Anisha Riggs
Incense is a resinous substance that has been used in religious ceremonies for centuries. In the Book of Revelation, incense is seen as a symbol of the prayers of the saints, rising up to heaven. The use of incense in the Bible is mentioned several times, including in the Book of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Exodus, and Revelation. In Revelation, the elders are described as having golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. This imagery of incense representing prayers is also seen in other verses, such as Revelation 8:4, where the smoke of incense and the prayers of the saints rise to God. The use of incense in the Book of Revelation adds to the symbolism and imagery of the text, connecting the earthly and heavenly realms through the act of prayer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense in the Book of Revelation | A symbol of the prayers of the saints |
| Incense in the Old Testament | Used for the worship of God |
| Incense in liturgy | Used to reverence people and things |
| Incense in Christianity | A rich prayer and purification symbolism |
| Incense in Judaism | A pure offering, pleasing to God |
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What You'll Learn
Incense is used in liturgy
Incense has been used in liturgy since ancient times. In the Book of Revelation, it is seen as a symbol of the prayers of the saints, rising up to heaven. This interpretation is supported by various Bible verses. For instance, in Revelation 5:8, St. John describes the elders holding "golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones". Similarly, in Revelation 8:3–4, an angel is depicted with a gold censer, offering "a great quantity of incense, along with the prayers of all the holy ones".
The use of incense in liturgy is also mentioned in other parts of the Bible, such as the Book of Numbers 7:14, where it is described as part of an offering for the dedication of the altar. Deuteronomy 33:10 refers to "the smoke of sacrifice", while Exodus 30:34–38 provides instructions for blending aromatic substances with pure frankincense.
Incense has been an important part of religious ceremonies and worship for centuries. In liturgy, it is often used to reverence people and objects. For example, during the Offertory of the Mass, the priest may incense the gifts placed on the altar, as well as the cross and the altar itself. This act symbolises the connection between the altar of sacrifice, those offering the sacrifice, and those uniting themselves with the sacrifice.
The use of incense in liturgy is deeply symbolic and carries a rich history. Frankincense, in particular, has been associated with prayer and purification. In Christian tradition, it has been linked to Christ and the Magi's gift (Matthew 2:10–11). Even earlier, the Jews regarded its spicy scent as a pure offering, pleasing to God. Thus, the burning of incense in liturgy serves as a physical representation of prayers rising to God and as a means of purification and reverence.
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Incense symbolises the prayers of saints
Incense has been used in worship since the Old Testament, where it was used to honour God. In the Book of Revelation, incense is seen as a symbol of the prayers of the saints, rising up to heaven.
In Revelation 5:8, St. John describes the elders as having "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones". Here, the elders worship Christ, offering their prayers to him as sweet-smelling incense. This imagery is further reinforced in Revelation 8:3-4, where an angel is given "a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones". The smoke of the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, ascends to God.
The use of incense in the Mass reinforces this symbolism. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that during the Offertory of the Mass, the priest may incense the gifts placed on the altar, as well as the cross and the altar itself. This act signifies the Church's offering and prayers rising like incense before God.
Incense, made primarily from frankincense, has long been associated with prayer and purification. The smoke rising from burning incense has been compared to prayers ascending to heaven. This symbolism is evident in Psalm 34 and 1 Peter 3:12, which speak of God's delight in receiving the prayers of His people. The use of incense in the Book of Revelation thus reinforces the idea that the prayers of the saints are precious to God and are offered to Him as a sweet-smelling sacrifice.
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Incense is mentioned in the Old Testament
The Old Testament describes the incense altar as being located at the end of the Holy compartment of the tabernacle, next to the curtain separating it from the Most Holy. The Books of Chronicles mention a similar incense altar in Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. The sacred incense was burned every morning and evening, and it played a crucial role in the rituals performed by the high priest.
The recipe for the incense is described in detail, with the Book of Exodus listing four components: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The Talmud, a collection of Jewish oral traditions, adds seven more ingredients to the list, resulting in a blend of eleven spices. The preparation and grinding of the spices were carefully prescribed to ensure their purity and holiness.
The use of incense in the Old Testament is connected to the concept of prayer and the relationship between God and His people. The psalmist compares prayers to the smoke of incense rising up to heaven, and David expresses this sentiment in Psalm 141:2: "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you". The smoke of incense is seen as a symbol of the prayers of the saints, ascending to God as a sweet-smelling perfume.
The Old Testament references to incense provide a foundation for its continued use in Christian liturgies and masses. The Catholic Source Book notes that incense has been associated with Christ and has deep roots in Christian prayer and purification symbolism.
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Incense is used to reverence people and things
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for centuries. In the Book of Revelation, it is seen as a symbol of the prayers of the saints, rising up to heaven. The use of incense is also an Old Testament practice, with mentions of it in the Book of Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Exodus. For Christians, incense has a rich prayer and purification symbolism. It is associated with Christ and the Magi's gift, as mentioned in the Bible (Matthew 2:10–11).
Incense is used in the Mass to reverence people and things. During the Offertory of the Mass, the priest may incense the gifts placed on the altar and then the cross and the altar itself. This signifies the Church's offering and prayer rising like incense in the sight of God. The priest and the people may then be incensed by the deacon or another minister. This act of incensing shows a connectedness between the altar of sacrifice, those offering the sacrifice, and those uniting themselves to the sacrifice.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM, 75) describes this part of the Mass:
> "After the bread and wine are placed on the altar, 'the Priest may incense the gifts placed on the altar and then incense the cross and the altar itself, so as to signify the Church’s offering and prayer rising like incense in the sight of God. Next, the Priest, because of his sacred ministry, and the people, by reason of their baptismal dignity, may be incensed by the Deacon or by another minister.'"
Incense is also mentioned in Revelation 5:8, where St. John describes the elders as having "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones." This imagery of incense as prayers is further reinforced in Revelation 8:3–4, where an angel is described as having a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones.
The use of incense in these passages from the Book of Revelation emphasizes the idea of prayers rising to God as a sweet-smelling perfume or aroma. This belief is also reflected in Psalm 34 and 1 Peter 3:12, which state that God delights in the prayers of His people and invites them to come before Him with their prayers.
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Incense is made from frankincense
Incense is a biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. It is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It may also be used as a simple deodorant or insect repellent. Incense is composed of aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils. The forms taken by incense differ with the underlying culture, and have changed with advances in technology and increasing use cases.
Frankincense is also known as olibanum, an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes, obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. The word is derived from the Old French expression franc encens, meaning 'true incense' or 'high-quality incense'. The English word frankincense comes from the Old French expression franc encens, which means 'pure incense'.
The Book of Exodus (30:34–38) prescribes frankincense, blended with equal amounts of three aromatic spices, to be ground and burnt in the sacred altar before the Ark of the Covenant in the wilderness Tabernacle, where it was meant to be a holy offering. In the New Testament, frankincense is mentioned as one of the three gifts (with gold and myrrh) that the magi "from the East" presented to the Christ Child (Matthew 2:11).
In the Eastern Orthodox Christian monastic tradition on Mount Athos, incense is made by powdering frankincense or fir resin, mixing it with essential oils. Floral fragrances are the most common, but citrus scents like lemon are also used. The incense mixture is then rolled out into a slab approximately 1 centimetre (0.39 in) thick and left until the slab has firmed. It is then cut into small cubes, coated with clay powder to prevent adhesion, and allowed to fully harden and dry.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of incense is an Old Testament practice that has been maintained over the years. It is often used to reverence people and things. Incense is also mentioned in the Book of Numbers 7:14 as part of an offering for the dedication of the altar.
In the Book of Revelation, incense is seen as a symbol of the prayers of the saints. It is believed that the prayers of the saints ascend to heaven as sweet-smelling perfume.
Revelation 5:8 mentions "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints". This signifies that the prayers of the saints are being offered to Christ and are an aroma of heaven.
Revelation 8:4 mentions the use of incense in heaven but not on earth. It describes an angel with a gold censer, given "a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones".
