Prophetic Harps

"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." (Revelation 15: 2 KJV)

All the Lord's people, according to prophetic promise, are to receive harps, and robes, and crowns.

The crowns are connected with the kingly rule of the saints, while the robes are connected with the priestly function and the harps with the prophetic office. Jesus is high prophet, high priest, and highest king, but subordinate to him are his people by virtue of their connection with him, and who are destined to be prophets as well as priests and kings.

Peter addressed the Christians as a "royal priesthood" (I Peter 2: 9 KJV). They are both priests and kings, or "priests upon thrones" as is Jesus (See Zechariah 6: 13 KJV) And, it is just as scriptural to say that they will all one day be "prophets upon their thrones."

"And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11: 29 KJV)

This is the prayer of Moses and was uttered by the Spirit of God and expressed not only his wish and hope, but a sure prophecy of what truly will be the eternal state and condition of the people of God. It was not only the prayer of Moses, but also of Paul.

"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy...everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort...I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have (everyone of) you prophesy...Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." (I Corinthians 14: 1, 3, 5, 29-31 NIV)

Paul is very clear in his desire that every member of the church, both man and woman, and both young and old, be "prophets." Many in the church at Corinth did in fact have the gift of prophesy. But, Paul desired that all prophesy now, in the church, and not wait till the coming age to begin the exercise of this supernatural gift and office.

The "harp" in the Old Testament, in conjunction with other musical instruments, is intimately connected with the office of the prophet.

"After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man." (I Samuel 10: 5, 6 KJV)

"Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals...Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD." (I Chronicles 25: 1, 3 KJV)

"I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp." (Psalm 49: 4 KJV)

Thus the connection between "prophesying" and "harp playing" is established. Further, when it is recorded in the Apocalypse that the saints of all the ages, when assembled together on the "last day," will all play on their "golden harps," it means more than simply making beautiful music, but means to disclose in song new revelations and new mysteries.

Sometimes the music from the harp, fitting the message, may be in a minor chord, and expressive of what is what we might call "somber truth," and therefore the lyrics, or "oracles," may be uttered or sung "upon the harp with a solemn sound" (Psalm 92: 3 KJV).

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps..." (Revelation 5: 8 KJV)

"And 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. And 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: And 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." (Revelation 14: 1-3 KJV)

Oh what glorious oracles will be uttered by these revelators of heaven's throne upon their harps of gold!

In many ways, king David's experiences upon the harp give a glimpse of the prophetic and glorious nature and power in this musical and revelatory occupation.

"And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." (I Samuel 16: 23 KJV)

It may well be that the saints will all be playing their harps as the last evil spirit is exorcised out of this world in much the same way that the Hebrews were all playing their Ram's horns as the last stone crumbled down from Jericho's wall's. (See Hebrews chpt. 11)

"And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals." (II Samuel 6: 5 KJV)

"And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets." (I Chronicles 13: 8 KJV)

Can you imagine such a scene in glory when all the saints are gifted and qualified as prophets, and as priests, and as kings? When they all prophesy as they play their heavenly symphonies? As they sing and shout and dance about with "joy unspeakable and full of glory"? (I Peter 1: 8 KJV)

"My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep." (Job 30: 31 KJV)

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion." (Psalm 137: 1-3 KJV)

"joy of the harp ceaseth." (Isaiah 24: 8 KJV)

But, these are only temporary experiences for the child of God. His harp will never play mournful tunes, but only revelatory songs of great joy and gladness.

On the other hand, the wicked, though they might play the harp and other musical instruments now, in this world, in joyful songs, yet truly forever their "harp will be turned into mourning" and forever "hung up" on the "willow tree" of disuse.

"Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings." (Psalm 33: 2 KJV)

"I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel." (Psalm 71: 22 KJV)

Friend, are you a Christian, a follower of Jesus? If so, are you ready to receive your robe, and your harp, and your crown? If you are not a Christian, I urge you to seriously consider these things and I pray the Lord is pleased to show you the excellency of them.

"A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3: 8 KJV)