The Voice

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THE VOICE (REVELATION 14)

The American singing competition “The Voice” has aired since 2011 and it aims to find unsigned singing talent. Contestants are selected through public auditions and trained by a panel of four coaches who guide and critique their performances in an attempt to discover America's next great voice. The US$100,000 and record-deal winner is determined by television viewers voting by telephone, internet, SMS text, and iTunes Store purchases of the audio-recorded artists' vocal performances.

I watched the first season, first episode of the UK edition on the internet, where the legendary crooner Tom Jones spoke the first line: “It’s all on the strength of the voice.” The Voice is not like other singing competitions singing in that four coaches then walked to their chairs that were later turned the other way around on the show were to face the audience instead of the singers. so that the singers were not judged for being too short, too fat or too old!

When a coach likes a singing voice performing, the coach will then press a button and swing his or her chair around to face the singer they like not for their voice alone. The irony is that the singers, on the other hand, can choose the coach if more than one of them presses a button. Tom Jones again say, “This is all about the voice,” to which another an announcer says “Nothing matters, only the voice counts”

The first 11 chapters of Revelation focus on earth, the beast and the dragon made their mark in the last two chapters at the commencement of the war in heaven (Rev 12:7). They had their terror, but their reign is short because the next few chapters all captured God’s dominance.

In Revelation 14, the noun “voice” occurs four times alone in verse 2 and as many as nine times in the chapter (vv 2 four times, 7, 9, 13, 15, 18), more than any chapter in the Bible. The voice, in KJV, includes a voice from heaven (vv 2, 9), the voice of many waters (v 2), the voice of a great thunder (v 2) and a loud voice (vv 7, 15, 18) three times.

How is God present in our suffering? How would you feel when the Lord returns – delighted or dismayed? How do you distinguish between faithful believers from fake believers? Who and what should we rightfully fear – not the beast, the dragon or the great persecution that is to come?

Attest in Praise

1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

How would you describe a good song? Here are some internet suggestions:

“A good song is one which is liked by many.”

“A good song is a perfect marriage of the lyrics and the music.”

“A good song is for life, not just for release day.”

“A good song is a song that makes a claim on us, that gives us pleasure for as long as it lasts.”

“A good song is one that should move your soul and never lose that quality.”

“A good song is one that provides listeners with a good experience.”

“A good song is one when people hear it they stop and get involved.”

Chapter 14 is the return of the 144,000 who were sealed in chapter 6 (Rev 6:16). John heard a voice (3x), but the voice is not any voice but a new song. The phrase “new song” occurs twice in the New Testament, but only in Revelation. This new song, however, differed from that of chapter 5 (Rev 5:9) in that it is an unknown song. No matter how much training you have, what tune you can carry and the technology you have, you cannot learn the song (v 3) because it’s the passion song of those who are saved, those who are sanctified and those who are surrendered to Him. The song was not determined by the music, melody, major or minor key, because we don’t have the score; it’s about the song and the singers, the choir and their chorus, the lyrics and their lives.