PRAYING SAINTS by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC
Introduction: Today is the first weekend of the year and the first weekend of the month. We will be having our congregational prayer as well communion in this service. We have prayerfully planned it towards the end of the service. We will give you instructions regarding it when the time is ready. For now, we are in the second message in laying the foundation of our end-times prophecy series. Last weekend, we learned how being an overcomer is one of the major goals and benefits of studying prophecy. Today, we will learn that praying together is also one of the major goals and benefits of studying prophecy. Turn to Revelation 5:8 (page # 1880).
Let me again say a word about the prophecy series coming up. This will not be your average series on prophecy. Our series will probably go on for several years, but we will take breaks in between and have different series during Christmas, Easter, and Summer. This series will be a comprehensive and systematic look at end-times prophecy, laying one block down at a time. As I mentioned last week, you will find that it is a great blessing to study prophecy.
Revelation 5:8 (page # 1880) “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
Context: When you read the Book of Revelation, it doesn’t take long to realize that it “is full of worship – praise and thanksgiving – offered to God” (Baukham, “Prayer in the Book of Revelation”). If you don’t enjoy worship here, you may not enjoy heaven! Our focus in today’s message is not on worship (which will be for next weekend), but on prayer, which is connected to worship but distinct. Although, there are only 2 references (technically 3) to prayer, the subject of prayer is from the beginning to the end of the Book of Revelation. The technical word for prayer in Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4 is “proseuche.” This was the Greek word for prayer in the LXX. The concept prayer is throughout the book of Revelation. The book begins with John saying in Revelation 1 10 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, (Meaning: As he was praying on a Sunday morning) and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last…” The final chapter of Revelation ends with these words – Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Contrary to what is often assumed, God’s work in the end-times is not just arbitrary and autocratic. He will work in cooperation and partnership with his people. This cooperation and partnership happen in the realm of prayer, more specifically, corporate prayer.
So, let’s understand the importance of praying together in the Book of Revelation, so we can better understand the heart of end-times prophecy:
1. The prayers of the saints immediately follow the worship of the Lamb.
Listen again to Revelation 5:8 (page # 1880) “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
Context: John has been taken up into the heavenly sanctuary or the throne room of God. The throne room is the place where God rules the whole world. He is attended to by his angels and heavenly beings. This is also the place where God’s heavenly temple is. This is the place where God is worshipped in heaven. In fact, the earthly temple is built on the model of the heavenly temple. We’re not going to get into the details here. In Revelation 5:8, the 24 elders hold the golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints. In the earthly temple, there was the golden altar of incense near the Holy of Holies. This was done every morning and evening at the time of the daily burnt offering. This was time when prayers were offered to God as the smoke from the incense would rise up. Psalm 141:2 “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (We just read this in the opening). Even the Jewish people who were not in Jerusalem or at the temple would pray at this time. Daniel 9:21 “yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.” Here it is much more than just some generic worship. The crucified and resurrected Jesus himself is the focus of the worship. In this worship, the prayers of the martyrs are held up before God.
2. The prayers of the saints determines the time of the end.
Revelation 6 (page# 1881) 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Why are the souls under the altar? The blood of the animals was poured at the base of the altar of the burnt offering. So also, the blood of the martyrs is being poured out at the base of the altar in heaven. This is like the blood of Abel crying out to God. These are those who have been martyred. The “how long” is not for revenge but for God’s righteousness.
Revelation 6:11 “Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
Application: Do you pray for the persecuted church across the world? In our Sunday School, we are discussing the Persecuted Church.
3. The prayers of the martyrs are joined by the prayers of all God’s people.
Revelation 8 (page # 1883) 3 “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.”
Context: It’s no longer just the prayers of the martyrs but the prayers of all of God’s people coming before God. God cares about your prayers and mine. He takes the time to listen to each one of them. In the context, Revelation 8:1 “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” According to Jewish tradition, when it was time for the incense offering at the temple in Jerusalem, there was a time of silence in heaven so God could hear the prayers of his people. What is very interesting is what happens next in Revelation 8:5 “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” This sequence is found 4 times in the Book of Revelation. It is a reference to Mount Sinai – Exodus 19:16 “Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.” This was not theatrics. This was the visible manifestation of the holiness of God.
If you pay attention to the words being used, the answer to the prayers of all God’s people is the content for the rest of the Book of Revelation:
- Revelation 9 (page# 1884) 13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, (the golden altar is the golden altar of incense carrying the prayer of the saints) 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
- Revelation 14:18 (page# 1890) And another angel came out from the altar, (this is the altar of incense carrying the prayer of the saints) who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” This is a picture of the vast river of blood that is the result of God’s wrath.
- Revelation 15:7 (page# 1891) “Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls (again, a reference to the golden bowls) full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.” The prayers of the saints is releasing the wrath of God.
- Revelation 16 (page# 1891-1892) 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”
- Revelation 18 (page# 1895) 20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore…24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
4. The ultimate answer to the prayers is not just justice but mercy.
Revelation 15:4 “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” Through the deaths of the saints and the delay of his patience, God has brought more and more people into his kingdom. Even in his wrath, there is mercy!
Application: Are you praying for the lost to be saved?
5. Our collective prayer should be for Jesus to come soon.
Revelation 22 (page# 1901) 20 “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” This is to be compared with 1 Corinthians 16:22 (Maranatha).
Yes, we want him to come and begin the New Creation, but, in a sense, the kingdom begins now. That’s what Jesus taught us to pray – Matthew 6 9 “…Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” By praying like this, we are simply declaring that we are already under His rule and He is the king who does what He pleases. But we don’t stop there. We do all we can to live in a way that we declare Him King in every part of the world in which we live now – Politics, ethics, morality, art, literature, etc. Yes, one day He will make all things right but until then we need to live out His purpose in this world.
Also, when we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, it is not with a tone of defeat and despair. It is with the rock-solid assurance that God is perfectly in control of what’s going on and He will work His perfect secret will in His own way and time. We have total faith that God is in control and His purpose will prevail.
God invites us to participate in praying for his judgment to begin on the earth. This judgment comes from God’s holiness. We have to make sure that we are holy before we talk about the sinfulness of the world. Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
Application: Will you be able to stand before the holy judgment of God? Only Christ can make us holy. Can you see God?
Are you praying for his coming? Are you ready for his coming? Do you know him? Will he know you? Do you know those in your life who are not ready for his coming?