What did the high priest do with coals from the brazen altar on the Day of Atonement?
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest took coals from off the brazen altar and carried them into the inner altar. He did not burn animal fat there; he burned incense. The smoke from that incense covered the little room, veiling the presence of God even from the high priest.
Les explains that the little altar inside was made of wood, covered with pure gold, and had a grate. Especially on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would take coals from off the brazen altar and carry them into this inner altar. He would not burn animal fat or anything like that on it; instead, he burned incense. The smoke of that incense would literally cover the little room and, as it were, obliterate the very presence of God from even the high priest. Les also connects this to Christ’s finished work, and notes that Revelation identifies the sweet odor of the incense as the prayers of the saints, so believers are involved in that picture.