The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed to His people, and which can alone make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God. Before the veil of the most holy place was an altar of perpetual intercession, before the holy, an altar of continual atonement. By blood and by incense God was to be approached--symbols pointing to the great Mediator, through whom sinners may approach Jehovah, and through whom alone mercy and salvation can be granted to the repentant, believing soul.

Røgelsen, der steg op sammen med Israels bønner, er et billede på Kristi fortjeneste og forbøn, hans fuldkomne retfærdighed, der ved troen tilregnes hans folk, og som alene kan gøre syndige væseners tilbedelse antagelig for Gud. Foran forhænget til det allerhelligste stod den evige forbøns alter, foran det hellige den evige forsonings alter. Man skulle nærme sig Gud med blod og røgelse - symboler, der viste hen til den store mellemmand, gennem hvem syndere kan træde frem for Gud, og gennem hvem alene nåde og frelse kan skænkes den angrende, troende sjæl.