What A Difference Prayer Makes

"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in the heaven about the space of half an hour.........And another angel came and stood at the alter, having a golden censor;..... And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." ~ (Revelation 8: 1-4)

The words of John the revelatory in this short passage of scripture, came at a time when the graces and comforts of the people of God had just been secured through their prayers, supplication and intercession in a time of common calamity and great tribulation. Similarly, in Rev.7:13-17, we see a description also given of the honour and happiness of those who had faithfully served Christ, and who had suffered for Him. 

Then at the opening of the last seal, which was to signify a new set of events, we are told that in the space of one half hour, there followed a great silence in the heaven (Rev.8:1). It was no ordinary silence as one would know it to be. It was a silence and a stillness of great expectation by the saints of God to see what He was doing. Great things were churning on the wheels of providence and the windows of heaven that was once shut up over the people were about to be opened again. 

In Rev.8:3, it is expressed that another angel, who had a gold incense container, came and stood at the alter. He was given a lot of incense to add to the prayers of all of God's people and for their prayers to be offered on the gold alter that stands before the throne. The smoke of the burning incense went up with the prayers of  God's people from the hands of the angel that stood before the Lord. 

The angels to whom the trumpets were delivered must now begin to blow the trumpets and sound the alarm! The prayers that were once prayers of laments, abandonment, despair, hopelessness, hurt, guilt were now prayers of faith, love, and hope mixed with the sweet smelling fragrance that pleased the Lord. And when at last heaven breaks her silence, the fragrant prayers filled with answers (revelation, transformation, manifestation) were poured out upon the earth. 

The message is clear, that those who remain faithful and fervent in prayer, along with those who have been prayed for, must now give back to God all the praise, honour and glory for the victory we have won over evil, suffering, sickness and death, that came as a result of Christ through His own suffering, death and His resurrection from death unto life eternal. True indeed, what a difference prayer makes!