THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE GOLDEN BOWLS OF INCENSE
Revelation 5:8 "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."
Have you stopped and thought about the beauty, the mystery, and the regular function and flow of the Heavenly Priesthood around God's throne? Did you know that part of their success in priestly ministry to the Father and the Son in Heaven is connected to you and me and our consistency in lifting up our prayers and worship from the earth Heaven-ward? Check this out:
Rev. 5:8 "...the four living creatures/twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb...having...golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints..."
Rev. 8:3-4 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
Currently, there is a partially severed understanding of the Earthy and the Heavenly Priesthood and the ministry that we bring before our Creator God. One day, there will be a full restoration of the Earthly and Heavenly at the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride when the two will become one again. But, there is great room for encouragement in understanding the interaction of of two. The prayers and worship of the Saints is heard and received and actually fuels the ministry around God's throne. Look at these realities found in Revelation 5:8 & 8:3-4:
There is worship in Heaven like on the Earth.
There is prayer in Heaven like on the Earth.
We see instruments being played around God's throne as on the Earth.
We see some prayers that are collected and stored in golden bowls, the prayers/songs of the Saints.
We see that there is an altar near God's throne.
The golden bowls indicate the value that God and His Heavenly Priesthood places on the Saints prayers.
Angels present your worship/prayer on the altar of God as ministry to Him.
Our prayers/worship ascends and has movement from the Earth toward Heaven.
Our prayer/worship can only become incense to God when the fire is applied.
There is something beautiful about how God values the precious and sincere heart-connect of His family. It is a sweet fragrance when placed before Him. He delights in it. Your voice and heart toward God met by the living flame of God become an irresistible fragrance that captivates God's heart. In turn, He responds by pouring out an active response of love in the forms of His presence and released resources to meet our needs.