Instrumental Music in Worship Under the NT Part 7 Answers to Their Arguments: Revelation
There are a string of arguments which are advanced by those who use the instrument which they believe justify the utilization of instrumental music in worship under the New Testament. These arguments are consistent with all whom I have spoken (regardless of their denominational affiliation). They all begin with the same arguments, and end with the same arguments.
The Revelation Argument
Another argument advanced by those who would champion the use of instrument of music is the appearance of "instruments of music" in the visions of the book of Revelation around the throne of God in heaven. Such passages as Revelation 5:8-10, 11-13; 14:1-5; and 15:2-4 are appealed to to show God's approval of the instrument of music in worship.
The book of Revelation is admitted by all to be the most difficult book of the New Testament to fully understand. It is a book of signs and symbols. In chapter one, verse one, it reads: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:". Notice, Jesus signified the Revelation. "Signify" is best described as "sign-I-fy," to give in signs and symbols. The book of Revelation is a figurative book, not a literal one.
In the fifth chapter of Revelation in verse six, it states: "And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb, as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth in all the earth." Does the Lamb of God literally have "seven horns and seven eyes" or is this figurative language?
The passage which introduced the "four beasts" is found in chapter four, verses six through eight:: "And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within; and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was,and is, and is to come." Were the beasts literal or figurative? Both the representations of the Lamb, and the four beasts are figurative. If they are figurative, then in the midst of figurative language the actions of figurative representations must be taken literally. Is that consistent?
Also, in chapter five, verse eight, "the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints." Thus, you have not only harps, but also incense portrayed in this worship scene in heaven. Are we to have and use incense in the church? If not, why can we have the instruments portrayed but not the incense? The incense is a figurative representation of "the prayers of the saints." Would it not be consistent to accept the harps as figurative representations as well?
In Revelation 14:1-5, again a literal example of acceptable worship is sought in the midst of figurative language. Will only 144,000 (literally) be present at these scenes, or is it a figurative representation? If it is a figurative representation, then why much the instruments of music be literal?
In Revelation 16:2-4, is the beast of the vision literal or figurative? Is the image of the beast literal or figurative? Is the mark of the beast literal or figurative? Did they stand on a literal or figurative "sea of glass"? Again, in the midst of figurative language, why take the harps as literal?
If instruments of music were to utilized by the church, would it make sense to place their only reference in the midst of such figurative language? Would it make sense to make the only reference to musical instruments so obscure, if the church were to utilize them?
There is no justification for the utilization of instruments of music in the words of the book of Revelation for the church today. The acceptable pattern is what God has revealed should be done upon the earth.
I have never said, that if instruments of music are used in heaven it would be a sin. Since there is no indication of authority for their use by the church on earth, I do teach that it is a sin for the church to use them here. What God wishes to do in heaven is up to Him. What He wishes us to do in the church here on earth is up to Him. He, however, has given no indication of his approval or authority to use instruments of music by the church upon the earth.