The prayers of the saints are pictured as a sweet-smelling fragrance that rises before God's throne as the Lamb takes the scroll.
In Revelation 5, the golden vials full of odours held by the elders are identified as the prayers of the saints. Les Feldick teaches that prayer is the sweetest incense that can rise to God. This worship scene is tied to the Lamb's worthiness, because He was slain and redeemed people to God by His blood.
Revelation 5:8 — This verse directly identifies the prayers of the saints as the odours in the golden vials held by the elders before the Lamb.
Revelation 5:8 says, "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." So Scripture itself tells us that the fragrant contents of these vials are the prayers of God's people. Revelation 8:3-4 also shows the prayers of the saints being offered in heaven: "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."
Les points to the incense in the tabernacle as the background. He says the purpose of incense is to give a sweet aroma, and for God the sweetest incense that can come up to His nostrils is the prayers of the saints (Clip 1). Les also places this prayer imagery within the Revelation 5 throne-room scene. He teaches that the Lamb is worthy to take the scroll because of His death, burial, and resurrection (Clips 3, 5). The new song declares that He was slain and redeemed us to God out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, making us kings and priests who will reign on the earth (Clips 2, 3). Les connects this to the "mortgage" of the earth: Adam dropped dominion, Satan became the mortgage holder, and the tribulation judgments are how God pays off that mortgage (Clip 0).
Revelation 5:8 says that when the Lamb takes the scroll, the elders fall down before Him with harps and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Revelation 8:3-4 shows the prayers of all saints being offered with incense upon the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke ascending up before God. Les says the purpose of incense is to give a sweet aroma, and for God the sweetest incense that can come up to His nostrils is the prayers of the saints (Clip 1).
Les teaches that the Lamb is worthy because He was slain and redeemed us to God out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, making us kings and priests who will reign on the earth (Clips 2, 3). The new song in Revelation 5:9 declares, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Les also notes that the Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, depicting His political power and the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth (Clips 4, 5).
Les describes Adam as having dropped the dominion of the planet, with Satan becoming the mortgage holder (Clip 0). The scroll in God's hand is the mortgage that God will pay off in full through the judgments and events of the seven years of the tribulation (Clip 0). The prayers of the saints rise within this setting, as the elders worship the Lamb who is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals.
Adam's Lost Dominion and the Mortgage of the Earth
Les explains that Adam dropped the dominion of the earth and Satan became the mortgage holder, so the tribulation judgments are God paying off that mortgage—an important context for the scroll in Revelation 5.
The Prayers of the Saints as Sweet Incense
Les teaches that the prayers of the saints are the sweetest incense that can rise before God, ascending to Him from the golden altar in the throne room.
The Elders Worship the Slain Lamb
Les shows the four creatures and elders falling before the Lamb with harps, singing that He is worthy because He was slain and redeemed people out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
The Lamb's Worthiness Because of His Death and Resurrection
Les states that the Lamb alone can open the scroll because of His death, burial, and resurrection, and that He is worthy because He was slain and redeemed us to God.
The Lamb with Seven Horns and Seven Eyes
Les explains that the Lamb's seven horns and seven eyes depict His political power and the seven spirits of God.
The Lamb's Political Power and the Seven Spirits
Les repeats that the Lamb stood in the midst of the throne as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which depict His political power and the seven attributes of the Spirit.
Revelation 4 & 5 Explained: The Throne Room & the Scroll
From His eternity past to the present to the future, He's the same eternal sovereign God of the universe. Now then, verse 9, "...and when those living creatures give glory, and honor, and thanks to Him who sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, now the four and twenty elders get involved, and they too fall down, and worship Him who sat on the throne, worship Him who liveth forever and eve…
What Are the 7 Bowl Judgments? Revelation 15–16 Explained
Now remember this song is being sung just before the Lord will return and set up His Kingdom. You see how appropriate all this is? "...All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, doest wondrous things, thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O LORD, I will walk in thy truth, unite my heart to fear thy name.
Revelation 5:8: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
This verse directly identifies the prayers of the saints as the fragrant odours in the golden vials before the Lamb.
Revelation 5:9: And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
This is the new song declaring the Lamb worthy because He was slain and redeemed people to God.
Revelation 8:3: 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.
This verse shows the prayers of the saints being offered with much incense on the golden altar before the throne.
Revelation 8:4: And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
This verse shows the prayers of the saints ascending up before God as a sweet-smelling incense.
The Bible says the golden vials are full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8). Les teaches that the purpose of incense is to give a sweet aroma, and the prayers of the saints are the sweetest incense that comes before God (Clip 1).
They appear in Revelation 5 as odours in golden vials before the Lamb, and in Revelation 8 as incense offered with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar before the throne.
Les teaches that the Lamb is worthy because He was slain and redeemed us to God out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, making us kings and priests who will reign on the earth (Clips 2, 3).
Watch the Teaching: What Happens When the Lamb Opens the Seals — Revelation 6