Revelation 8:2-5 “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.”
We have glimpses of heaven and heavenly worship throughout the book of Revelation. The picture painted for us today is especially helpful in further advocating the important role that prayer has in our lives. Seven trumpets are getting ready to sound after the opening of the seventh seal by the Lamb and the thirty minutes of silence in heaven. Once the angels sound the trumpets, devastations will be unleashed on the earth. Verse 4 tells us that the smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the saints ascend before God. Your prayer, once it leaves your lips, mixes in with the prayers of God’s people all over the earth, and collectively rises before the throne of God. Revelation chapter 5 makes incense and prayer synonymous: Revelation 5:8 – “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Your prayers, some of which you have forgotten, are in a heavenly container. They are remembered before God continually.
Exodus chapter seven gives us the instructions concerning the incense to be offered by Aaron in the Old Testament tabernacle: Exodus 30:7,8 –“Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. 8And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.” Notice the words “perpetual incense.” Prayer is to be offered every day and perpetually. This daily ritual was simply copying what is taking place in heaven (Hebrews 8:3-6). Know today that when you pray heaven takes notice. Your prayer rises as incense before God. It is a precursor to God taking action in the earth and the heavens are guardians of this precious offering. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! And may God move mightily in the earth!