Prayer and prophecy are two linked components of end-time fulfillment. Jesus gave us the prophetic Signs of the Last Days and then told us to watch and pray in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. He connected prayer and prophecy in the end-time and exhorted us to watch the signs unfold and be in prayer.

The Signs of the Last Days are building in the world and indicate the coming fulfillment of the prophecies of the end-time. The importance of prayer has never been greater and more needed than in these prophetic last days.

Prayer and prophecy are intricately linked: the prophecy continuum begins when prophecy comes through prayer to the Lord God– and then the fulfillment of prophecy is facilitated through prayer.

“…while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me…”  Daniel 9:21

“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” Revelation 8:4

Prophecy in its beginning came as holy men of old spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in prayer. For example, Daniel the 9^th chapter is widely known as a chapter of prophecy foretelling events in the latter days concerning the end-time, antichrist and the abomination of desolation.

But it should also be known as a chapter of prayer, as well.  Because before the prophecy came, Daniel set his face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, and while in prayer the angel Gabriel was caused to fly swiftly to reach him and to inform him of the vision.

Then prophecy is fulfilled in the last days, according to the last Book of Revelation, through the golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints as stated in Revelation Chapter 5.  Also, in Revelation Chapter 8 the Scripture says that the angels having a golden censer came and stood at the altar and offer incense with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

This is done while then the Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world and who is worthy takes the scroll, and the Lord Jesus Christ loosens its seals, and the angels sound the trumpets of prophetic judgment on an unrepentant mankind as described in Revelation.

This informs us of the increasing importance of prayer as we see the Signs of the Last Days. For the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3 foretold that in the last days perilous times will come with evil mankind becoming ever worse causing the love of many to become cold or apathetic; and the Lord Jesus Himself told us as referenced in Luke 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray always…” as these Signs of the Last Days come upon the earth.

As we see the divine signs of prophecy revealed in the patterns of the world and mankind, it is incumbent upon and eternally important for God’s end-time people to engage in effective, fervent, righteous prayer that avails much. For this is God’s Church filling the golden censer of Heaven with the incense of the prayers of His saints that’s offered upon the golden altar which is before the throne of God and ascends before God from the angel’s hand.

These prayers go up from His people to the angel’s hand and then before God bringing fulfillments from the Lord God who is faithful to His Word. For spiritual success in the end-time, learn to watch and pray.