The Mediator of Judgement - Revelation 8:1-5

Since the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse have been riding.  The risen Saviour, Lord of all has been opening the six seals, unveiling the future and setting the final timetable in motion. The seventh seal which encompasses the seven trumpets and seven bowls (to come) is at the starting gate.  Then we read:

“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 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.” (Revelation 8:2–5, NIV).

The Seventh Seal indicates that time is at the end of the end.  There are no more Seals.  But this seems to be a parenthetical vision.  "Another angel" who has a golden censor stood by the altar. He has in his hands the prayers (metaphorically) of all God's people. What were these prayers? These must be the same prayers that have been described in 6:9-10, “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 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?””

Interestingly in both places (Revelation 6 and 8) right after the mention of the prayers of the saints there is a depiction of scenes of judgement. Note:

Revelation 6:12–17

Revelation 8:4-5

“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?””

“The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 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.”

So judgement is depicted as response to these prayers.  But this time it is an angel taking these prayers to the altar.  As Beale points out: [This] . . . indicates that the petition of 6:10 is now being formally presented before God with angelic favour and authority. The angel also represents the saints as he bears their prayers before God’s presence . . . The fact that the angel presents the saints’ request implies that the request has not only angelic but divine approval. Consequently, the angel is an agent of God whose actions merely indicate prior divine decision." [1]   Very likely this angel is Christ Himself. "This angel is entirely separate from the seven angels mentioned in verse 2, not so much because of added description, but by the very nature of the work involved. It is undoubtedly the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible knows of no other than Him who does the work of mediating the prayers of all saints, symbolized by the incense . . .." [2]

"Therefore fire from the altar, from which the saints’ prayers rise, will be flung to earth in judgement, indicating that the judgements to follow answer the prayers of the saints." [3]

Father, in times of persecution and trouble, the saints of all ages have cried, "How long, Oh Lord."  These prayers do not fall on deaf ears.  Thank you for this insight into Heaven's court that allows us to see that at the right time, Christ Jesus our Mediator will take these prayers to the altar and they will be answered swiftly and decisively.  Judgement will come.  Justice will come.   Your servants will be vindicated and glorified.  Amen!




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1.  Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: A commentary on the Greek text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (455). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.
2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2676). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2475). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.