A New Song!
                                                                                        By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                        November 7, 2017
     "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation,"  Revelation 5:9.  
Introduction
     Someone once said, "Music is the universal language of the soul."  This must be true, for all of mankind sings, whether consciously or subconsciously.  While some sing professionally before large audiences,
every one else I have ever met also sings, most quietly to themselves as they go about their work and daily activities, so that one would never suspect that they are singing.   But at one time or another, under many different circumstances of life, all, both men and women, do sing.  Perhaps a good explanation of this would be Paul's instructions to the Lord's church at Ephesus, Ephesians 5:19.   
      We expect the mother of a new born to sing to her baby cradled in her arms.  But we look at those who represent themselves as big and  tough, muscular, and loud mouthed, always boasting and bragging about their accomplishments, and we don't even expect such people to sing.  But they do!  Who do you think feeds the juke box in the restaurant or road house almost as soon as they enter the place?  And why do they do this?  Because music is ingrained in the very soul of mankind.  
     Everyone, in every situation in life, whether having given much thought to it or not, sings.  And this is what this study is about.......
The Songs of the Flesh and the World
     Fallen mankind, very early in human history, began composing songs, both to justify themselves in their fallen condition, and to encourage themselves in their wickedness.  Is it just "coincidence" that most of the songs composed and sung today are about illicit love affairs, cheating on one's spouse, triumphing over others, etc?  Yes, it is true that some songs are patriotic, composed to give honor to our country, or to our fighting men who defend our country, but such songs take second place to the bawdy songs of the road house and tavern.  Most of the sings sung by the unbelieving world today, only serve to drive mankind farther and farther away from God who created us all.   
      Yes, the Lord God Himself does take notice of what fallen mankind is singing.  Music, musical instruments, and singing are mentioned over and over again in the inspired Word, most often in a bad light.  Often the wicked would compose songs which mocked the prophets of God, and made light of the Word and righteousness of God, Job 39:9; Psalm 69:12; Isaiah 5:11-12; Lamentations 3:63.  
     I would point out that songs are composed of words, and therefore Matthew 12:36-37 applies to the songs men compose and sing.  One should be very careful about what they are singing, for there is a day of judgment coming.  Think about it!     
The Songs of the Righteous
     Just as wicked people have composed songs promoting their "life style," so true believers over the centuries have composed songs seeking to give glory to God.  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  
     I was born to Christian parents and brought up attending Sunday School and Church.  When I was a wee little fellow, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the songs that were being sung at church services.  But as I grew a little older, I began to take notice of the songs being sung by the congregation.  Songs are made up of words, and words do have power to change the lives of people for better or for worse.  As a young child, I do remember the congregation in our church singing.......

          "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for  you and for me;
          See, on the portals He's waiting and watching, Watching for you
          and for me.
          Come home, come home, Ye who are weary, come home;
          Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home."  

     As a young boy growing up, when this old hymn was sung, my mind and heart was touched by the message the song conveyed. At my young age, I wasn't yet paying much attention to the pastor's messages, but the songs being sung filled the auditorium and could hardly be ignored.  Gradually, over a period of years, under the  convicting power of the Holy Spirit of God, the songs being sung began to penetrate into my heart and mind with their messages of the Lord's saving grace.  Slowly   I came to realize my own lost condition, and my need to be saved.  But  was Jesus Christ really the Savior, and would He.....could He.....save someone like me?  Even as young as I was at the time, there were songs that kept on impressing their message upon my soul.......        

           "Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow'r?  
           Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?  
           Are you fully trusting in His grace this  hour?  
           Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"  

           "On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
           The emblem of suffering and shame,
           And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
           For a world of lost sinners was slain."  

           "Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
            Let me hide myself in Thee;
            Let the  water and the blood,
            from Thy wounded side which flowed,
           Be of sin the double cure,
           Save from wrath and make me pure."  
   
           "Would you be free from your burden of sin?
           There's power in the blood; power in the blood;
           Would you o'er evil a victory win?
           There is wonderful power in the blood."  

     In listening to these beloved old hymns year after year as a child growing up, by the time I was old enough to begin seriously listening to
the Word being preached by our pastor, I was completely convinced that salvation was in and through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and that there was no other way of salvation than through faith in the sacrifice He had made for mankind at Calvary.  Read Isaiah 53.  
     Then came that Sunday morning when I was eleven years old.  Our beloved pastor preached a great salvation message from God's Word, and as He preached I knew that Christ Jesus was speaking to me through His Word.  I knew that if I died in my lost condition, I would go straight to Hell, to be there throughout all of the eternal ages to come.  
     That morning I literally jumped out of the pew where I was sitting as our pastor gave the invitation, and ran forward to profess my faith in Christ, and receive the salvation that I knew only He could give.  Praise the Lord!  I was wonderfully and gloriously saved that morning.  
     And from that morning forward to this present day, I have been able to sing from my heart and my soul.....

          "I am Thine, O Lord;  I have heard Thy voice,
           And it told Thy love to me,
           But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
           And be closer drawn to Thee."  

     Oh, glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  Hallelujah!  I'm saved!  And now I am waiting for the time when the Lord God will give to all of His redeemed saints.....
A New Song
     Yes, the Lord Jesus Himself is going to put a "new song" into the hearts and mouths of His redeemed people, and we will sing it to His glory, and to the glory of Father God.  Such a "new song" for all true believers is mentioned ten times in the inspired Word. "10" is the number in the Bible is which signifies, "Law; the Law of God." So there is no question that we believers will be given this wonderful "new song" to sing for the glory of our Lord.   And when will we be given this "new song?"  I'm so glad you asked!   
     Notice that it is right after the rapture has occurred, and the Tribulation period has begun on the earth, that John was shown this vision of the twenty-four elders, Revelation 4:1-4.  Those who sing this "new song" are clearly identified as the "four and twenty elders," 4:8-10.   
     In this vision given to John he sees the "four and twenty elders"  sitting on twenty-four thrones around the throne of God Himself.  And in 5:9-10, the words of this "new song" explicitly state that the twenty-four elders have been made "kings and priests unto our God, and we shall reign on the earth."  Glory to God!  
     Dear readers, this is the exact same promise made to the Lord's Church and people a number of times in the New Testament, and who are to be raptured to glory at the coming of the Lord for us, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  So there is no question that  these twenty-four elders are the raptured saints, and they sing this "new song" in Heaven shortly after the rapture has occurred.  O glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  Hallelujah!
      Yes, I have heard other explanations for the identity of the twenty-four elders.  But none of the other explanations stay with the literal statements made in these Scriptures.  Let me set forth Scriptural evidence that every true believer should understand perfectly.  
     The inspired Word emphatically states that we are saved, ".....by grace through faith...," Ephesians 2:8.  "5" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "Grace; God's grace or favor."  Then "19" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "Faith; saving faith."  Now add these two numbers together, and what do you have?  5 + 19 = 24.  O glory to God!  Dear reader, if you are truly saved, then you will be in that group of "twenty four elders" who represent the raptured children of God.
The Words of the New Song
      Revelation 5:9-10 set forth a two part "new song" that the raptured saints will sing just after the rapture has occurred.  
      The first part of this "new song"  focuses praise upon the Lord Jesus Christ, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."   This "new song" then sets forth the great truth that Christ died as a sacrifice for all of Adam's fallen race, and regardless of one's race or nation, or people, or language, a person can be saved by accepting His sacrifice on their behalf, and receiving Christ by faith as their own personal Savior and Lord.  This part of the "new song" emphasizes that salvation is only through the shed blood of Christ Jesus. No one can be saved except through the blood of Christ,
     "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission,"  Hebrews 9:22.  
     The second part of the "new song" then focuses attention upon the raptured saints, "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth," 5:10.   This reveals to us that the Lord God has spent the last 2,000 years of this present dispensation creating a whole new race of people; "the sons of God,"  2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:2.   His purpose in creating this new race is to guarantee that every nation and people in His future Kingdom of Christ [Millennial Kingdom] will have one or more rulers over it, which cannot be corrupted, and will not be subject to the errors, mistakes, and outright SINS made by human rulers today.  O glory to God!
      You see, at the time of the rapture, every true believer will receive a new body, ".....fashioned like.....His glorious body, according to the working where by He is able even to subdue all things to Himself," Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2.   What a glorious future is awaiting God's redeemed people, and future mankind on the earth. Glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  Hallelujah!  Thank you Lord Jesus!  
     Can our readers even imagine a Kingdom with no wars, no crime, no hate, and the population living on the earth in righteousness and peace with one another?  Well folks, that is the Kingdom that is coming, because of our wonderful Savior.  And it will SOON be here!  
Conclusion
     If the reader is a true believer, are you ready to sing?  In the "time frame" of a repetition of  "the days of Noah," in which we are living right now, our Lord could come for His people at any minute of any day or night.  Even the inspired Apostle Paul said that when the resurrection and rapture occurs, all true believers will burst forth into singing.  Read it for yourself in 1 Corinthians 15:52-55.  The expression, "O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?  is a portion of an inspired song first referred to in Hosea 13:14.  
     The prophetic Word tells us that Christ is coming with the sound of a Trumpet, 1 Thessalonians 4:16.  What is a Trumpet except a musical instrument?   The prophet Job says of Christ, "Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands," Job 14:15.  What is the Lord God going to use to get the attention of His people?  The Trumpet, a musical instrument.  Can our readers not visualize the sounds of the Trumpet raising the dead, and calling those raised and those still alive in the flesh, with the melodious sound of the Trumpet, to "Come up hither," Revelation 4:1.  
     Have our readers ever considered that the statement, ".....Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away," is recorded in The Song of Solomon 2:10?  Could this be a melodious call, accompanied by the Trumpet?  I don't know the answer, but we are SOON to find out.  Are you ready!
     And if any reader is not saved, then please read, believe, and act upon these Scriptures, asking God in prayer for the GRACE you need to believe, Matthew 11:28, John 3:16-18, 5:24, 14:6, Acts 4:12, 16:30-31, Romans 10:8-13, Ephesians 2:8-10 and 1 John 1:8-9.  I do truly want to meet you in Heaven when our Lord comes, and He is coming SOON.  
     May our gracious Lord bless every reader is my earnest prayer.  
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     Permission is granted to any true believer, or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.  Please do!  
     Thank you dear friends for your prayers for me and this Bible Study ministry, and for the gifts I receive from time to time.  Both are appreciated so very much.  
     My mailing address for your correspondence remains, Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 County Road 8120, Rolla, Missouri 65401.  My phone was out for several days if any reader tried to reach me.  It is now back in service.  Call me at 573-201-0491.  
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