There were two altars in the temple that God instructed Moses to build: the altar outside the tent itself on which burnt offerings and sin offerings were presented, and the altar of incense situated inside the tent in front of the veil before the Most Holy Place. In the book of Revelation thus far, the first altar received a mention in Revelation 6:9, while the second altar was mentioned in Revelation 8:3 (and Revelation 14:18). Which of these two does John have in mind in the present passage? He has been writing in this paragraph about the pouring of the contents of the seven bowls. According to Exodus 27:3 and Leviticus 4:12, these bowls were used to carry away the ashes from the altar of burnt offerings (and sin offerings). John’s use of the definite article “the” in connection with the altar indicates that this is clearly the altar he is referring to.
7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”