Begining forshadowing the end.

I find it so interesting that as I am reading through Exodus, Revelation seems so closely tied. I cant go even a couple chapters without something drawing my attention to Revelation.

This morning I didnt get very far in Exodus because I got so interested in Rev. Ok. 30:1-10 talks about the Altar of Incense. I think everything in the temple is a reflection of Christ. So I am looking for that.  Well, Aaron is to burn incense on the altar every morning and at twilight so "incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come." (Vs. 8)

Rev. 5:8 tells us that angels in heaven hold golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. Then in 8:3-5 says "Another angel, who had a golden seenser, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."

Oh Revelation 5. Ok. So there John is in heaven... getting a glimpse of this. He sees a scroll sealed with 7 seals.  He sees and angel proclaiming "WHO IS WORTHY TO BREAK THE SEALS AND OPEN THE SCROLL" He cries because there is no one. An elder tells him not to cry because Jesus is worthy. Ok...  what in the world is on that scroll???  Why is it so tramatic if it is not opened? Why do the 7 seals (begining of the tribulation) have to be broken in order to read/see the scroll?? Whatever is on there causes the angels to fall down before Christ because He is worthy to open it. Saying "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God memebers of every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." The seals are broken and 7th seal is when our prayers are poured on the altar and then the censer hurled at the earth bringing a crazy earthquake.

Sometimes I think it takes forever for God to answer some of my prayers. And I have only been alive for a very short amount of time compared to the grand scheme. Night and day people have been praying the same things as me for generations and generations-for God to reveal Himself as Judge and King. And the angels have seen people praying this for generations and generations. They see that He "is not slow concerning His promise toward us but patient not willing that any should perish." What a day that will be when everyones prayers will be fulliflled. It motivates me to pray more... to be among those whose prayers are an offering and powerfully come into reality.

I also read 30:11-16 which talks about atonement money. This totally points to Christ. vs. 12 "...each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life..." Ok. The disciples probably got it when Jesus said "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." And Heb. 7:25 "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." He is my ransom.

It is just so clear that He is the Alpha and Omega. The begining and the end. What was set up so forever long ago pointed to times yet to be fullfilled. Crazy! God is so big and smart. How fun of Him to give us glimpses of His big-ness. We truly are a vapor compared to Him.