Revelation 8:1-5: a reflection

1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed.

In the vision of heaven, after a solemn silence, an angel stands at the golden altar with a censer, and something remarkable rises before God: The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. The prayers of the saints, ordinary believers, are gathered up, mingled with incense, and rise before the very throne of God. They are not lost, not unheard; they ascend to God, treasured and presented before him. The prayers of God's people rise before his throne, gathered and offered up, precious in his sight.

Notice what rises before God: the prayers of the saints. The prayers of ordinary believers, which might seem to vanish into the air unheard, are pictured here rising before God's throne, mingled with fragrant incense, gathered and presented before him. They are not lost or forgotten; they ascend to God, treasured and offered up. And the vision shows them having effect, as the censer is cast to the earth. The prayers of the saints are not empty words that fade; they rise before God, precious to him, and are not without effect. What we pray ascends before the throne of God.

That is worth taking to heart, for our prayers rise before God, treasured and not lost, and are not without effect. We can feel that our prayers vanish unheard, that they rise no higher than the ceiling, that they make no difference; but the vision shows the prayers of the saints rising before God's throne, mingled with incense, treasured before him. Our prayers are not lost; they ascend to God, precious in his sight, and have their effect. When you pray and feel your words vanish unheard, remember that the prayers of the saints rise before God's throne, treasured and not lost. Pray with confidence that your prayers rise before God, treasured and not lost, and are not without effect, as the vision shows the prayers of the saints ascending before the throne with incense; for what we pray is not empty words that fade, but rises before God, precious in his sight, and he gathers and treasures the prayers of his people.

Lord, in the vision of heaven, after a solemn silence, an angel stands at the golden altar with a censer, and something remarkable rises before you: the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. The prayers of the saints, ordinary believers, are gathered up, mingled with incense, and rise before your very throne. They are not lost, not unheard; they ascend to you, treasured and presented before you. Show me what rises before you: the prayers of the saints. The prayers of ordinary believers, which might seem to vanish into the air unheard, are pictured here rising before your throne, gathered and presented before you. They are not lost or forgotten; they ascend to you, treasured and offered up. And the vision shows them having effect. Our prayers are not empty words that fade; they rise before you, precious to you. Take that to my heart, for my prayers rise before you, treasured and not lost, and are not without effect. I can feel that my prayers vanish unheard, that they rise no higher than the ceiling, that they make no difference; but the vision shows the prayers of the saints rising before your throne. My prayers are not lost; they ascend to you, precious in your sight. When I pray and feel my words vanish unheard, help me remember that the prayers of the saints rise before your throne, Lord. Help me pray with confidence that my prayers rise before you, treasured and not lost, as the vision shows the prayers of the saints ascending before the throne with incense.