Revelation 8:3

“And another angel came, etc.] The Ethiopic version adds, “from the east”, as in (<660702>Revelation 7:2); pointing to the same angel, and who is intended: for not a created angel, as Gabriel, or any other, is meant; nor any mere man, at least not Pope Damasus, who lived in Constantine's time, as Lyra thought; nor Constantine himself, which is the opinion of Brightman, who thinks that his, and the desires of other good men to make peace, and compose the differences occasioned by the Arian heresy, are designed by the incense and prayers; and this being brought about at the counsel of Nice, when the Arian blasphemy was condemned, and truth confirmed, is intended by the ascent of the smoke of…”

“another angel--not Christ, as many think; for He, in Revelation, is always designated by one of His proper titles; though, doubtless, He is the only true High Priest, the Angel of the Covenant, standing before the golden altar of incense, and there, as Mediator, offering up His people's prayers, rendered acceptable before God through the incense of His merit. Here the angel acts merely as a ministering spirit (Heb 1:4), just as the twenty-four elders have vials full of odors, or incense, which are the prayers of saints (Rev 5:8), and which they present before the Lamb. How precisely their ministry, in perfuming the prayers of the saints and offering them on the altar of incense, is…”

“And another angel came - Who this angel was is not mentioned, nor have we any means of determining. Of course a great variety of opinion has been entertained on the subject (see Poole’s Synopsis) - some referring it to angels in general; others to the ministry of the church; others to Constantine; others to Michael; and many others to the Lord Jesus. All that we know is, that it was an angel who thus appeared, and there is nothing inconsistent in the supposition that anyone of the angels in heaven may have been appointed to perform what is here represented. The design seems to be, to represent the prayers of the saints as ascending in the anticipation of the approaching series of wonders in…”

“And - In Rev 7:2, the "trumpets were given" to the seven angels; and in Rev 7:6, they "prepared to sound." But between these, the incense of this angel and the prayers of the saints are mentioned; the interposing of which shows, that the prayers of the saints and the trumpets of the angels go together: and these prayers, with the effects of them, may well be supposed to extend through all the seven. Another angel - Another created angel. Such are all that are here spoken of. In this part of the Revelation, Christ is never termed an angel; but, "the Lamb." Came and stood at the altar - Of burnt - offerings. And there was given him a golden censer - A censer was a cup on a plate or saucer.…”

“8:3-4 The prayers of God’s people ask for God’s ultimate justice and judgment (6:10-11; see also 5:8; Ezra 9:5-6; Ps 141:2; Dan 9:21). The mixture of incense and prayers that reaches God’s presence shows that God hears their prayers (see Rev 6:9-11) and is prepared to act.”

“another: Rev 7:2, Rev 10:1; Gen 48:15, Gen 48:16; Exod. 3:2-18; Act 7:30-32 stood: Rev 9:13; Exo 30:1-8; Ch2 26:16-20; Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25 having: Lev 16:12; Kg1 7:50; Heb 9:4 much: Lev 16:13; Num 16:46, Num 16:47; Mal 1:11 offer it with the prayers: or, add it to the prayers, Rev 8:4, Rev 5:8; Psa 141:2; Luk 1:10; Heb 4:15, Heb 4:16, Heb 10:19-22; Jo1 2:1, Jo1 2:2 the golden: Rev 6:9, Rev 9:13; Exo 37:25, Exo 37:26, Exo 40:26 Revelation 8:4”