angel is employed in _presenting_ the prayers of the saints which were offered on earth before the throne. See Notes on that passage. It is most natural to interpret the passage before us in the same way. The allusion is clearly to the temple service, and to the fact that incense was offered by the priest in the temple itself at the time that prayer was offered by the people in the courts of the temple. See Lu. i. 9, 10. The idea here is, therefore, that the representatives of the church in heaven――the elders――spoken of as “priests” (ver. 10), are described as officiating in the temple above in behalf of the church still below, and as offering incense while the church is engaged in prayer. It is not said that _they_ offer the prayers themselves, but that they offer _incense_ as representing the prayers of the saints. If this be the correct interpretation, as it seems to be the obvious one, then the passage lays no foundation for the opinion expressed by Professor Stuart, as derived from this passage (_in loco_), that prayer is offered by the redeemed in heaven. Whatever may be the truth on that point――on which the Bible seems to be silent――it will find no support from the passage before us. Adoration, praise, thanksgiving, are represented as the employment of the saints in heaven: the only representation respecting _prayer_ as pertaining to that world is, that there are emblems there which symbolize its ascent before the throne, and which show that it is acceptable to God. It is an interesting and beautiful representation that there _are_ in heaven appropriate symbols of ascending prayer, and that while in the outer courts here below _we_ offer prayer, incense, emblematic of it, ascends in the holy of holies above. The _impression_ which this should leave on our minds ought to be, that our prayers are wafted before the throne, and are acceptable to God. 9 And they sung a [204]new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God [205]by thy blood, out of [206]every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;