When the seventh seal is opened in Revelation 8, a profound silence falls upon heaven for about half an hour, halting all the usual activity and sound surrounding God's throne. In this moment of anticipation, before the seven angels sound their trumpets, an angel with a golden censer offers a large amount of incense along with the prayers of the saints. This combination ascends as a pleasing aroma before God, though the events that follow are far from peaceful. The prayers of the saints, mentioned earlier when the Lamb takes the scroll to open the seals, are brought forth again as God begins to act, underscoring the connection between the saints' petitions and the unfolding divine judgments.

God stipulates that offerings, including the incense offering, must be made exactly as He commands, emphasizing the importance of sanctification and adherence to His standards. The incense altar, located within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and Temple, stood against the veil separating it from the Most Holy Place, directly in front of the Mercy Seat and the Ark. A priest was required to burn incense on it twice daily, morning and evening, using burning coals taken from under the brazen altar. The incense offered could not be profane; only that made to God's precise specification was acceptable. Duplicating this incense for personal use was strictly forbidden, underscoring the holiness of the offering, as it was intended solely for God. Any violation of this command carried severe consequences, highlighting the sacred nature of the act and its exclusive dedication to Him. Furthermore, only a priest set apart and sanctified for the responsibility, specifically a descendant of Aaron, was permitted to offer incense before God. This strict regulation served as a constant reminder of the importance of following God's directives in matters of worship and holiness.

Human nature often seeks to worship God according to its own dictates, resulting in a variety of religions and widespread confusion. God is not pleased with this state, yet He permits it to continue while calling His people out of worldly traditions, which He deems futile. Among the examples of divine justice and the sin of presumption, the incident of the incense offering by Nadab and Abihu stands as a stark warning. These two sons of Aaron, consecrated as priests, were tasked with offering incense on the altar within the Tabernacle, following explicit instructions given by God. The fire for the incense altar was to be taken from the holy fire of the burnt offering altar, ignited by God Himself, and never allowed to go out. However, Nadab and Abihu presumptuously used coals from a common fire instead of the holy fire, disregarding the specific commands they had received just days after the Tabernacle's erection. Their act was not one of ignorance or weakness but of deliberate rebellion and audacity, fully aware of the instructions and the consequences. God reacted swiftly, striking them dead in an instant, demonstrating His intolerance for such presumptuous sin among those called to draw near to Him. This act of divine judgment underscores the necessity of holiness, which includes moral and ethical adherence to God's explicit commands, especially for those in close association with His work. The incident reveals that God holds His priests to a high standard, expecting them to follow His instructions precisely, as any deviation defiles the sanctity of His service.