← Intercession of the Saints
Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Catholic Perspective
The twenty-four elders in heaven represent the leaders of the people of God in heaven. In the New Testament, the term “saints” normally refers to Christians living on earth (Rom. 1:7, 1 Cor. 1:2, 2 Cor. 1:1, Eph. 1:1, etc.). This passage thus depicts the saints in heaven offering to God the “prayers of the saints” on earth—i.e., interceding for them.
It is reasonable, then, that we ask those in heaven to intercede for us—Revelation shows that the saints are already interceding! And it makes sense to ask the saints to pray for us since “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects” (James 5:16), and there are no more righteous than those who are already in heaven.
Next VerseRevelation 8:3-4And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. |  |
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