The Song of the Redeemed
Revelation 14:1-5 (King James Version)
1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Only 144,000 sing it
First, I checked the translation of most everything that I am writing of in most every bible including the orginal text, which the King James Version was taken from, it all reads about the same. Revelation 14:3 it is clear "no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand". I see no reason to debate that. It is clear and every version reads close to the same there. There are also requirements to futher show that everyone will not be singing it.
Requirements to be one of the 144,000
1. Be from one of the twelve tribes (limited to twelve thousand per tribe) Revelation 7:5-8
2. Be A virgin Revelation 14:4
3. Be redeemed from the earth Revelation 14:3
4. No lying/be found faultless Revelation 14:5
5. Be marked/Having Father's name written on their foreheads Revelation 14:1
6. Be A Male. Revelation 14:4
That leads to the next question who are the these 144,000 and what are the requirements. That question is easy to answer but hard to be one of those people. In Revelation 7:4 it speaks of "those who had been marked with the seal". This later goes to explain in Revelation 7:5-8 that those marked where coming for the twelve tribes and that each tribe will have twelve thousand. Revelation 14:4 a few people seem to want to change the meaning saying that it does not mean virgin in a sexual way but virgins-spiritually (Mt 25:1); in contrast to the apostate Church, Babylon (Re 14:8), spiritually "a harlot" (Re 17:1-5; Isa 1:21; contrast 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25-27). Their not being defiled with women means they were not led astray from Christian faithfulness by the tempters who jointly constitute the spiritual "harlot." I think that is way wrong. This is my commentary, so being a virgin is a requirment. It also means that the people singing are men since it reads being defiled with "women". I noticed it also states that they are "the first fruits to God and to the Lamb". I do not know if that would be a requirment or something that happenes as a result of being in the 144,000 so I am not inculding it as a requirment. Next, Revelation 14:3 says "which were redeemed from the earth" this is where people called it the song of the redeemed. The bible calls it "new song" in all translations. Revelation 14:5 has another requirement no lies and be found faultless. Something I found strange "before the throne of God" is excluded New International Version, New Living Translation, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, International Standard Version, GOD'S WORD Translation, and American Standard Version too name a few. I studied that briefly and it seems that there reason for deeper study to know if that should be there or not. I do not see the reason to study it in this case just a note for later study. Revelation 14:1 "having his Father's name written in their foreheads."
When Sung
1. After the sixth seal
2. Before the seventh seal
When is the song sung? I found the answer you just have to pay attention. Revelation 6:11 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;.Revelation 7:1 starts saying "After this" and then goes on to say in Revelation 7:3 "till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." So it has to be after the sixth seal and before the seventh, which is Revelation 8:1, when they are sealed. Them being sealed would be the last of all the requirements to be met. Personally, I would guess that when they where sealed meeting all the requirements is when they would sing which would be before the seventh seal and after the sixth. The seventh seal is when trumpets are sounded. With that thought, it would mean the song is sung just before the first trumpet. Update: It seems I have more to go on and my thoughts was right (I feel dumb to miss it first verse after the main passage). Revelation 8:2-8:10 speaks on the seven angels after seventh seal is opened and Revelation 14:6 starts "And I saw another angel" (the word "another" seems to a few people questionable if it should be there) in chapter 15:1 there are the seven angles which are the same ones that appeared after the seveth seal. Chapter 8 which is right after the seveth seal is opened continues in a manner same as Revelation 14:6-15:1 talking of the seven angels. This clearly shows that the song is after the sixth seal and before the seventh.
Probable Reasons for Confusion
1. Revelation 5:9 states "they sung a new song" and in Revelation 5:13 it goes on to say "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." I would guess that is why people would say everyone sings the song but this has to be a differnt song. It is clear that this "new song" is a prelude to the seven seals. That is the story told in Revelation 5 the song here is song before the opening of the first seal. We already know now that the song of the redeemed has to be after the sixth seal.
2. Maybe, someone would get confused with this also
Revelation 7:9-10
9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
This is after the song of the redeemed but still before the seventh seal the major hint is "After this". Then Revelation 7:13-14 goes on to explain who this great multitude is.
13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
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