Revelation 8:3
3 And[kai] another[allos] angel[aggelos] came[erchomai] and[kai] stood[histemi] at[epi] the altar,[thusiasterion] having[echo] a golden[chruseos] censer;[libanotos] and[kai] there was given[didomi] unto him[autos] much[polus] incense,[thumiama] that[hina] he should offer[didomi] it with the prayers[proseuche] of all[pas] saints[hagios] upon[epi] the golden[chruseos] altar[thusiasterion] which[ho] was before[enopion] the throne.[thronos] KJV-Interlinear
3 And
another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much
incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints
upon the golden altar which was before the throne. NASB
Symbolic of the functions
of the Temple from the Old Testament, the first alter is the brazen alter
representing the alter upon which the sacrifice of Christ is portrayed. That alter is where the lamb would have been
sacrificed.
The golden censor, is a
fire pan within which hot coals are taken from the brazen alter, and carried to
the golden alter (the second alter), which is located in the outer room of the
tabernacle.
The golden alter was the
alter of prayer, wherein the hot coals were added to incense, and the resulting
smoke rising up, represented the prayers of believers, rising up to God. The aroma of the burning incense is pleasing
to God, representing their acceptability to Him. This second alter
stood in the outer room, outside the inner room, the Holy of Holies. Inside that inner room, was the Ark of the Covenant,
representing the dwelling place of God or Gods throne.
However, this second alter
in heaven stands before the throne of God (the same as represented by the Ark
on earth), upon which sits the lamb (the sacrifice) and the Lord (Jesus
Christ), who are one and the same.
The incense given to the
angel is characterized as ‘much,’ meaning abundant, or multiplied or increased.
And here this indicates
that the prayers which have been offered throughout the ages, by believers, are
now all represented here and now, but they are also, now, increasing in
intensity.The here and now are
referring to the Tribulation, and more specifically the latter half of the
Tribulation (the last three and a half years), which is called the Great Tribulation. This last half is the intensified judgment
portion of the Tribulation.
So, one intensification (prayers
to God for help for it all to be ended) correlates with the other intensification
(the horrors, persecutions, sufferings, and so forth).
All the saints, refers to
all of those who have been made holy.In
other words, all believers, both in heaven and back on earth, from throughout
all of human history.This is not
exclusive to some particular group, for no group of believers are singled out
or mentioned specifically.The term,
saint, is a term that spans the ages.Just as prayer is an action that applies to all of humanity.
All prayer is answered. God never loses sight of even one
prayer.Sometimes prayer has to wait
until its answer fits Gods plan, but nevertheless, all prayers, if legitimate,
receive special care and handling at the appropriate time in ones life or in history.
Believers have prayed
throughout history, and continue to pray for various things. Here, just because God has not already ended
history, does not mean that all of those prayers have not been heard, or have
gone unanswered.
Therefore, prayer is not
only mandated, but expected. And sooner
or later, your prayers and Gods will and plan, will match up and prove to be
efficacious.
Feel Free to make a comment about
this study:Comment Page
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are availablehere.
Donations
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/m-donation.html
