The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 308

the heavenly J erUPalem "). The a_ppro- forty and four thousand, which were re- priaten881! of the position is seen (l) rn ita deemed from the earth; even they tliat had strength (of. the position of the beast, rising been yurchased out of the earth- (Revhied from the sea, perhaps standing on the sand, Versrnn). These only can know the song eh. xiii. 1; and of. Ps. lxxxvii. 1, 2, "His for the re11.Bon given above, The joys of foundation is in the holy mountains. The heaven and the song of victory are not fOJ' Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all those who have succumbed to the world. the dwellings of Jacob"). (2) Because Ver. 4.-These are they which were not there is ibe temple of God, in the midst of defiled with women ; for they are virgins. which is the Lamb, and there is the new '!'here is little doubt that these words e.re Jerusalem (eh. xxi. 2). (3) Zion is the new intended in a spiritual sem,e. In the Old Jerusalem, the opposite extreme to Babylon Testament the employment of the figure of (ver. 8). And with him an hundred forty adultery and fornication to denote spiritual and four thousand, having his Father's unfaithfulness is common (of. 2 Chron. xxi. Name written in their foreheads. The 11; Jer. iii. 9, etc.), St. John elsewhere reading, Tb /Jvoµ.a. a.i!Tov xa.l Tb 6voµ.a. Toii in the Apocalypse makes use of the same na...pbs a.ilToii, his Name and his Father', symbolism (cf. oh, ii, 20, "That woman Jeze- Name, adopted in the Revised Version, is bel, which calleth herself a propheteBB, to supported by ~. A, B, C, with most cursives, teach and to seduce my servant!J to commit versions, and Fathers. Note the similarity fornication,and to eat things sacrificed unto to the description in oh. vii. Here, as there, idols; " also eh. xvii. 5, 6). Similarly, also. the hundred and forty-four thousand are St. John pictures the faithful Church as the those "redeemed from the earth" (ver. 3), bride adorned for her Husband tbe Lamb The number denotes a large and perfect (eh. xix. 7, 8). So also St. Paul (2 Cor. xi. number; a multitude of which the total is 2), "I espoused you· as a chaste virgin to complete (see on eh. vii. 4). In oh. vii. the one Husband, Christ." Oa.p6lvo,, '' virgins," sealing in the forehead is described. This is a word equally applicable to men or sign marks out the redeemed in contra.- women. Thie verse, therefore, seems to distinction to those who have received the describe those who are free from spiritual mark of the beast (eh. xiii. 16). impurity and unfaithfulness ; those who Ver. 2.-And I heard a voice from heaven, have not worshipped the beast and his 88 the voice of many waters, and as the image. Alford, however, thinks the words voice of a great thunder. Evidently the should be undcl'iltood literally. These are song of the heavenly inhabitants, as de- they which follow the Lamb whithe:rsoever scribed also in eh. vii. 9-11, where we are he goeth. These words deseribe the great told they "cried with a loud voice." The source of the bliss of the redeemed, viz. greatness of the voiee is eviJence of the that they are continually in the presence of vastneS11 of the number. "Heaven," from Christ. 'l'his is their reward for followin!f which the sounds come, includes the" Mount him on earth; but the words--.muet not be Zion" of ver. l, on vhich the Lamb and his taken as referring to the earthly course of followers stand. And I heard the voice of the saints (as Bengel, De Wette, Hengsten- harpers harping with their harps, The berg, and others). These were redeemed Rerised Version is better, and the 11oiC6 from among men, being the flrstfruits unto which I heard [was] as [the voice] of harpen God and to the Lamb ; theBe wer8 purchased harping with their harps. 'fhis reading is from among men,thefi11tjroitstmw God and supported by II(, A, B, C, and other good unw the Lamb. Some have erronoously authorities. .As the voice; that is, in regard concluded that a reference is made to a to its pbisantness; reminding the hearer portion of the redeemed to whom special of the temple-worship. (On the word honour is conceded; or to some who attain "harp," see on oh. v. 8.) to glory before the rest. The firstjruiu were Ver. 3.-And they sung 88 it weu a new the beat of their kind (Numb. xviii. 12), song before the throne, and before the four selected from the rest, and consecrated to beasts, and the elders. · They sing; that is to the service uf God. So the redeemed aze say, the heavenly inhabitants. The four the best of their kind; they who have proved living beings ; viz. those of oh. iv. 9, where themselves faithful to God, who voluntarily see an explanation of the positions occupied, separated themselves from the world, and and· of the nature and signification of the consecrated themselves to the service of " Ii ving beings and the elders." The " new God while in the world, and who are thus 10ng," which can only be understood by the afterwards separated by him and consecrated hundred and forty.four thousand, i8 (as to his service for ever. explaiued by Ter. 4) a song of victory won Ver. 5.-And in their mouth wa, found by those who have been tried in thtJ world no guile; no lie (Revised Version). They and subjected to temptations. And no man had not suffered themselves by self-tleceit •ould learn that song but the hundred and (the second beW:Jt) to. be beguillld into wo,. 318 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. [cH. nv. l-20,