestial mansions first echoed with its pealing strains.
In the house of his pilgrimage, redemption was the believer's song, and in
that house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, it will be his
sweet song through countless ages. O blessed thought! Who will not now
commence the 'new song' of redemption! Will you not chant songs to him who
died to ransom you from eternal woe? The songs of the grateful followers of
the Lamb never end. The saints will find eternal employment in praising
Christ for that precious redemption he has effected by his death. The notes
of praise to a crucified Redeemer sound through the narrow limits of time
and the rolling ages of eternity.
In heaven, Christ will be eternally admired as the Lamb that was slain for
the redemption of sinners. There he stands in the "midst of the throne" as
the Lamb of God that was once wounded, and bruised, and slain. "And I
beheld, "says John, "and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as if it had been
slain." Every eye shall see him there. Every tongue shall praise him there.
All the redeemed shall shout, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!" This will
be the theme of the New Song." This will sound the loudest through heaven–
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain." "There will be much in Jesus to admire
when we shall see him as he is. But that which will draw out the loudest
notes of the new song, will be the sight of the prints of the nails, and of
the wound in his side." (McCheyne)
There will be none brought to heaven but those who will sing eternal praises
to the Lamb for the wonders of redemption. There will be no mute tongue in
glory. All voices and all hearts shall unite in singing the New Song. When
the portals of heaven were opened to the beloved John, and the glory of the
New Jerusalem came beaming through those pearly gates, he heard the music of
Zion; and what was it but the New Song of redemption? "And they sang a new
song with these words: You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals
and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused
them to become God's kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the
earth."
We find that a mighty multitude will be congregated in glory to sing the
song of redemption; some from "every kindred, and tongue, and people."
"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and
tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before
the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands.
And they were shouting with a mighty shout, 'Salvation comes from our God on
the throne and from the Lamb!'"
What a glorious company will that be who shall eternally stand on the
celestial Mount Zion! How sweet will be their song! How rapturous their
delight! How ecstatic their joy! But reader, pause, and ask, "Am I to mingle
among that blessed host who never cease to praise God and the Lamb? Is the
new song of redemption to be my sweet song above?"
Live for eternity- live for Christ now, and you will soon join all the
redeemed family of God, in songs that will never end. With your robes washed
white in the blood of the Lamb, you shall be presented faultless before the
throne of God, to praise him who loved you and washed you from your sins in
his own blood. Then you will see your glorious Redeemer, who will always be
to you the center of heavenly attraction. How will your grateful heart burn
with seraphic love to him whose blood brought you such heavenly bliss, and
whose merits crowned you with such inconceivable glory! Your hearts will
overflow with more joy than language can express. You will then, in the
light of heaven, see that redemption by Christ is a precious work- that
rich, inestimable blessings flow from the atoning blood.
Be sure not to trample that blood underfoot now. You will never be crowned
with glory without your robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb. You
must have a saving interest in the death of Christ, before you can learn
that "new song," which, none but the redeemed sing. "This great choir sang a
wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living
beings and the twenty-four elders. And no one could learn this song except
those 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. "And they sang the song
of Moses, and the song of the Lamb.''
On the sublime vision of heavenly worship as given to John when banished to
the lonely Patmos, a writer whom we admire (Headley) has the following lofty
expressions: "The singers were those hundred and forty-four thousand, and
they sung a new song, and as they struck their harps, together thus they
sung: 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.' And with one
voice the innumerable host chanted the heavenly doxology, 'Blessing, and
honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sits on the throne, and to the
Lamb forever; and back returned the long 'Amen.' Again and again was it
taken up and echoed from rank to rank along that celestial mountain, until
it came rolling back with all the strength of archangel voices full on the
throne of God. The theme, the song was new- it was the song of Redemption.
David stood there sweeping a harp far more melodious and tuneful than the
one he swept with such a master-hand on earth. Elijah poured his soul of
fire into it. Isaiah gave it a loftier echo. The martyrs, those witnesses
for the truth who had passed through the flames to their reward, furnished
new accessions to its strength; for all the ransomed of the Lord were there.
Aaron went up there from the top of Mount Horeb, and Moses from Pisgah.
Elijah's chariot of fire never stopped until its burning wheels rested on
that heavenly mount, and there Christ ascended from the hill of Olives. Thus
the redeemed have flocked one after another to the Mount of God, and there
they shall continue together until the glorious assembly stands complete,
and God is all and in all."
How will the arches of heaven resound with that "new song" when all the
redeemed are gathered home by the blood of Christ!
"And what in yonder realms above,
Is ransomed man ordained to be?
With honor, holiness and love,
No seraph more adorned than he!
Nearest the throne, and first in song,
Man shall his hallelujahs raise;
While wondering angels round him throng,
And swell the chorus of his praise."
How many redeemed sinners are now before the throne, singing everlasting
songs to Him who died for them on Calvary! The redeemed are fast flocking to
their everlasting home in glory. "Those who have been ransomed by the Lord
will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and
mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness."
Prophets and apostles and martyrs, the great and good of every age and
nation, are already in Zion above, and redemption is their song! Those
immortal divines, Baxter, Bunyan, Flavel, Owen, Henry, Doddridge, Watts,
Edwards, Payson, Martyn, Chalmers, the lovely McCheyne, and the venerable
Alexander; have ascended to swell the throne, in singing "Worthy is the
Lamb!"
This song breathes on every lip in glory, and bursts from every heart there.
One song employs all the tongues of the redeemed in the mansions of bliss.
"Ten thousand, thousand are their tongues,
But all their songs are one."
Dear follower of the Lamb, we shall all shortly join with the family of God
in this "new song," in mansions of Glory. Then, lift up your head with joy;
"for your redemption draws near." The hour of glory will soon be at hand.
"Oh, glorious hour, it comes with speed!
When we, from sin and darkness freed,
Shall see the God who died for man,
And praise him more than angels can."
Life is fast hastening away. Time is swiftly flying. Eternity is at the
door. You are just on the threshold of glory– just within sight of Paradise.
The gates of the celestial city are about to open for your reception, and
your Savior is ready to pronounce that blessed invitation, "Well done, good
and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord." "Then the King will
say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take
your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the
world.'''
Does not a sight of all this glory make you long to obtain it? Then press
onward; press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus. One step more, and glory will beam upon your eye, and the joys
of heaven captivate your heart, and the music of Paradise charm your ear!
The hour will soon come when the shining mansions shall receive you, when an
exceeding and eternal weight of glory shall crown you; when you shall begin
that "new song" which you learned on earth; when redemption by Christ shall
be your unending theme.
Oh! this is heaven, where all rest in the bosom of God; where all behold the
Redeemer's face; where all are singing that wondrous "new song" which fills
heaven with joy, and eternity with undying melody, as it ascends in pealing
notes from the mansions of glory, "All praise to him who loves us and has
freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us his
kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him
everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!"
You will soon begin your everlasting song in the upper sanctuary. "Worthy is
the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honor and glory,
and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever
and ever."
"Oh, holy, holy Lord!
Whom angel hosts adore;
When shall I join in raptured strains,
The bright celestial choir?
In pity view a sinful worm,
A prisoner here below;
A pilgrim journeying through the land
Of darkness, sin and woe.
Ten thousand voices round your throne
Unite in hymns divine;
'Salvation to the Lamb!' they cry,
As high in bliss they shine.
Fain would I now begin the song,
To you my God and friend;
Then mingle with the choirs above,
In praise which ne'er shall end."