Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Let us use the remainder of our time considering these texts. In fact, there are three occasions in the book of Revelation where instruments of music are mentioned in conjunction with worship. Some might be inclined to contend, there are musical instruments mentioned in the book of Revelation, employed in worship of God Almighty. To go beyond this is to act without authority. by His authority), then we will worship God with the use of our voices, and not mechanical instruments. If we are going to do and say according to name of the Lord (ie. Not once do we find in the epistles an example of or instruction to use instrumental music in worship. Very briefly, the consistent testimony of the New Testament is that Christians should worship God with singing (Acts 16:25 1 Corinthians 14:15 Ephesians 5:19 Colossians 3:16 James 5:13). We must learn what God has commanded in the New Testament so far as worship in song. God’s acceptance of a practice under the former covenant does not ensure His acceptance of the same under the New covenant. However, the use of such by those who were then subject to Moses’ law does not condone the use of the same today by those who are under Christ’s law. There are numerous texts which speak of instruments being employed in the praise of God, of which Numbers 10:10 and 2 Chronicles 5:11-14 are examples. That instrumental music was used in worship in Old Testament times is sure. However, permit just a few comments on these important aspects of music in the Scriptures. A detailed discussion of the use of instrumental music in the Old Testament, and the pattern of vocal music in the New Testament will be reserved for another occasion. Our primary focus in this article, as evidenced by the title, will be the occurrence and use of instrumental music as found in the book of Revelation.
How does God instruct us to worship in song? Are we to use mechanical instruments, are we to use our voices, or a combination of the two? A practice or teaching may delight us, but we are not the object nor the designer of worship. When we come to the subject of proper worship in song, just as with any other topic, we must seek to know what pleases the Lord. Such demands that we search the Scriptures, to know what is and what is not acceptable to the Lord so far as religious practice and doctrine.
The apostle Paul, when writing to the brethren at Colosse implored, “…whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17). In the religious world, there is a basic cognizance of the need to conduct ourselves within the confines of God’s authority.