The redeemed
Day 711, Thursday, July 23
Revelation 14:1-13
Chapter 14 begins by putting together two images we have already seen in Revelation: The 144,000 who have been redeemed, with the mark of the Father on their foreheads. The 144,000, presumably martyrs, are singing a new song before God’s throne.
Verse 4 has an unexpected reference that isn’t completely clear, when it identifies the 144,000 who are redeemed as “those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.” While both Jesus and Paul commended celibacy, neither suggested it was required, or even normative, for Christians, or that it came with any special honor. Because of that, verse 4 is usually taken metaphorically to refer to people who have not worshiped idols, taking the familiar Old Testament understanding that idolatry is like adultery. (Verse 8 seems to support this interpretation.)
Verse 6 begins the report of seeing three angels.
The first proclaims the gospel “to every nation, tribe, language and people.
The second declares that Babylon (Rome) has fallen.
The third speaks judgment against those who worship the beast or fail to remain faithful to Jesus.
Verse 13, which is often used in funerals, is a word of reassurance concerning those who are martyred for the faith: “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Thursday meditation

Song of Solomon 2:1-13
She
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
He
Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.
She
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

Prayer focus
May we be numbered among your redeemed.