Incense, Prayers, and Fire

Ezekiel 20-21, Psalms 111; Revelation 8 

“…He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightening and an earthquake.”

Revelation 8:3-5

The prayers of the saints are combined with God’s incense as they rise before the throne of God. The fragrance of God’s incense is the reality of his presence through the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus through the Spirit who intercedes for us when words are not enough. It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies our prayers like incense. This intercession in John’s vision is instrumental in releasing God’s end-time judgments of sin. Our intercession before the throne of God combined with the fire of God’s holiness is instrumental in releasing God’s work on earth. Only Jeremiah received the promise of seventy years of captivity in Babylon for Israel before God returned them to their land; Daniel then reminded God of that promise and interceded for its fulfillment. In our day we, as the Church, cooperate with God’s prophetic purposes for the salvation of the nations. In this age of grace, while there is still time, let us pray, proclaim the Gospel, and give all we have to the King.

“Lord Jesus, pray through me your kingdom prayers, for your glory.”