THE GOLDEN CENSER AT THE GOLDEN ALTAR

THE GOLDEN CENSER AT THE GOLDEN ALTAR

            Preached by:  Carolyn Sissom

Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009

Rev. 8: 3-5:  “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the Lord. And the smoke of the incense which came from the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth:  and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”

Vision given to Carolyn Sissom in 1997:  I was standing at the foot of stairs leading up in to a cloud.  On either side of the stairs were angels holding bowls of incense.  On the right they were ascending the stairs and on the left, they were descending the stairs.  I knew these were the prayers of the saints and the answers to those prayers.  I was lifted straight up into the cloud.  Jesus was standing in the cloud.  He was all light.  I, too, was “light” (i.e. Spirit).  Jesus took me in to Himself then my “light” became one with His “light”.  My “light” then passed through the nail scarred right hand.  From His hands came flashes of brilliant light.” (End of Vision)

In the Seven Thunders of God by: Van Tanner, he asked a question on page 79?  “Will you be a dispenser?  If so count the cost.  To be a dispenser (Vial) you must keep (live by) the words of this book.  You must let the fire burn away the carnality of your life through sacrifice and obedience to Christ.  Then you must lose yourself in the body, so that the corporate appearing can dispense the tribulations of Revelation.  You are the authority of Revelation in Seal 7, Christ must manifest in an Elect company (the 144,000) to finish His ministry to the world…You must be the living revelation of Jesus Christ.  You must be the fullness of the two witnesses (Spirit and Truth) that comes alive for the entire world to see.  The golden oil of Christ’s anointing must flow through you.  Do not be as the foolish virgins who had no oil for their lamps and were not prepared for the great marriage supper.  Your light (Christ’ Glory) must shine into the darkness of this world at midnight to show the way to Christ.”  (End of quote by Van Tanner from The Seven Thunders of God.)

In the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle the furniture was in the shape of a cross; the Golden Altar was at the very center of this in the HEART of the tabernacle---the ministry of prayer, praise, and intercession of Christ the High Priest and the church are at the very heart of God; The altar was at the end of the Holy Place (20 x 10 x 10 = 2000-year church age).  The truths of the Golden Altar were being experienced at the end of the 20^th Century.  The Arks is the THRONE = Jesus is the High Priest at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 7:25; 9:24; 1 Jn. 2:1-2), and prayer and praise were CENTRAL to His ministry; also, those OVERCOMERS who will sit with Him in His Throne have lives centered in prayer and praise---their ministry of incense will overcome the Veil of FLESH; finally, the ministry of this altar is closer and will bring us closer  to the Throne and the realm of the Holy of Holies than  anything else;

Note:  the term “Altar” teaches a sacrifice and a discipline in prayer and praise (Heb. 13:15; Ps. 109:4)  “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”

The Golden Altar had four horns made of wood and overlaid with gold.  The number four reveals that Jesus’ High Priestly ministry is for the Body of Christ World-Wide, touching the whole earth; also, note that the Church can “aim” and direct her prayer and praise in any direction.  We are remember that toward the end of the 20^th there was a great world-wide restoration of prayer and praise. 

There were two staves of wood and overlaid with gold.  The number “Two” reveals the prayer and praise of Christ the Head and Body and the Witness of prayer and praise;  The Golden Altar was the highest piece of furniture in the Holy Place according to recorded Scripture---Jesus’ exalted ministry (Eph. 1:20-21) and HIGH (heavenly) praise and prayer. (Ps. 149: 6-9)

Believers should pray and praise wherever they go (1 Tim. 2:8).  Believers need a personal life of prayer in life’s pilgrimage.  We must have the intercession of Christ in life’s pilgrimage to ever guide and protect us. (Mt. 28:20) “And lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.”

There is a growth and increase of the ministries of praise and prayer as we walk nearer and nearer to Canaan (Kingdom realm).  Those who are OVERCOMERS in this end-time are learning to soar higher and higher in the Spirit realm in times of praise and prayer.

God lit the fire on the Brazen Altar (The Cross) (Lev. 6: 12-13) “It shall not be put out…the fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” There are other examples of divine fire falling in approval from God in certain sacrifices (11 Sa. 24).  Thus, the fire on the Golden Altar was a divine fire and any other fire was “Strange fire” (Ex. 30:9) which is a type of all false worship:  thus, the Blood (Ex. 20:10) and fire came from the Cross---the sacrifice of Christ is the basis of all prayer and praise;  God only accepts incense that he has prescribed and all approach to God in prayer and praise must come through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6)  “Jesus said to him, “I am the way the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father, but by Me.”

The fire of the Holy ghost kindles our devotions (Rev. 3; 15); Is. 6:5-8; Acts. 2:4). The fire for the Golden Altar came from the Brazen Altar. Fire came from Heaven and fire came from the Brazen Altar.  At Pentecost the fire fell and now the saints are the "fire carriers".     The story of the strange fire is given in the examples of Nadab, Abihu and Uzziah.  (Lev. 10:1-2, Num. 3:4; 26:61; 1 Chr. 24:2; Lev. 13:44; 11 Chron. 26:16-19)

Since the time of the Azusa Street revival, some Pentecostal denominations accuse every Cloud of Glory as being “Strange Fire”.  This has been to sabotage the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Many have been successful with their accusations to pour water and dampen the Move of the Holy Ghost.  Most of these accusations have been due to jealousy and competition to control what the Lord is doing.  If you are a sincere seeker of the Lord, you will have no trouble discerning the Fire of God from “Strange Fire.” 

There are accusations flying around today that many of the prophets of this present move of God are flowing in “Strange Fire”.  I believe that is “Old Wives Tales” from people who haven’t felt the Move of God for themselves and are naysayer’s for those who have paid the cost.

The Brazen Altar was outside.  On the cross, Jesus’ only Crown was the Crown of thorns--- his humiliation.  On the Golden Altar which is inside has a golden crown which represents Jesus’ exaltation.  The Cross was a place of suffering and the Golden altar is the place of Triumph of the King-Priest.

The Golden Altar was used exclusively for burning incense (Ex. 30:9).

The Golden Altar in the Holy of Holies was sprinkled annually on the Day of Atonement with Blood of the sin offering seven times. (Ex. 30:10)---The blood of Jesus, the Sin Offering is the basis of His ministry of intercession at the right hand; Seven times speaks of His complete and Perfect atonement which opened up his Complete and Perfect ministry of intercession.

The Golden Altar was anointed with oil revealing the anointed High Priestly ministry of Jesus and the anointed incense of the saints.

Only Aaron (High Priest) and his Seed (the Priests) could minister at the Golden Altar.  The Offices of King and Priest are permanently united in Jesus Christ and believers become Kings and Priests after the same order of Melchisedec of the tribe of Judah (‘Praise”) (Heb. 7; Rev. 1:6).

There are physical restrictions placed upon the priests  (as seen in Lev. 21: 17-24 ) that reveal characteristics of those who cannot see the importance and necessity of Spirit-anointed prayer and praise.  These descriptions should be read as metaphorical and not to demean anyone with handicaps or disabilities.

1. Blemish – spotted with sin.
2. Blind man – not born again; defective spiritual vision (no vision in praise).
3. Lame man – an unsteady walk.
4. Flat nose – no discernment; not sensitive to the moving of the Spirit.
5. Superfluous – out of balance
6. Broken footed or broken handed – spiritually disabled.
7. Crooked-backed – perverted or twisted attitudes; spiritually deformed.
8. Dwarf – stunted spiritual growth; no room for change.
9.  Blemish in the eye- no new revelation.
10. Scurvy – impulsive; not principled in worship.
11. Scabbed – no covering or uncleanness.

The blood on the horns of the Golden Altar speaks of the power of the blood in prayer---we can come boldly because we have been accepted in the Beloved.

I have a teaching on the Ingredients of the Incense.  If any one wants a copy, I will forward to you.   Below is an abreviated version: 

 These ingredients reveal the balance of the High Priestly Ministry of Jesus Christ and the balanced aspects of Prayer and Praise in the in the Spirit; that there are five ingredients reveals the grace and ministry flowing in the truths of the Golden Altar.  The censer was the dispenser for the the incense and filled with the fire from the altar.  Such are you and I if we are willing to be a dispenser. 

1. Stacte – spontaneous free flow – a fragrant sap of gum from a tree on Mt. Gilead that flowed freely without piercing; once Christ the King conquers us, there is a Liberty of a free Spirit (11 Cor. 3:17).  (b) Some feel this may have been Myrrh.  This was used for purifying and connects the free spirit that flows from a pure heart.
2. Onycha – From the depths – from a ground shell-fish or perfume crab taken from the depths of the Red Sea; it received its fragrance from the things upon which it fed.  This incense flows from the spirit of His son from within us. (b) It was rare and costly---the depths of humiliation are priceless experiences which produce incense.
3. Galbanum – It had a disagreeable odor used to drive away insects or reptiles.  From a broken Spirit.  Galbanum was a sap or gum that came from a broken shrub in the highlands of Syria (must go up to get it); this attitude is “I want to”, and not “I have to”. (b) Increase or Growth – the Hebrew root implies that we should grow up and give our best; the world also could mean lamentation or increase.

People of God I minister because “I want to”.  I am happy ministering and a happy minister.  Like Paul, I can say, "I think myself happy"  It is not a burden for me, but a joy and delight.  People keep circling wondering when I will retire.  Please give it up.  I will not stop until the Lord releases me.  Hopefully it will be when I change addresses and move to Heaven. 

4. Frankincense – Some feel that this spice came from a tree having flowers with five petals and ten stamens and fruit with five sides that grew upon the rocks.—Is. 53:2; These are numbers of Grace, Ministry and Responsibility. There is an element of loneliness---frankincense came from a tree that was pierced during the night, letting the sap flow out during the dark hours. (b) Acceptable Incense – Some feel that frankincense was also used as a medicine.
5. Salt acts as a preservative and a seasoning.  Salt keeps the incense pure; salt has an enduring quality; salt speaks of the covenant and the table.  Salt irritates---some want no part of the Golden Altar; finally, as priests, we want to come to the altar of Incense having tasted the Bread at the Table to let our prayer and praise be seasoned with salt.

According to Ex. 30: 7-8, Incense (Praise and Prayer) were offered at two times during the day:  the morning incense was offered at the Third hour (9:a.m.) and the evening incense at the ninth hour (3 p.m.).  When certain scriptures are studied in this light, we discover that the morning incense is Praise (left hand) and the evening incense is prayer (right hand). 

Morning Incense – Ministry unto God.

Evening Incense – Ministry unto broken humanity.

On the Day of Atonement, Aaron went Beyond the Veil with both hands full of incense.  The Golden Altar was moved into the Holy of Holies on that day---this teaches that there will be a ministry of Praise (taking hold of God with the left hand) and Prayer (taking hold of broken man with the right hand) in a far greater dimension in the 21^st Century than we experienced during the 20^th Century.

We are now nine years into the 21^st Century.  The latter years of the 20^th Century were awesome in the revelations as the Voice sounded from the Golden Altar and many of us experienced visions of that altar.  We are now in the early years of the Revelation of the Glory of God. 

The Seven Thunders of God by:  Van Tanner:  “Our sacrifice is what qualifies us *this is seen as being broken in Rev. 2:27).  We have been given the awesome responsibility of finishing the course paved with the prayers of the Saints.  For countless generations Saints have prayed for just this day…We are a sweet smelling savor (incense) to the Lord.  The Glory of Christ in us is empowered by the prayers of the Saints, but it is manifest in the “righteous acts of the Elect.”

“And he angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”

Will you be a dispenser (censer) of the incense?  If so count the cost.  To be a dispenser (vial) you must keep (live by) the words of the Book of Revelation.” (End of quote from Van Tanner, the Seven Thunders of God.)

Preached and taught by:  Carolyn Sissom

Scripture from K.J.V.; Text from Tabernacle of Moses by: Kelly Varner; quotes from The Seven Thunders of God by: Van Tanner; Vision was given to Carolyn Sissom.  Comments and opinions are my own.