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.
Censors are little metal dishes filled with incense. They were used in ancient Israel as part of the worship (Numbers 16). In John’s vision, the censers were burning incense along with all God’s people praying. Revelation does not tell us the topic of these prayers, but they may be similar to the prayers of 5:8. These may be the prayers that cried out to God for liberation from sin and the snares of the world. These may also be the prayers that have asked Jesus to come again, Marantha!
Since these prayers are associated with the incense from the altar, these verses suggest that God is now answering the prayers for liberation and revenge. The time of reckoning upon the earth has come. This is shown with the thunder and lightning and earthquakes. Nature announces the coming of the end.
These verses suggest to me that our prayers do have an impact and will be answered. They may not be answered in our lifetime, but God will make all things right in the end. We should never give up. We must cast our care on the Lord. We must let him take revenge on our enemies and instead we should show them love. We must not give up our hopes and longings for Jesus to come again. These verses tell us that God is listening and will answer when the time is right.
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