17 Dec Reflections on Revelation #145
Day 145
“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.” Rev 8:1-6 NASB.
Shortly after the rooster crowed the officer of the day knocked on the door of the second-floor chamber surrounding the outer court of the temple. He led out in the casting of lots to determine those who would do the various duties of the daily service.
At daybreak, they brought a lamb to the outer court. While one priest prepared to slaughter the lamb, another entered the temple to clear the ashes from the altar of incense and relight the lamps inside the Holy Place (Rev 1:12-16). The opening of the great entrance door into the temple (4:1) was the signal to slay the lamb (5:6-10). The body parts of the Lamb were then brought to the altar of burnt offering and its blood poured out at the base of the altar (6:9-11).
The appointed priest then took the golden censer (8:3-5). It was like a long-handled frying pan with a lid on it. The priest filled it with coals from the hottest part of the fire on the altar of burnt offerings (8:3). He then entered the open door of the temple and arranged the coals of fire on the altar of incense. At the time commanded by the officer of the day, he added incense to the fire on the altar (8:4).
At this decisive point in the service, three things happened. The censor was thrown down (8:5) between the altar of burnt offering and the entrance to the temple. There was a break in the singing, a moment of silence (8:1). And during that moment of silence seven priests would blow seven trumpets (8:2, 6).
The first third of the book of Revelation is based on the “tamid,” the daily sacrifice in the Hebrew temple. The incense represents the righteousness of Christ applied to the prayers of God’s people throughout the Christian era. This scene assures us that our mistakes, and even the inadequacy of our good deeds, are covered by the perfect righteousness of Christ.
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