From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Angels and Music
Date: 27 Aug 92 14:23:11 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

From: rich.bellacera@amail.amdahl.com
Subject: Do Angels Sing (was: Is music Amoral?)
 

The following was sent to me via email from someone whose server is set up
such that he can't post directly to the group.  He asked that I post it for
him, so here it is.  His email address is included above for those who wish to
respond directly.      --Lauren
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                             Do Angels Sing?

With all this commotion about whether or not music (in general) is amoral I
thought I'd add a little thought I've have concerning music's state of
well-being and it's origin:

I contend that at one time "heavenly" angels DID sing, but at this time, they
do NOT.  Now don't go gett'n your tail feathers all ruffled.  First hear me
out, then (as they say) "flame me" all you want :)

First, let me say this concept whether scriptural or not has absolutely no
bearing on yours/my faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.  What it just
might do, for some, is turn on a few light bulbs that ya didn't know where
there.  It's really just a "gee whiz" thang.

While there is really not enough scripture to build solid doctrine, I will
submit that these thoughts are mine (possibly inspired, actually I believe
they are since I discovered this train of thought while reading the Bible).
Here we go:

Most of you would probably agree that before creating man, God created the
heavens and the angels.  The accepted scriptures only really mention three
angels by name:  Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer (the later now commonly called
Satan or the Devil).

Each of these angels seemed to be assigned differing tasks for God.  Gabriel
seemed to be a Messenger for God, a Herald of great events; Michael seemed to
be the Warrior for God and Protector of God's chosen people; and Lucifer, it
would seem, was assigned the task of Guarding God's throne and residing over
music and the Worship of God in Song (Lucifer's description found in Ezekiel
28:12-19).  It is fairly accepted that at one point (probably before the time
of Adam & Eve) Lucifer got haughty and tried to present himself as God's
equal.  Then scripture tells us he was cast down for his conceit, he and "his"
angels.  There was a battle in heaven between the Warriors and the Morning
Stars (so-to-speak). I call Lucifer's angels "The Morning Stars" based on the
scripture in Job 38:7 which is the nearest actual reference I could find to
angels actually singing.  Lucifer/Satan is referred to as appearing as an
angel of light (he AND his ministers), and the name "lucifer" means
"lightbearer," and when the planet Venus appears in the daysky it is called
"Lucifer" or the "Morning Star" (Isaiah 14:12-17; Revelation 12:7-12;and
2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Another note of interest is that after Lucifer's fall from heaven he was (I
surmise) banished to the earth or the atmosphere around it.  After his
temptation to Adam & Eve, then the dispute between Cain & Abel, the next time
(chronologically speaking) that music is given form is found in the godless
descendents of Cain where the scriptures show that the first musical
instruments (the harp of all things) are said to be from Jubal who is called
the "father" of all who handle such (Genesis 4:21).  In a subtle way this
seems to show that even after his fall, Lucifer/Satan still had the knowledge
or gift of music. As was noted before, God created music, not Satan, therefore
the best or worst Satan can do is "corrupt" what was/is of God.

With all this in mind I contend that (unless someone can clearly show me where
I am wrong) no angels in or from heaven have ever sung in scripture "after
Lucifer's fall."  Sure, many may say, "But what about when Jesus was born,
didn't the herald angels sing to the shepherds?" (Luke 2:13) or "What about
the angels in heaven who surround God's throne worshipping him, singing 'Holy,
Holy, Holy'?" (Isaiah 6:3) or even in the Apostle John's description of heaven
in the book of Revelation he said they sang." (Revelation 4:8).  I picked
those three scriptures because they are the most common to be misinterpreted.
Except in some newer translations of the Bible, the passages have always read
as "said" or "saying" or even "rejoicing", but never as "singing."  Even in
the Greek and Hebrew.  It has become so commonplace to assume that the angels
or angelic beings are singing that some modern scholars have gone ahead and
replaced the words "saying" and "said" with "singing" and "sang" in some
translations.  Check out the KJV at least to see the difference.  I'm certain
you'll find lots of references to singing, but none attached to said angels.

Summary:
Anyhow to sum up my point, the real pearl in this train of thought is in the
idea that by his self-exhaltation Lucifer forfeited his place as God's
minister in Song, as did Lucifer's angels.  So after his fall there was a void
left wide open.  Just because Satan is a jerk was no reason for God to let go
of this means of worship.  From that point on singing has been absent from
heaven, but God commanded Adam & Eve to be fruitful and multiply and fill the
earth.  It is my belief that one of the main reasons for this was to fill the
earth with song.  As you may have already figured out, the ministry of song
was transferred, by default, to mankind.  Every scripture in the Bible
referring to singing is from the lips of godly men and women (with the
exception of Job 38:7).  Though heaven is void of singing at the present, the
scriptures assure us that it will not always remain so.  For in Revelation
5:8-10 it speaks of Jesus and says, "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, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the
saints.  And THEY SUNG A NEW SONG, saying Thou art worthy to take the book,
and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God
by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and
hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth."

Isn't that great?  We will be singing in heaven the "New" song, to fill the
void that was left by Lucifer and the Morning Stars.

Praise ye the Lord!

'Rich'
 -----looking forward to THAT day when I really will be one of his "riches" in
glory (Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 1:18; Romans 9:23; Colossians 1:27)  :)

Maran-atha

-- 
Lauren Crawford  //  crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu

Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.
            -- J. Danforth Quayle