Harp And Incense In Revelation Worship
In the Book of Revelation, harps and incense appear as elements of heavenly worship, particularly in the vision of the Lamb receiving the scroll in Revelation 5. There, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense [1, 2]. This incense is explicitly identified as "the prayers of the saints" [1, 2].
The harp (Hebrew: kinnor) was a national instrument of the Hebrews, invented by Jubal, and used for both cheerful songs and praise to God [7]. It was often associated with stringed instruments and could have a soothing effect [7]. In Revelation, the presence of harps suggests a musical component to the worship in heaven.
Incense, derived from the Latin "to burn," is a mixture of gums or spices that produces a fragrant smoke when burned [4]. In the Old Testament, specific ingredients were prescribed for the incense used in the tabernacle, and only this particular mixture was permitted for offering [4]. Aaron, as high priest, was appointed to offer incense daily, morning and evening, on the golden altar [4, 6]. This practice was a symbol of prayer [5]. The smoke of the incense, accompanying the prayers of the saints, is depicted ascending before God [3, 10].
The symbolism of incense as prayers is consistent across biblical texts. Psalm 141:2 connects incense with prayer, a connection reinforced in Revelation [5, 8]. While some interpretations suggest an angel presents these prayers with incense [8, 9], others clarify that the angel presents the incense, and the prayers ascend with it, signifying acceptance [10]. The act of burning incense was also seen as an offering of tributary homage to God as Israel's Theocratic Ruler [11]. The "golden bowls full of incense" in Revelation 5:8 are sometimes referred to as censers [8].
Sources
- Revelation “Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. -- Revelation 5:8”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 5:8 (BSB) — When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
- Revelation “The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. -- Revelation 8:4”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Incense — from the Latin "to burn," "a mixture of gums or spices and the like, used for the purpose of producing a perfume when burned;" or the perfume itself of the spices, etc., burned in worship. The incense employed in the service of the tabernacle walls compounded of the perfumes stacte, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense. All incense which was not made of these ingredients was forbidden to be offered. (Exodus 30:9) Aaron, as high priest, was originally appointed to offer incense each morning and evening. The times of offering incense were specified in the in”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incense — A fragrant composition prepared by the "art of the apothecary." It consisted of four ingredients "beaten small" (Ex. 30:34-36). That which was not thus prepared was called "strange incense" (30:9). It was offered along with every meat-offering; and besides was daily offered on the golden altar in the holy place, and on the great day of atonement was burnt by the high priest in the holy of holies (30:7, 8). It was the symbol of prayer (Ps. 141:1, 2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Incense — Brought from Sheba -- Jer 6:20. Called frankincense -- Song 4:6,14. An article of extensive commerce -- Re 18:13. Common, not to be offered to God -- Ex 30:9. For God's service mixed with sweet spices -- Ex 25:6; 37:29. Receipt for mixing -- Ex 30:34-36. None but priest to offer -- Nu 16:40; De 33:10. Offered In censers. -- Le 10:1; Nu 16:17,46. On the altar of gold. -- Ex 30:1,6; 40:5. Morning and evening. -- Ex 30:7,8. Perpetually. -- Ex 30:8. By the high priest in the most holy place on the day of atonement. -- Le 16:12,13. With fire from off the altar o”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Harp — (Heb. kinnor), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was invented by Jubal (Gen. 4:21). Some think the word kinnor denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness as well as of praise to God (Gen. 31:27; 1 Sam. 16:23; 2 Chr. 20:28; Ps. 33:2; 137:2). In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1 Kings 10:11, 12). In 1 Chr. 15:21 mention is made of "harps on the Sheminith;" Revised Version, "harps set to the Sheminith;" better perhaps "harps of eight strings." The soothing effect of the music o”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 5:8: had taken--Greek, "took." fell down before the Lamb--who shares worship and the throne with the Father. harps--Two oldest manuscripts, A, B, Syriac and Coptic read, "a harp": a kind of guitar, played with the hand or a quill. vials--"bowls" [TREGELLES]; censers. odours--Greek, "incense." prayers of saints--as the angel offers their prayers (Rev 8:3) with incense (compare Psa 141:2). This gives not the least sanction to Rome's dogma of our praying to saints. Though they be employed by God in some way unknown to us to present our prayers (no”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 8:3: another angel--not Christ, as many think; for He, in Revelation, is always designated by one of His proper titles; though, doubtless, He is the only true High Priest, the Angel of the Covenant, standing before the golden altar of incense, and there, as Mediator, offering up His people's prayers, rendered acceptable before God through the incense of His merit. Here the angel acts merely as a ministering spirit (Heb 1:4), just as the twenty-four elders have vials full of odors, or incense, which are the prayers of saints (Rev 5:8), and which they pres”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 8:4: The smoke of the incense - with the prayers - Though incense itself be an emblem of the prayers of the saints, Psa 141:2; yet here they are said to ascend before God, as well as the incense. It is not said that the angel presents these prayers. He presents the incense, and the prayers ascend With it. The ascending of the incense shows that the prayers and offering were accepted.”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 30:7: Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense--literally, "incense of spices"--Strong aromatic substances were burnt upon this altar to counteract by their odoriferous fragrance the offensive fumes of the sacrifices; or the incense was employed in an offering of tributary homage which the Orientals used to make as a mark of honor to kings; and as God was Theocratic Ruler of Israel, His palace was not to be wanting in a usage of such significancy. Both these ends were served by this altar--that of fumigating the apartments of the sacred edifice, while the pure”