Revelation 8:4-5; Prayers of the Saints
Revelation 8:4-5 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
The Tribulations saints cried to their Father in heaven for justice in the midst of great oppression and persecution. There was persevering prayer despite their sufferings on earth. This text is a message of victory for the suffering saints. These one would have the Bible with them during the Tribulation. Through the revelation of the Apostle John, they understood that their tarrying at the throne of grace will not be in vain. God hears them at His throne room in heaven.
It is true also for the saints in the Church Age. The prayer of the saints, as depicted by their life of devotion to the Lord is like the smoke from the altar of incense, is perfumed to the Lord. The spices were weighed out equally (Exodus 30:34), mixed into one substance by the perfumers (Exodus 30:35) and beaten to emit their fragrance (Exodus 30:36).
34And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. (Exod. 30:34-36 KJV)
In this season of unprecedented stay-home order for households around the world, may the people of God draw close to Him and find sweet communion and strength for life. You will notice that as the stay-home order prolongs, inadvertently, many, unable to find a way out of life’s problems, fall into depression. It is an opportune time to share the gospel as the world search for answers to purpose and life in this sobering time.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and beready always to givean answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Amen.