Revelation 5:8 — 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Lyres, Harps, guitars, pianos, drums, flutes, and fiddles. Will they be in heaven? What about Trumpets, tambourines, and trombones?
We don’t want to forget the main point of this Book of the Bible. The Book of Revelation shows us that God governs history to fulfill His plan of redemption for his purified, blood-bought people (which was planned before time). In a nutshell: The Lamb wins! Not evil. Not the devil. Not man or governments. The Lamb wins!
We dealt with the first part of this verse a few weeks ago. Today, we will look at the second part of verse 8. It says, “… each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
The NR&R Study Bible (New Rock & Rock) Bible Version—if there was such a thing, says, “each holding either a Fender Stratocaster guitar or playing Pearl Drums or playing a Hammond Rhodes electric keyboard.” That’s the NR&R Study Bible, if there was one. It doesn’t follow the original Greek very well. We’re going to stick with, “… each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
The image says, “each holding a harp and golden bowls.”
There are preachers who try to figure out how these symbolic characters can literally hold a harp and play it, while holding a golden bowl in the other hand. Do you think they are missing the picture's message? Obviously. They are forgetting that this is a symbolic picture. We should ask, what is the meaning/message God is giving us here? What do these two images represent—a harp and golden bowls full of incense?
Harp and lyre, depending on your Bible translation, were the modern musical instruments of the day. That is why John does not see a bagpipe and banjo, or other modern musical instruments. These instruments of the day are read about in the Psalms.
Psalm 33:2–3 (ESV) — “Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.” Also see, Pss. 98:5; 147:7.
It is not exactly certain what a “Lyre” was in biblical days. Most likely, it is similar to a large framed harp. Hence, Revelation 5:8, says, “a harp”. We know what that is. On two other occasions, we read in Revelation of the harp as the instrument of heavenly music (14:2; 15:2).
We read in Revelation 5:9, they were playing “a new song.” Rev. 14.2 says that only the redeemed of the earth could learn the new song. Only the Redeemed. This is an obvious conclusion because only those who have been saved, redeemed, and forgiven by Jesus Christ would have a song of redemption in their hearts. They are the only ones who experienced the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.
What is the symbolic meaning of the musical instrument in this picture? It is to show us that instruments are used in heavenly music.
This picture also shows golden bowls (or saucers) filled with incense. When we think of gold, we think of royalty. When we think of bowls, we think of containers that hold things. In this case, it is the prayers of the saints. These bowls have a divine purpose and meaning.
In Revelation 15:7, we see these “golden bowls” again, but they are full of the wrath of God. Are they the same bowls? I think so. Here is why I have this conclusion. In Revelation 6:9-11 the martyred saints (those believers who are murdered for their faith in Christ) appeal to Christ Jesus for justice. In Revelation 8:3-5, we read “much incense was offered with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before the throne.” The prayers were as incense. The prayers were from the suffering saints' lament from earth that he will send fiery vengeance on earth, sea, rivers, and sky (8:6–12). Rev. 8:5 shows us that their prayers were answered. Those symbolic golden bowls held innumerable prayers. Prayers of salvation, rescue, and deliverance from suffering, pain, and hardship. Your prayers, my prayers, and the prayers of all the saints are before the throne of God.
The imagery is beautiful. The prayers of the saints are as incense before God. This is not the first time God uses this imagery to show us how prayers are received in heaven and accepted by Him. This was not a new imagery for the Apostle John. God had given this imagery to Israel in Exodus 30:1-10. Incense was used in Old Testament times and in temple worship. An altar of incense stood before the inner veil, and fresh incense was offered daily to God. He had commanded the priests to do this in the inner court—the Holy of Holies, of the Temple. This was practiced in the Temple months before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Luke 1:9–10 (ESV) — 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he (Zachariah) was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
Not everyone understood what God was trying to convey in this burning of incense before Him, but some did, like the psalmist.
Psalm 141:2 (ESV) — 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you;”
Some denominations burn incense as a part of their services. According to scholar George Eldon Ladd, there is no evidence that incense was used in Christian worship in the first three centuries. Is it wrong for a church to use this imagery? I don’t think so, as long as the congregation understands the symbolism.
I think Christians should sit and contemplate the depth of this imagery. This is heaven’s view of our prayers, of God’s view of our prayers. We need heaven’s view of our prayers. I think one of the major reasons that so few prayers are offered up to God by Christians is that we tend to have an earthly view, that is, a human view of prayer rather than a heavenly one. For instance, how many of you have thought: “Does God hear my prayers? Did He hear my plea?” or “I’m not good with words.” Many people talk themselves into believing that God only listens to “good prayers” and if you cannot say it right, then don’t pray at all.
We tend to think our prayers are based on our spiritual depth or maturity. But it's not dependent upon us, but our High Priest, Jesus Christ. He is our mediator between God and man. We are God’s redeemed children. We are fully accepted and loved, just as our children are fully accepted and loved by us.
It is not how strong our faith is, or how eloquent our prayers are, but how perfect and effectual our Savior is. A wonderful example of this is when Peter tried to walk on water towards Jesus and began to sink in the ocean. He cried, “Lord, Save Me.” That’s it. That was Peter’s prayer. Peter’s faith had failed, and his prayer wasn’t very eloquent, yet Jesus rescued him. His prayer to Jesus was simple, from the heart, and to the point. Amen!
I like what the great and devout scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, said. “I can take my telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space, but I can lay it aside and go into my room, shut the door, get down on my knees in earnest prayer, and see more of heaven and get closer to God than I can be assisted by all the telescopes and material agencies on earth.”
Let’s extract some lessons from this symbolic picture of the prayers of the saints. First, they are “the prayers of the saints.” Saints are Christians—members of the Church. Anyone can go through the physical act of praying. Anyone can say words that sound like pious prayers. But these prayers from the redeemed, those who belong to Jesus Christ. They are from those who, by faith, surrendered to Him and received forgiveness of their sins and have His righteousness with God accounted to them. Jesus’ righteousness (not our own) makes us saints before God.
The Old Testament and the New Testament are clear. God listens and delights in the prayers of the righteous. But the ungodly he does not hear. (Ps. 33:18; 34:15-19; 116:2; 66:19-20; Prov. 15:29).
Psalm 34:15 & 1 Peter 3:12 (ESV) — 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Prayers must go through the Savior, Jesus Christ. A person who has rejected Jesus has rejected the only door to heaven. Their prayers are rejected as unholy from an unholy heart. Trying to mail a Christmas package through the Postal Service without stamps. The Post Office requires stamps. Try praying to God without Jesus Christ. It won’t make it to God.
Think of it another way. A random child comes up to me and says, “Dad, I want a bike for Christmas.” Am I going to respond, “Yes, son, thank you for telling me. I will get you a bike.” No. I am not his dad. God is the spiritual father of those whom He has adopted into His family. Who are those adopted children? Those who call Christ Jesus to be adopted and are forgiven and redeemed by His blood. (Eph. 1:3-7)
There’s a good book in the Missions Room that goes into more detail about this. “A Reason to Pray in Mountainview.” It expounds on Psalm 34:15 and 1 Peter 3:12.
A second lesson is that the prayers of the saints are as “incense.” This tells us that our prayers are pleasing to God. They are as incense before Him. That’s the point we are to get from this imagery. Psalm 141:2 (ESV) — 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.”
A third lesson is that prayers as incense mean that our prayers are not confined to a container, nor are they discarded by God. They are continually before Him, as incensing continually rising before Him.
We read this in Acts 10:1–4.
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”
This believer’s prayers were ascending before God like incense. The angel said they were a “memorial before God.” Memorial is keeping it in our memory. God remembers every one of your prayers. He remembers every single prayer, plea, praise, and petition. They are always before Him.
Since we know that our prayers are still before Him, we are to practice patience and endure in Prayer. God is still holding on to our prayers. Your prayers don’t evaporate over time. They are eternally before Him. That includes the prayers you prayed 5, 10, and 40 years ago. They are ever before Him in heaven.
From these three lessons, we need to live this out. How? I’ll give you two ways. We need to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Just because we are not facing prison and torture and death for our faith in Christ, does not mean we should leave our brothers and sisters on their own. They need their Church Family in Virginia to pray for them.
Hebrews 13:3 (ESV) — Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
Pray and support ministries that help them. Voice of the Martyr, Open Doors, and others.
Knowing that God hears and holds our prayers. Knowing that they are ever before Him. Knowing that He keeps them for their time. This should motivate us to pray, pray, pray. Let’s fill those golden bowls with prayers. Let the prayers of Muddy Creek Baptist Church ascend before the Throne of God like incense.
Now is a good time to stop and pray for our fellow believers who are persecuted for His name’s sake.
Our God and Father, the Lord of all might and authority, I thank You that I am united to millions of brothers and sisters around the world. Lord, many of them are not free to follow You. I ask that You grant them the strength to stand up and be counted for You in the face of opposition. As the Lord Jesus made the good confession before Pilate, empower them to make a good confession for You. May they hold fast to the hope of reward on judgment day.
Lord, You are with us always, and You are our source of comfort and strength. I beseech You on behalf of those who are in prison because of their confession in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank You for the strength of their faith. May they hold on to the promise that You work all things together for the good of those who love You. As Paul knew, may they know that all things are according to Your plan and are used to advance Your kingdom. Give them the knowledge that Your grace is sufficient for them. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
