September 23 See Heaven

Revelation 8:3-6 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. 6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
 
MANY times people of the church express a disinterest in Old Testament Scripture. Few seem to want to know such details as in Exodus 30:7-9 “Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.”
    But do you see why God gave those instructions so many centuries ago? He was giving to the Hebrews then a vision of heaven. He was demonstrating to them what it is like in the eternal Promised Land. Heaven is a place of worship.
    In fact, the angel in the vision is acting as a priest, taking the prayers of the saints (believers) to the Father. Be sure, as Aaron had no power to answer prayers, neither does the angel. Only the Holy Trinity answers prayers.
    The prayers could be specifically for the justice and peace prayed by the martyrs in Revelation 6:10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” This is how we should often pray, too. We must seek God’s justice for those the great wrongs that swallow up life throughout the earth.
    Then God answers the saints’ prayers. He throws down fire upon the earth. God’s authority and power are again illustrated in the fire and earthquake as his creation groans in judgment.
    God’s Word describes similar visions of judgment and God’s demonstration of power. Ezekiel 10:2b “Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And in Exodus 19:16-On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
    God is just. He answers our prayers for his justice to rule the earth. We have many reasons to pray for justice in our countries. Pray for God’s laws to be the foundation of your nation. Pray for the lawbreakers’ hearts to repent and call on the name of Jesus to be saved. The Lord hears and answers your prayers.
    God’s justice will continue onto his broken creation as the seven angels prepare to blow their trumpets in turn. “The trumpet blasts have three purposes: 1) to warn that judgment is certain, 2) to call the forces of good and evil to battle, and 3) to announce the return of the King, the Messiah.” (from The Life Application Commentary Series)
    Our Almighty God will bring disorder onto his creation to ultimately establish his justice.
 
Prayer: We pray, Father, against injustice. Many laws in our country oppose your law. Establish your truth in our homes, communities, states and nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.