“ The smoke of the incense which came up with prayers of the saints ascended up before God, out of the angel’ s hand” --8:4. The smoke ascended in acknowledgment of the prayers being heard, recognized and received at the throne. The incense ascended to God out of the angel’ s hand, which was the sign that the answer to the prayers of all the saints, joined with the cry of the souls under the altar, would be forthcoming.