The purpose of incense in the tabernacle was to produce a sweet-smelling smoke that rose before God, symbolizing worship and prayer, and in Revelation it represents the prayers of the saints.
Les Feldick explains that the high priest burned incense on the golden altar, filling the Holy Place with a sweet aroma that pictured Christ's finished work. In Revelation, the incense is offered with the prayers of all saints, showing that the sweetest incense to God is the prayers of His people.
Revelation 8:3-4 — Shows incense being offered with the prayers of the saints, directly linking tabernacle practice to New Testament imagery.
In the Old Testament tabernacle, God commanded the construction of an altar of incense, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, where the priest burned incense every day (Exodus 30:1-6). The altar stood in the Holy Place before the veil, and the incense was to be burned continually as a sweet aroma to the Lord (Exodus 30:7-8). The smoke from the incense filled the tabernacle, representing the presence of God and the worship of His people. In Revelation 8, John sees an angel with a golden censer, and much incense was given to him that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. The smoke of the incense ascended up before God out of the angel's hand with the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-4). This directly connects the incense of the tabernacle to the prayers of believers, showing that their prayers rise before God as a pleasing odor.
Les Feldick teaches that the altar of incense was a key piece of furniture in the tabernacle, placed in the Holy Place. He emphasizes that the high priest would take coals from the brazen altar and burn incense on the golden altar, producing smoke that would fill the room, symbolizing the presence of God and the finished work of Christ. He points out that the sweet odor of incense in Revelation is the prayers of the saints, which are the most precious offerings to God. Les also uses the negative example of Israel burning incense to the queen of heaven, showing that idolatrous incense was an abomination. This contrast highlights the proper purpose of incense as worship directed to the true God, ultimately fulfilled in the prayers of believers.
According to Les Feldick, the incense burned in the tabernacle produced a sweet-smelling smoke that would fill the room, even 'obliterating' the presence of God from the high priest's view. This smoke symbolized worship and pointed to Christ's finished work. In Revelation, the incense is directly associated with the prayers of the saints, indicating that prayer is a sweet aroma to God.
In Revelation 8, the incense is offered together with the prayers of all saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke rises before God. Les Feldick teaches that this shows the most precious incense to God is the prayers of His people, which ascend to Him as a pleasing aroma.
Les Feldick explains that the altar of incense was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, located in the Holy Place. The priest burned fresh incense on it daily, using fire from the brazen altar. This act was part of the regular worship and pointed to the continual intercession of Christ.
Incense in Revelation 8
Les explains that the incense in Revelation 8 is offered with the prayers of the saints, and the smoke ascends before God, linking incense to prayer.
The Altar of Incense
Les describes the altar of incense where the priest burned incense, and notes that the sweet odor of incense in Revelation represents the prayers of the saints.
Construction of the Altar of Incense
Les mentions the altar of incense as a separate altar made of acacia wood covered with gold, used for burning incense.
When Will Old Testament Saints Rise? Daniel 12 Explained:
We will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth to burn incense unto who? The queen of heaven. Now listen. When it gets to pagan, idolatrous worship, nothing is ever as grossly immoral as the worship of the female goddesses.
Daily Burning of Incense
Les notes that fresh incense was burned every day on the altar of incense, using fire from the brazen altar.
Beauty of the Sanctuary
Les's description of the beauty inside the sanctuary provides context for the worship atmosphere, though not directly about incense.
Why Israel Rejected God as King — 1 Samuel 8 Explained
All right, we will burn incense to the queen of heaven, pour out drink offerings to her. Verse 18, Since we left off burning incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things. You see what they're saying? How ridiculous. If we don't worship the queen of heaven, we don't have anything. We can't even get food to eat if we don't worship her.
What Are the 7 Bowl Judgments? Revelation 15–16 Explained
Verse 8, "...and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." Now here they come, just boom, boom, one right after the other.
Exodus 30:1: And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
Gives the command to construct the altar of incense, the central element for burning incense.
Exodus 30:7: And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
Shows the daily burning of incense as a regular part of tabernacle worship.
Revelation 8:3-4: And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Directly connects incense with the prayers of the saints, showing the spiritual purpose of incense.
The purpose of incense in the tabernacle was to produce a sweet-smelling smoke that filled the Holy Place, symbolizing worship and prayer. It was burned on the golden altar daily, and its aroma rose before God as a pleasing offering.
In Revelation 8, incense is explicitly linked to the prayers of the saints. The smoke of the incense ascends before God along with their prayers, showing that prayer is a sweet aroma to God.
Les taught that the incense in the tabernacle pointed to Christ's finished work and that in Revelation, the incense represents the prayers of believers. He also contrasted the proper use of incense with Israel's idolatrous burning of incense to false gods.
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