There is no way to determine who this angel is. Some
believe it is an angel of high rank carrying out the
priestly duties of Christ. Others believe that it is Jesus
Christ, because He is seen often in the Old Testament as the
Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:7; Exodus 3:2; Numbers 22:22),
and because here this angel is ministering in a priestly
function which is not the normal role of angels in
Scripture. It is possible an angel could perform such a
function as this in Christ’s behalf, symbolically, just as
the Old Testament priests did.
n the Old Testament, the altar of incense was located before
the Holy of Holies just outside the veil. It was kept
outside of the veil because it had to be serviced and the
high priest could only go within the veil once a year. The
priest would burn incense on the altar of incense. The smoke
would fill the temple or tabernacle and then ascend upward
to heaven. The live coals on this altar originally came from
the altar of brass, the altar of sacrifice or of judgment,
the brass symbolized judgment. This spoke of Christ our
sacrifice that was judged for us. Anyone who rejects
Christ’s sacrifice must face God’s judgment (John 3:16-19).
The sweet incense ascending heavenward was symbolic of
worship and prayer. The incense poured on the coals from the
altar of sacrifice producing the smoke and sweet odor
pictures both Christ’s person and work together. The coals
spoke of Christ’s death, the incense of Christ’s person.
In Revelation 8:3-4 much incense is given to the angel that
is added to the prayers of all the saints upon the altar of
incense. The point is that the incense gives efficacy,
meaning, and acceptance to the prayers of the saints because
it represents the sweet savor of Christ’s person and work.
We are not specifically told who these saints are, but the
implication of the passage is that the saints here are
Tribulation saints, both Jew and Gentile believers who are
living on earth during the Tribulation. Their prayer is that
God would pour out His wrath on a rebellious world, but
their desire is to establish His kingdom and will on earth.
However, they may include the saints of all time whose
longing petitions for the coming of the kingdom of the Lord
are now about to be answered.
Note that when this angel filled the sensor with fire from
the altar and threw it to earth immediately, there were
peals of thunder, flashes of lightning and an earthquake
(Revelation 8:5).
