{"id":39088,"date":"2013-05-30T20:37:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-31T01:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=39088"},"modified":"2021-10-26T20:40:47","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T01:40:47","slug":"revelation-14-and-the-harps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/revelation-14-and-the-harps\/","title":{"rendered":"Revelation 14 and the Harps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

by Doy Moyer<\/p>\n

I’m dealing here with a very narrow aspect of the question of instruments in worship. In support of the use of instruments in worship, we often hear Revelation 14 brought up. Because this passage is used positively, and because it involves the use of instruments, then this is supposed to prove that God approves of instruments in our corporate worship toward Him. Here is what it says:<\/p>\n

“And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty- four thousand who had been purchased from the earth<\/em>” (Revelation 14:2-3).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>This is, unfortunately, a case in which what proves too much proves nothing. From the big picture, Revelation uses symbols and figures throughout. To take a symbol and try to press a literalism out of it is to abuse the context. Yet this particular argument overlooks, not just symbolism, but what the passage actually says.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What John heard was a voice. He did not actually hear harps any more than he heard many waters or loud thunder. There are three similes used here, tipped off by the word “like.” John heard a voice, and it was simultaneously like:\n
      \n
    1. the sound of many waters,<\/li>\n
    2. the sound of loud thunder, and<\/li>\n
    3. the sound of harpists playing on their harps.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nSo if one is going to argue that God wants instruments in worship based upon this, consistency demands that we also bring in many waters and loud thunder at the same time. Of course, all of that misses the point. John heard a voice, and that’s it. It was like…<\/li>\n
    4. They sang a new song. They didn’t actually play harps, but they did sing (and the sound was like…). Those who use this to argue for instruments in worship do so only by ignoring the simile, stressing the harps, and forgetting that the real action here was that of singing.<\/li>\n
    5. In this context, only the 144,000 could learn the song. If people want to press the harps so literally, then why do they not also see the 144,000 literally? Why would they take an obvious simile, make it literal, and then make the number figurative?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If anything, this passage supports the premise that singing is what God wants. If that singing sounds like the voice of many waters, like the sound of loud thunder, and like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, then well and good. But this proves nothing about the nature of instruments in worship. If one is going to find support for instrumental music in corporate worship, it will have to come from another passage. It’s just not in Revelation 14.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      by Doy Moyer I’m dealing here with a very narrow aspect of the question of instruments in worship. In support of the use of instruments in worship, we often hear Revelation 14 brought up. Because this passage is used positively, and because it involves the use of instruments, then this is supposed to prove that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[292,102],"class_list":["post-39088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-instrumental-music","tag-revelation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7942,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-are-there-musical-instruments-in-revelation\/","url_meta":{"origin":39088,"position":0},"title":"Why are there musical instruments in Revelation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 4, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If the New Testament forbids the use of musical instruments in the worship service, why are there musical instruments in the Book of Revelation? Answer: Before answering your question, let's get a bit more precision. The New Testament doesn't forbid the use of instrumental music in worship; that is,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37397,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/god-wanted-instrumental-music-before-so-why-not-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":39088,"position":1},"title":"God wanted instrumental music before, so why not now?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a member of the Church of Christ and have been for over 20 years. As\u00a0I have read your article on 'Can Musical Instruments be Used to Worship God?' with an open mind I hope you will do me the same honor of reading mine. I take it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45601,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-do-churches-of-christ-not-use-instrumental-music\/","url_meta":{"origin":39088,"position":2},"title":"Why Do Churches of Christ Not Use Instrumental Music?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Allen Webster Churches of Christ love music. Singing is a prominent - and favorite - part of each service. Most congregations dedicate a Sunday night each month to learn new songs and to sing old favorites. Annual singings can draw thousands of people. Many Christians sing daily as they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":67180,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/did-i-defile-myself-by-sexually-touching-a-woman\/","url_meta":{"origin":39088,"position":3},"title":"Did I defile myself by sexually touching a woman?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Greetings, I just wanted to know if I sexually touched a woman with clothes on but no intercourse, did I defile myself as Revelation 14:4 says? \"These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16697,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/since-i-corinthians-147-mentions-instruments-doesnt-that-justify-instrumental-music-in-the-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":39088,"position":4},"title":"Since I Corinthians 14:7 mentions instruments, doesn’t that justify instrumental music in the worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 10, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In I Corinthians 14:7 Paul states \"And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?\" Is this referring to having instruments in the church? Answer: \"Follow after love, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42222,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/since-jesus-is-going-to-return-with-the-blast-of-a-trumpet-cant-instruments-be-used-in-the-worship-of-him\/","url_meta":{"origin":39088,"position":5},"title":"Since Jesus is going to return with the blast of a trumpet, can’t instruments be used in the worship of him?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If music is not authorized in New Testament worship, even to the point of sin if it is used, then when the Lord returns and that great trumpet sounds, will we then say that it isn't a time of worship and praise? 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