Or, true and just (see chs. 1:5; 3:7; 6:10; 15:3). In visiting these terrible judgments upon those who have rejected divine mercy. God is true in the sense that He is true to His word—He is carrying out what He had promised to do (ch. 14:9-11; etc.). He is righteous, or just, in the sense that justice demands the meting out of punishment to those who have defied Heaven. See on ch. 16:1.
That is, the altar of incense. No mention is made of an altar of burnt offering in heaven (cf. chs. 8:3; 9:13; 14:18). For the function of the altar of incense in the ancient tabernacle service see on Ex. 30:1, 6.
Another.
Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the omission of this word. The preferred reading, literally, is, I heard the altar say, probably meaning, however, not the altar but an angel who had been serving at it or standing by it (cf. ch. 14:18). The altar is doubtless not personified.