Altar of Incense
The above picture is of the altar of incense that God, as architect, designed for use in the temple of the Jews under the old covenant. Concerning the altar of incense, Got Questions web page (See here) says this (emphasis mine):
"Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7–8). God gave the recipe for making the incense and stipulated that no other incense ever be burned on the altar (verses 34–38). The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary (Leviticus 16:12). Never was the altar of incense to be used for a burnt offering, a grain offering, or a drink offering (Exodus 30:9). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was to put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it. The altar of incense was called “most holy to the Lord” (verse 10)."
It was the sacrificial altar and its sacrifice that gave the altar of incense its effectiveness. So too, as we will see, does the sacrifice of Christ on the altar of Calvary give efficacy to the altar of incense, which is an altar of prayer. The blood of the sacrifice sprinkled on the altar of incense made it worthy, sanctifying it. The same source continues:
"In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. David prayed, “May my prayer be set before you like incense” (Psalm 141:2). In his vision of heaven, John saw that the elders around the throne “were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” (Revelation 5:8; cf. 8:3). As Zechariah the priest was offering incense in the temple in Luke 1:10, “all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.”"
Notice the references to Revelation 5:8 and 8: 3. On those verses we will have a closer look shortly.
The same source continues:
"The altar of incense, then, can be seen as a symbol of the prayers of God’s people. Our prayers ascend to God as the smoke of the incense ascended in the sanctuary. As the incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offering, our prayers must be kindled with heaven’s grace. The fact that the incense was always burning means that we should always pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice; it is the blood of Christ applied to our hearts that makes our prayers acceptable. Our prayers are holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and therefore they are pleasing to God."
As we pointed out in the previous chapter, Christians can say with the apostle Paul - "we have an altar." (Heb. 13: 10) This is not the same altar that the Jews in the old testament had, though it is a type of the Christian altar. Christians have an altar in their hearts by the presence of God within. When Paul says "we have an altar" he is alluding to the sacrificial altar and not the altar of incense for he says of that altar that some eat from the sacrifice upon it while others cannot eat of it.
The same source continues:
"The altar of incense can also be seen as a picture of the intercession of Christ. Just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard was a type of Christ’s death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place was a type of Christ’s mediation on our behalf—Christ’s work on earth and in heaven. The altar of incense was situated before the mercy-seat of the Ark—a picture of our Advocate’s standing in the presence of the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). The incense was to be burning continually on the altar of incense, which shows the perpetual nature of Christ’s mediation. Christ’s intercession on our behalf is a sweet-smelling savor to God."
As we will see, there is an altar in the heavenly temple. When we wrote upon the Christian temple we spoke of the temple which is in heaven. In that temple there is an altar. Christ's mediation and intercessory prayers are offered in conjunction with that altar.
The same source continues:
"It is beautiful to know that God considers the prayers of believers to be like a sweet smell of incense. Because of Christ, we can now enter God’s holy presence by faith, with full assurance (Mark 15:38; Hebrews 4:16). We offer our prayers upon the altar, trusting in Jesus, our eternal, perfect, and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 10:19–23)."
Again, this is not a physical altar on earth but a sanctified place in the heart from which the believer may come to God in his thoughts and prayers. It is the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that creates this altar of prayer. It is also what makes the prayers of all to ascend and to be pleasing to the Lord as the sweet smell of incense.
The Heavenly Altar
"When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held." (Rev. 6: 9 nkjv)
In the Book of Revelation, the word "altar" (Greek: "thusiasterion") appears eight times, with seven of those instances referring to the golden altar of incense. The other instance likely refers to the altar of sacrifice of burnt offering. In this place, however, the allusion seems to be to the altar of sacrifice. That seems appropriate in the context and reference to the Christian martyrs, their martyrdom being viewed as sacrifices.
This is evident in verses like Philippians 2:17 and II Timothy 4: 6, where Paul describes himself as being "poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith." This imagery of being offered up like a sacrificial offering, coupled with Paul's willingness to suffer for the sake of the gospel, points to a recognition of his death as a sacrifice for the faith.
"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake." (Rev. 8: 3-5 nkjv)
"The incense was to be mingled with the prayers of the saints. The incense was added to give a fragrance to the prayers of the saints, and render them acceptable before God...The whole is symbolical of the truth, that the prayers of all the saints need to be rendered acceptable by the infusion of some divine element. The best prayers of the best saints are weak, and polluted and imperfect at the best. The incense which is added to the prayers is not supplied by the angel: it is first given to him, and he then mingles it with the prayers of all saints. It is hard to forget here Him whose offering and sacrifice became a savour of sweet smell (Ephesians 5:1-2)." (Ellicott's commentary; emphasis mine)
It is the sacrifice on the altar of sacrifice that makes all prayer and all work done for God acceptable. Thus the altar of sacrifice takes precedence over the altar of incense. Also, the mediatorial prayers of Christ are what makes the prayers of believers effectual.
"Christ is here introduced as the high priest, advocate, and intercessor for his people, though both altars may be respected in this verse: "the altar" may design the altar of burnt offering from whence the coals were taken in the censer; and the "golden altar" the altar of incense where the coals being brought the incense was put upon them, and offered; and here he "stood" as everyone concerned in the service of the sanctuary did." (Gill's commentary)
Though the Christian religion no longer has on earth an altar of sacrifice or altar of incense, yet they do have what those old testament altars depicted or signified. As previously stated, the Christian altar of sacrifice is Christ, and the sacrificial offering is Christ' human body; And, the altar of incense is an altar of prayer, though it is not a physical altar on earth, though it is so in the heavenly temple. Notice that Gill shows that the altar of sacrifice is what gives the altar of incense its acceptableness.
"...and there was given unto him much incense; the intercession of Christ is meant by "the incense", which, like that, is sweet and fragrant, very grateful and acceptable to God and also pure and holy; for though it is made for transgressors, yet in a way of righteousness, and consistent with the holiness and justice of God; nor is there any like it, nor should there be any besides it; the intercession of angels, and saints departed, ought to be rejected: and it is perpetual, or will be for ever..." (Gill)
The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was also sweet smelling as Paul said: "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Eph. 5: 2) He also wrote: "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." (II Cor.2: 15)
"...for incense was put upon the burning coals in the censer, or upon the fire before the Lord, Leviticus 16:13, signifying that Christ's intercession proceeds upon his sufferings and death: his blood and sacrifice, from whence all his pleas and arguments are taken in favour of his people, and which always prevail..." (Gill)
This is what we discover by the heavenly scene in Revelation chapter eight.
"...these are spiritual sacrifices, which Christ the high priest presents for the saints, perfumes with the incense of his mediation, and makes acceptable to God, being offered upon, and coming up from that altar which is before him, and which gives value to everything that is put upon it: and they are the prayers of saints..." (Gill)
That is the main message of that heavenly scene and of the other texts that affirm these principles of truth.
The Christian Altar
Recall that Paul said that "We have an altar." (Heb. 13: 10)
"There is a certain militant emphasis on the words in the original, as if they were an assertion of something that had been denied. Who the deniers are is plain enough. They were the adherents of Judaism, who naturally found Christianity a strange contrast to their worship, of which altar and sacrifice were prominent features." (MacLaren's Expositions)
Not only is it true of Jews and their religion, but also of all other religions who look upon Christianity and say "where is your temple? Where is your priesthood? Where are your altars?" Etc. Paul states it emphatically "we Christians have an altar," and that altar is superior in every way. It is upon this altar that we feast upon the sacrifice of Christ (keep the Passover feast) and offer our prayers. It is upon this altar that we confess our sins and find forgiveness and salvation.
In Luke 18:13, the tax collector's prayer, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner," can be understood in terms of propitiation. While the word "merciful" translates the Greek word "hilaskesthai," which also means "propitiate," and leads us to believe that the praying sinner is looking to the altar and its sacrifice as he prays this prayer. So too has everyone who has become a Christian. He in his thoughts kneels at the foot of the cross and says "God be propitious to me by accepting this sacrifice of Christ on the altar of Calvary in my stead." Many Christian songs speak of this, such as the song "At Calvary" the beginning lines of which say:
"Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary"
"Just as to heathen nations the ritual of Judaism, its empty shrine, and temple without a God, were a puzzle and a scoff, so to heathen and Jew, the bare, starved worship of the Church, without temple, priest, sacrifice, or altar, was a mystery and a puzzle...The writer of this letter in those words, then, in accordance with the central theme of his whole Epistle, insists that Christianity has more truly than heathenism or Judaism, altar and sacrifice...So, then, we have three things here - our Christian altar; our Christian feast on the sacrifice; and our Christian sacrifices on the altar. Let us regard these successively." (Ibid)
That sums up the whole thesis of these chapters on the Christian altar.
"‘We have,’ says the writer, with a triumphant emphasis upon the word, ‘We have an altar’; ‘though there seems none visible in our external worship..." (Ibid)
It is upon the altar of Calvary and through the altar of incense that Christians "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness" (Psa. 4: 5 kjv), and "offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy" (Psa. 27: 6 kjv), and "sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing." (Psa. 107: 22 kjv) So Paul writes:
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Heb. 13: 15-16 kjv)
Lord God said along time ago: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psa. 51: 17 kjv) And through the apostle Peter he says to Christians:
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (I Peter 2: 5 kjv)
So, in conclusion we say: Yes indeed we Christians have an altar! We invite sinners to come to this altar and there find forgiveness for sins.
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