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The Great Controversy
Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were
mingled with fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory of God,—are
gathered the company that have “gotten the victory over the beast, and
over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.”
With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, “having the harps of God,” they
stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed
from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters,
and as the sound of a great thunder, “the voice of harpers harping with
their harps.” And they sing “a new song” before the throne, a song
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which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand.
It is the song of Moses and the Lamb—a song of deliverance. None
but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is
the song of their experience—an experience such as no other company
have ever had. “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
He goeth.” These, having been translated from the earth, from among
the living, are counted as “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 15:2, 3
;
14:1-5
. “These are they which came out of great
tribulation;” they have passed through the time of trouble such as never
was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the
time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through
the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered,
for they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb.” “In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without
fault” before God. “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and
serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the
throne shall dwell among them.” They have seen the earth wasted with
famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great
heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst.
But “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall
the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:14-17
.
In all ages the Saviour’s chosen have been educated and disciplined
in the school of trial. They walked in narrow paths on earth; they were
purified in the furnace of affliction. For Jesus’ sake they endured
opposition, hatred, calumny. They followed Him through conflicts
sore; they endured self-denial and experienced bitter disappointments.