Prayers, Incense and the Work of the Holy Spirit

Today's passage provides a prelude to the coming 7 trumpets of warning that John will describe for us-the destruction of the world will announced. But before the trumpets sound, we are given to see into God's very throne room at a spectacular site. As seven angels receive the trumpets, an eighth angel receives a censor of incense that is offered with the prayers of all the saints. Those prayers, not just some prayers, not just prayers of a few but every prayer, prayed by every saint, every Maranatha that has ever been raised are offered to God and answered. He hears and answers our prayers. Understood along with Romans 8:26-27, we see here the work of the Holy Spirit, taking our prayers, shaping and molding them, using them for His glory, His ends, our good and the futherance of His kingdom.