A Revelation Invitation

(“The Throne” series begins here.)

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:3-5 ESV)

The one seated on the throne, who with unrivaled power rules creation, is mightier than all the forces of chaos and disorder that threaten his kingdom. If this is so, why then does his church suffer persecution and tribulations? It’s great if God is not bothered by all this evil, but what about us? We must endure difficulties everyday.

John observes an angel serving at an altar offering much incense. The smoke of the incense are the prayers of the saints, our prayers, continuously rising up to the throne as a sweet aroma, pleasing to the Lord. The angel in heaven mediates for us. The Lord is not a distant God. He knows us. He hears us. Our prayers are precious to him. Our welfare is important to him. So, in response to our prayers, he authorizes this mighty angel act.

What does the angel do with the fire from this altar? He takes the censer, our prayers brought before the throne, and hurls it upon the earth. The result? Peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. God hears our prayers and acts on our behalf shaking the foundations of the powers that oppose us, striking fear in our enemies. They have lost control of their world. They fear the end is coming, and it is. For the people of John’s day, they witnessed the crumbling of the Roman Empire. We will witness different events. We will see God intervene in our world on behalf of his saints whose prayers rise continuously before his throne.

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13 ESV)

(Part 3 of “The Throne” is here.)