“the gold altar … and the sweet incense …” (Ex. 39:38, NKJV)
In the previous teaching we started discussing the twenty-first characteristic of the corporate spirit or mantle of Zerubbabel. Here the focus is specifically to guide believers, individually and corporately, to being measured in the spirit. The twenty-second characteristic is still concerned with measurement, but with a different aspect thereof.
Read Rev. 11:1 again – “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.’” We spent quite a bit of time pointing out the meaning of the temple being measured, but note that the “altar” too is measured.
The Greek word for temple that is used here is the Greek word naos, which points to the inner sanctuary, in other words, the area of the tabernacle or temple that is closed off, thus that which excludes the forecourt, which was in the open. It also excludes the altar of burnt offering, and thus the only altar that could be at issue here is the golden altar, or the altar of incense. On this altar “sweet incense” (Ex. 30:7) is lit.
Typologically the golden altar of incense then points to ministering to God with praise, worship, prayer, thanksgiving, spiritual communion and actions of the collective Body such as counsel, ministering to another, communion, etc. The following Scriptures make this explicit typological link:
- “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Ps. 141:2)
- “Oil and perfume rejoice the heart, so too the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” (Prov. 27:9, ACV)
- “‘For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 1:11)
- “And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.” (Luke 1:10)
- “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Rev. 5:8)
- “the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before” (Rev. 8:3-4).
The golden altar of incense has not formally been a point of focus in the Manna, and we will not be dealing with it now, either, but only focus on that which is relevant for the notion of measurement, as the Scripture in Rev. 11 presents it.
- Selah: Ponder the different ways in which God can be ministered to.
- Read: Job 10-12.
- Memorise: Job 12:7-8.
