The action of the angel in Revelation 8:3–5 illustrates that the Lord God waits for the prayers of his people. Furthermore, though God’s people may feel helpless and weak (certainly when they face martyrdom), prayer is in fact powerful to accomplish much in God’s world (see James 5:16). The prayers of God’s people reach the throne of the almighty God and unleash great judgments upon the earth. Through their prayers the saints exercise an aspect of the kingship entrusted to them in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:6). Such power is certainly incentive for saints to continue in prayer—and to study the Scriptures well in order to know what to pray.
3 Et un autre ange vint, et il se tint sur l'autel, ayant un encensoir d'or; on lui donna beaucoup de parfums, afin qu'il les offre, avec les prières de tous les saints, sur l'autel d'or qui est devant le trône.