Revelation 8:2-5 – And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 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. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 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.
“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.” These angels are not directly identified, other than their position before God. Standing before God is symbolic for serving Him, being ready to do what He speaks. These angels are ready to do the work of God. Oh that I could be as ready as these angels are and that I would always have the heart of the boy Samuel (1 Samuel 3:10 “The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.””). Sometimes it is imperative that we do not question a directive from another, but act on it immediately. Sometimes life and death depend on whether ones acts immediately of not. When someone yells “Duck!” it is best to do so immediately. It is better to be wrong than to risk severe harm, or death, because we did not obey the call to “duck.” When God speaks what should immediately follow is action to obey. It is in our best interest. It is the correct response to everything God says.
Trumpets are calls to action, calls to war, like a bugle in the battlefield. They are often blown signifying end times events (Some examples of trumpet usage may be seen in Numbers 10, Exodus 19:16-19, 1 Kings 1:34,39, Joshua 6:13-16).
The seven angels were given seven trumpets. Someone gave the angels the trumpets, who did is not identified.
There are references from the Apocrypha that speak of seven angels that stand before God and carry the prayers of the saints, and even gives names of these angels. The supposed names of them are Uriel, Raphael, Ragel, Michael, Saraquel, Gabriel and Remiel. This is interesting, but should be considered tradition more than scripture, and thus properly weighted.
“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar…” This angel is likewise not identified.
The angel had with him a golden censer. The censer was a vessel that could be used for carrying burning incense. It could be shaped like a bowl, or even like a sauce pan (with a handle). That the censer is golden is meaning that what is within it is of great value.
Before the altar, where the mercy, benevolence and provision of God is sought. The altar is golden, as we shall see with the following verse. Again, it is golden because of the importance purpose and position of it.
“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 incense here accompanies, but is specifically not, the prayers of God’s people. In Revelation 5:8 the incense was the prayers. Here the incense accompanies the prayers.
What is placed on the golden altar is the prayers of all God’s people. It is interesting that the word “all” is used here. It is not referring only to the prayers of tribulation saints, but rather says “all.” All would include all of us saints. Are the prayers of saints that had not previously been answered found here, and now answered? One thing we know is that the Lord hears our prayers (1 John 5:14). All our prayers to the Lord are heard and all of them are precious to Him. He does not lose one of them. Praise God!
Where the prayers are placed are on the golden altar before the very throne of God. Praise God!
“The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.” The prayer of God’s people, from the hand of angel to the presence of God. What a wonderful picture!
“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.” Here is the reason for the silence in the midst of judgement falling upon earth. The value and importance of our prayer is great with the Lord. Even the Great Tribulation is stopped for a brief time as God addresses the prayers of His people. We look back to Revelation 6:9-11 where the Lord tells the souls under the altar to wait. The time for justice and judgement of God will come. Here we see the prayers of all God’s people hurled to the earth and the judgement that falls on the earth is now multiplied. The prayers of those that the world hated and mistreated because they stood with Jesus now ignites what is coming to the earth “peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. The half hour of silence is broken. With it comes the horror of God’s judgment on the earth. Hebrews 10:31 NLV “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Some may condemn God at this point. That reminds me of the well know term applied to people who testify against a law breaker. It is that many call these people a “rat.” Isn’t that everything backward! The person who did wrong calls the person who did right a “rat.” The truth is that the person who did the wrong was the one who acted like a rat and the person who told on the person was the one who did the right thing. That is what the world is transforming into. Bad is called good and good is called bad. Yet, Family, the time of judgement is close, but not yet upon us. May we be the messengers, the sent ones, who tells everyone that we know, as soon as possible, that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). God is good and loves us, let us live in His love, grace and mercy. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.