Reflections on Revelation #147

Day 147

“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. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God.” Rev 8:3-4 NASB.

Religion says do, Christianity says DONE. The Christian faith isn’t about what we do for God; it is about what God has done for us. In other words, because of the cross, human beings become acceptable to God. They can find meaning and purpose in life because God has already acted to make it possible.

That’s what the incense at the altar is all about. The incense originated from the altar of sacrifice. It is the sacrifice that makes the incense possible. The cross is the foundation of everything God does for His people. Because of what happened on the cross, Jesus can provide forgiveness. In the daily ritual of the Old Testament sanctuary the incense was constantly hovering over the camp, covering the people and their sins. When we fall short of the glory of God, (which the Bible says we do all the time) the incense of Christ’s righteousness hovers over our lives as well.

The language of the evening Sanctuary service is used in Revelation 8:3-5. It is significant that the angel receives incense at the “golden alter which was before the throne” Rev 8:3 NKJV. The incense represents the prayers of God’s people (V:8). Their prayers are now being answered by God.

Revelation 8:3-5 provides important information regarding the trumpets in Revelation: Firstly, the 7 trumpets are God’s judgments on rebellious humanity in response to the prayers of His oppressed people. Secondly the trumpets follow the death of Jesus as the Lamb and run consecutively throughout history until the second coming (see Rev 11:15-18)

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