harp and lyre delusion effect on Christian worship congregation

Some Christian groups have adopted a religious practice to use harps and/or lyres only for worship services some claiming that in heaven these are the only musical instruments. But reading the following Bible passages from Daniel 3 we can note that harps were commonly used by pagan kings and priests for idolatry practices too. In addition it is believed to have possibly body, senses and mind control effects on the worship congregation. We pray that the Spirit of Truth reveals to those who have been subject to this influence.  Ask why you choose to continue in it.  Knowing the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

Bible Truth:
Daniel 3 (excerpts) Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian king made an image of gold and set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. He required all his subjects to fall down and worship the idol when the music played.
“Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.” But the three friends of Daniel refused to follow this decree. They would rather die than to bow down to the golden image. They were then miraculously saved by our God.

Random information on the origins and ancient uses of harp and lyre quoted from various Internet Googled Sources:

According to ancient Greek mythology, the young god Hermes created the lyre from a large tortoise shell which he covered with animal hide and antelope horns. Lyres were associated with Apollonian virtues of moderation and equilibrium. Legend also tells the tale of Orpheus, the son of Apollo, whose “rich clear words and the silvery notes from his harp were so enchanting that they … had a magical effect on everything around him…

The harp has occupied a place in myth, legend, and lore for as long as it has been around as an instrument. Perhaps because of its powerful effect upon the body and the senses, including it’s ability, when properly played, to transport the listener to an elevated state of consciousness. It is not surprising that the harp appears as an important symbol in several cultures. Because of its association with the “divine” and “ethereal”, many mythical creatures are often depicted playing harps, including angels, mermaids, sirens, gods, elves, and so on. On ancient Crete is where the harp or lyre was first invented and where you will find the first depictions and images of various Cretan Gods, Goddesses, priests, and priestesses, playing the harp.

For this “divine” reason, the harp would become one of the main symbols for these people who we know of by the names of the Cretans, Phoenicians, Ionians, Minoans, Arcadians, Atlanteans, Persians, Greek Hellenes, Hebrews, Scythians, Saxons, Angles, Irish, Picts, and Celts.

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1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

THE PROPHETS SPOKE: WHY BIG BUSINESSES ARE DOOMED?

OLD TESTAMENT: GOD CONDEMNED IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, DIVINATION, SOOTHSAYING, SORCERY, FORTUNE TELLING AND DOERS OF THEM
1 Samuel 15:23
“For rebellion is like the sin of sorcery, stubbornness like the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of ADONAI, he too has rejected you as king.”
1 Samuel 15:22-24 (in Context) 1 Samuel 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Nahum 3:4
“Because of the continual whoring of this whore, this alluring mistress of sorcery, who sells nations with her whoring and families with her sorcery;
Nahum 3:3-5 (in Context) Nahum 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Chronicles 33:6
He made his children pass through the fire [as a sacrifice] in the Ben-Hinnom Valley. He practiced soothsaying, divination and sorcery; and he appointed mediums and persons who used spirit guides. He did much that was evil from ADONAI’s perspective, thus provoking him to anger.
2 Chronicles 33:5-7 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 33 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Leviticus 19:26
“‘Do not eat anything with blood. Do not practice divination or fortune-telling.
Leviticus 19:25-27 (in Context) Leviticus 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 18:10
There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or uses secret ways, or does witchcraft, or tells the meaning of special things, or is a witch,
Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (in Context) Deuteronomy 18 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 18:14
For these nations that you are about to take listen to those who do witchcraft and use secret ways. But the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.
Deuteronomy 18:13-15 (in Context) Deuteronomy 18 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joshua 13:22
Along with the others the people of Isra’el killed with the sword, they also struck down Bil‘am the son of B‘or, who practiced divination.
Joshua 13:21-23 (in Context) Joshua 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 Samuel 15:23
To go against what you are told is like the sin of witchcraft. Not to obey is like the sin of worshiping false gods. You have turned away from the Word of the Lord. So He has turned away from you being king.”
1 Samuel 15:22-24 (in Context) 1 Samuel 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 9:22
When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?” And he answered, “What peace can there be, so long as the sinful ways and witchcrafts of your mother Jezebel are so many?”
2 Kings 9:21-23 (in Context) 2 Kings 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 17:17
Then they gave their sons and daughters as burnt gifts. They told the future and used witchcraft. They sold themselves to do what is sinful in the eyes of the Lord. And they made Him angry.
2 Kings 17:16-18 (in Context) 2 Kings 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 21:6
He gave his son as a burnt gift, used witchcraft and told the future. He listened to those who spoke with spirits and used their secret ways. He did things that were very sinful in the eyes of the Lord, and made the Lord angry.
2 Kings 21:5-7 (in Context) 2 Kings 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 17:17
They had their sons and daughters pass through fire [as a sacrifice]. They used divination and magic spells. And they gave themselves over to do what was evil from ADONAI’s perspective, thereby provoking him;
2 Kings 17:16-18 (in Context) 2 Kings 17 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 21:6
He made his son pass through the fire [as a sacrifice]. He practiced soothsaying and divination and appointed mediums and persons who used spirit guides. He did much that was evil from ADONAI’s perspective, thus provoking him to anger.
2 Kings 21:5-7 (in Context) 2 Kings 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 14:14
ADONAI replied, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn’t send them, order them or speak to them. They are prophesying false visions to you, worthless divinations, the delusions of their own minds.
Jeremiah 14:13-15 (in Context) Jeremiah 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 47:9
But these two things will come upon you all at once in one day. You will lose your children and your husband. All this trouble will come to you, even with all your witchcraft and the strong power of your sinful secret ways.
Isaiah 47:8-10 (in Context) Isaiah 47 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 12:24
There will no longer be empty visions or falsely optimistic divinations in the house of Isra’el,
Ezekiel 12:23-25 (in Context) Ezekiel 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 13:6
Their visions are futile and their divination is false; they say, ‘ADONAI says,’ when ADONAI has not sent them; yet they hope that the word will be confirmed.
Ezekiel 13:5-7 (in Context) Ezekiel 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 13:7
Haven’t you had a futile vision and spoken a false divination when you say, ‘ADONAI says,’ and I have not spoken?
Ezekiel 13:6-8 (in Context) Ezekiel 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 13:9
My hand will be against the prophets who have futile visions and produce false divinations; they will not be allowed into the council of my people, or be written in the register of the house of Isra’el, or enter the land of Isra’el. Then you will know that I am Adonai ELOHIM.
Ezekiel 13:8-10 (in Context) Ezekiel 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 13:23
therefore you will have no more futile visions, and you will produce no more divinations. I will rescue my people from your clutches, and you will know that I am ADONAI.’”
Ezekiel 13:22-23 (in Context) Ezekiel 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 21:26
For the king of Bavel is standing at the fork in the road, where the two roads separate, about to use divination — he is shaking the arrows, consulting the household gods, examining the liver.
Ezekiel 21:25-27 (in Context) Ezekiel 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 21:28
The inhabitants will believe this is a false divination because of the oaths upon oaths [that their false prophets have sworn to the contrary]. But it will cause [God] to remember their guilt and thus insure their capture.
Ezekiel 21:27-29 (in Context) Ezekiel 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Micah 3:6
“Therefore you will have night, not vision, darkness and not divination; the sun will go down on the prophets, over them the day will be black.”
Micah 3:5-7 (in Context) Micah 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Micah 5:12
I will put an end to your witchcraft, and you will not have people telling your future any more.
Micah 5:11-13 (in Context) Micah 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Malachi 3:5
Then I will come to judge you. I will be quick to speak against those who use witchcraft, and those who do sex sins, and those who make false promises. I will speak against those who do not pay a man what he has earned, and who make it hard for the woman whose husband has died and for children who have no parents. And I will speak against those who turn away the stranger and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of All.
Malachi 3:4-6 (in Context) Malachi 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
NEW TESTAMENT: GOD CONDEMNED WITCHCRAFT AND DOERS OF WITCHCRAFT, OCCULT, DRUGS, AND those who practice sorceries (magic arts) ARE CLASSIFIED TOGETHER WITH THE SINS OF those who practice impurity [the lewd, adulterers] and the murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and deals in falsehood (untruth, error, deception, cheating) (Revelation 22:14-16).
Acts 8:9
[ Simon the Witch Doctor ] A man by the name of Simon had done witchcraft there. The people of Samaria were surprised at the things he did. He pretended that he was a great man.
Acts 8:8-10 (in Context) Acts 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Acts 8:11
They kept running after him. For a long time he fooled them with his witchcraft.
Acts 8:10-12 (in Context) Acts 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Acts 13:6
They went over Cyprus as far as the city of Paphos. While there, they found a Jew who did witchcraft. He was a false preacher named Barjesus.
Acts 13:5-7 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Acts 13:8
But Elymas (as he called himself), the man who did witchcraft, worked against Barnabas and Saul. He tried to keep the leader of the country from putting his trust in the Lord.
Acts 13:7-9 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Acts 19:18-20
18 Many Christians came and told of the wrong things they were doing. 19 Many of those who did witchcraft gathered their books together and burned them in front of everyone. These books were worth 50,000 pieces of silver money. 20 The Word of the Lord became well-known.
Galatians 5:19-21 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
19 And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; 20 involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue 21 and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God!
Revelation 9:20-21 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
20 The rest of mankind, those who were not killed by these plagues, even then did not turn from what they had made with their own hands — they did not stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they turn from their murdering, their involvement with the occult and with drugs, their sexual immorality or their stealing.
Revelation 18:2-3 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
2 He cried out in a strong voice, “She has fallen! She has fallen! Bavel (Babylon) the Great! She has become a home for demons, prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean, hated bird. 3 “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of God’s fury caused by her whoring —yes, the kings of the earth went whoring with her, and from her unrestrained love of luxury the world’s businessmen have grown rich.”

（Big and successful businesses are linked to the Babylon condemned here in the Book of Revelation for end times.)

Revelation 18:22-24 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
22 “The sound of harpists and musicians, flute-players and trumpeters will never again be heard in you.
No worker of any trade will ever again be found in you, the sound of a mill will never again be heard in you,
23 the light of a lamp will never again shine in you, the voice of bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you.
“For your businessmen were the most powerful on earth, all the nations were deceived by your magic spell.
24 “In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s people, indeed, of all who have ever been slaughtered on earth!”

(the magic spell of Babylon is the source of power supply to successful business men and nations! )

Revelation 21:7-9 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
7 He who wins the victory will receive these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars — their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, the second death.”
9 One of the seven angels having the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues approached me and said, “Come! I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.”
Revelation 22:14-16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
14 Blessed (happy and to be envied) are those who cleanse their garments, that they may have the authority and right to [approach] the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the city. 15 [But] without (outside) are the dogs and those who practice sorceries (magic arts) and impurity [the lewd, adulterers] and the murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and deals in falsehood (untruth, error, deception, cheating). 16 I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you to witness and to give you assurance of these things for the churches (assemblies). I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and brilliant Morning Star.

Jesus thus warned: Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon ( deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).
Matthew 6:23-25 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

The Holy Spirit thus warned: 1 Timothy 6:10 The love of money is the beginning of all kinds of sin. Some people have turned from the faith because of their love for money. They have made much pain for themselves because of this.
1 Timothy 6:9-11 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter)
HEED THE WORDS OF THE LORD, ALL WATCHMEN, FLEE FROM THE LOVE OF THE WORLD AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD.

To all the "Timothy" in the churches:
1 John 2:15-17 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁵ Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
¹⁷ And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.

End Times Song: We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth

Isaiah 24


Destruction of the Earth

1 Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth
and make it a vast wasteland.
He devastates the surface of the earth
and scatters the people.

2 Priests and laypeople,
servants and masters,
maids and mistresses,
buyers and sellers,
lenders and borrowers,
bankers and debtors—none will be spared.

3 The earth will be completely emptied and looted.
The Lord has spoken!
4 The earth mourns and dries up,
and the crops waste away and wither.
Even the greatest people on earth waste away.

5 The earth suffers for the sins of its people,
for they have twisted God’s instructions,
violated his laws,
and broken his everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.
Its people must pay the price for their sin.
They are destroyed by fire,
and only a few are left alive.

7 The grapevines waste away,
and there is no new wine.
All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.
8 The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled;
the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.
The melodious chords of the harp are silent.
9 Gone are the joys of wine and song;
alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.

10 The city writhes in chaos;
every home is locked to keep out intruders.
11 Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine.
Joy has turned to gloom.
Gladness has been banished from the land.
12 The city is left in ruins,
its gates battered down.
13 Throughout the earth the story is the same—
only a remnant is left,
like the stray olives left on the tree
or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest.

___________________(A RAY OF HOPE)
14 But all who are left shout and sing for joy.
Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty.
15 In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord.
In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

__________________(BUT, ALAS)
16 We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth,
songs that give glory to the Righteous One!
But my heart is heavy with grief.
Weep for me, for I wither away.

Deceit still prevails,
and treachery is everywhere.
17 Terror and traps and snares will be your lot,
you people of the earth.
18 Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,
and those who escape the trap will be caught in a snare.

Destruction falls like rain from the heavens;
the foundations of the earth shake.
19 The earth has broken up.
It has utterly collapsed;
it is violently shaken.

20 The earth staggers like a drunk.
It trembles like a tent in a storm.
It falls and will not rise again,
for the guilt of its rebellion is very heavy.

_______(THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE gods WILL NOT BE SPARED: including physical and spiritual wicked powers)

21 In that day the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens
and the proud rulers of the nations on earth.
22 They will be rounded up and put in prison.
They will be shut up in prison
and will finally be punished.

23 Then the glory of the moon will wane,
and the brightness of the sun will fade,
for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion.
He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem,
in the sight of all the leaders of his people.