Music and Worship (August 2004)

August 2004
Volume 13, Number 7

Music has been called humanity's "universal language." Some churches however, believe God should not be publicly worshipped through it -- despite Scripture containing many examples of praise through music. The Bible shows that music is a gift and blessing from God. (Corbis)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh
The Beast and Babylon (Part Five):
The Great Harlot

Who is the Woman of Revelation 17 and 18? John Ritenbaugh explains that this fallen Woman displays no religious characteristics but instead acts as a city or nation involved in the politics, economics, and culture of its time. What nation fits the symbolism?

Ready Answer
The Godly Purpose for Music
by David F. Maas

Believe it or not, music in religion is a contentious subject! David Maas, a talented musician in his own right, considers the Bible's approach to music, concluding that it is a blessing from God and an appropriate vehicle for praise and worship.

Prophecy Watch
The Four Horsemen (Part Five):
The Pale Horse
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The last of the Four Horsemen, named Death, rides a ghastly pale horse and is accompanied by Hades. In this concluding installment, Richard Ritenbaugh explains these symbols, reiterating that the horsemen picture God's judgment due to man's rejection of His way of life.

Abraham's One God
by Mike Ford

The first commandment sets the stage for Mike Ford's review of Genesis 22, Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac. He suggests that God wanted to know one thing: Would Abraham put Him first and have no other god?

Searching for Israel (Part Five):
Solomon and the Divided Kingdom
by Charles Whitaker

As he aged, Solomon listened to his foreign wives and fell into idolatry. For this, Charles Whitaker shows, God divided his kingdom between Israel and Judah, but promised that a king of Judaic lineage will always rule Israel—another search criterion in the quest to locate modern Israel.

WorldWatch
Radical Hinduism
by Charles Whitaker

News, events, and trends from a prophetic perspective for August 2004: "Radical Hinduism"

Bible Study
Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Part Two)
by Martin G. Collins

Jesus' well-known parable preaches the gospel of the Kingdom of God by revealing salvation, the resurrection to eternal life, and inheritance of His Kingdom on the earth. Martin Collins explains how.