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Catholics simply believe this text of Scripture. These twenty-four elders are human beings in heaven and they are depicted as “each one [having] vials of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (emphasis added). Each one of them was responding to multiple prayers from multiple people. What does that mean? It means these saints in heaven somehow have the power to do what Eric Svendsen claims to be “the property of God alone.” Obviously, it is not. We would do well to recall the words of Sacred Scripture at this juncture: “With God all things are possible” (cf. Luke 1:37). If we have faith, we will have no problem with believing God’s word over our own feeble and fallible intellects.

If God is the only one capable of this infinite power, then why WOULD He even need the help of saints and angels to hear and respond to prayers??? The passage in Revelation about bringing the bowls of incense being the "prayers of the saints", then we should know that this event described isn't something that is ongoing but the start of something. In Revelation 5, 6 & 7, the event is the time where the "book" is opened and the "seals" are set to be opened upon the world during the Tribulation. The "twenty-four elders" represents the Bride of Christ, already taken up before the start of the Tribulation. The bowls of incense were part of the temple worship and were a symbol of prayer, and always offered to God alone. Prayers were NEVER offered to other beings nor to have beings being needed to ferry them over to God. He doesn't need that - He is God, all knowing, all seeing, all powerful. His glory He does not share with any other - nor should He.