There does indeed seem to be musical instruments in
heaven. Specifically, there is the mention of the playing of the harp in both text you
refer to along with singing praise to God. I would point out this is in very symbolic text
where the companion statement is there was the burning of incense which was the prayers of
the saints. It is possible the instruments also were symbolic. But that really doesn't
matter one way or the other.
The fact is, a thing being in heaven doesn't give
authority for it being a part of worship in the church. It is definite that instrumental
music was an accepted part of Old Testament worship with those like David playing the harp
and many other instruments to God.
But for a thing to be acceptable in the New
Testament church worship, it must be authorized for that purpose. Every text which deals
with music in the worship of the New Testament church commands or teaches singing. In the
text which use the Greek word which can be translated, "Make Music" the
instrument to be planned is named. In Ephesians 5:19 - "Speaking to yourselves in
Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody (Making music) in your heart
to the Lord." The parallel text is, Colossians 3:16 - "Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Notice the
instrument on which we are to make music is our heart and that is to be played to the
Lord. So far as what we are to do toward one another, it is to Sing.
While instrumental music is never condemned in the
New Testament, it is never authorized either. Why not simply go as far as the Lord does on
the matter and stop?
Leon Barnes