Prayers of the Saints
5 min read
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.
Revelation 8:3-5
There is a sense that the prayers of God’s people that are being offered with the incense have to do with seeking justice for the persecutions that they have had to suffer. Once the trumpets start sounding, God’s judgment starts to be executed upon the earth.
For us, the judgment that is described seems horrific and awful. But three points come to my mind about that judgment.
First, that judgment is in response to the prayers of the saints. If our perspective is not in line with theirs, could it be that our hearts are more aligned with the world?
Second, there is a way to see God’s judgment as simply the consequences of humanity’s refusal to live according to God’s economy. It is God’s world, governed by God’s rules. And if we find God’s world falling apart because of humanity’s sin, should we be surprised? Are we surprised when people become unhealthy because they abuse their bodies?
Third, God’s judgment is part of His plan of salvation that ends with order, justice, peace, joy, and love being restored in this world. Should we despise God’s plan?
For me, too, when I read about the end times, I am filled with a sense of dread. But I remember that God has revealed these things to encourage us to repent from sinfulness and to persevere in faithfulness.
So I will hold onto faith and trust in His love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness. I will pray as King David prayed:
For the sake of your name, LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.Psalm 25:11
Father, You are good, and Your lovingkindness, mercy, and faithfulness endure forever. Continue to sanctify according to Your mercy and grace for Your name’s sake. And be glorified in me. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
