Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

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בלה תובשחמ
represent the ultimate fulfillment of the aims of the mishkan (or mikdash) and the
avoda that was done there. This can be understood by contrasting the mizbach
ha-ketoret to the mizbach ha’ola.
The korbanot offered on the mizbach ha-ola represent the physical world, and the
avoda done to them is meant to signify the actions that one can and must take in
order to tame the physical world and channel it toward spiritual accomplishment.
The end goal, however, is that the physical world becomes so suffused with
spirituality that it itself becomes holy, and no special efforts are needed to channel
it toward spirituality. This is signified by the ketoret. The ketoret does not have any
of the attendant avodot that are done to a korban. It is simply offered directly on
the mizbe’ach because it is already pure. Similarly, its mizbe’ach is made from pure
gold rather than the copper, symbolizing the most refined aspects of the physical
world.
With this in mind, we can answer our original question. The mizbach ha-ketoret
is mentioned last because all of the avoda performed by the kohanim in the
mishkan is meant to lead to that which symbolized by the ketoret; a physical,
this-worldly life that is completely saturated with holiness.