The Tabernacle Plan of Salvation-Altar of Incense

Moses built the Tabernacle in the wilderness after the true tabernacle in Heaven.

If we look at the different sections and pieces of furniture of the Moses’ Tabernacle, we get a picture of the tabernacle in heaven. We also see how Jesus fulfilled the Tabernacle Plan and how it applies to our walk with God.

The Altar of Incense sat right before the Ark of the Covenant separating by a beautiful veil.

Incense was offered in the morning and the evening every day by the priest. On the Day of Atonement, the horns of the Altar of Incense were sprinkled with Blood for the annual cleansing, as the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies. Incense burned continually before the Holy of Holies filling the Holy Place with a pleasant aroma, wafting into the Holy of Holies and out into the atmosphere surrounding the Children of Israel.

The priest offered incense with the coals from the Brazen Altar. The sacrifice had to precede the offering.

Jesus died as our Lamb for our sins on the Brazen Altar and washed in Baptism at the Laver of Water in the Outer Court.

Jesus gave us the Living Word illuminated by His Holy Spirit. He fulfilled the Golden Candlestick as well as the Table of Showbread in the Holy Place.

He is the sweet fragrance ascending into the Holy of Holies in Heaven before the Throne of God.

He now stands before the Mercy Seat of the Ark of Covenant in Heaven as the Throne of God making intercession for all who believe in Him as their Lord and God.

Believers in Christ must confess their sins, be baptized into His Name, allow His Holy Spirit to illuminate His Word, as we offer praise, worship, prayers, and obedience as incense before His Throne of Grace.

We must leave our soulish man at the altar and have our spirit man cleansed at baptism before His Holy Spirit can begin to teach and grow our spiritual man in the Holy of Holies. Only then will our prayers and worship ascend beyond our lips into the very Presence of God at His Throne in Heaven.

The incense shielded the priest from the condemnation of the Laws in the Ark of the Covenant.

The Law was meant to point us to our need of Christ. No man could keep the whole Law. All men sinned in one manner or another. Only Jesus was sinless. Only His Righteousness covers our sins and protects us from the judgment of the Law.

The incense ascended as a cloud of smoke filling the Holy Place and the covering the Priest. As it wafted through the Veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, it also covered the Ark containing the Law. The Law condemns us because we can’t keep it. The incense of confession, obedience, prayers, and worship to Christ covers our sinfulness with His Righteousness, protecting us from God’s wrath.

• God was able to dwell among sinful Israel by the aroma of incense covering their sinfulness.  Our Heavenly Father accepts us because of our confession of daily sins and our profession of Jesus Christ as our High Priest.

Various other uses of Incense.

• New Age believers say incense is pleasing to the spirit world. It increases clairvoyance and wards away bad energy of evil spirits. It helps the mind release the soul. (They are inviting evil spirits disguised as good spirits)
• Occult practitioners say incense represents the four elements of fire, water, earth, and air, creating a magical atmosphere, releasing energy as they place incense before their idols or gods.
• Native Americans believed incense carried their concentrated wishes and desires to the great spirit. It removed the bad and released the good.
• Catholics use incense in thuribles or braziers to symbolize prayer to God and blessings to the believers.
• Ancient civilizations used incense to mask the odors of animals, especially in king’s palaces.
• Today people use incense to mask the odor of cigarettes or marijuana.

Zachariah.

Zachariah offered incense in Luke 1:1-11 when the angel of the Lord appeared to him standing at the right side of the Altar of Incense announcing that John the Baptist was about to be born. All the people who lived close to the temple were gathered outside at the time of incense. They would do this twice per day. Those who lived a distance from the temple would face the temple twice per day at the time of the incense offering.

Our Prayers are Incense.

• Psalm 141:2 says David understood his prayers to be like incense.
• Revelation 5:8 says the prayers of the saints are the same as incense.
• Revelation 8:3-5 says angels offer the prayers of saints as incense before the Altar of Incense before the Throne of God in Heaven.
• Paul says that we should pray without ceasing because our prayers are a sweet-smelling aroma to God.

Notice that the prayers offered by the angels during the tribulation are prayers that have been prayed years before, and are now just being answered.

All prayers will be answered in God’s time if they are prayed sincerely and according to His Will.

So while many use incense for demonic and selfish reasons, the Bible teaches us that our prayers of faith have replaced the incense of the Tabernacle. Jesus is our Altar of Incense. Our prayers and obedience to Him are true spiritual incense that ascends to the very throne room of God. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus Christ and His Righteousness covering our sins. His grace and forgiveness are renewed each time we pray and worship in Jesus Name.