“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:8-10 NIV).
One of the more common illustrations of the heavenly realm features angelic beings who float among the clouds while gently strumming harps. That imagery is likely derived (at least in part) from our text here in Revelation 5:8. Nevertheless, this verse highlights an important element that we might easily overlook: the depiction of the prayers offered by God’s people as golden bowls filled with fragrant incense.
In an age where leftover meals are commonly stored in cheap plastic containers, this portrait of a golden bowl illustrates the tremendous value God places upon our prayers. In addition, the fact that God associates our petitions and intercessions with the pleasing aroma of sweet-smelling incense should encourage us to seek Him in prayer each day. As we do so, we have a fresh opportunity to contribute to the “prayerful incense” alluded to in this passage.
These verses also present us with another insight that holds significant implications: “…by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God” (ESV). This portion of Scripture tells us that people from every societal demographic throughout human history will join their Creator in eternity.
Since no one can come to God the Father except through Christ (John 14:6), this can be challenging to reconcile with those people groups throughout history who have never heard of Jesus. The late Biblical scholar Dr. Norman Geisler helps brings clarity to that question…
“God has many ways to get the truth about salvation through Christ to those who seek Him. He can send a missionary (Acts 10), or a Bible (Ps. 119:130), give them a vision (Dan. 2:7), or send an angel (Rev. 14). But those who turn their back on the light they have (through nature) and find themselves lost in darkness, have no one to blame but themselves.” (1)
Image Attribution : Mattana, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
(1) Geisler, Dr. Norman. When Critics Ask : A Popular Handbook On Bible Difficulties [pg.29]