“Incense For Intercession – Num. 7:1-88” (Part #2)

As we come to the Newer Testament, 400 years have passed since YeHoVaH has talked through a prophet to His people. Some refer to it as, “The 400 Silent Years” but it is not so silent for Israel and God’s chosen seed. The final message in the Older Testament in Malachi contains the prophecy of John the Baptist’s ministry, the fulfillment of which begins in the Newer Testament. The first thing we find in Luke is his father Zacharias a priest after the order of Abijah, the eighth course I Chron. 24:1 & 10,  offering incense on the incense altar in the Temple on a high holy day. Gabriel is standing next to the altar and tells him his wife Elizabeth is going to have a son in her old age. He will be called John and be filled with the Holy Spirit and turn many to the Lord and be a forerunner for the Christ, Luke 1:5-25. “His lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.” v.9. “And the whole multitude of people were praying outside at the time of incense.” v.10. (9:00 am and 3:00 pm) The time of the morning and evening sacrifice, a very significant time in the Scriptures, especially, 3:00 p.m. (study it).

David said in Psalm 141:2, “Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” The “Passover Lamb” was sacrificed at 3:00 pm; Peter and John were on their way to the temple at, “the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” (3:00 pm) Acts 3:1. Jesus gave up His spirit at the “ninth hour” (3:00 pm) that’s why it was so significant and powerful to the early church. Many wonderful miracles in the Scriptures happened at 3:00 pm, check it out. However, 3:00 pm in Jerusalem is 8:00 am on the East Coast, a good time for your ‘Quiet Time!’ Or some intercessory prayer time!

The Scriptures talk about three individuals making intercession; The Son of God, Rom. 8:34, “Who is He that condemns? Shall Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us?” The Spirit of God, Rom. 8:26, “Likewise, the Spirit helps our infirmity; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” The Saint of God, I Tim. 2:1, “I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” So, we have a “Tri-Unity” of intercession, because the Son ever lives to make intercession for us, and the Spirit is always making intercession for us because we know not what to ask for, so when Believers intercede for others they are in harmony with us. Praise God! In fact the only time you are in total unity with the entire ‘Tri-Unity’ of the ‘God-Head’ is when you pray, because you pray to the Father, through the Son by means of or through the Holy Spirit. In fact when you say, “GOD?” Three Persons, respond, “What?”

Remember that “Gold Spoon” in Numbers seven? In Revelation Five, John is weeping because no one was able or worthy to open the scroll or loosen its seals. Then the Lamb stepped forward, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David and takes the scroll out of the right hand of Him that sits upon the throne. However, before He opens the first seal, something happens in v.8, “Golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints,” are ignited and their smoke wafts its way before the nostrils of Almighty God, Who sits upon that throne. Did you see that, “Golden Bowls” just like that “Golden Spoon” in Numbers Seven, and then in Rev. 5:9, they sing a new song saying, “Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy, Oh Lord, To Receive Glory, Glory and Honor, Glory and Honor and Power, For Thou Hast Created, Hast All things created, … I’m sorry I just burst into a hymn of praise! I couldn’t help myself, did you join me? Incense and praise go together like a horse and carriage, they are inseparable! What a powerful passage and principle! Amen? That was weak. 😦  Brood on this principle for awhile……….

After the seven seals we come to the seven trumpets in Revelation Eight, but before the first trumpet an angel comes and stands beside the altar, probably the “The Altar of Incense.” Note Rev. 8:3-4, “He has a golden censer, and there is given unto him, much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints, upon the golden altar, 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.” I hope you are picking all this up, this angel has a “Golden Censer” and he is given “Much Incense” to mix with the “Prayers or Intercession” of believers, the saints, that’s you and me; upon a “Golden Altar” in heaven, in God’s presence, in fact it is sitting “Before His Throne” right now! The “Smoke of That Incense” is mixed with our “Prayers of Intercession” and “Ascends up Before God’s Presence.” Are your prayers important to God? Ask that angel when you see him?

Now watch what happens in v.9, “Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar, and cast (ballo) it upon the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound their trumpets. You see, before God poured out His Seal Judgments and Trumpet Judgments, He poured out much prayer from His saints on the earth first. “Golden Vials or Bowls” and a “Golden Censer” but always in gold. Always, showing the extreme value God puts on your prayers! Notice in Rev. 15 when God is ready to pour out His almighty wrath in His final ‘Bowl Judgments,’ there is no prayer! “Seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, Who lives forever and ever!” Rev. 15:7b. Can you fathom that? I shudder at very the thought of it, listen to verse eight, “And the temple was filled with the smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” And you wonder if your prayers are of any value to God or man? Shame on you! How is your bowl today, empty or full? If the angel called for your bowl, would God be pleased with it or displeased? Remember, above all else as you enter your prayer closet, enter it with praise and adoration, vanquish your enemy and release your incense! Till next time, I’ll see you, “…Between The Lines…”  

“Incense For Intercession – Num. 7:1-88” (Part #2)