And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.
In these verses we have the prelude to the sounding of the trumpets in several parts. I. The opening of the last seal. This was to introduce a new set of prophetical iconisms and events; there is a continued chain of providence, one part linked to another (where one ends another begins), and, though they may differ in nature and in time, they all make...
Commenting on Revelation 8:1-6
And the smoke of the incense,.... For the incense being put, as it was used to be, upon burning coals of fire, caused a smoke to arise like a cloud, Lev 16:13; so that the whole house, or temple, was filled with it (d): which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God out of the angel's hand; alluding to the incense the...
Verse 4. And the smoke of the incense, etc. The smoke caused by the burning incense. John, as he saw this, naturally interpreted it of the prayers of the saints. The meaning of the whole symbol, thus explained, is that, at the time referred to, the anxiety of the church in regard to the events which were about to occur would naturally lead to much prayer.