Sounds of Heaven

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Sounds of Worship

God created humanity with the unique ability to worship using songs and singing(Eph. 5:19). Scripture has numerous instances of worshipping God on Earth using music. Trumpets are mentioned(Psa. 150:3; 1 Chr. 16:6,42) along with flutes(Psa. 150:4; 1 Sam. 10:5) and harps(Psa. 33:2). Some psalms of the bible are sung with musical instruments(Psa. 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 8:1, 9:1, 12:1). Church services of today have singing and music. If you think it makes sense for there to be singing and music in Heaven, you're right.

Heavenly sounds

In addition to amazing sights in Heaven, we'll hear amazing sounds. We'll be able to hear sounds we can't hear on Earth in ways we can't imagine. Heaven is full of praise for God. The apostle Paul heard "inexpressible things" (2 Cor. 12:3-4) he was not permitted to talk about. Fortunately others were allowed to.

Scripture says Heaven has musical instruments. The 24 elders who sat around the throne of God had harps(Rev. 5:8). Those victorious over the beast had harps given to them by God(Rev. 15:2). Do these harps sound anything like the ones on Earth? We do know the apostle John heard a sound from Heaven that sounded like rushing water, thunder and harpists playing their harps(Rev. 14:2).

Trumpets are another instrument mentioned in Heaven. On one occasion seven of them are used to signal judgment(Rev. 8:6-9:21; 11:15). Another trumpet is used to signal the resurrection(1 Cor. 15:52; 1 The. 4:16-17).

Angels

The Bible gives details on the sounds of angels. Job 38:7 mentions angels shouting for joy. Luke 2:13-14 KJV talks about angels saying

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Bible also mentions countless angels sing(Rev. 5:11-12).

The book of Isaiah mentions high-level angels called Seraphs. During Isaiah's commission, the Seraphs say

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.(Isa. 6:2-3 KJV)

The doors and thresholds of the temple shook when they said that(Isa. 6:4).

The Bible also mentions other high-level angels called Cherubim. The Cherubim around God's throne say something similar to the Seraphs,

Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.(Rev. 4:8 KJV)

The wings of the Cherubim sound like the waves crashing against the shore or the sound of a mighty army(Eze. 1:24). Cherubim also made rumbling sounds when their wings touched each other(Eze. 3:12-3:13). The sound of the wings is quite loud(Eze. 10:5).

God

As for God, the Bible mentions thunder and rumbling from His throne(Rev. 4:5). Thunder is a sign of God's power and authority. God thundered with thunder so loud it frightened and confused the Philistines when they were about to attack Israel(1 Sam. 7:10). This allowed the Israelites to defeat them.

The voice of God is majestic and powerful(Psa. 29:4). It is also described as shaking the wilderness(Psa. 7-9). Jesus' voice is like a trumpet when He called to John(Rev. 1:10).

The wonderful music of the angels and Heaven's inhabitants will all be for the glory of God.

Last updated 5/10/2011