Back in the 1970’s and 1980’s it was popular for members of the clergy to bash rock music, especially heavy metal. One of the most notorious groups to be labeled evil was Iron Maiden, primarily because of the song, “Number of the Beast.” When asked if members of Iron Maiden are devil worshipers their reply was, “No we are not. It was just one song.” The song, in fact, was based on the book, “The Omen,” to which the Catholic church gave the thumbs up. The song starts off with verses from The Revelation of Jesus Christ. “Whoa to thee of earth and sea, for the devil sends the beast with wrath.” (Revelation 12:12) “Let him who have understanding recognize the number of the beast for it is a human number. It’s number is six hundred and sixty six.” (Revelation 13:18)
How can anything which contains the word of God be evil? Hello! The book of Revelation (Revelation 1:3) even promises a blessing for anyone who reads this to others! God works in strange ways and who would have thought that some British heavy metal musicians would teach some biblical verses to millions of American teenagers, who would never have know it otherwise. And God did bless Iron Maiden with their break through hit and a long and prosperous career. Another song of theirs, “The Evil That Men Do” also refers to The Revelation of Jesus Christ 5:6. and you can find biblical references in many other songs by Iron Maiden, as well as songs by Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.
All of this brings me to my point that God is in everything and that if we look for God we can find it. God always wins and has his influence everywhere.
Back Masking What about back masking, the old trick of playing an analog tape backwards while record music or lyrics forwards. Supposedly brainwashing messages played backward are going to make us do what ever they say. That doesn’t work backwards, verbal persuasion seldom works forwards. As a president of an advertising firm once said, “If that worked then every commercial would use it, and we could make men buy tampons! It’s just not so. |
Many times when I perform “Stairway to Heaven” I feel the Holy Spirit. Could it be that somehow God used another heavy metal band, Led Zeppelin, to glorify Jesus Christ and Heaven for masses of teenagers. It seems that British school boys know a lot more about Christianity than their American counterparts. Lets examine the words to Stairway to Heaven. One verse that sticks out right away is ” ’cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.” Hey the Bible is full of parables, words with two meanings. Maybe some of the words in this song have two meanings. Let’s examine it line by line and see the hidden meanings and the strange ways God works to spread the word.
But you say that the artists are sinners so this song must be evil. In The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (Revelation 19:10) an angel tells John that God says the message is what’s important, not the messenger. Besides, Jesus loves sinners. He died for your sins.
Isn’t it funny that every year since it was new, Stairway to Heaven has been the number one rock song every time that a rock radio station plays their all time greatest, most requested songs. That’s pretty amazing, in fact it’s a miracle! Truly it is. I mean, do you think God would let Highway to Hell be number one? Well, maybe if God wanted to use it as a warning. But God, being a good, friendly, and loving God would rather do a little positive reinforcement and use a positive song after all….
This is a song of hope (this is a song of salvation)
Stairway To Heaven
words and music by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin.
There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven. (she is tithing)
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for. (The bible is the word of God, with the bible, she can get into Heaven.) Revelation 3:8
Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven. (She is tithing and she she thinks that will get her into Heaven)
There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure (points out the significance of the next line, hint hint)
‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. (parables, which the bible is full of, and the words in this song have two meanings)
In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings, (reference to John the Baptist and Jesus)
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving.
Ooh, it makes me wonder, (think!)
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west, (the anointing of the holy spirit’s comforting, Christianity is the religion of western civilization) (it’s usually about now that I feel the spirit! -jk)
And my spirit is crying for leaving. (soul crying out to be saved)
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, (Revelation of Jesus Christ)
And the voices of those who standing looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.
And it’s whispered (Revealed by Jesus) that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper (Jesus, the one playing the woodwind instrument, the flute, which has a whispering tone) will lead us to reason. (Jesus’ second coming, revelation 7:17)
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long (World after tribulation) Revelation 3:12
And the forests will echo with laughter.
Well I’ve got some good news! (Gospel is the Greek word for good news)
If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now,
It’s just a spring clean for the May queen. (God puling the weeds, the tare, reaping…)
Yes, there are two paths you can go by (the Stairway to Heaven or the Highway to Hell), but in the long run,
There’s still time to change the road you’re on.
Well I hope so! (There is always hope. It is never to late to be saved)
And it makes me wonder.
Your head is humming and it won’t go, in case you don’t know,
The piper’s calling you to join him, (Jesus said I will knock on the door…) Rev 3:20
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, (the word of Jesus) and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind. (if you want to get to heaven you have to follow the piper, Jesus. Christians are saved by grace, not by their works.)
And as we wind on down the road (Later in life, after a few wrong turns. There is a straight and narrow path to heaven, there is a long and winding road to hell. )
Our shadows taller than our soul. (late in the day (near the end of our life) we cast longer shadows, our soul is nothing with out Jesus)
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold. (Later in life after more and more sin we can still be saved. The new world after the tribulation will be made of gold.)
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last. (if you accept Christ the holy spirit will come into your heart and you will be saved.)
When all are one and one is all (in Heaven we are one with God)
To be a rock and not to roll. (Jesus is the Rock, be strong with his foundation)
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven…………….
Conclusion: This song is a thinly disguised evangelistic song about Jesus Christ. Old
school musicians had a clever way about writing songs about subjects without being blatantly obvious like the musicians of today. Mostly they used this technique to sing about sex and drugs without the general population knowing what they were actually singing about. This song is unique in that they are singing about finding God without singing Jesus Jesus Jesus and forcing religion down people’s throats and turning them off. Heeding their own words is another story. (Do as I say, not as I do.) The members of Led Zeppelin may or my not be Christians but they do seem to have studied the bible quite a bit and seem to know it a lot better than the average American. They hit on all of the major points of Christianity: self righteousness or good behavior doesn’t get you into Heaven, only following Jesus will get you into Heaven, Jesus is coming back to judge the world and the faithful will be rewarded in the new world.
The narrative of the song is about being a sinner and hearing the word of Jesus, continuing to sin and then later finally accepting Christ and being saved! You get to heaven by the grace of God, not by your works, and it doesn’t matter how much or for how long that you’ve sinned. It’s not to late to be saved by the grace of God. (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who so ever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:17) For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
If your soul is crying out for help, and you need Jesus in your life just open up your heart and ask him in because he has been calling out for you. (John 14:6) Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
That feeling you get… when it feels like your so happy you could cry… that’s the holy spirit! That’s how you feel God! If you are feeling the holy spirit right now, pray a short prayer and ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins. Confess him as your lord and savior and go sin no more and you will be born again in the spirit and your name will be written in God’s eternal book of life.