The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 8:3-5,
"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, 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 on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."
Horrific judgments of God upon the people of the earth that are announced by seven angels with trumpets are initiated in this passage. We see that an angel with a golden censer offered "much incense" together with "the prayers of all God's people" on the golden altar in front of God's throne in heaven. This incense, together with these prayers "went up before God". The next thing we read is the angel filled his censor with fire from the altar and "hurled it on the earth" which initiated these coming judgments through "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."
The text of Revelation 8:3-5 tells us these horrific judgments of the seven trumpets followed this presentation of incense and prayers of God's people on God's heavenly altar. We read in Revelation 5:8 about living creatures and twenty-four elders who "were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people." Incense represents the prayers of God's people.
This brings the thought to me this morning of the importance of the prayers of God's people. Prayer, among other things, impacts the actions of God. Just how the prayers of God's people impacts God's judgments at the end of the age are not clear to me, as I'm certain that it has been God's intention all along to bring his judgments upon this sinful and fallen world, and particularly on those who reject God. Nevertheless, look at this vision John had of the throne and altar of God in heaven. The prayers of God's people play a key part when these judgments are initiated.
It causes me to think of James' words, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16. Prayer is not a simply a spiritual discipline for its own sake. Clearly, here in Revelation 8:3-5, it is a key component of the roll out of God's judgments.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, 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 on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."
Horrific judgments of God upon the people of the earth that are announced by seven angels with trumpets are initiated in this passage. We see that an angel with a golden censer offered "much incense" together with "the prayers of all God's people" on the golden altar in front of God's throne in heaven. This incense, together with these prayers "went up before God". The next thing we read is the angel filled his censor with fire from the altar and "hurled it on the earth" which initiated these coming judgments through "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."
The text of Revelation 8:3-5 tells us these horrific judgments of the seven trumpets followed this presentation of incense and prayers of God's people on God's heavenly altar. We read in Revelation 5:8 about living creatures and twenty-four elders who "were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people." Incense represents the prayers of God's people.
This brings the thought to me this morning of the importance of the prayers of God's people. Prayer, among other things, impacts the actions of God. Just how the prayers of God's people impacts God's judgments at the end of the age are not clear to me, as I'm certain that it has been God's intention all along to bring his judgments upon this sinful and fallen world, and particularly on those who reject God. Nevertheless, look at this vision John had of the throne and altar of God in heaven. The prayers of God's people play a key part when these judgments are initiated.
It causes me to think of James' words, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16. Prayer is not a simply a spiritual discipline for its own sake. Clearly, here in Revelation 8:3-5, it is a key component of the roll out of God's judgments.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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