And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Another angel - not Christ; for He, in Revelation, is always designated by His proper title. Doubtless, He is the only High Priest, the Angel of the covenant, standing before the golden altar of incense, and, as Mediator, offering up His people's prayers, acceptable before God through the incense of His merit (Malachi 1:11). Here the angel acts as a ministering spirit, just as the 24 elders have vials full of odours, or incense-the prayers of saints-which they present before the Lamb (Revelation 5:8). How precisely their ministry, in perfuming the prayers of the saints, and offering them on the altar of incense (which also Christ is, Hebrews 13:10), is exercised, we know not, but we do know they are not to be prayed to (Revelation 19:2). If we send an offering to the king, the king's messenger is not to appropriate what is due to the king alone.
There was given unto him. The angel does not provide the incense: it is given to him by Christ, whose meritorious obedience and death are the incense rendering the saints' prayers well-pleasing to God. Not the saints give the angel the incense; nor are their prayers identified with it; nor do they offer their prayers to him. Christ alone is the Mediator through and to whom prayer is to be offered.
Offer it with the prayers, х doesei (G1325) tais (G3588) proseuchais (G4335)] - 'give it TO the prayers,' so rendering them a sweet-smelling savour to God. Christ's merits alone can incense our prayers, though the angelic ministry be employed to attach this incense to the prayers. The saint's praying on earth, and the angel's incensing in heaven, are simultaneous.
All saints - both those in the heavenly rest and those militant on earth. The martyrs' cry is the foremost (Revelation 6:10), and brings down the ensuing judgments.
Golden altar - antitype to the earthly: Christ (Hebrews 13:10; Revelation 6:9).