The fifth seal goes from the vengeance of seals two, three, and four to hopeful uncertainty of God’s children. This devotional reading looks at how God addresses the martyrs.
Nuggets
- The martyrs questioned when the Day of the Lord would come.
- The martyrs are rewarded and comforted.
Okay, this verse is really weird. Souls are under the altar.
Say what?
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in the Opening the Seals series
The Martyrs Question
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” (Rev. 6: 9-10 ESV)
The martyrs questioned when the Day of the Lord would come.
It is verses like this that make me question if people have interpreted things correctly. It also makes me question if Revelation happens in chronological order the way it is presented.
If the seals start God’s final judgment and Rapture occurs before that, wouldn’t they know if the Church had been raptured — whether before the opening of the first seal or after the opening of the fourth if that is when we fly?
Didn’t the souls under the throne know the four horsemen of the Apocalypse had already ridden? Is it going to happen in a vacuum?
If those who are already in Heaven don’t know what is happening, how are we going to figure it out?
We aren’t.
The Martyrs
Almost from the get-go, Jesus’ disciples experienced persecution. Every one of the Apostles except John became a martyr.
Jesus predicted persecution for the Apostles. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake” (Mt. 24: 9 ESV).
But if we are going with the Apostles being the elders, they aren’t under the altar. These are other martyrs like Stephen.
There are a lot of words and deep truths in this verse. We shouldn’t gloss over the fact that this is the martyrs’ souls, not their bodies.
Does that mean the martyrs won’t get their new bodies until the Church is Raptured and we do? Does it mean that whatever the souls look like is our new bodies?
That is beyond my pay grade. I just think it is a tidbit we shouldn’t ignore.
The Altar
What is the entrance requirement for a place under the altar? “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Rev. 12: 11 ESV).
We may think it macabre that the souls of the slain are under God’s altar. But that is a Jewish thing.
Kennnaway gave a great description to the question, “what is the altar?” He wrote, “In answer we say, that it is the place of a glorious and a happy security.”
Resource
Think of it – in a way – as paralleling the cities of refuge in the Old Testament. “Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Say to the people of Israel, “Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.”’” (Josh. 20: 1-6 ESV).
No, the martyrs weren’t the ones who did the killing. They were the ones who were killed.
But the martyrs got to run to a safe place, a refuge from the avenger of blood. They may or may not have had to do any explaining upon arrival but were given a place under the altar until release on the Day of the Lord.
That seems like a pretty good place to be!
But we can’t forget the fact that this is the altar of sacrifice. We have the description in Exodus of what its earthly replica looked like.
“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze. You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners. And you shall set it under the ledge of the altar so that the net extends halfway down the altar. And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. And the poles shall be put through the rings, so that the poles are on the two sides of the altar when it is carried. You shall make it hollow, with boards. As it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made” (Ex. 27: 1-8 ESV).
The function of the altar was animal sacrifices were offered to God on it. The purpose of the sacrifice was to obtain a temporary forgiveness for the sins of Israel. “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9: 22 ESV).
What they didn’t get at the time was that these sacrifices were totally inadequate and foreshadowed the permanent, adequate Sacrifice. “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself” (Heb. 7: 27 ESV).
I think it is very fitting for the martyrs to be under the altar. They are covered by the blood of the Sacrifice.
How Long?
The ones under the altar aren’t the only ones who are waiting for God to get the show on the road! Plus, they are asking the same question we usually ask. How long until you are going to judge the wrongdoers and avenge us?
First, we have to address that the martyrs remembered what had happened to them. They knew they had been wrongly accused and put to death because of their belief in the Truth.
Yes, we will get to keep our memories in Heaven.
Second, the martyrs are not dead or in some sort of suspended animation somewhere. They are alive and talking. They are clued into — in some way — what is happening in the present.
Many of the sermons I read agreed theirs was not an articulate voice. It was contended that it was their blood, not their hearts, that sought vengeance. This is tied to Abel. “And the Lord said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground’” (Gen. 4: 10 ESV).
The martyrs were doing what we often do – question God. If we question Him in the correct way, He allows it. “My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD — how long?” (Ps. 6: 3 ESV).
God has no problem answering our questions when we ask in faith, acknowledging His sovereignty. When we show that we want to stay in step with His plan, He is good with it.
The martyrs are asking the correct way because there is no sin in Heaven.
Yes, we may ask because we are feeling the burden of the tasks that God has given us. Bonar said there are components of weariness, sadness, and despair in it.
Resource
They weren’t trying to impatiently hurry God’s plan along. They were submitting to His divine wisdom. They asked with expectation and desire.
It would be easy to think they are asking their question to God the Father. “… ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true …” (Rev. 6: 10 ESV).
But aren’t they asking it to the Lamb? He will be the One to judge.
Judge and Avenge
The martyrs not only wanted the sinners condemned, but they also wanted justice for being killed for doing right.
Here it where it diverges from the cities of refuge. We get the idea that it is not a place of rest under the altar. “They cried out with a loud voice …” (Rev. 6: 10 ESV).
But are the martyrs asking for is God to avenge them? We find this in God’s blessing to Noah.
“And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. ‘Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image’” (Gen. 9: 5-6 ESV).
The people who killed the martyrs were not justified in killing them. Therefore, their lives could be avenged according to Exodus 21: 12-19.
“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
“When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.” (Ex. 21: 12-19 ESV).
It looks like the martyrs have every right to be avenged.
Isn’t it comforting to know that God requires an accounting our wrongful death? The martyrs have gone to the One Who can provide vengeance. “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly” (Deut. 32: 35 ESV).
Only God can judge. He is our Creator, so He has the authority over us. Only He is true and pure, so only He can judge fairly.
John gave his audience proof that God will judge and avenge.
Some worldview people have the mistaken idea that Jesus did not condemn them. They read John 3: 16-17 and stop. They think they are fine.
If they would go on to John 3: 18, they would find out that they are not fine. Jesus didn’t have to condemn them.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (Jn. 3: 16-18 ESV).
Plus, the offense was committed because God’s work was the target. If the martyrs had not been serving God, they would not have been killed. It is up to God to avenge them for the offense directed toward Him.
But is malicious vengeance that for which the martyrs are asking?
I don’t think so. Jesus didn’t cry for vengeance at His wrongful death. He asked for forgiveness for His accusers. “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ …” (Lk. 23: 34 ESV).
More than likely, the martyrs are wanting their attackers to be convicted of their sin. They want them to come to know Jesus as they know Him.
They are also asking for the deliverance of God’s children.
Rewards
’ Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been” (Rev. 6: 11 ESV)
The martyrs are rewarded and comforted.
White Robes
Reenter white robes. We’ve said that the white garments/robes represent our purified character.
It is interesting that the martyrs are now given the white robe (Rev. 6: 10). Does that mean we aren’t purified when we initially get to Heaven?
Kennneway’s take was that the martyrs were getting ready for the marriage feast. All other disciples who have reached Heaven are also preparing for the feast.
Many of the martyrs would have been imprisoned before execution. What little belongs they had would have been taken away – including clothing.
Here, the martyrs would be given the finest clothing ever.
Wait
The martyrs are told to sit tight.
Because the question was asked in faith, God answered it. They are told to rest and wait – and hope.
More who were killed in the service of God would be joining them. Until they do, God’s fullness of time has not been reached.
Through the ages, persecution continued. But it, too, was regional or national.
As the Day of the Lord approaches, persecution of the Church will ramp up. That persecution will be more on a global scale.
Yes, the saints are told to wait, but the implication is they won’t have to wait long.
But then, soon is relative in a space outside of time.
I think the main point is that there is a certain number that they are waiting for to find their way beneath God’s throne. Judgment can’t start until that number is reached.
We know the number 144,000. We know they are sealed.
We know we are waiting for God to complete His work. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him” (Mal. 3: 17 ESV).
Each year, the whole world is reminded that Jesus was born in a stable to offer salvation to the world. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2: 11 ESV).
We have to act on that knowledge. “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Ac. 2: 38 ESV).
Think about it. The Day of the Lord will be the unleashing of God’s wrath. He will have His vengeance in a mighty way. God will avenge His children who have been persecuted for His sake.
Look at it this way. If the martyrs died proclaiming the message of Jesus, wouldn’t they be looking forward to the day He is truly glorified by all creation?
Do you really think God is going to send Jesus back when there is someone who hasn’t heard the gospel message?
God knows the right timing. We don’t have to figure it out.
Even with all the talk of persecution, this verse seems tame after the four horsemen had their rides. Don’t worry. It won’t last.
Making the Connections
There are several things in these three verses that really gum up the works in what we have believed in the past to what God’s Word actually says.
- If the Church had been raptured, wouldn’t the martyrs know it?
- Why didn’t the martyrs get their robes when they got there or wait until everyone got there.
- What does this say about those who were not martyred?
- If these are seals of judgment, why are the martyrs being told to wait?
I would interpret this — and I may be right, or I may be wrong — as saying the Church isn’t raptured yet. The martyrs are being told to wait because it is not yet time for the Day of the Lord.
The rest of the dead, in my opinion, aren’t under the altar. It doesn’t say where they are. They are waiting for I Thessalonians 5: 16.
But the Rapture and the Day of the Lord are going to happen closely together, in my opinion.
How Do We Apply This?
- Watch and wait for the second coming of Jesus.
Father God. We look to You to execute Your plan that is written on the scroll. Regardless of when You rapture the Church, keep us in the palm of Your hald and prepare us to fly to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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