Apocalypse Revealed#394
394. And the smoke of the incense for the prayers of the saints ascended before God from the angel's hand. (8:4) This symbolizes their protection by the Lord.
The smoke of incense ascending before God symbolizes something accepted and pleasing. Therefore David says similarly,
Let my prayers be accepted as incense before You. (Psalms 141:2)
That was because the smoke of incense was fragrant owing to the aromatic substances of which incense was composed - stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense (Exodus 30:34). Moreover, the fragrances of these aromatic substances correspond to qualities connected with spiritual love, or with charity and the attendant faith. In heaven, indeed, angels experience the most fragrant aromas corresponding to their perceptions arising from their love. Consequently we also read in many places in the Word that Jehovah smelled a sweet odor. 1
That this symbolizes protection by the Lord follows from what we said just above in no. 393.
脚注:
1. See Genesis 8:21
Leviticus第16章:12-13
12
He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:
13
and he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony, so that he will not die.
