Chapter 8

3, 4^L (Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 9:13, 14^L; see EGW comment on Romans 8:26, 34; Hebrews 7:25^L). Prayers Made Fragrant by Christ′s Merit—As the high priest sprinkled the warm blood upon the mercy seat while the fragrant cloud of incense ascended before God, so, while we confess our sins and plead the efficacy of Christ′s atoning blood, our prayers are to ascend to heaven, fragrant with the merits of our Saviour′s character. Notwithstanding our unworthiness, we are to remember that there is One who can take away sin, and who is willing and anxious to save the sinner. With His own blood He paid the penalty for all wrongdoers. Every sin acknowledged before God with a contrite heart, He will remove [Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 9:13, 14^L quoted] (RH September 29, 1896).

(Revelation 5:8; Psalm 141:2; 1:29; Ephesians 5:2^L.) Incense Represents Blood of Atonement—[Revelation 8:3, 4^L quoted.] Let the families, the individual Christians, and the churches bear in mind that they are closely allied to heaven. The Lord has a special interest in His church militant here below. The angels who offer the smoke of the fragrant incense are for the praying saints. Then let the evening prayers in every family rise steadily to heaven in the cool sunset hour, speaking before God in our behalf of the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour.

That blood alone is efficacious. It alone can make propitiation for our sins. It is the blood of the only-begotten Son of God that is of value for us that we may draw nigh unto God, His blood alone that taketh “away the sin of the world.” John 1:29^L. Morning and evening the heavenly universe behold every household that prays, and the angel with the incense, representing the blood of the atonement, finds access to God (Manuscript 15, 1897).