A) THE MAKEUP OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

B) THE PRIEST, THE VAIL, AND THE GOLDEN CENSER.

C) THE INCENSE.

D) THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFERING.

E) MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS.

 

 

A) THE MAKEUP OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

 

 

According to Exodus 30:1-10 & 34-38, like the Table of Shewbread, this Golden Altar was also made of “shittim wood,” overlaid with “pure gold.”  It was one cubit long, one cubit wide, and two cubits high -- or about three feet high (using the 18-inch scale), and it was four square with a horn on each corner; along with there being on the top a “crown of gold round about.”

 

Its placement was “in the tent of the congregation before the [second] vail,” Exodus 40:26.  The significance of its placement comes out even more when we realize that this was as close as the priests could come to God.  And the reason they were able to do this was, as the incense represented the prayers of the saints, so it is through the power of prayer that we are at that time closest to our Lord (Jam. 4:8).

 

Here is PP:348.1:  “Just before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy and the immediate presence of God, stood the Golden Altar of Incense.  Upon this Altar the priest was to burn incense every morning and evening; its horns were touched with the blood of the sin offering, and It was sprinkled with blood upon the great Day of Atonement.  The fire upon this Altar was kindled by God Himself and was sacredly cherished.  Day and night the holy incense diffused its fragrance throughout the sacred apartments, and without, far around the tabernacle.”

 

And in RH, March 25, 1875 we read:  “No sacrifice would be acceptable to God which was not salted nor seasoned with Divine fire, which represented the communication {prayer} between God and man that was opened through Jesus Christ alone.  The holy fire which was to be put upon the Censer {the “Golden Censer,” which was kept in readiness, hanging from off of the Alter of Incense} was kept burning perpetually.  And while the people of God were without, earnestly praying, the incense kindled by the holy fire was to arise before God, mingled with their prayers.  This incense was an emblem of the mediation of Christ.

 

“Aaron’s sons took the common fire {Lev. 10:1} which God did not accept, and they offered insult to the infinite God by presenting this strange fire before Him.  God consumed them by fire for their positive disregard of His express directions.”  Note:  In other words, they didn’t take their coals from off of the Alter of Incense for use as their fire.

 

 

B) THE PRIEST, THE VAIL, AND THE GOLDEN CENSER

 

 

It was upon the Altar of Incense that the priest, during the daily service, would place the coals of fire in the Golden Censer [the Golden Censer was stored hanging upon one of the four horns until needed], which were taken from off the Altar of Burnt Offering, over which sweet incense was poured daily (Lev. 16:12-13).  As the priest put the incense upon the Altar, the sweet-smelling smoke of aroma would ascend.  In fact, the Hebrew term “burnt sacrifice” comes from the Hebrew word “olah,” which literally means, to “ascend upwards.”

 

Now since the Vail between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was so constructed as to not extend to the ceiling (leaving a gap), the incense would not only fill the first compartment, but the entire Sanctuary (see my Table of Shewbread document for a description of the incense offering that was different upon the Holy Sabbath day).  In this way the Altar of Incense, although located in the First Apartment, served the Second Apartment also.  This is just another reason it was put “before the Vail that is by the Ark of the Testimony,” Exodus 30:6.  Our prayers must be as constant as this smoke.  “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word.”  Acts 6:4.

 

“[273] Directly before the Ark, but separated by the curtain, was the Golden Altar of Incense.  The fire upon this Altar was kindled by the Lord Himself, and was sacredly cherished by feeding it with holy incense, which filled the Sanctuary with its fragrant cloud, day and night.  Its fragrance extended for miles around the Tabernacle.  When the priest offered the incense before the Lord, he looked to the Mercy-Seat.  Although he could not see It, he knew It was there; and as the incense arose like a cloud, the glory of the Lord descended upon the Mercy-Seat, and filled the Most[274]

 

“Holy Place, and was visible in the Holy Place; and the glory often so filled both apartments that the priest was unable to officiate, and was obliged to stand at the door of the Tabernacle.  The priest in the Holy Place, directing his prayer by faith to the Mercy-Seat, which he could not see, represents the people of God directing their prayers to Christ before the Mercy-Seat in the Heavenly Sanctuary.  They cannot behold their Mediator with the natural eye, but with the eye of faith they see Christ before the Mercy-Seat, and direct their prayers to Him, and with assurance claim the benefits of His mediation.”  1SP:273-274.

 

 

C) THE INCENSE

 

 

The incense was to be continually burning upon the Altar of Incense and never to go out (Lev. 6:13).  The same coals of fire that consumed the offering upon the Brazen Alter were brought from thence and placed upon the Alter of Incense for its use (Lev. 16:13).  Imagine now the picture of Nadab and Abihu coming forth in their offering of the un-Biblically prescribed way (Exo. 30:9 & 37; Lev. 6:12-13; 16:12) and their untimely death (Lev. 10:1-2) when offering “strange fire” before our Lord.

 

Now we can understand this next statement of mine better:  To offer prayers that are contrary to our Lord’s Will, or that do not conform to the pattern set forth by God in His Word, which also includes “vain repetitions,” Matthew 6:7, even though they are concluded with the authority of Jesus’ Name (John 14:13), is also considered by our Lord today as “strange fire.”

 

We can also see that the incense is a fitting representation of the prayers of God’s people (see Psa. 141:2 & Rev. 5:8).  Therefore, with the smoke from the incense rising continually in the Holy Place, this shows us that we are to be always “instant in prayer,” Romans 12:12; with an ever-burning desire in our hearts to always want to converse with our Heavenly Father.  For although Christ “ever liveth to make intercession,” Hebrews 7:25, for us, unless we place our prayers upon the Altar of Incense, we give no incense for God to work with.

 

 

 

 

The incense was composed of three “sweet spices” (Exo. 30:34; four when the Frankincense was combined with the other three upon the Sabbath day).  The first was “Stacte,” which was a few drops of the finest myrrh, or most likely was a sweet gum that was exuded from the storax tree (similar to a poplar tree), which grows in Israel.  The second was “onycha,” (Hebrew, meaning “shell”) which is supposed to be an odoriferous mollusk shell.  This shell when burned gives off a perfumed fragrance.  The third was “galbannum,” a gum resin that emits a milky sap with a balsamic odor and comes from the Syrian fennel.  Lastly was the “Frankincense,” which was a dry resinous aromatic white gum obtained from a tree called the “salai,” found in Arabia.  All were “tempered together,” Exodus 30:35, or weighted out in equal measure (Exo. 30:34) to be burned.

 

 

As “some” of the incense was beaten “very small,” Exodus 30:36, so Christ was made “perfect through sufferings,” Hebrews 2:10.  Likewise, our sufferings lead us to the prayer Altar, where we may be strengthened and fitted to help and pray for others.  Notice that we pray for others when “we” are being beaten; just as our Lord did, i.e., “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:34.

 

Through the beautiful picture of the incense we have a captivating vision of the ministry of Jesus in all of His perfection and grace before God and mankind.  His life emitted a fragrant perfection of purity and Holiness, unmarred by sin or fleshly motives.  It is because of His life lived here on earth that Christians are called “a sweet savor” to God and the world (2Co. 2:14-16) when they represent Him in purity of character.

 

In PP:348.1 we read that the fire, “was kindled by God Himself, and was sacredly cherished.  Day and night the holy incense diffused its fragrance throughout the sacred apartments, and without, far around the tabernacle.”  And the Bible states, “(7) Aaron [the High Priest], shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning:  when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. (8) And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon It [the Altar of Incense], a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.”  Exodus 30:7-8.  We need to keep our “perpetual” prayers before the Lord such that we “Pray without ceasing,” First Thessalonians 5:17.

 

 

D) THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFERING

 

 

When Aaron offered the incense upon the Altar every morning and evening [see Exo. 30:7-8], the Divine glory rested upon the Mercy Seat, indicating that God had accepted Christ’s offering, which is Christ’s prayers for His people. PP:354 states:  “In this custom, Christians have an example for morning and evening prayer.”

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According to Leviticus 4:7 -- learned from Jeremiah 17:1 – our sins are placed “upon the horns of the Altar of sweet Incense.”  This not only means that there is a record (recording) of our sins upon the Altar of Incense, but when the incense was symbolically transferred into the Most Holy Place, it not only represents our prayers, but the transferring of our sins upon Christ, Who bears them before the Father, asking for His grace.

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And here it is in its original:  “Directly before the Ark {of the Covenant, in the Most Holy Place}, but separated by the curtain, was the Golden Altar of Incense.  The fire upon this Altar was kindled by the Lord Himself, and was sacredly cherished by feeding it with holy incense, which filled the Sanctuary with its fragrant cloud, day and night.  Its fragrance extended for miles around the Tabernacle.  When the priest offered the incense before the Lord, he looked to the Mercy-Seat.  Although he could not see it, he knew it was there, and as the incense arose like a cloud, the glory of the Lord descended upon the Mercy-Seat, and filled the Most Holy Place, and was visible in the Holy Place, and the glory often so filled both apartments that the priest was unable to officiate, and was obliged to stand at the door of the Tabernacle.  The priest in the Holy Place, directing his prayer by faith to the Mercy-Seat, which he could not see, represents the people of God directing their prayers to Christ before the Mercy-Seat in the Heavenly Sanctuary.  They cannot behold their Mediator with the natural eye, but with the eye of faith they see Christ before the Mercy-Seat, and direct their prayers to Him, and with assurance claim the benefits of His mediation.”  4aSG:8; 1SP273-274.

 

I again reiterate that the Altar of Incense was placed “before the Vail that is by the Ark of the Testimony, before the Mercy Seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.”  Exodus 30:6.  Just so also is it in Heaven, placed “before the throne,” Revelation 8:3, of God.  Next to the Ark of the Covenant, it then was considered the most sacred piece of furniture in the Tabernacle, which best illustrates the tremendous importance our Lord places upon our constant communion with Him through the power of proper prayer.  See my Bible Study:  “PRAYER, PREREQUISITES FOR ANSWERED.”  According to Luke 18:1, our Lord states, “men ought always to pray.”  And we are to do it “without ceasing.”  First Thessalonians 5:17.

 

Let’s take a closer look at PP:353.1-3:  “[353.1] In the offering of incense the priest was brought more directly into the presence of God than in any other act of the daily ministration.  As the Inner Veil of the Sanctuary did not extend to the top of the building, the glory of God, which was manifested above the Mercy Seat, was partially visible from the First Apartment.  When the priest offered incense before the Lord, he looked toward the Ark {of the Covenant}; and as the cloud of incense arose, the Divine glory descended upon the Mercy Seat and filled the Most Holy Place, and often so filled both Apartments that the priest was obliged to retire to the Door [First Vail] of the Tabernacle.  As in that typical service the priest looked by faith to the Mercy Seat which he could not see, so the people of God are now to direct their prayers to Christ, their great High Priest, Who, unseen by human vision, is pleading in their behalf in the Sanctuary above. [353.2]

 

“The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed to His people, and which can alone make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God.  Before the Veil of the Most Holy Place was an Altar {of Incense} of perpetual intercession, before the {Most} Holy, an Altar of continual atonement.  By blood and by incense God was to be approached {Reader did you catch that?  By and through the blood of our Lord, combined with proper prayer is the only way to approach our Lord} -- symbols pointing to the great Mediator, through Whom sinners may approach Jehovah, and through Whom alone mercy and salvation can be granted to the repentant, believing soul. [353.3]

 

“As the priests morning and evening entered the Holy Place at the time of incense, the daily sacrifice was ready to be offered upon the {Brazen} Altar in the court without.  This was a time of intense interest to the worshipers who assembled at the Tabernacle.  Before entering into the presence of God through the ministration of the priest, they were to engage in earnest searching of heart and confession of sin {by Prayer}.  They united in silent prayer, with their faces toward the Holy Place {Facing West, not East, remember?}.  Thus their petitions ascended with the cloud of incense, while faith laid hold upon the merits of the promised Saviour prefigured by the atoning sacrifice.  The hours appointed for the morning and the evening sacrifices were regarded as sacred, and they came to be observed as the set time for worship throughout the Jewish nation.”

 

 

E) MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS

 

 

How much more should we be sure to engage in our morning and evening prayers now that we have this example set before us?

 

We observe in Revelation 5:8, “golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”  Also, Revelation 8:3states:  “And another angel came and stood at the Altar [of Incense], having a Golden Censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the throne.”

 

From YI, April 16, 1903 we read:  “The prayer and praise and confession of God’s people ascend as sacrifices to the Heavenly Sanctuary.  But they ascend not in spotless purity.  Passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by the righteousness of the great High Priest, they are not acceptable by God.  Christ gathers into the Censer the prayers, the praise, and the sacrifices of His people, and with these He puts the merits of His spotless righteousness.  Then, perfumed with the incense of Christ’s propitiation, our prayers, wholly and entirely acceptable, rise before God, and gracious answers are returned.”  And David states:  “Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense.”  Psalm 141:21.

 

However, an essential to any effective prayer and another element or aspect of proper prayer is to pray in submission, as did our Lord Jesus, “not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt,” Matthew 26:39.  Always with God’s blessing and His “Will.”  When God has answered all the prayers upon the Altar of Incense, then comes an Angel to remove them and put them into His Golden Censer.  He then casts the Censer into the earth (EW:279), thus indicating that His work of intercession in Heaven is ended.  The last prayer is answered, and throughout eternity we will study God’s dealings in their true perspective, seeing that the incense of our prayers are always answered according to His Will, and we shall be abundantly satisfied.

 

Here is EW:279.2:  “I saw angels hurrying to and fro in Heaven.  An angel with a writer's inkhorn by his side returned from the earth and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed {the 144,000}.  Then I saw Jesus, Who had been ministering before the Ark containing the Ten Commandments, throw down the censer.”  He raise His hands, and with a loud voice said, ‘It is done.’ ”

 

As we realize that our Lord is a Lover of the beautiful and the fragrant, we must also understand that with our Lord, fragrances and beauty are always associated with one’s character building.  “The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed to His people, and which can alone {“can alone”} make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God.”  PP:353.2.