3, 4. Another angel offers to God the prayers of the faithful on the golden altar of incense. The prayers are symbolized by the sweet odors rising up before the throne of God. St. John takes much of his symbolism from the tabernacle and from the Temple of Jerusalem.
During the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness, the tabernacle furnished them a miniature representation of the court of heaven. In the Holy of Holies stood the ark of the covenant overshadowed by the outstretched wings of two cherubim. The lid of the ark was considered the throne of God who there dwelt amongst His people. Before the throne, but separated from it by a veil, stood the golden altar of incense in the Holy Place. Here the priests daily offered incense which arose before God as a sweet odor to symbolize the prayers of the people: "Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight. " [1]
The tabernacle, the earthly representation of the heavenly court, was reproduced in the temple of Jerusalem which thus became "the pattern of heavenly things" as St. Paul says. Again he writes: "Jesus is not entered into the Holies made with hands, the pat terns of the true; but into heaven itself." [2] Hence it is most appropriate for St. John to use the temple as a figure of the Church which is truly the dwelling place of God, the heavenly court on earth.
The incense offered by the angel at the golden altar
