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Revelation 8:3
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3 And [kai] another [allos] angel [aggelos] came [erchomai] and [kai] stood [histemi] at [epi] the altar, [thusiasterion] having [echo] a golden [chruseos] censer; [libanotos] and [kai] there was given [didomi] unto him [autos] much [polus] incense, [thumiama] that [hina] he should offer [didomi] it with the prayers [proseuche] of all [pas] saints [hagios] upon [epi] the golden [chruseos] altar [thusiasterion] which [ho] was before [enopion] the throne. [thronos] KJV-Interlinear
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. NASB
Symbolic of the functions of the Temple from the Old Testament, the first alter is the brazen alter representing the alter upon which the sacrifice of Christ is portrayed. That alter is where the lamb would have been sacrificed.
The golden censor, is a fire pan within which hot coals are taken from the brazen alter, and carried to the golden alter (the second alter), which is located in the outer room of the tabernacle.
The golden alter was the alter of prayer, wherein the hot coals were added to incense, and the resulting smoke rising up, represented the prayers of believers, rising up to God. The aroma of the burning incense is pleasing to God, representing their acceptability to Him. This second alter stood in the outer room, outside the inner room, the Holy of Holies. Inside that inner room, was the Ark of the Covenant, representing the dwelling place of God or Gods throne.
However, this second alter in heaven stands before the throne of God (the same as represented by the Ark on earth), upon which sits the lamb (the sacrifice) and the Lord (Jesus Christ), who are one and the same.
The incense given to the angel is characterized as ‘much,’ meaning abundant, or multiplied or increased.
And here this indicates that the prayers which have been offered throughout the ages, by believers, are now all represented here and now, but they are also, now, increasing in intensity. The here and now are referring to the Tribulation, and more specifically the latter half of the Tribulation (the last three and a half years), which is called the Great Tribulation. This last half is the intensified judgment portion of the Tribulation.
So, one intensification (prayers to God for help for it all to be ended) correlates with the other intensification (the horrors, persecutions, sufferings, and so forth).
All the saints, refers to all of those who have been made holy. In other words, all believers, both in heaven and back on earth, from throughout all of human history. This is not exclusive to some particular group, for no group of believers are singled out or mentioned specifically. The term, saint, is a term that spans the ages. Just as prayer is an action that applies to all of humanity.
All prayer is answered. God never loses sight of even one prayer. Sometimes prayer has to wait until its answer fits Gods plan, but nevertheless, all prayers, if legitimate, receive special care and handling at the appropriate time in ones life or in history.
Believers have prayed throughout history, and continue to pray for various things. Here, just because God has not already ended history, does not mean that all of those prayers have not been heard, or have gone unanswered.
Therefore, prayer is not only mandated, but expected. And sooner or later, your prayers and Gods will and plan, will match up and prove to be efficacious.
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