A gathering of believers meets in the courtyard of the largest dwelling among the members. The political winds have changed, and now they are considered enemies of the state for denying the religion of the State. It’s hard to do business if you don’t pledge your allegiance to the State religion. In fact, friends and neighbors are sometimes killed upon being recognized as members of this new religious sect–The Way, or Christ Followers. Questions tumble through their minds. Is our cause hopeless? Are we in the right? Does God care? Will we all be wiped out?
So their pastor sends a message from his distant exile home to encourage them. He writes it in a popular form of apocalyptic literature. He describes several visions he had where God, His angels and Jesus talk to him to reveal God’s Truth. We have that “book” handed down to us as The Revelation of John.
One of the recurring images is that of bowls of burning incense around the throne of God. These are described as the prayers of the saints. (Usually in visions, physical things are symbols of spiritual things. In fact, Jesus himself in his parables often used physical descriptions to stand for spiritual truths.) John was telling his followers through this metaphor that their prayers are heard by God. Further, the prayers of those who have been murdered by the State are especially heard by God. So, take heart. Don’t be discouraged. God is there. God wins–in fact, has won. And you are heard. Amen.
Faith Venture 
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