The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

The "voice from heaven" in this instance represents living persons speaking for or in praise
of God. We learn this by the similes used by St. John to describe this voice. Similes occur
quite frequently in the Revelation visions, and should be distinguished from symbols. A
simile is defined as . . .
". . . a comparison of two things, which, however different in other respects, have some
strong points of resemblance; by which comparison, the character or qualities of a thing
are illustrated or presented in an impressive manner. Thus [by way of illustration], the
eloquence of Demosthenes was like a rapid torrent; that of Cicero, like a large stream that
glides smoothly along with majestic tranquillity."--Webster.
Applying this definition to the "voice" of the vision, we note that St. John says, "it was as
[like] the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder"; but that which enables us to determine the character of the sound
is described in the words that follow: "the voice which I heard was as [like] that of harpers
playing on their harps." We conclude, therefore, that the combination of these three
elements produced a harmonious, musical sound, pleasing to the ear, pleasing to God.
In the history of typical Israel, the harp was the chief instrument used in connection with
celebrations and seasons of great rejoicing in giving praise to Jehovah. We have recorded
such celebrations in connection with the dedicatory services at the completion of the first
and second temples. (2 Chron. 5:12; Neh. 12:27.) It was also true that harp music was a
most prominent feature in revival services in connection with great reformations and
purifications of the temple services, which, sometimes for long years, had been neglected
or defiled by a false worship; as that in King Hezekiah's day and another in Josiah's.--2
Chron. 29:25; 35:15.
Keeping in mind the sad departures on the part of God's professed people, and the
defilement of Truth prevailing in Christendom in connection with the Lamb's assumption
of kingly authority, we believe that these harmonious notes like the sound of harpers
playing on their harps, would be because of the culmination of a great reform movement
among God's true people, accompanied by a wonderful unfolding of Truth and engaged
in by peoples of many languages (many waters).
Some of the older expositors, among them Mr. Elliott, have endeavored to apply this
wonderful vision of the Lamb standing on Mount Zion to the great Protestant Movement
of the sixteenth century; that being a time corresponding in some of its particular features
to some of the great reform movements in typical Israel's history. The objections to such an
application are insurmountable, for the Lamb did not assume kingly authority in the
Reformation, neither had the full number of the "elect" been called at that time; and
furthermore, as we have endeavored to show in a previous exposition (Rev. 10:1), the
Sixteenth-century Reformation Movement was only a beginning of the cleansing of the