REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 8.3
Gleanings
from the Book of Revelation:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION
TO JOHN
(The
Apocalypse)
Chapter
Eight
Judgment Resumed:
The Seven Trumpets
Review
In the previous lesson (8:1-2), there
was an interim of silence that existed in Heaven for about one-half hour
between opening the sixth and seventh seals. Through this period, it is not as if the
inhabitants in Heaven are standing around in awe looking at each other and
nothing is happening, but almost as if one were looking backstage, the
stagehands are observed hastily moving around and setting up for the next scene
that is about to take place. The following are some preparatory actions during
this period:
1. Seven trumpets dispersed to high-ranking angels
2. Intercessory prayers being offered up
to God
3. Angels preparing themselves to sound
trumpets
(Verse 3)
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden
censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints
upon the golden altar which was before the Throne.
And another angel came
In verse 3, the Apostle John is presently seeing and describing another (allos)
angel, or a different angel of the same type (high ranking as in verse 2). This
angel is only designated for the specific work assigned to him as he approaches
God's golden altar with a golden censer. He is a priestly ministering angel.
Some
may argue that the angel is Jesus Christ performing His high priestly duties.
But at this point in the narrative, Jesus would be in His glorified body,
seated on the Throne (cf. Revelation 4:2) and breaking the seven seals.
(Another angel) … stood at the altar
The
Heavenly Altar of Incense
The altar in this phrase
is the altar of incense and is referred to seven times in the King James
Version of Revelation (cf. 6:9; 8:3,5; 9:13; 11:1; 14:18; 16:7). The altar of incense of the Tabernacle or Temple once stood
in front of the veil of the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was
placed.
But since the veil was rent or torn at Christ's death, believers presently
gain direct access to God, because no veil exists and is now not needed between
the altar of incense and God's heavenly Throne. So, the picture becomes evident
as the prayers of the saints ascend directly into His presence.
Ironically, David once wrote:
Psalm 141:2 - Let my prayer be set forth before thee
as incense.
The Earthly Altar of Incense
An accurate description of the earthly altar of incense and its measurements
is documented in Exodus:
Exodus 37:25-26 - And he made the incense altar of shittim (or
acacia) wood: the
length of it was a cubit (18 inches), and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare [doubled (all
sides at 90 degrees)]; and two cubits (36 inches or 3 feet) was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides
thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.
The
horns of the golden altar were ceremonially sprinkled with blood from the
animal sacrifice to cleanse and purify it from the sins of the Israelites (cf. Leviticus
4:7, 16:18). The blood sacrifice served as a temporary atonement for sin. Just
as the horns on the brazen altar represent the power of Christ's blood to
forgive sins, the horns on the golden altar signify the power of His blood as
we directly confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness during prayer.
In the book of Leviticus,
God painstakingly blueprints precise detailed measurements, (as in Noah's Ark) for
all the building materials and accouterments of the movable Tabernacle, the
counterpart of God's heavenly Throne.
And there was given unto him much incense
Incense
in Revelation
Incense in this passage is
referring to the prayers of the martyred saints and an abundant amount was
given to the ministering angel.
That he should offer it
with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the
throne
The
Prayers of the Saints
Prayers are considered
sacrifices to God that rise up to Him. The picture is as if all the petitions
of the people of God traveled to Him wrapped in an envelope of perfumed
incense.
Revelation
6:10 - And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy
and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our
blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Some specific prayers offered by the
other officiating angel who stood (was standing) at the golden altar before the
Throne may rightly include:
1. How
long will it be for sin to be defeated in the world?
2. How
long will it be for suffering to end?
3. How
long will it be for Satan to be destroyed?
Incense
in the Old Testament
Incense burned perpetually
before the Lord throughout the year. According to the prescription God gave
Moses [the second time he went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments
(Exodus 30:34)], incense was made from equal parts of four fragrant spices.
1. Stacte
is technically a Greek word meaning oozing
out in drops. It is an aromatic
gum resin having a vanilla-like
perfume that was exuded from the storax tree grown primarily in Turkey
(Asia Minor) and Syria.
2. Onycha means a
nail, claw, shell, or scale. It was derived from a marine shell
animal, or mollusk (possibly a sea snail that abides in the Red Sea), and when
dried out, ground, and burned emits a fragrant perfume. Onycha was frequently
used by Arab women of Upper Egypt or Numbia, an ancient region in
northeastern Africa. Some believe it to be Myrrh.
3. Galbanum: A yellowish-brown, odorous rubbery gum resin or
juice derived from Syrian fennel, a carrot-like plant purposely used for
medicine and incense. It was also imported from Persia, Syria, and the eastern
coast of Africa.
4. Pure Frankincense
(cf. Matthew 2:11) is a white aromatic gum resin taken from trees grown in Arabia,
Indonesia, Burma, or the high mountains of India and transported via the
Nomadic camel caravans.
As discussed in Exodus 30:34, stacte, onycha, and galbanum are three rare valuable spices and are only employed one time in Scripture. They are to be mixed
in equal parts with pure frankincense and made into incense for burning on the
altar of the Tabernacle. Subsequently, this formula was strictly forbidden for
private use and resulted in severe repercussions (cf. Exodus 30:37-38). Also, the smoke of this specially made incense symbolizes
prayer offerings as a sweet-savory fragrance rising up to God's nostrils.
Note: The significance of painstakingly
chronicling the above ingredients, as well as anything else related to the
Tabernacle, is simply to demonstrate to the believer, not only how expensive
and valuable prayers are to God, but also how God is a God of perfection and
how eventually we are to be perfected as believers.
(Verse 4)
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the
saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
During this scene of silence, an
overabundant amount of smoke from incense soars up, together with the prayers
of the martyred saints, as the angel presents them on God's Throne of grace.
Intercessory
Prayers
As stated, intercessory
praying is the act of praying on behalf of others. The mediators during the
Old Testament era were the Tabernacle or Temple priests. They would, for the
benefit of the nation Israel, offer to a holy God all prayers at the altar of
incense. Five offerings were to be made. Primarily, the sin or trespass
offering was a continual one where priests would sacrifice a lamb daily for
both the morning and evening prayers.
The
procedure involved priests of the
Tabernacle and Temple taking a censer full of burning coals from the brazen
altar in one hand and sprinkling the above-prepared incense over the burning
coals. Hence, the smoke, symbolic of Israel's prayers, would ascend and fill
the Tabernacle or Temple with sweet odours as the priest communed with God.
The
horns of the brazen altar were also sprinkled with blood from the animal
sacrifices epitomizing a cleansing, forgiving, and purification process for the
sins of the Israelites (cf. Leviticus 4:7, 16:18).
The
entire process justified the people of God and restored their relationship with
Him temporarily.
Christ
as our Intercessor
Christ Jesus, who (once and
for all) died as the perfect sacrifice — more than that, who was raised to life
— is seated at the right hand of God and interceding on our behalf (cf. Romans
8:34) and making us right with God for all time. Therefore, animal sacrifices
are no longer required and believers can spiritually approach God boldly and
directly before His Throne (cf. Hebrews 4:16).
Continuing…
(Verse 5)
And the angel took the censer, and filled it
with fire (the
burning coals) of the altar, and cast it (the burning contents of the censer) into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings,
and lightnings, and an earthquake.
God is now about to bring
about redemption for all creation. Silence is at the precipice of being broken.
In response to:
1. The
cumulative prayers of the suffering saints
2. The
rejection of the Gospel during Tribulation
3. The
stubbornness of adherence to sin
Romans
8:22 - For we know that
the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
in pain together until now.
The representation becomes
very clear as the angel, similarly acting as a Tabernacle priest, fills the
censer with burning coals [the same fire that consumed the sacrifice on the
brazen altar was also used to consume incense]…
And (The angel) filled it
(the censer) with fire (the burning coals) of the altar and cast it (the
burning contents of the censer) into the earth
In view, a reversal of the
curse, once placed upon man and earth in the Genesis account, will soon
commence. In preparation, burning coals are taken from the heavenly altar, and the censer
is filled and fiercely hurled down upon the earth. Symbolically:
a. As
prayers ascend
b. Answers
to prayers descend
So the prayers of the
saints have been heard. It is now the time for God to recompense.
And there were voices,
and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake
In direct contrast to Heaven's
silence, there is complete chaos on Earth. Ignited by the burning coals, distinct
screaming voices are heard globally and are followed by:
1. Thunders
- Generally denotes the approach of a storm
2. Lightening - Naturally precedes thunder
3. An earthquake - Unmistakably causes the
earth to shake
Notice the unusual imbalance
of order: Glaring lightning always precedes roaring thunder as light travels
faster than sound. However, the reason the order is reversed is predominantly since
all this is being viewed from Heaven. Something very real is materializing on
mankind which is only a foretaste to what is soon to transpire.
(Verse 6)
And
the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
One can almost visualize the
conductor of a symphonic orchestra standing on the podium lifting his baton to
begin the orchestration. Something very real is about to take place in the
realm of mankind as the angels prepare themselves to sound.
In the next study, Trumpets
resound.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is going on during one-half hour of silence
in Heaven?
2. What is the job description of the other angel?
3. What is the purpose of the altar of incense in Heaven?
4. What was the purpose of the altar of incense on
earth?
5. What is the importance of incense?
6. What are intercessory prayers?
7. How are God's actions justified?
If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing
to others.
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